Overview
This section implements the American Security Drone Act to prohibit the federal procurement, delivery, and operation of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) manufactured or assembled by specific foreign entities identified by the Federal Acquisition Security Council (FASC).
Key Rules
- Delivery Prohibition: Contractors are strictly prohibited from delivering any UAS or associated elements manufactured or assembled by FASC-covered foreign entities.
- Operational & Funding Ban: Effective December 22, 2025, contractors are prohibited from operating covered UAS in the performance of a contract and from using Federal funds to procure or operate such systems.
- Verification Requirement: Contractors must search the System for Award Management (SAM) to identify covered foreign entities before proposing or using any UAS in contract performance.
- Definitions: The rule covers not only the aircraft (drones) but also associated elements, including communication links and control components.
- Mandatory Flow-down: The substance of this clause must be included in all subcontracts, including those for commercial products or commercial services.
Practical Implications
- Contractors must conduct immediate supply chain audits to ensure drone fleets and components do not originate from FASC-prohibited entities listed in SAM.gov.
- The December 2025 deadline creates a firm "sunset" date for the use of existing prohibited drone technology, requiring firms to budget for and transition to compliant hardware to maintain contract eligibility.