Advanced Communications Experiment – Cross-border Autonomous Vehicle Session Persistence Experiment and Research

The Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (Office of Mission and Capability Support) is issuing RFI 70RSAT26RFI000017 to gather market information for the ACE‑CASPER Bi‑National Experiment, a multi‑day cross‑border test on the U.S.–Canada border scheduled for late fall 2026. DHS seeks technology providers of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Autonomous Vehicles (AV) that can demonstrate reliable 5G connectivity (single‑ or multi‑SIM), session persistence, and command‑and‑control (C2ISR) performance in cold‑weather conditions. UAS must achieve at least 30 minutes of flight time, support modem fail‑over or swap, and include full airframe, propulsion, avionics, communications, and payload capabilities. AVs must meet comparable subsystem requirements, provide defined battery‑life metrics (time and distance, hot‑swap capability), and incorporate a Detect‑and‑Avoid alerting system for collision warnings. The experiment does not require autonomous decision‑making or AI navigation; the primary focus is on validating 5G‑based communications and C2 functions. Responses are due May 8, 2026, 5:00 p.m. EST via NGFR hq.dhs.gov and may include an optional five‑page whitepaper with clearly marked proprietary information. Participants must indicate prototype availability by May 29, 2026, and staff support for integration, dry‑run, and final experiment activities. No costs will be reimbursed. The RFI is for market research only (NAICS 541712; PSC 1550) and does not constitute a solicitation or guarantee of future contract award.

Notice ID

1325aa9067684e208b3e51b154401ae0

Solicitation Number

70RSAT26RFI000017

NAICS Code

541715

Classification Code

1550