DESCRIPTION

The U.S. Army is seeking innovative technology solutions from eligible small businesses across the U.S. through the Expeditionary Technology Search (xTech|Search) competition. This platform offers participants the opportunity to pitch novel technology solutions—whether a new application for an existing technology or an entirely new technology concept—to the Army, engage with the Department of War (DoW), earn prize money, join an accelerator program and submit a Phase I Army Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Phase I Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) proposal.  

​The U.S. Army FUZE xTech Program, managed under the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology (ASA(ALT)), recognizes the importance of strengthening partnerships with U.S. small businesses by (1) understanding the spectrum of world-class technologies being developed commercially that may benefit the DoW; (2) integrating the sector of non-traditional innovators into the DoW Science and Technology (S&T) ecosystem; and (3) providing expertise and feedback to accelerate, mature, transition, and scale technologies of interest to the DoW.   

​The xTech|Search 10 competition will consist of four (4) rounds:   

1. Concept white papers;   
2. Virtual semifinals pitch event;  
3. ​Finals demonstration event; and 
4. Opportunity to submit a Phase I Army SBIR or STTR proposal.  

​The competition will award up to $1,000,000 in cash prizes throughout the competition to selected participants. The award structure is as follows: 

• ​Semifinalists (Part 1): Up to 50 semifinalists will be selected at the conclusion of the Part 1 submission evaluation period to receive a cash prize of $5,000 each and the opportunity to conduct a virtual pitch on their technology concept to a panel of Army and DoW subject matter experts (SMEs) in January 2027. 
• ​Finalists (Part 2): Up to 20 finalists will be selected at the conclusion of the semifinals to receive an additional cash prize of $20,000 each and an opportunity to demonstrate their solution to a panel of Army and DoW SMEs at or around eMerge Americas in Miami in March 2027. 
• ​Winners (Part 3): Following the finals event, up to three (3) winners will be selected to receive an additional cash prize of first place: $200,000; second place: $100,000; and third place: $50,000. Finalists and final winners may also submit a Phase I Army SBIR or STTR proposal worth up to $300,000 to further develop and demonstrate proof of concept with an Army customer. ​

​Additional details on prize structure can be found in Section VII of the RFI.  

​The xTech|Search 10 competition aims to accelerate the integration of small businesses into the Army’s S&T ecosystem by facilitating research engagement opportunities with Army labs, including authorized access to the Army’s organic intellectual and technical capital. Throughout the competition, participants will receive feedback from Army and DoW stakeholders and finalists will have an opportunity to participate in an xTech Accelerator, offering access to training, mentorship and transition-focused support to help align technology solutions with end users and acquisition stakeholders across the Army and broader DoW. 

​The xTech|Search 10 competition is conducted in accordance with 10 U.S.C. § 4025, which authorizes the use of prize competitions to stimulate innovation and identify promising technologies for national security applications. Requirements for competition under 10 U.S.C. § 3201 are satisfied upon completion of the challenge and use of prize authority. As such, this competition serves as a competitive down select mechanism that enables government organizations to engage with finalists and winners through a variety of follow-on acquisition pathways, including but not limited to: 

• ​10 U.S.C. § 4114 – Selection of contractors for prototype projects 
• ​10 U.S.C. § 4022 – Prototype projects 
• ​10 U.S.C. § 4023 – Procurement for experimental purposes 
• ​10 U.S.C. § 4001 – Research and development 
• ​10 U.S.C. § 4021 – Other Transaction Authority (OTA) 
• ​15 U.S.C. § 3703 – Technology innovation partnerships 
• ​15 U.S.C. § 638 – SBIR|STTR Programs ​ 

​Government organizations are encouraged to consider leveraging these statutory authorities to pursue follow-on awards with companies identified through the xTech competition process. This approach supports rapid technology maturation, accelerates the transition of innovative capabilities to the field, and promotes collaboration with non-traditional and small business performers. 

​While the authority of this program is 10 U.S.C. § 4025, the xTech|Search 10 competition may generate interest by another U.S. Army, DoW or United States Government (USG) organization for a funding opportunity outside of this program (e.g., submission of a proposal under a Broad Agency Announcement). The interested organization may contact the participant to provide additional information or ask for a request for proposal in a separate solicitation. Finalists of the prize competition may be invited to submit a separate proposal for further development of their proposed technology solution based on the needs of the Army. The Army may use a contract mechanism of their choice and will notify the participants accordingly.   

​All xTech|Search 10 competition submissions may be reviewed by Government personnel and authorized nongovernmental evaluators supporting the competition. Nongovernmental evaluators will be subject to applicable nondisclosure, conflict-of-interest, access-control, and use restrictions. The Government will not disclose properly marked proprietary information outside the Government except as authorized by law and the participant’s submission agreement. Information will not be disclosed to a foreign government or foreign person unless the disclosure is separately authorized and consistent with applicable export-control, security, and foreign-disclosure requirements.  ​ 

​The Army FUZE xTech Program intends to provide feedback from evaluators to participants during each part of the competition. The purpose of providing this feedback is to help accelerate the transition of the technology to an Army end-user by providing insight into the best applications for the technology, suggestions for product improvement for Army use and recommended next steps for development. However, the Government may not respond to questions or inquiries regarding this feedback.  ​ 

​Problem Statement 

​xTech|Search is an open-topic competition designed to identify groundbreaking technologies with strong commercial traction that may also provide game-changing capabilities for the Army. This competition will be used to competitively down-select up to 20 finalists who can submit a Phase I Army SBIR proposal under topic “ARM26BX05-NP011 xTech|Search 10 Competition” or a Phase I Army STTR Topic under “ARM26TX05-NP002 xTech|Search 10 Competition” for a potential follow-on award of up to $300,000. By partnering with the Army FUZE SBIR|STTR Program, technologies that are selected from this competition to have the highest potential impact on the Army will have a structured pathway to continue developing those solutions for Army systems alongside Army customers. xTech|Search encourages submissions that may not be familiar with the Army problem your technology can solve, but can clearly articulate the solution’s advantage, the technical viability, and commercial potential. The xTech|Search competition is supported by a wide range of subject matter experts across the Army and DoW to help evaluate the potential of your technology to improve operational effectiveness, reduce lifecycle costs, and accelerate the transition of cutting-edge technology into Army systems. ​ 

​To accelerate the rapid delivery of transformative operational capabilities, this competition invites industry partners to submit innovative technologies addressing any valid Army need or capability gap; however, highest priority will be placed on solutions that align directly with the core priorities of the newly established Army Pathway for Innovation and Technology (PIT) office and broader Army. The PIT is chartered to rapidly bridge the ‘valley of death’ by matching Soldier-driven innovation with streamlined transition pathways to support Warfighter-identified gaps at the Corps and Division levels. 

​While we welcome all submissions addressing any valid Army need, our evaluation will give strong consideration to technologies that directly address critical Army Warfighting Functions across PIT’s key focus areas. These priority areas include, but are not limited to: 

• ​All Arms Maneuver: Expand combined arms operational reach through endurance and lethality to exploit all-domain maneuver, both manned and unmanned (e.g., autonomous breaching and terrain shaping). 
• ​Command and Control (C2) and Counter-C2 Networks: Deliver survivable communications, mobile multi-domain C2 decision systems, deep-sensing battlefield visibility, electromagnetic and cyberspace advantage, and resilient command posts capable of denying and disrupting adversary ISR and targeting operations (e.g., resilient communications, deep sensing, and C2 overmatch). 
• ​Formation-Based Layered Protection: Enhance multi-domain force readiness and deliver advanced protection, signature management, and concealment capabilities to safeguard dispersed formations across all operational environments (e.g., adaptive camouflage and force protection). 
• ​Adaptive Sustainment: Enable rapid inter- and intra-theater strategic lift, prolonged expeditionary supply and power distribution, forward maintenance and equipment fabrication, and resilient mass-casualty medical care and Soldier support across distributed operational environments (e.g., distributed tactical logistics and inter/intra-theater lift). 
• ​Cross Domain Fires: Enable rapid, synchronized deliberate and dynamic joint targeting, multi-domain kinetic and non-kinetic (cyber/EW) effects delivery, persistent air and missile defense against UAS and advanced threats, and resilient control of protected space-domain assets. 

​Technologies that fall exclusively within the portfolio of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC), which include military infectious diseases, military operational medicine, chemical biological defense, and clinical and rehabilitative medicine, are excluded from xTech|Search. 

​The xTech|Search 10 competition is voluntary and open to all entities that meet eligibility requirements listed in Section II (Eligibility Requirements) of the RFI. Only one (1) submission per eligible entity is permitted.  

SCHEDULE AND PRIZES

ELIGIBILITY

Small, for-profit, independent U.S. businesses. Restrictions exist about (1) the type of firm; (2) its ownership structure; (3) the firm’s size in terms of the number of employees; and (4) prior, current, or pending support of similar proposals or awards, as follows:  

1. Type of Firm: An eligible firm must be organized as a for‐profit concern and meet all the other small business requirements in 13 C.F.R. § 121.702. Non‐profit entities are not eligible. 
2. Ownership and Control: A majority (more than 50%) of an eligible firm’s equity (e.g., stock) must be directly owned and controlled by one (1) of the following: 
   • One (1) or more individuals who are citizens or permanent resident aliens of the U.S.; 
   • Other for‐profit small business concerns (SBCs) (each of which is directly owned and controlled by individuals who are citizens or permanent resident aliens of the U.S.); or  
   • A combination of (a) and (b) above. 
     • Note: If an employee stock ownership plan owns all or part of the concern, each stock trustee and plan member is considered an owner. If a trust owns all or part of the concern, each trustee and trust beneficiary is considered an owner. 
3. Size: An eligible firm, together with the affiliates, must not have more than 500 employees.
4. Prior, Current, or Pending Support with Similar Technology: Proposals submitted in response to this prize competition must not be substantially the same as another proposal that was funded, is now being funded, or is pending contract award with another federal agency. Small businesses with any questions concerning prior, current, or pending support of similar proposals or awards must disclose those as early as possible to the Army FUZE xTech Program Office.

Companies that have previously participated in xTech|Search competitions are eligible to apply with new technology concepts or improvements to previously submitted proposals.  

Failure to meet any of the above requirements will result in ineligibility for award. The USG reserves the right to verify eligibility and make all final determinations at its sole discretion.