Autonomous Leader-Follower UAS Formation for Enhanced Mission Resilience and Reduced Operator Workload

Q1 received a new answer clarifying that demonstration locations are at offeror discretion—the Government does not mandate a specific test site, allowing contractors to use their own facilities, private ranges, or government test facilities as a "relevant operational environment."

**Changes to Q&A Section:** One new question added (Q1) regarding demonstration location and travel cost budgeting for Direct to Phase II proposals. No substantive answer provided—applicants directed to budget accordingly. All previous Q&As (Q2-Q13) retained with identical answers. No updates to technical requirements, KPPs, or eligibility criteria.

**Key Changes to Q&A:** Q1 and Q2 received new answers clarifying stasis mode requirements: - "Normal operating power" includes propulsion, sensors, and computing (not sensors-only) - Stasis mode applies to **follower units only** - Can be achieved in-flight or landed/hibernating, provided position and situational awareness are maintained - No mandated stasis mode duration, but must support mission timelines defined by offeror All other Q&As (Q3–Q12) remained unchanged.

# Summary of Q&A Changes **New Questions Added (2):** - Q1: Clarification on stasis mode power baseline—whether "normal power" includes flight power or only non-flight systems (sensors/compute), and required stasis duration - Q2: Whether stasis mode applies during flight (90% reduction while airborne) or landed/hibernating state, and which UAS (all three, followers only, or leader only) **Reordering:** Existing Q&As (weather-aware autonomy, target designation, target types, swarm size, separation distance, operational profile, field test conditions, platform selection, mesh networks) were renumbered from Q3-Q12 (previously Q1-Q10) but received **no substantive answer changes**. **Key Impact:** Two critical stasis mode interpretation questions remain unanswered, creating ambiguity around a stated KPP that proposers must address in their technical documentation.

**Added 1 new Q&A:** Weather-aware autonomy using AI forecasting and environmental modeling to maintain formation and adapt flight behavior is responsive, provided all KPPs are met. **Reordered existing Q&As:** Previous Q2-Q9 shifted to Q3-Q10; no substantive answer changes to existing questions.

# Q&A Changes Summary **New Question Added:** - Q1 (now first): Clarifies stasis mode power consumption KPP as a 90% reduction from normal operating power (e.g., 10W or less if normal operation is 100W). **No other substantive changes.** The remaining Q&As (Q2-Q9) were reordered due to the new Q1 insertion, but answers remain identical to previous version. All previously pending responses have been retained without modification.

Q1 received a new answer clarifying that target designation modality (laser, click-on-screen, or other methods) is left to offeror's design. Q2 received a new answer confirming the solicitation is mission-agnostic regarding target types/mobility and single vs. multiple simultaneous targets—both are offeror's discretion.

**Summary of Q&A Changes:** Added 2 new questions on target designation methodology (laser vs. click-on-screen vs. other approaches) and target characteristics (fixed/mobile, ground/marine/aerial, single vs. multiple targets). All previous Q&As renumbered accordingly; no answer content modified.

Status changed from Pre-Release to Open

Q1-Q3 received substantive new answers clarifying design flexibility: swarm minimum of 3 UAS with scalability at offeror discretion; operational distance/geometry left to offeror design; platform designation (one-way vs. multi-use) at offeror discretion. All three answers now include standard fair competition language requiring thorough technical documentation.

**Changes to Q&A:** - Added Q1: New question on anticipated swarm size following the lead UAS (no answer provided yet) - Renumbered all subsequent questions (previous Q2-Q5 became Q2-Q6) - All previously answered questions (A4, A5, A6) retain identical answers with no updates or clarifications

Added 2 new questions (Q1-Q2) on UAS operational requirements: lead distance capability and whether assets must be one-way attack drones or multi-use reusable platforms. Existing answers on field test conditions, platform size class flexibility, and mesh networking technology remain unchanged.

**Q&A Changes Summary:** One question removed: The original Q1 regarding "Projected CMMC" requirement timing and proposal eligibility was deleted. The remaining three Q&As (now renumbered Q1-Q3) were retained without answer modifications.

Q1 answer modified: CMMC question redirected to general SBIR proposal eligibility information rather than addressed as topic-specific guidance. No other Q&As changed.

No changes detected. The PREVIOUS and UPDATED Q&A sections are identical. All four questions and answers remain the same.

Added 1 new Q&A on CMMC Level 2 timing requirements (submission vs. award vs. post-award). Previous Q2-Q4 renumbered to Q2-Q4; answers remain unchanged.

Q&A section updated

Added 3 new Q&As clarifying: (1) mid-term field test environment conditions (live vs. modeling/simulation for GPS-denied scenarios), (2) UAS size class requirements (offeror discretion vs. Government preference), and (3) Neuron Mesh Networks specificity and acceptable alternative communications solutions.

The ITAR/EAR export control warning and foreign national disclosure requirements were removed from the objective section.

Close Date changed from 2026-04-22 to 2026-06-03