The State of North Dakota is establishing a statewide cooperative purchasing contract to acquire NDAA‑compliant unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), associated sensors, software, integration services, training, maintenance, repair, and technical support. The procurement supports the Drone Replacement Program and future integration with the Vantis Beyond Visual Line‑of‑Sight (BVLOS) network. Vendors must demonstrate that their platforms are on the DCMA Blue List or AUVSI Green List (or obtain state pre‑qualification), meet performance specifications across multiple lift categories, provide robust warranty and lifecycle support, and satisfy strict cybersecurity, data‑residency, and insurance requirements. The contract term is three years with possible renewals, and the anticipated equipment spend is roughly $8 million.
• NDAA‑compliant UAS hardware covering small, medium, heavy‑lift, aerial‑application, VTOL/fixed‑wing, indoor/educational, and “other” categories.
• Required sensors include thermal, multispectral, LiDAR, EO/EO‑zoom, acoustic, RTK/PPK, and auxiliary payloads.
• Mandatory services: preventive maintenance, repair, operator and maintenance training, 24×7 technical support, and integration with the Vantis BVLOS network.
• Vendor obligations: provide insurance (≥ $2 M CG liability, workers’ comp), adhere to strict data‑security and breach‑notification timelines, and maintain documentation for a minimum of three years.