How it works
Why it matters: The Army Drone Marketplace opened Mar. 24, 2026, under a Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) that stays open indefinitely. Acting Army Secretary Adam Telle said marketplace orders total about $800M.28,30,31
- Brief or answer a Call Send an Innovative Warfighter Solutions (IWS) brief, or answer a posted Call.
- Get a BOA A Basic Ordering Agreement: pre-agreed terms and fixed prices. Not a purchase.
- Provisional → Cleared Provisional status limits how much you can sell. Aim for Cleared.
- Units order Soldiers buy and rate products like on Amazon. Market to units directly.
- Who's behind it The Army Project Manager for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (PM UAS), under the Program Executive Office (PEO) for Aviation, buys Group 1 to 3 drones, payloads and components. Army Contracting Command Redstone (ACC-Redstone) runs the contracting.28,31 Topics it takes (AOIs, Areas of Interest: the topic categories the CSO lists for pitches): drones, counter-drone, payloads, autonomy, launched effects and drone production.
- Two Calls open now Call 0007: payloads, software, components and accessories. Call 0008: Group 3 drones (TRL 7+, or a plan to reach it), Provisional or Cleared, firm-fixed-price BOAs.32,33 The same marketplaces are the route to pre-clearance for FMS Fast Lane sales to partner nations (29 nations).29
What this means for you
Getting a BOA is a hunting license, not revenue. The marketplace gets you on the shelf. Units still have to choose you, so plan field support and training as part of the product.
Next step: Pick the AOI that matches your product and draft your IWS brief using Template C.
Provisional to Cleared
Why it matters: Provisional status limits how much you can sell. Aim for Cleared.32 Call 0008 lays out how a drone moves through onboarding (SAM.gov, Call 0008).
- Initial packet Submit an Initial Acceptance Packet (IAP): company, product and technical data.
- Demo If the packet passes, demonstrate the system. Demos are pass/fail.
- NDAA check Without enough proof of compliance, you start Provisional. Army assessors tear down the system. PM UAS pays the labor; you pay shipping both ways.
- Cleared + BOA Pass, then submit a full proposal and price list to set up the Basic Ordering Agreement (BOA).
- A BOA is not an order Call 0008 says the BOA "does not constitute a production contract or guarantee any future orders."
- Units choose End users pick among marketplace systems on price and lead time. Soldiers rate products like on Amazon.30
Price list contents (Call 0008)
The price proposal becomes the official BOA price list and must cover, at a minimum: the complete drone, mission payloads, recommended spares, standard repairs, operator and maintainer training, technical support and the standard commercial warranty.
What this means for you
Getting onboarded puts you on the shelf. Training, spares and lead time are part of what units compare, so price them as part of the product.
Next step: Build your price list with every line Call 0008 requires before you submit.
Your moves
Do this next · This Week
- Confirm Gate 0: SAM, UEI and CAGE are live, plus WAWF/PIEE invoicing if the award requires it.
- Confirm Gate 1: parts list clean under Sec. 848/817, or note Provisional status on the marketplace.
- Pick the AOI (Area of Interest, the CSO's topic category) that fits and draft an IWS solution brief (Template C).
- Email the brief to the IWS mailbox with the AOI in the subject line. The CSO says briefs without it will not be reviewed.
- Parts, payload or Group 3 company? Answer Call 0007 or 0008 instead.
- Line up field support and training. Soldier ratings follow your product.
Drone Marketplace Commercial Solutions Opening
Status: ROLLING · OPEN UNTIL CANCELED
What: Rolling IWS solution briefs and posted Calls. AOIs: UAS, C-UAS, payloads, autonomy, launched effects, drone production.
Buyer: Dept of the Army · PM UAS / ACC-Redstone
Notice: W58RGZ26SC001 · Solicitation
Respond: IWS brief to usarmy.redstone.cpe-avn.mbx.uasmarketplaceiws@army.mil, AOI (Area of Interest) in subject
Link: sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/62697af1af6144d2beff760fbbbeee2
Call 0007: Onboarding of US Payloads, Software, Components, Enablers
Status: ROLLING · ENDURING CALL
What: Onboard payloads, software, components and enablers to the Drone Marketplace (BOA).
Buyer: Dept of the Army · ACC-Redstone
Notice: W58RGZ-26-S-C001-0007 · Solicitation
Respond: Per Call instructions
Link: sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/210353483466473ab10abed885e3951
Call 0008: Drone Marketplace Onboarding of Group 3 UAS
Status: ROLLING · ENDURING CALL, UP TO 5 YEARS
What: Group 3 drones (TRL 7+, or a plan to reach it). Provisional or Cleared. Firm-fixed-price BOAs.
Buyer: Dept of the Army · ACC-Redstone
Notice: W58RGZ-26-S-C001-0008 · Solicitation
Respond: Per Call / Statement of Objectives
Link: sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/36d4d5bb3e4f48499d1aea7a22432e4
In the tracker snapshot
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