Autonomous Platform Sensors

This Special Notice is to advise interested members of the U.S. technology base that a Request for Information (RFI) has been issued by Army Contracting Command Orlando (ACC-ORL) in support of a Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI) requirement.

This Request for Information (RFI) is not a solicitation for proposals, solutions, white papers, quotations, or obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any products or services but for planning purposes only. The purpose of this RFI is to obtain information, engage in market research, ascertain technical viability, and explore industry capabilities to inform the future requirements and acquisition strategies in several areas related to the Autonomous Platform Sensors effort, which is described below. Your response to this RFI will be treated as information only. All costs incurred responding to this RFI will be solely at the Respondent’s expense. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the Government will arise because of industry submission to this announcement or the Government’s use of any information submitted by the Respondents. The information provided by industry will support the Government in requirement prioritization, acquisition strategy, statement of work/statement of objectives, and performance specifications. Interested parties are responsible for adequately marking proprietary or competition-sensitive information contained in their response. Proprietary information, if any, shall be minimized and MUST BE CLEARLY MARKED. The Government will not release any information marked with a proprietary legend received in response to this RFI to any firms, agencies or individuals outside the Government without written permission in accordance with the legend. RESPONDENTS MUST NOT INCLUDE CLASSIFIED INFORMATION IN THEIR RESPONSE TO THIS RFI. Foreign-owned, controlled, or influenced firms are advised that security restrictions may apply that may preclude their participation in these efforts.

Interested parties may submit your RFI response to Mr. Brian Williams at brian.m.williams14.civ@army.mil. and Mr. Marwane Bahbaz at marwane.bahbaz.civ@army.mil.

Subject: Request for Information regarding drone tracking and sensor devices that can be attached to small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) and other air and ground autonomous platform for integration into the collective combat training environment.

1. INTRODUCTION

The Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI) is seeking information from qualified organizations and experts to inform the purchase of mature and ready drone tracking and sensor devices that can be attached to small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) for integration with live combat training. The use of sUAS on the battlefield is a vital element of controlling and exploiting both the physical and information space of the battlefield. To effectively utilize sUAS on the training battlefield, the US Army must have the ability to augment existing sUAS systems with an appropriate sensor module that will track the sUAS, respond to external stimulus, and interface with both the drone and training range instrumentation systems.

2. INSTRUCTIONS FOR RESPONDING

Response Format: Respond in either MSWord or PDF format.

Submission Method: Respond via email to: marwane.bahbaz.civ@army.mil

Contact Person: Marwane Bahbaz

Deadline for Submission: 30 May 2025

Page Limits: No more than 5 standard, 8.5 x 11 pages.

Confidentiality: Clearly state in the response if the information is proprietary to your company.

3. TECHNICAL AND PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

Proposed add-on devices for existing sUAS systems must be able to meet the following specifications to be considered for use:

a) Device sensors must integrate with exercise range instrumentation system and Live – Virtual – Constructive ecosystems, both current and emerging.

b) Provide real time position and altitude information at a minimum frequency of once per second.

c) Capable of detecting laser energy in both MILES Communication Code (MCC) and Universal Laser Engagement Interface Standard (ULEIS) standards.

d) Respond to received simulated direct fire via I-MILES lasers by stimulating the sUAS’ command and control interface to indicate a damaged/destroyed state and safely remove the sUAS platform from the exercise.

e) Simulate direct kinetic engagement to I-MILES and STE LTS instrumented platforms.

f) Can be affected by simulated jamming/radio frequency (RF) engagements.

g) Must have “hot swappable” batteries for fast/easy changes while in the field.

h) Can be appended onto various sUAS and other autonomous ground or air platforms.

i) Must operate in a range of environments, such as desert and in high humidity.

4. QUESTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS / REQUESTED INFORMATION

The Government seeks to understand purchase options for sensor devices that can be attached to existing sUAS platforms that meet the above requirements. Please address the following questions:

a) What is the size and weight of the device?

b) How long does the device’s battery last?

c) Is it possible to connect the device into the drone’s power supply? What are the device’s power requirements?

d) In what environmental conditions can the device reliably function?

e) Is the device able to store data? What is the storage capacity?

f) How does/would the device communicate to the host sUAS?

g) How does/would the device communicate to the various types of exercise range instrumentation systems?

h) What is the effective transmission range of the device?

i) What is the effective transmission bandwidth of the device?

j) What development, integration and test activities to adapt your commercial sensor (s) into live training environment?

k) What is the unit cost? Cost of QTY 50?

5. NEXT STEPS

Following the review of RFI responses, we may invite selected vendors to participate in more detail technical discussion and industry collaboration sessions on the topic.

6. SUMMARY

This Request for Information (RFI) outlines PEO STRI’s initiative to instrument existing sUAS for integration with live Soldier training. Through this RFI, PEO STRI is very interested in facilitating a rapid acquisition and deployment of this capability.

Disclaimer:

This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation. PEO STRI reserves the right to not proceed with any procurement or engagement based on the information received.