Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) - Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (SUAS)

Introduction: The CBP/USBP/SUAS’ Program Management Office (PMO) is conducting market research on Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) SUAS.

Background: USBP is a sub-component of CBP, whose mission requires the capability to conduct surveillance into the land and maritime domain where threats originate, enter, and/or transit into the United States illegally between ports of entry. Moreover, USBP requires flexible and scalable surveillance (detection and identification) capabilities that enable the deployment of surveillance assets/systems as dictated by risk.

There are current gaps in the surveillance capability and capacity of detection and identification that drive a need to provide an increased level of situational awareness of items of interest (IoI) illegally entering the United States. SUAS PMO intends to identify maturing technologies that can enhance USBP operational capabilities leading to increased situational awareness and execution of mission essential tasks.

Current Status: Drone technology continues to rapidly advance and has the potential to fulfill gaps in various operational areas across the CBP operational domain, expanding friendly force situational awareness and safety.

SUAS PMO is interested in exploring VTOL solutions that can adapt to employment modality (i.e., varied deployment capabilities from vehicles/vessels/stationary); host multiple sensors and/or communications; demonstrate extended periods aloft; and provide persistent recording of video and still imagery, not only internal to the SUAS, but also distributed to team awareness kit (TAK) devices.

Use cases include, but are not limited to, vessel-born intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) operations along a river edge, surveillance tower augmentation, check-point operations, perimeter security, and avenue of approach deterrence.

Request for Information (RFI): CBP requests that vendors detail their product’s ability to fulfill the capabilities identified below, in sequence and in a written response. Submission instructions are provided at the end of this RFI (page 5).