TACTICAL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM (UAS) SERVICE FOR INTELLIGENCE SURVEILLANCE AND RECONNAISSANCE ...

The UN intends to conduct a procurement exercise for the fully manned services of tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for the provision of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) services in support of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (“MINUSMA or the “Mission”). The UN is seeking a turnkey solution, including the provision of Tactical UAS in accordance with (iaw) the standards contained in Annex 1, 6 and 8 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (the Convention) and associated service components, maintenance, personnel and exploitation of the imagery and data. The contractor may also be required to provide the necessary infrastructure for its equipment and personnel. The imagery data must be made available to the UN in an unencrypted, non-proprietory format. The UAS and service components will be mainly static, based and operated out of MINUSMA Main Operating Base (MOB) in Kidal in accordance with the operational requirement defined by MINUSMA. However, due to operational reasons, there is a potential for MINUSMA Force to deploy the asset to other locations within the AOR such as Gao, Menaka, Thessalit and Aguelhok for temporary or surge operations. The UN anticipates acquiring a minimum of two (2) tasking lines (TL) which must be able to operate simultaneously from its MOB in Kidal. The basing of the TLs will be determined at the time of deployment based on operational and intelligence factors. The service will consist of two (2) simultaneous Tasking Lines (TL) at FOC with the option to future increase of TLs through the term of the agreement, as requested by MINUSMA.The contract also requires the provision of the necessary infrastructure for its equipment and personnel. The imagery data must be made available to the UN in an unencrypted, non-proprietary format. All data, images, video clips, information, meta-data, renderings and information captured by the UAV and stored by the UAS shall remain the property of the UN (“UN Data”) and shall become the property of the UN upon its capture or creation by the Operator. The UN expects the Services to start in Q4 2022 or soon thereafter. It is expected that contract will be for a period of 3 years, extendable at the option of the UN to 4 and 5 years. The UN is looking to contract with a company that has a proven record of recent, similar operational experience. The ability to expedite the initial mobilization of the capability will be considered an advantage. Due to the nature of UN peacekeeping operations, the Services may involve operations into high threat level hostile areas with little ground support or where security cannot be fully guaranteed. The security situation in Mali is fluid and armed elements are active in the country. These elements present logistical and security challenges.