Special Notice: DEPT OF DEFENSE - DEPT OF THE ARMY is seeking potential sources to provide a proof of concept demonstrator for a tethered payload deployment system hosted on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of deploying/retrieving a sensor payload to/from the surface of the open ocean. This service is typically used to enable command and control (C2) and geospatial survey of seabed sensor nodes deployed at abyssal depths in the ocean. The government requires the ability to shift these tasks to a long endurance UAV capable of independent operation. The tether subsystem itself, including the necessary control software and its integration with the host UAV autopilot, is the core deliverable. The location of performance is Orlando, Florida, United States. Interested businesses should submit a capability statement demonstrating their ability to fulfill the functions and tasks described in the notice. The submission deadline is 3 June 2024.