DESCRIPTION

The Army is conducting a change of mission to focus on combating the COVID-19 pandemic. With this new mission, the Army will protect the force, posture the force to maintain global operational readiness, and support the national effort to fight against COVID-19. The Army continually assesses how we will best protect Soldiers, Civilians and their families, maintain force readiness to meet global challenges, and provide support to the FEMA-lead national COVID-19 response. Accordingly, effective immediately, the Army Acquisition Executive is launching the xTech: COVID-19 Ventilator Challenge to all innovators across the nation. The Army solicits the innovation community’s ideas for combatting this unprecedented modern pandemic. The prize competition will evaluate technology proposals immediately upon submission and award novel solutions with a prize of $5,000 to present a virtual pitch of the technology concept to the xTech COVID-19 panel, and award prizes of $100,000 to solutions accepted by the panel to develop a concept prototype. Select technologies may receive follow on contracts for additional production and deployment.

The efforts described in this Notice are being pursued under the authorities of 10 USC 2374a

Problem Statement

The Army seeks a low-cost, readily manufacturable emergency ventilator to quickly augment ventilator capacity in the exigent COVID-19 pandemic. The technology solution must provide a rapid response breathing apparatus capable of short-term, rugged field operation. In addition, the ventilator must be low cost, require minimal components, with a small footprint, and designed for mass production. Ideally, the technology would support field hospitals that are still acquiring critical infrastructure such as generators, power distribution and pressurized oxygen. The objective capabilities include:

• Readily manufacturable materials and parts
• Accommodate standard hoses and fittings
• Respiratory rate of 0 to 60 bpm
• Tidal volume of 50 to 1000 mL
• Ability to measure and control peak inspiratory pressure
• Adjustable inspiratory to expiratory time ratio
• Ability to support triggered breaths
• Provides Positive End Expiratory Pressure (PEEP)
• Able to use ambient air, or low-pressure oxygen
• Able to operate off generator power sources
• Able to trigger alarms for key critical parameters, such as disconnect from patients, apnea, pressure, power failures

SCHEDULE AND PRIZES

PHASE 1: Concept Quad Chart and Video

Apr 5, 2020 - Apr 30, 2020

Based on Army need

$5,000/Winner

PHASE 2: Prototype Proposals

Apr 17, 2020 - May 30, 2020

Based on Army need

$100,000/winner

PHASE 3:

-

PHASE 4:

-

ELIGIBILITY

The Ventilator Challenge is voluntary and open to all US-based entities.