Cost Efficient Cargo
ID: DARPA-SN-24-109Type: Special Notice
Overview

Buyer

DEPT OF DEFENSEDEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY (DARPA)DEF ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGCYARLINGTON, VA, 222032114, USA

NAICS

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715)

PSC

NATIONAL DEFENSE R&D SERVICES; DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE - MILITARY; EXPERIMENTAL DEVELOPMENT (AC13)

Original Source

https://sam.gov/opp/c3fe516c506241a189ada1742aa56e91/view
Timeline
    Description

    The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is seeking innovative concepts for heavy lift Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) capable of transporting a 70,000 lb payload, as part of its Request for Information (RFI) initiative. This effort aims to address the Department of Defense's logistical challenges, particularly in "ship to shore" and "wide gap crossing" operations, where rapid transport of troops and supplies is critical. DARPA is looking for groundbreaking designs that utilize current Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) technology, with submissions required to include mission profiles, design specifications, cost estimates (targeting under $30 million for initial units), scalability, and performance metrics. Interested parties must submit concise white papers by December 20, 2024, to the BAA Coordinator at DARPA-SN-24-109@darpa.mil, noting that this RFI does not constitute a formal solicitation and submissions will not be reimbursed or returned.

    Point(s) of Contact
    BAA Coordinator
    DARPA-SN-24-109@darpa.mil
    Files
    Title
    Posted
    DARPA-SN-24-109.pdf
    The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to seek innovative concepts for heavy lift Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) with a payload capacity of 70,000 lbs. This initiative targets solutions for the Department of Defense’s challenges related to "ship to shore" and "wide gap crossing" operations, where speedy transport of troops and supplies is crucial. Current heavy-lift capabilities, like the Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion, are limited, prompting the need for UAS that can operate without crew safety considerations. DARPA emphasizes the need for groundbreaking designs rather than incremental improvements, soliciting submissions that incorporate Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) technology and detail mission profiles, design specifications, cost estimates (targeting under $30 million for initial units), scalability, and performance metrics. Interested parties, including researchers and companies, must submit concise white papers by December 20, 2024, outlining their proposals without proprietary information. The RFI does not constitute a formal solicitation, and submissions will not be reimbursed or returned. This initiative underscores DARPA’s commitment to enhancing military logistics capabilities through advanced technology.
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    Cost Efficient Cargo
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