The Air Force needs a small business to provide drone operations and training support for a training exercise in South Georgia, USA.
Key Details
What exactly do they need? The Air Force needs a small business to provide drone operations and training support for a training exercise in South Georgia, USA. The contractor will supply service/training opportunities for military exercise operations and procedures outlined below. The 23d FG will be responsible for activities during an exercise in mid-September 2026 during regular operating hours. Services will be conducted in South Georgia, United States over land in a designated Military Operating Area (MOA). Mission planning will be conducted near the associated MOA in a secure military facility. Launch & recovery operations will be conducted at the discretion of the selected vendor. The contractor must provide the following: full-spectrum operation of up to 2ea Group 2 or Group 3 aircraft during the exercise window, launch & recovery operations of two (2) ea Group 2 or Group 3 aircraft, participate in any requested mission planning with the affiliated MGFEs, operate in the designated air spaces: Moody 2 North and South MOAs and Hawg North and South MOAs, operating altitude is required between 1,000 to 18,000 feet, operating speed shall be as low as 80 knots, and as high as 160 knots, the UAS should be safe to operate while being lased by a Litening Gen IV training laser (1.57 m), and the contractor shall maintain continuous communication with a designated planning cell POC during exercise activities.
What's the contract structure and timeline? The contract is a firm-fixed-price contract with a duration of approximately four (4) consecutive days in mid-September 2026. The contractor will provide two (2) ea Group 2 or 3 UASs and equipment to effectively maintain and operate for training operations. The exact dates and times will be provided to the contractor upon award.
How will they pick the winner? The Government intends to evaluate quotes and award a contract without negotiations with Offerors. The evaluation factors are price, technical acceptability, and past performance.
When and how do you bid? Quotations must be received by Thursday, 4 June 2026 at 2:00 PM Eastern Time. Send responses via e-mail to SSgt Justin De Jesus, justin.de_jesus@us.af.mil by the response date. Please identify the RFQ ID number FA483026Q0019 in the email subject line.
Who can apply
- Must be a certified small business
- Has experience with drone operations and training support
- Has a good understanding of military exercise operations and procedures
Heads up — easy to miss
- The contractor must have the ability to acquire 14 CFR Part 107 Waivers or 49 U.S.C section 44807 exemptions and receive FAA approval prior to contract award and exercise operations.
If you're interested, do this first
- Check that your small business certification is still active in SAM.gov
- Provide a capability statement to show the ability to meet the requirement
- Acknowledge the understanding that FAA Exemptions will be obtained before September 2026