Description
The Kansas Department of Agriculture is seeking competitive proposals from qualified vendors to provide operations and maintenance of a Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) test range. The test range will be used for agricultural applications in the state of Kansas, including livestock management, grassland management, and crop production. The successful bidder will be required to demonstrate experience researching UAS and BVLOS technology, products, and/or services for the benefit of the agriculture industry in the state of Kansas. The bidder will also be required to provide a work plan, costs, and methodology for establishing the test range. Key aspects of the project include:
• Demonstrating approval to operate and maintain a BVLOS test range by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
• Providing documentation of the ability to host fixed-wing, multirotor, rotary-wing, or other BVLOS UAS testing applications
• Demonstrating experience researching UAS and BVLOS technology for agricultural applications
• Providing a work plan and costs for establishing the test range
• Providing a summary of projects related to agricultural unmanned aerial systems
• Providing guidelines for storing and securing collected data
Some of the deliverables for this project include:
• Establishing a BVLOS test range for agricultural applications
• Providing operations and maintenance of the test range
• Conducting research and testing of UAS and BVLOS technology for agricultural applications
• Providing reports and data on the results of the research and testing
The project timeline includes:
• Date of full execution of contract: 50% mobilization payment
• June 30th, 2026, or when the vendor demonstrates an effective and operational test range: 40% project payment
• The remaining 10% to be paid out in six $50,000 increments following receipt of each of the semi-annual reporting requirements