DESCRIPTION

​​The U.S. Army is seeking innovative autonomous ground system and launched effects system solutions from eligible small and large businesses across the globe through the xTech|Edge Strike: Ground competition. This platform offers participants the opportunity to engage with the  U.S. Department of War (DoW), earn prize money and potentially receive a contract award or agreement.   

​​The U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (ASA(ALT))is partnering with the U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF) and Global Tactical Edge Acquisition Directorate (G-TEAD) to deliver the xTech|Edge Strike: Ground competition. This initiative supports the U.S. Army’s broader effort to (1) identify and understand the spectrum of “world-class” technologies being developed commercially that benefit the U.S. military; (2) integrate non-traditional innovators into the U.S. DoW Science and Technology (S&T)ecosystem; (3) provide expertise and feedback to accelerate, mature, and transition technologies to support operational forces; and (4) deliver attritable, scalable capabilities that can be delivered within 90 days of challenge completion.   

​​The xTech|Edge Strike: Ground competition will consist of two phases:   

​​(1) Application, including the following:   

​​a. Four (4)-page white paper;   

​​b. Required five-minute video; 

​c. Self-certification of minimum requirements;  

​​d. Per unit pricing, to include volume discount options; and 

​​e. Information on prior demonstrations with DoW or allied/partner nations   

​​(2) Final experimentation event (March 2026 Grafenwörh, Germany.)   

​​The U.S. Army intends to award up to $2 million in cash prizes throughout the competition to selected participants. Up to 15 finalists will be selected at the conclusion of the Part 1 submission evaluation period and will receive a cash prize of $25,000 each, along with the opportunity to participate in the Part 2 finals live experimentation event with a panel of U.S. Army, DoW, and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) subject-matter experts (SMEs) and end users in March 2026. Following the experimentation event, up to five (5) final winners will be selected to receive an additional cash prize of $275,000 each. Final winners may be considered for addition to the Global Tactical Edge Acquisition Directorate (G-TEAD) Marketplace, making them eligible for potential follow-on agreements and contracting opportunities. Any follow-on agreements are at the Government’s sole discretion and subject to availability of funding. If awarded, the Government intends for capability delivery within 90 days of agreement award. Additional details on prize structure can be found in Section VII of the RFI.   

​​Final winners must have a CAGE/NCAGE code and sign the Master Business Agreement (MBA) to be eligible for addition into the G-TEAD Marketplace. A CAGE/NCAGE code is not required at the time of application.  

​​At the Government’s discretion, participants that do not win a prize may also be considered for opportunities to demonstrate their capability and/or be added to the marketplace.   

​​The xTech|Edge Strike: Ground 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)   
• ​​10 U.S.C. § 3458 – Authority to acquire innovative commercial products and commercial services using general solicitation competitive procedures   
• ​​15 U.S.C. § 3703 – Technology innovation partnerships   
• ​​15 U.S.C. § 638 – Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (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|Edge Strike: Ground competition may generate interest by other U.S. Army, DoW or USG organizations for a funding opportunity outside of this event. 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 have opportunities 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|Edge Strike: Ground competition submissions are treated as privileged information and contents are disclosed to government employees, designated support contractors and NATO allies strictly for the purpose of evaluation and program support.   

​​The 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 a U.S. Army end-user by providing insight into the best applications for the technology, suggestions for product improvement for U.S. Army use and recommended next steps for development. However, the Government will not respond to inquiries regarding this feedback.  

​Problem Statement 

​The U.S. Army anticipates future operations against technologically advanced adversaries in highly contested and dynamic environments. In these scenarios, the rapid evolution of ground-based threats creates significant challenges for maintaining situational awareness, maneuver, and responsive fires. Current methods for detection, sustainment, obstacle emplacement, and indirect fires require significant Soldier exposure and lack the agility needed to rapidly counter evolving threats across the autonomous zone (0-40 km). 

​Adversaries are leveraging dispersed, low-signature, and rapidly deployable ground capabilities to challenge U.S. and allied operational advantages and increase risk to personnel and critical infrastructure. Traditional emplacement, delivery, and neutralization methods are slow, manpower-intensive, and vulnerable to counteraction, limiting the Army’s ability to achieve timely, effective, and scalable effects on the battlefield.   

​The Army seeks innovative, mature, ready-to-deploy (TRL 6+) ground autonomy and launched effects solutions that enhance force protection, increase situational awareness, and provide adaptable, scalable operational capabilities. These systems may autonomously detect, identify, track, and neutralize threats, deliver precision fires, emplace obstacles and defensive positions, carry and distribute supplies, or evacuate causalities‒all while minimizing Soldier exposure. Capabilities should demonstrate rapid deployment, networked operations, effective standoff, and the ability to operate in complex terrain and degraded environments.   

​These capabilities should aim to mitigate operational risk, support rapid technology deployment, and expand collaboration with nontraditional and commercial innovators.  

​ The Army is seeking to evaluate capabilities that demonstrate performance in one of five capability areas, and meet the following criteria for its capability area:   

• ​Capability area 1: Ground Payload Delivery System (Detect, Disrupt, Defeat)   
• ​Capability area 2: Uncrewed, Automated, Modular Ground Platform 
• ​Capability area 3: Containerized Ground Launched Effect System   
• ​Capability area 4: Autonomous Minefield System 
• ​Capability area 5: Autonomous Entrenching & Obstacle System 

​Additionally, all capabilities submitted for evaluation shall meet the following criteria, as applicable: 

• ​Must have technical interoperability with at least one of the following: Integrated System Architecture (ISA), Sensing for Asset Protection with Integrated Electronic Network Technology (SAPIENT), Android Team Awareness Kit (ATAK), MAVEN Smart Systems, and Integrated Tactical Network (ITN) Radio Suite systems; 
• ​Must support the Robotic Autonomous Zone of the Eastern Flank Deterrence Line (EFDL) and generate options for NATO and Combatant Commands to buy modular systems; 
• ​Must be interoperable with sensors on a Secure, but Unclassified – Encrypted (SBUE) network to proliferate an accessible communications architecture to multi-national partners while operating in a denied, degraded, and disrupted space and spectrum operating environment; 
• ​Must be configurable to support Passive Defense Scheme; 
• ​Must be easily installed, de-installed, moved; and transported; 
• ​Must be TRL 6 or higher; 
• ​Should be iterative by nature, utilizing modular hardware augmented by adaptable software and critical components to prioritize “plug-and-play” capacity centered around Software-Defined Defense; 
• ​Should be adaptable, supporting a modular open systems architecture (MOSA) and is Size, Weight, Power, and Cost (SWaP-C) informed, interoperable with partners and allies; capable of adaptation at the tactical edge; and 
• ​Should be scalable to meet rapidly evolving end-user needs. 

​Capabilities submitted for Capability Area 3 shall also meet the following criteria: 

• ​Increase standoff distance for delivering indirect effects by at least 5km, reducing personnel exposure to enemy fire; 
• ​Achieve a 90% probability of delivering a designated effect (e.g., suppression of enemy air defense, disruption of communications) within a specified area; a 
• ​Reduce the logistical burden associated with forward-deployed fires assets by 25% through containerized, autonomous deployment; and 
• ​Containerized Ground Launched Effect System must have a maximum system weight of 500 lbs. or less for munition impact. 

​Capabilities submitted for Capability Areas 1-2 and 4-5 shall also meet the following criteria: 

• ​Must be able to traverse multiple terrains within Eastern Europe to “hide-in-plain-sight” (i.e., any UGVs).​ 

SCHEDULE AND PRIZES

ELIGIBILITY

​​Eligible entities include nonprofit organizations, for-profit organizations (i.e., large and small businesses) both domestic and foreign.   

​Each eligible entity: 

• ​Must be able to obtain a CAGE code (U.S. businesses) or NCAGE code (international businesses) to process payments and receive follow-on awards;   
• ​​Shall be incorporated in, and maintain, a primary place of business in the U.S. or an allied foreign country;  
• ​​Shall not be a U.S. Federal Government entity, foreign government entity or employ a U.S. Federal Employee acting within the scope of their employment;   
• ​​Shall not be currently under contract, agreement or other providing similar capabilities in the region under the same use case to the Government for work described in the problem statement; and   
• ​​Must not be based in a Foreign Country of Concern (FCOC), directly funded by an FCOC government or government-subsidized guidance fund, or under the influence of an FCOC government in any form.   

​Failure to meet any of the above requirements will result in ineligibility for award. All eligibility determinations are at the sole discretion of the U.S. Government.​