DESCRIPTION

The U.S. Army is seeking innovative humanoid technology solutions from eligible small and large businesses across the globe to advance toward fielded militarized humanoid capabilities through the xTechHumanoid competition. This platform offers participants the opportunity to engage with the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), earn prize money and potentially receive a contract award or agreement of up to $1.25 million.  

The U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (ASA(ALT)) is partnering with the Humanoid Community of Collaboration, a collaboration with the joint service and DOD, to deliver the xTechHumanoid competition. The U.S. Army recognizes that the U.S. DOD must enhance engagements with industry by (1) understanding the spectrum of ‘world-class’ technologies being developed commercially that may benefit U.S. DOD; (2) integrating the sector of non-traditional innovators into the U.S. DoD Science and Technology (S&T) ecosystem; and (3) providing expertise and feedback to accelerate, mature, and transition technologies of interest to the U.S. DOD in support of the Soldier.  

The xTechHumanoid competition will consist of two rounds:  

(1) Call for concept white papers; and  

(2) Final experimentation event.  

The U.S. Army intends to award up to $490,000 in cash prizes throughout the competition to selected participants. Up to ten (10) finalists will receive a cash prize of $25,000 each and an opportunity to participate in a live experimentation event with a panel of U.S. Army and DOD subject matter experts (SMEs) in August/September 2026. Following the experimentation event, up to five (5) final winners of the competition will be selected; up to two (2) baseline humanoid systems will receive an additional cash prize of $75,000 each and up to three (3) advanced humanoid subsystems will receive an additional cash prize of $30,000 each. The Government may award follow-on contracts to one (1) or more winners, with individual awards representing a portion of the total available funding pool of up to $1.25 million. Additional details on prize structure can be found in Section VII of the RFI.  

In addition to non-dilutive cash prizes, participants will have the opportunity to participate in an Army experimentation event and engage with Army and DOD representatives through information-sharing and networking opportunities.  

The efforts described in this notice are being pursued under the authorities of 10 U.S.C. § 4025 to award cash prizes and 10 U.S. Code § 4023 for potential follow-on contracts or agreements to only those eligible and selected entities as described in this announcement.  

xTech Program competitions are 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. 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 – 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 xTechHumanoid competition may generate interest by another U.S. Army, DOD or USG organization 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 xTechHumanoid competition submissions are treated as privileged information and contents are disclosed to government employees or designated support contractors strictly for the purpose of evaluation and program support.  

The xTech Program will 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. 

Topics and Problem Statements  

The DOD, including all joint services, anticipates being faced with challenges in executing military operations against technologically advanced, numerically superior, and/or capable peer and near-peer adversaries in unprecedented complex and lethal operational environments. The initial phases of such conflicts will possibly come at significant human cost as well as loss of equipment, platforms, and materiel resources.  

Militarized humanoid capabilities, when matured, are expected to deliver combat power options that sustain the U.S. Armed Forces’ ability to conduct military operations and enable a broader range of cost-effective, resource-efficient warfighting approaches. These capabilities are intended to augment and operate alongside, rather than replace, Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, and Airmen. Militarized humanoid capabilities are expected to mitigate risk and reduce exposure of warfighters to high-threat environments, ultimately saving lives.  

Definition and Distinction  

A militarized humanoid is defined as a technological replication of a human warfighter in form, capabilities, and functions. While militarized humanoids share technological foundations with unmanned systems, they are distinct in that they utilize unmanned systems as tools, similarly to human warfighters for purposes such as:  

• Acquiring information in areas not directly observable; 
• Targeting and delivering effects in locations inaccessible to direct engagement; 
• Transporting loads and capabilities across terrains or environments not suitable for human or humanoid presence. 

Focus Areas  

The U.S. Army is seeking innovative solutions for prototype militarized humanoid capabilities in the following topic areas: 

• Baseline Humanoid System 
• Advanced Humanoid Subsystems 

Baseline Humanoid System  

The prototype militarized humanoids will be employed for force augmentation in a broad range of small unit tasks, including but not limited to:  

• Security for facilities, check points and lines of communication 
• Gap crossings (moving materials, bridge development and assessments, etc.) 
• Obstacle reconnaissance, clearing, and reduction 
• Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) reconnaissance and clearing 
• Fire fighting 
• Sustainment and maintenance 
• Forward reconnaissance and surveillance (dismounted, mounted) 
• Offensive and defensive missions such as establishing and securing footholds in urban terrain 

Advanced Humanoid Subsystems  

Proposals for advanced humanoid subsystems should address opportunities to improve on the foundation of baseline militarized humanoid capabilities, such as:  

• Advanced EO, thermal/IR, and other sensors (acoustic, radars, x-ray, periscopes, range detection, targeting, chemical-biological-radiological-nuclear-explosive (CBRNE), etc.) 
• Tethered/untethered nano or micro unmanned air sensors launched from the militarized humanoid form 
• Embedded control mechanisms for employment of nano or micro unmanned air sensors 
• Embedded control mechanisms for employment of small unit unmanned air and ground systems and unattended sensor systems 
• Advanced autonomy AI for autonomous mission planning and mission execution 
• Power supporting independent militarized humanoid operation beyond the baseline and out to 6-months 
• Advanced counter detection of physical, thermal, optical, signal, and other humanoid form signatures 
• Advanced physical and electronic protection 
• Embedded universal control for external unmanned systems 
• Other innovative enhancements 

Militarized humanoids will eventually be expected to perform basic individual and collective Warrior Skill Level 1 tasks unassisted and as part of small units in concert with other militarized humanoids and human warfighters. Offerors may choose (but are NOT required) to strengthen their submissions by incorporating video presentations of how their militarized humanoid designs will lead to the fulfillment of key tasks as described in Appendix A in the RFI.  

Please see Appendix B in the RFI for the performance expectations of baseline militarized humanoid system and advanced topic humanoid subsystems that will be evaluated in this xTechHumanoid competition.

If you are interested in learning more about xTechHumanoid competition and connecting directly with the competition topic authors, please join us for a live Informational Webinar on August 14, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. ET by registering here: xTechHumanoid Informational Session.

If you couldn’t attend the xTechHumanoid Informational Webinar, watch the recording here.

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; 
• Shall be incorporated in, and maintain, a primary place of business in the U.S. or a 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 to the Government for work described in the problem statement; 
• Shall not be controlled by, funded by, or under the jurisdiction or direction of foreign adversaries. 
• 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.