INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR DRONE OTA CONSORTIUM

SOL #: W58RGZ-26-2-SN01Special Notice

Overview

Buyer

DEPT OF DEFENSE

Place of Performance

Redstone Arsenal, AL

NAICS

Aircraft Manufacturing (336411)

PSC

Drones (1550)

Set Aside

No set aside specified

Timeline

1
Posted
May 29, 2026
2
Action Date
May 28, 2031, 9:00 PM

Qualification Details

Fit reasons
  • NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
  • Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
  • Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
  • Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps

Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.

Quick Summary

The Department of War (DoW) invites industry and academic partners to apply for participation in the newly established DoW Drone Other Transaction Authority (OTA) Consortium. This initiative, executed under 10 U.S.C. § 4022, aims to accelerate the rapid prototyping and fielding of innovative drone systems and warfighter solutions. The Consortium provides a streamlined acquisition channel for Prototype and Production OTAs. Applications are accepted until May 28, 2031.

Purpose & Scope

The Consortium bridges the gap between the Government and the commercial technology sector, facilitating rapid solicitation, evaluation, and award of OTAs for specific Areas of Interest (AOIs) and Statements of Need (SONs). This agile framework bypasses traditional acquisition cycles to deliver cutting-edge drone technologies to warfighters quickly. It will not be used for advisory and assistance services.

Benefits of Participation

Approved vendors gain a competitive pathway to collaborate directly with the DoW, U.S. Federal Agencies, and Foreign Partner Nations. Key advantages include:

  • Streamlined Solicitations: Direct access to exclusive Requests for Whitepapers (RWPs) and Request for Solutions (RFSs).
  • Phased Evaluations: A simplified three-phase process (Solution Brief → Live Pitch/Demo → Full Proposal) reduces administrative burden.
  • "Solution Basket": Viable submissions not immediately awarded are retained for up to three years for potential rapid awards.
  • Targeted Competition: Structured competition pools maximize opportunities for Non-Traditional Defense Contractors (NDCs) and Small Businesses, alongside unrestricted full & open competition.

Eligibility & Compliance

To be eligible for an award through the Consortium, vendors must meet mandatory baseline requirements:

  • System Registration: Active SAM.gov registration, Unique Entity Identification (UEI), and Wide Area Work Flow (WAWF) registration.
  • Security & Export Control: Strict adherence to Arms Export Control Act, ITAR, EAR, and proper protection of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) per NIST SP 800-171.
  • Consortium Application: Submission of a formal Vendor Application and a signed Consortium Vendor Agreement (CVA) for Government Steering Committee (GSC) approval.

Contract & Timeline

  • Type: Special Notice (Invitation to Participate in a Consortium utilizing OTAs)
  • Set-Aside: While this invitation is open, the Consortium offers future opportunities through Unrestricted/Full & Open, Small Business Set-Aside (actions <=$15M), and Non-Traditional Defense Contractors (NDC) competition pools.
  • Application Due: May 28, 2031, at 21:00 UTC
  • Published: May 29, 2026

Next Steps

Interested vendors should review the attached "Department of War Drone OTA Consortium Agreement" for full details on governance and operational procedures. To initiate enrollment, complete and submit the "DoW DRONE OTA CONSORTIUM APPLICATION FORM" to DMConsortium@army.mil.

Contact Information

People

Points of Contact

Evans Ray, Agreements SpecialistPRIMARY
Angela Andrews, Agreements OfficerSECONDARY

Files

Files

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Special Notice
Posted: May 29, 2026
INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR DRONE OTA CONSORTIUM | GovScope