Key takeaways
- When Florida's ban on drones from a foreign country of concern took effect on April 5, 2023, the Broward Sheriff's Office grounded 63 drones bought for about $300,000, and Miami-Dade police and fire rescue grounded 41 drones that cost more than $200,000.
- Common ways agencies buy drones: GSA MAS SIN 334220, Blue UAS (DCMA).
- Rules to plan for: American Security Drone Act (FAR 52.240-1), FCC Covered List for foreign-produced UAS, Blue UAS list.
- A contract vehicle or vendor registration makes buying easier, but it doesn't create demand. The vendors that win reach program owners before budgets and bids are set.
Who buys drones in government
Purchases of drones happen across federal agencies, states, counties, cities, school districts and colleges, hospitals, tribal governments, special districts and public utilities. The people you'll deal with usually include:
- Police and sheriff drone units (often run out of special operations or aviation units)
- Fire departments and emergency management agencies
- State departments of transportation (bridge and road inspection)
- Utilities and public works (infrastructure inspection)
- Federal land and natural resource agencies
- Defense Department program offices
- University research programs
- Purchasing agents and grant managers
The purchasing office runs the process, but the program owner who has the problem usually decides what gets bought. Reach both. See government buyer roles for how they work together.
The government drones market
- When Florida's ban on drones from a foreign country of concern took effect on April 5, 2023, the Broward Sheriff's Office grounded 63 drones bought for about $300,000, and Miami-Dade police and fire rescue grounded 41 drones that cost more than $200,000. (DroneLife, Florida ban on foreign drones for state use takes effect (2023))
How agencies buy drones
Small purchases under an agency's threshold can often be made with a quote or a purchase card. Larger purchases need a formal bid or an existing contract. These are the contract vehicles agencies commonly use for drones:
| Contract vehicle | What it is |
|---|---|
| GSA MAS SIN 334220 - Surveillance Systems, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)/Drones, Wearable Body Cameras, and Vehicular Video Equipment | GSA's MAS Refresh 29 made 334220 the only MAS SIN for UAS/drones, including parts, accessories and related services, and moved drones out of SIN 334515. |
| Blue UAS (DCMA) | The Defense Department's list of cleared, NDAA-compliant drones and components; management moved from DIU to DCMA on December 3, 2025, and it is shifting toward a marketplace. |
Thresholds differ by state and agency; see our state procurement thresholds. For which cooperatives cover which categories, see cooperative contracts by category.
Rules and requirements for selling drones
| Requirement | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| American Security Drone Act (FAR 52.240-1) | Federal contractors cannot deliver drones from covered foreign entities on the FASC list in SAM, and from December 22, 2025 cannot operate them on federal contracts or buy them with federal funds unless a waiver applies. |
| FCC Covered List for foreign-produced UAS | On December 22, 2025 the FCC added all foreign-produced UAS and UAS critical components to the Covered List, blocking new FCC authorizations; items on DCMA's Blue UAS list and qualifying domestic end products got exemptions that run until January 1, 2027. |
| Blue UAS list | Many defense buyers, and some states, look for drones on the Blue UAS list as proof of NDAA compliance, and third-party assessors evaluate platforms and components. |
| State drone bans (example: Florida section 934.50) | Florida bars state and local agencies from using drones made in a foreign country of concern, and other states have passed or considered similar laws, so vendors must check each state's rules. |
Requirements vary by agency and contract. Read each solicitation's terms, and check with the buyer when in doubt. This isn't legal advice.
Buying signals to watch
These events often mean an agency will buy drones soon:
- A state passes or tightens a foreign-drone ban, forcing agencies to replace fleets
- Agencies grounding non-compliant drones after a federal or state deadline
- Police or fire departments launching drone-as-first-responder programs
- Public safety grant awards that list UAS as an allowable cost
- DOT or utility plans for bridge, road or line inspection programs
For more, see our guide to government buying signals and the contract expirations guide.
A sales process for selling drones
- Register. Get into SAM.gov for federal work and each state or local vendor portal you'll sell into. Use our vendor registration checklist.
- Pick your path to purchase. Decide which contract vehicles above fit your target buyers, and whether a reseller or partner already holds one.
- Build the target list. Identify the agencies with the need, the budget and the buying authority, and the people who own the problem.
- Start conversations early. Reach program owners while budgets and requirements are still being written, not after an RFP is posted.
- Follow through to purchase. Help the buyer pick the method, whether a cooperative purchase, quote or formal bid. When a bid comes, use our RFP response guide.
How KSG helps you sell drones
Kensington Sales Group runs outbound sales development for companies selling to the public sector. Our SDRs research your target agencies, find the program owners and purchasing contacts, and book meetings for your sales team across Federal, SLED, K-12 and higher ed, healthcare, tribal, special district and utility markets. We also run bilingual English and Spanish outreach across the Western Hemisphere.
See how our outsourced SDR service works.
Sources
- DroneLife, Florida ban on foreign drones for state use takes effect (2023)
- GSA MAS SIN 334220 - Surveillance Systems, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)/Drones, Wearable Body Cameras, and Vehicular Video Equipment
- Blue UAS (DCMA)
- American Security Drone Act (FAR 52.240-1)
- FCC Covered List for foreign-produced UAS
Checked November 2, 2026.