DESCRIPTION

The U.S. Army would like to invite interested entities to participate in the xTechLive competition, a live pitch competition designed for eligible small to medium businesses attending Special Operations Forces (SOF) Week in Tampa, FL from May 6-7, 2025 to engage with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), compete for prize money and potentially participate in a post-competition technology pitch event.

The U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology (ASA(ALT)) is partnering with the U.S. Army Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Task Force to deliver the xTechLive competition at SOF Week 2025. The U.S. Army recognizes that the U.S. DoD must enhance engagements with industry by reaching new audiences through innovative platforms such as live pitch competitions at conferences. This initiative aims to (1) understand the spectrum of ‘world-class’ technologies being developed commercially that may benefit the U.S. DoD; (2) integrate the sector of non-traditional innovators into the U.S. DoD Science and Technology (S&T) ecosystem; and (3) provide expertise and feedback to accelerate, mature, and transition technologies of interest to the U.S. DoD.

The competition will award up to $100,000 in cash prizes to selected participants. Up to 18 applicants will be selected over the course of two (2) days at SOF Week 2025 to present their technology concepts to a live panel of U.S. Army and DoD subject matter experts (SMEs). The U.S. Army intends to select up to six (6) winners to receive a cash prize of first and second place: $25,000; third and fourth place: $15,000; and fifth and sixth place: $10,000.

Registration will take place onsite at the U.S. Army xTech Program booth, number 5024, in the JW Marriott H.B Plant Foyer at SOF Week 2025 beginning May 6, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. ET. There will be no pre registration for this competition. To be considered for a pitch presentation, interested entities must first meet the requirements outlined in Section II. Additionally, eligible entities will be required to fill out a registration form and provide a 60-second elevator pitch of their technology concept, addressing all-terrain, all-weather long-range sensing (SWaP-C, hardware, software) capabilities. This is required to ensure alignment with the U.S. Army’s objectives. For additional details, please refer to Section IV.

In addition to non-dilutive cash prizes, participants may have the opportunity to engage with U.S. Army and DoD experts attending SOF Week 2025, receiving valuable feedback on their innovations.

The efforts described in this notice are being pursued under the authorities of Title 10 U.S.C. § 4025 to award cash prizes as described in this announcement. While the authority of this program operates under Title 10 U.S.C. § 4025, the xTechLive competition may generate interest by another U.S. Army, DoD 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. Winners 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 U.S. Army. The Army may use a contract mechanism of their choice and will notify the participants accordingly.

The U.S. Army xTech Program utilizes the online evaluation and feedback tool, Valid Eval, to accept applications and streamline the evaluation and feedback process. xTech will provide a feedback report to participants following the live pitch event that will be accessible through the tool. The purpose of providing this report is to assist in potentially accelerating transition of the technology to a U.S. Army end-user by providing insight on best applications for the technology, suggestions for product improvement for Army use and recommended next steps for development. However, the U.S. Government may not respond to questions or inquiries regarding this feedback.

Topics and Problem Statements

The U.S. Army seeks capabilities to enable and/or integrate deep sensing capabilities across the U.S. Indo-Pacific Area of Operations (AOR). These capabilities must be capable of functioning across vast distances in support of disaggregated and dispersed land forces in support of the Joint Force, as well as capable of functioning in environments as unique and varied as Arctic tundra, deep jungle, and overbuilt megacities. These capabilities should include deep sensing technologies to enable tactical to strategic echelons (Division-MDTFs) the ability to conduct ISR-T and reconnaissance in all-weather conditions as well as extended range into deep areas. Capabilities can be aerial and/or terrestrial-based and should be highly survivable.

Deep-sensing, all-weather, all-terrain sensor:

• Terrain: Sensor that can operate anywhere from the Arctic to the jungle
• Weather: Sensor that can operate under all weather conditions
  • Heat, extreme cold, humidity, frost, fog, rain, etc.
• Range: Adaptable for long or short distance sensing
• Sensor needs to be flexible, adaptable, multi-INT, scalable and cost-effective
• Low Size, Weight, Power and Cost (SWaP-C)

Topic descriptions can be found in Appendix A of the RFI.

SCHEDULE AND PRIZES

PHASE 1: Onsite Registration

May 6, 2025 - May 7, 2025

Up to 18 Teams Confirmed to Pitch

Applicants will be selected at SOF Week

PHASE 2: Live Pitch Event

May 6, 2025 - May 7, 2025

Up to 6 Winners

1st-2nd Place: $25K; 3rd-4th Place: $15K; 5th-6th Place: $10K

PHASE 3: Winner Announcement

May 7, 2025 - May 7, 2025

Up to 6 Winners

N/A

PHASE 4:

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ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible for this competition, entities must be a small to medium business attending SOF Week 2025 in Tampa, FL. A small to medium business is defined as those with <1,500 employees.

Each eligible entity:

• Must be able to obtain a CAGE code (U.S. businesses) and/or NCAGE code (international businesses) to process payments (CAGE codes are not required during registration);
• Shall be incorporated in, and maintain, a primary place of business in the U.S. or a foreign country;
• May not be a U.S. federal or foreign government entity or employ a U.S. federal employee acting within the scope of their employment;
• May not be a company or person controlled by, funded by, or under the jurisdiction or direction of foreign adversaries; and
• Must not be based in a foreign country of concern (FCOC), directly funded by an FCOC-government or FCOC-government-subsidized guidance fund or be under the influence of an FCOC-based government in any way. Failure to meet these requirements will result in ineligibility for award.

Companies that have previously been awarded a U.S. Army SBIR award may not submit the same technology concept as contracted.

The xTech Program will not provide travel or registration funding for eligible entities to attend SOF Week 2025.