Name | Type | Posted | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
25CS001_SPECNOTE_0005_Q and As.pdf | May 28, 2026 |
N0016426SCA005 AOI - Modular Kinetic Lethal Drones (MKLD)
Contact and place of performance
Kaden Pfender
Not specified
Modular Kinetic Lethal Drone Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) Aerial Loitering Munition (ALM) PROBLEM STATEMENT The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) through NSWC Crane is seeking to develop and assess emergent prototype loitering munitions, with a focus on Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL) Aerial Loitering Munitions (ALM) that are safely recoverable, reusable, and feature a Modular Lethal Pay...
View moreThe development should be focused on three integrated lines of work:
A solution brief’s Technical Merit and Relevance will be based on the ability to meet the primary attributes and the cumulative evaluation of the secondary solution attributes/capabilities:
Primary Attributes:
Secondary Attributes:
SOCOM desires an award quantity up to (100) MKLD units across multiple awards.
SUBMISSION GUIDANCE
An individual vendor or team of vendors should not submit multiple solution briefs to the AOI, unless each individual solution is substantively unique. If submitting as a team, the first page of the solution brief should list each company on the team and a primary point of contact for each company on the team as well as the lead vendor and point of contact for the overall team.
All phase procedures to follow the base CSO.
NOTE: In accordance with NSWC, Crane CSO N0016425SC0001: The government reserves the right and ability to facilitate introductions of vendors with complementary capabilities. If teaming introductions by the government are provided, a vendor is not obligated to act on the recommendation. If a vendor elects to move forward in accordance with a government-recommended teaming arrangement, a Phase II pitch deck will be requested by NSWC, Crane in order to facilitate a complete evaluation of the jointly proposed solution.
FOLLOW-ON PRODUCTION
Companies are advised that any prototype Other Transactions (OT) agreement awarded in response to this Area of Interest may result in the award of a follow-on production contract or transaction without the use of further competitive procedures. The follow-on production contract or transaction will be available for use by one or more organizations in the Department of Defense and, as a result, the magnitude of the follow-on production contract or transaction could be significantly larger than that of the prototype OT. As such, any prototype OT will include the following statement relative to the potential for follow-on production: “In accordance with 10 U.S.C. 4022(f), and upon a determination that the prototype project for this transaction has been successfully completed, this competitively awarded prototype OT may result in the award of a follow-on production contract or transaction without the use of competitive procedures.”
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
This solicitation will be awarded in accordance with the Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) process detailed within N0016425SC0001 Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane’s Commercial Solutions Opening posted to SAM.gov. In accordance with 10 U.S.C. 4022(d), at least one of the following conditions must be satisfied to enter into a prototype OT agreement: (A) at least one nontraditional defense contractor or nonprofit research institution participating to a significant extent, (B) all significant participants are small businesses or nontraditional defense contractors, or (C) at least one third of the total cost of the prototype project is to be paid out of funds provided by sources other than the Federal Government.
The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), through Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane, is seeking to develop and assess prototype Modular Kinetic Lethal Drones (MKLD) under solicitation number N0016426SCA005. This initiative focuses on the creation of low-cost, Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) Aerial Loitering Munitions (ALM) that are safely recoverable, reusable, and feature a Modular Lethal Payload (MLP). The primary objective is to enable the rapid fielding of a scalable, small-unit strike capability using NDAA-compliant, first-person-view (FPV) unmanned aerial systems. Development efforts are concentrated on three lines of work: autonomy to reduce operator workload in contested environments, the integration of High-Voltage Electronic Safe and Arm Devices (ESAD) for improved safety, and the delivery of fielding-ready test articles for operational evaluation.
The technical requirements categorize solutions into three size classes—Nano, Micro, and Mega—ranging from less than 5 pounds to 55 pounds, with kinetic ranges spanning 1 kilometer to 20 kilometers. Proposed platforms must maintain a technology readiness level of TRL-6 or TRL-7, provide at least 15 minutes of flight time at full payload, and support rapid battery swaps in the field without tools. Additionally, systems must be Android Team Awareness Kit (ATAK) compliant and follow Modular Open System Architecture (MOSA) standards. The Department of the Navy anticipates awarding up to 100 MKLD units across multiple awards. Successful completion of these prototype Other Transaction (OT) agreements may result in follow-on production contracts without further competition.
This special notice is classified under NAICS 336411 for Aircraft Manufacturing and PSC AC33 for National Defense R&D Services; Defense-Related Activities; Experimental Development. To be eligible for award, participants must satisfy specific requirements involving small businesses, nontraditional defense contractors, or cost-sharing. Responses are due by June 1, 2026, and the primary point of contact is Kaden Pfender. One attachment, a question-and-answer document dated May 28, 2026, is currently associated with this notice.
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