States now forming agreements with UAS service firms

An Alabama-based unmanned aircraft systems company has agreed to work with the state of Connecticut. Avion Unmanned out of Huntsville, Alabama, signed a participating addendum with Connecticut and its state agencies, political subdivisions and institutions to provide UAS-based services throughout the state.

Throughout the U.S., partnerships between UAS service providers and state agencies continue to grow. In New Mexico, a Virginia Beach, Virginia drone company called DroneUp LLC signed its own participating addendum with New Mexico to provide services to the state’s agencies. In August 2019, DroneUp also signed a deal with the state of Virginia.

For Connecticut, Avion will provide emergency services, law enforcement support, aerial inspection, mapping and data services, support to agricultural and gaming as well as agency media relations and marketing. The National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) helped connect the state with Avion.

"Providing a simplified direct path for government agencies at all levels to request unmanned aircraft operations is finally a reality. With the signing of this Participating Addendum with Connecticut, Avion Unmanned has been selected to provide critical data collection services to organizations who desperately need it, but have never before had a contract vehicle to acquire vetted, legal, and safe operations in a timely manner," said Taylor Abington, Senior Program Manager of Avion Unmanned.

DroneUp also worked with NASPO to earn its deal with New Mexico and Virginia. Further details and pricing for the services were not disclosed. To view available contract options and more about NASPO, click here.