DESCRIPTION

The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (ASA(ALT)) is announcing the fourth cohort of Army xTechSearch prize competition. xTechSearch will highlight opportunities for small businesses to collaborate with the Army to tackle the most critical Army modernization challenges.

The ASA(ALT) recognizes that the Army must enhance engagements with the small businesses, by:

• • Understanding the spectrum of technologies being developed commercially that may benefit the Army;
  • Integrating the sector of small business innovators into the Army’s Science and Technology (S&T) ecosystem;
  • Providing mentorship and expertise to accelerate, mature, and transition technologies of interest to the Army.

The Army xTechSearch program will provide non-dilutive seed prizes to select small businesses to demonstrate proof of concept of their dual-use technologies pertaining to Army challenges. The program will also drive to integrate these small businesses into the Army’s S&T ecosystem by providing research opportunities with Army labs, including authorized access to the Army’s organic intellectual and technical capital.  Participating companies will have access to training, mentorship and other support infrastructure as they progress through the contest. The goal will be to best align solutions with real users and buyers within the Army.  xTechSearch is an opportunity for businesses to pitch novel technology solutions – a new application for an existing technology or a new technology concept entirely – to the Army.

The authority of this program is 15 United States Code (USC) §3719.

SCHEDULE AND PRIZES

PHASE 1: Concept White Paper

Oct 1, 2019 - Nov 11, 2019

Up to 48 Winners

$5,000/winner

PHASE 2: Technology Pitches

Jan 8, 2020 - Jan 23, 2020

Up to 24 winners

$10,000/winner

PHASE 3: Semifinals

Mar 17, 2020 - Mar 18, 2020

Up to 12 winners

$120,000/winner

PHASE 4: Finals

Oct 13, 2020 - Oct 14, 2020

Up to 12 winners

1st Place: $250K. All others: $10K/Finalist

ELIGIBILITY

The entities allowed to participate in this competition must be sole proprietors or small business concerns in accordance with Small Business Administration guidance under 13 Code of Federal Regulations § 121.201, or any entity willing and able to be registered as a small business if selected to participate in this competition.

Each eligible entity:

• • Shall be incorporated in, and maintain, a primary place of business in the United States;
  • May not be a Federal entity or employ a Federal employee acting within the scope of their employment

Sole proprietors may participate in xTechSearch if the individual is a citizen or national of the U.S. or a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. and the business is registered in the U.S. Foreign companies may participate in xTechSearch by establishing a U.S. domestic business relationship (e.g., wholly owned U.S. subsidiary) or partner with an U.S. based company. Companies that have previously participated in the xTechSearch competition are eligible to participate for new technology concepts or improvements to prior submitted proposals.