US Navy Cargo UAS Experiment

The objective of this experiment is to autonomously transport a 20 pound payload with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). UAV shall autonomously launch from a fixed shore base, navigate through two waypoints to a vessel in open water making bare steerageway at 3-5 knots (kts) no less than 25 nautical miles (NM) away, loiter for 10 minutes, then autonomously land aboard the vessel. The UAV will then be required to autonomously launch from the vessel with the same 20 pound payload and return to the initial shore-based launch site.

The air vehicle must make the round trip without refuelling (refuelling or recharging will not be permitted aboard the vessel). Participants must provide a refuelling/recharging demonstration at the shore site after landing.

The UAV must transit at an airspeed no less than 40 knots and an altitude no greater than 2000 feet above ground level (AGL). The UAV must be capable of launching and recovering without a catapult, arresting net or cable, or other mechanical launching or recovery equipment.

Participants will provide data that validates the maximum theoretical range of their air vehicle with a 20 pound payload. Participants shall ensure that the UAV is equipped with a transponder with a minimum of a Mode-3/C capability.

The Participant will be required to provide the Government with flight termination procedures to support range safety.

Participation in this experiment will be on an invitation-only basis, based on the Government’s review of each application submitted. Only U. S. citizens or permanent residents are eligible to participate. Only U.S. companies, or companies with U.S.-based offices are eligible to participate. Applications for participation will be accepted until 2359 EST on 4 January 2019. Invitations to participate in the experiment will be issued via e-mail no later than 2359 EST on 16 January 2019. Responses to invitations will be due no later than 2359 EST on 23 January 2019.

Successful participation in this experiment may result in the award of an other transaction agreement (under 10 U.S. Code, Section 2371 or 2371b) or award of a procurement contract for experimental purposes (10 U. S. Code, Section 2373) or a combination of these authorities. In the case of an award under 10 U. S. Code, Section 2371b, a successful prototype project may result in the further award of a follow-on production agreement or contract without additional competition. In the case of an award under any of the authorities mentioned significant quantities may be needed for field testing. Some or all of the field tested units may be retained as a residual operational capability. The Government may make an award, even if all performance goals aren’t fully met.

Participation in this experiment will be at participant expense. The Government will not be responsible for any costs, to include submission costs, travel costs, technology demonstration costs or any associated costs.

The Government will coordinate exercise environment set-up and provide coordination assistance for airworthiness certification and frequency allocation as required. Contracted support personnel supporting Department of Defense functions may be used to facilitate the experiment. Participants are advised that contracted support personnel will assist the Government in reviewing application submissions. However, the Government will be solely responsible for determining which applicants will be extended an invitation to participate in the limited objective experiment in March 2019.

Participants will be granted access to the experiment site and to the recovery barge prior to the experiment to facilitate the installation of equipment required to support autonomous operations. Installation and use of Participant equipment will be at the Participant’s risk. The Government will bear no responsibility for damages to equipment during the experiment.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

The evaluation criteria listed below represent the minimum required performance expected from participating systems during the experiment. These minimum criteria will be used to evaluate applicants and select those who will receive invitations to participate. During the experiment, the Government will evaluate the extent to which participant systems meet or exceed these minimum criteria; systems that exceed the minimum requirements in a way that provides value to the Government will be evaluated more favourably.

MISSION PROFILE

UAV shall autonomously launch from a fixed shore base, navigate through two waypoints to a vessel in open water making bare steerageway at 3-5 knots (kts) no less than 25 nautical miles (NM) away, loiter for 10 minutes, then autonomously land aboard the vessel. The UAV will then be required to autonomously launch from the vessel and return to the initial shore-based launch site.

PAYLOAD

The UAV shall be capable of carrying at the minimum a 20 pound payload; however, the Government’s desired payload capability is 50 pounds. The payload will be carried to and from the vessel. The Participant shall be required to provide the payload and the Government will verify the weight. The UAV must be capable of carrying this payload without the use of a cable or traditional external sling mechanism, such that the vehicle can land with the payload. The payload may be carried internal to the air vehicle or enclosed in a pod or other external container that is water-tight and rigidly connected to the air vehicle.

LAUNCH AND LANDING

The UAV must be capable of launching and recovering without a catapult, arresting net or cable, or other mechanical launching or recovery equipment.

NAVIGATION

Autonomous. While the Navy’s preference is for navigation systems that do not rely on Global Positioning System (GPS), GPS enabled systems will be permitted during this experiment. Specialized navigation and approach systems may be installed by the participant aboard the vessel and at the shore site to support autonomous launch and recovery. The Government preference is for systems with a low probability of intercept (LPI).

WEATHER CAPABILITY

Must be able to operate in a daytime visual flight rules environment and land aboard the vessel in conditions up to Sea State 2 (according to the Wilbur Marks Wind and Wave Scale Used for Combatant Craft).

SIZE

Must be capable of landing onboard the vessel used for the experiment (vessel specifications below). It is the Government’s desire that the air vehicle dimension does not exceed 13.0 feet. Therefore, smaller air vehicles will be evaluated more favourably.

VESSEL DESCRIPTION

The ship is an ABS Certified 145-ft Offshore Support Vessel [OSV] modified to accommodate open ocean Test and Evaluation, Fleet Training, and target launch and recovery operations. Principal features include a deck crane, 2,600-sq feet of clear deck space and a NATO grid pattern on the main deck, which will expedite onload and offload of Project equipment. Vessel dimensions are: Length 145-ft; Beam 36-ft; Draft :11-ft; 3-ft of freeboard on the main deck. Deck Space: 88ft X 30ft.

OPERATING ALTITUDE

At or below 2,000 feet above ground level (AGL).

CRUISE SPEED

No less than 40 kts.

APPROACH SPEED

Capable of recovery aboard a vessel moving at 3-5 kts.

REFUELLING/RECHARGING

The Participant must provide a demonstration of the refuelLing/recharging at the shore site after the vehicle lands. Shorter refueLling/recharging times will be evaluated more favoUrably.

RANGE

Participants shall provide data that validates the maximum theoretical range of their air vehicle with a 20 pound payload and with its maximum payload.