The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, intends to issue a sole source contract to Altavian Inc. of Gainesville, Florida, for one NOVA 2.1 aircraft, replacement parts, and support for the Unmanned Aircraft System NOVA 2.1. in accordance with the authority of FAR 6.302-1.
Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.
The unmanned aircraft shall be capable of takeoff with zero runway, from a standstill position, in zero wind conditions at maximum takeoff weight capacity without additional ground equipment. The minimum stall speed shall be 15 m/s to facilitate landings in short fields.
We’d like to have been able to publish some information about the aircraft in question, but couldn’t get what appears to be the company’s site to work: www.altavian.com
We did find the following information though:
Nova
Altavian, Inc. manufacturers and services small unmanned aircraft. Recently founded by four University of Florida graduate students, Altavian specializes in using unmanned technology for precision scientific and engineering applications. Our systems provide high-resolution images for products like Google Earth faster and less expensively than alternatives.
Targeting the civilian market, Altavian joins the growing unmanned aircraft industry in North Central Florida.
So presumably the Nova 2.1 is an improved version of the Nova originally fielded by the University of Florida.
Source: FedBizOpps