DESCRIPTION

The U.S. Army invites interested entities to participate in the xTechPacific 2025 competition, a competition for eligible small businesses across the U.S. to engage with the Department of Defense (DoD), earn prize money and submit a Direct to Phase II (D2PhII) Army Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) proposal.

The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (ASA(ALT)) is partnering with U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) and the Army’s Catalyst Pathfinder Program to deliver the xTechPacific 2025 competition. The Army recognizes that the DoD must enhance engagements with U.S. small businesses by (1) understanding the spectrum of world-class technologies being developed commercially that may benefit the DoD; (2) integrating the sector of non-traditional innovators into the DoD Science and Technology (S&T) ecosystem; and (3) providing expertise and feedback to accelerate, mature, and transition technologies of interest to the DoD.

The xTechPacific 2025 competition will consist of three rounds:

1. Call for concept white papers and technology demonstration videos;
2. Final experimentation and pitch event; and
3. Opportunity to submit a D2PhII Army SBIR proposal.

The competition will award up to $345,000 in cash prizes to selected participants. Up to twelve (12) finalists will receive a cash prize of $20,000 each and an invitation to participate in a live experimentation event with a panel of Army and DoD subject matter experts (SMEs) in Fall 2025. The Army intends to select up to three (3) final winners of the competition to receive an additional cash prize of $35,000 each. Final winners of the competition with technologies that demonstrate sufficient maturity for direct prototype development will have the opportunity to submit a D2PhII Army SBIR proposal worth up to $2 million, not to exceed 18-months in duration. Additional details on prize structure can be found in Section VII.

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 recognizing advanced technology achievements. Final winners will be eligible to submit for a D2PhII Army SBIR proposal under the provisions and requirements of 15 U.S.C. § 638.

Topics and Problem Statement

The U.S. Army is interested in cutting-edge technology solutions that will drive significant advancements in military capabilities while addressing complex challenges specific to the Indo-Pacific region.

The competition seeks white papers for research and development efforts to produce well-defined prototype technology solutions that fit within one of the following topic areas:

• Topic 1: Detection of Buried Explosives and Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) in Complex Soils and Magnetically Complex Environments
• Topic 2: Advanced Defensive and Deterrent Capabilities for Army and Commercial Watercraft
• Topic 3: Electronic Warfare (EW) Domain Awareness and Sensing Technologies

Topic descriptions can be found in Appendix A of the RFI. Final winners will have the opportunity to submit a D2PhII Army SBIR proposal worth up to $2 million to produce a prototype solution.

SCHEDULE AND PRIZES

PHASE 1: Concept White Paper & Video Demonstration

Mar 5, 2025 - Apr 2, 2025

Up to 12 Finalists

$20K/each

PHASE 2: Finals Experimentation & Pitch Event

Nov 7, 2025 - Nov 7, 2025

Up to 3 Winners

$35K/each

PHASE 3: D2PhII Army SBIR Proposal Period

Nov 12, 2025 - Dec 17, 2025

Up to 3 Selectees

Up to $2 M each

PHASE 4:

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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:

• 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.
• 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 of the following:
  1. One or more individuals who are citizens or permanent resident aliens of the U.S.;
  2. Other for‐profit small business concerns (each of which is directly owned and controlled by individuals who are citizens or permanent resident aliens of the U.S.); or
  3. 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.

• Size: An eligible firm, together with the affiliates, must not have more than 500 employees.

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 question(s) concerning prior, current, or pending support of similar proposals or awards must disclose those as early as possible to the Army xTech Program Office.If your competition has more than 3 phases, use the section below for the additional phases.