Dual Visible/Thermal Camera for Small UAS (sUAS) Platforms

This Sources Sought Notice (SS) is a market research tool for informational purposes only. This notice seeks information for an available commercial off the shelf item. It is not a solicitation or Request for Quotation (RFQ) and does not commit the Government to award a contract now or in the future. The Government is not obligated to and will not pay for any information received from potential sources because of this sources sought notice. Any information submitted by vendors to the technical requirements is strictly voluntary.

The result of this market research will contribute to determining the method of procurement, if a requirement materializes. Based on the received responses to this sources sought notice this requirement may result in a single source acquisition, may be set-aside for small businesses (in full or in part), or may be procured through full and open competition. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding submissions

Description

The USDA Forest Service routinely conducts high resolution aerial imagery acquisitions with small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) platforms to support resource management activities conducted by the agency. Some of these use cases require the contemporaneous acquisition of visible and thermal imagery for science and operational applications. The Forest Service seeks to identify vendors that can provide an integrated high resolution dual visible/thermal camera. The use of this camera on a sUAS platform requires the camera payload have a weight of 400 grams or less.

Technical Specifications

Prospective vendors should provide an integrated dual visible/thermal camera that satisfies the following specifications to the greatest extent possible.

General

• Maximum weight less than 400 grams
• Operating Modes: IR-only, Visible-Only, Picture in Picture (IR in Visible)
• USB 3.0 interface
• Communications protocols to support operations with commonly used sUAS platforms (e.g., MAVLink, etc.)
• Mobile application to configure camera settings
• HDMI video output
• Integrated GPS, inertial measurement unit (IMU), temperature, humidity and altitude sensors
• Geotagging/metadata for acquired still images
• Export/saving of images as TIFFs and radiometric JPEGs (R.jpg)

Visible Sensor

• Resolution/Pixel Array: 4000 x 3000 (or better)
• Field of View: 56o x 45o (or better)

Thermal Sensor

• Type: Uncooled Microbolometer
• Spectral Range: 7.5 μm to 13.5 μm
• Sensitivity: <50 mK (or better)
• Resolution/Pixel Array: 640 x 512 (or better)
• Lens: Options for one or more of the following:
  • 13mm, 19mm
• Field of View:
  • 13mm: 45°(H) x 37°(V) (or better)
  • 19mm: 32°(H) x 26°(V) (or better)
• Frame Rate: 30Hz
• Accuracy
  • +/- 5 C or 5% of readings in the -25°C to +135°C range
  • +/- 20 C or 20% of readings in the -40°C to +550°C range
• Multiple Color Palettes

Instructions to Prospective Offerors

All interested vendors responding to this sources sought notice shall the following information.

1. Statement that explicitly demonstrates your capability to provide the required camera system as a commercial off the shelf product.
2. Dependencies on any third-party systems/applications/tools.
3. Name of camera product.
4. Indicate if the camera is a product on a current GSA schedule.  If so, please provide the GSA schedule contract number and schedule item number.
5. Source country for camera components and place of manufacture of the camera product.
6. NAICS code that your company uses.
7. Organization name, address, primary points of contact (POCs) and their email address, website address, telephone number, and your organization’s CAGE Code.

Responses must be submitted as an Adobe PDF or Microsoft Word/Excel format.  Information provided in response to this Request for Information should not exceed 10 pages (5 double sided pages, font no smaller than 10 point). Submit your electronic response to catherine.sullivan@usda.gov on or before 1700 MST, 28 February, 2022.  Reference the Notice Number 12318722Q0096 in the subject line of the email and on all enclosed documents. No phone or email solicitations with regards to the status of a potential solicitation or RFQ will be accepted prior to its release.