DESCRIPTION

The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (ASA(ALT)) is announcing the fifth iteration of the 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; and
  • Providing mentorship and expertise to accelerate, mature, and transition technologies of interest to the Army.

The xTechSearch program will also strive 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. Every small business idea submitted will receive detailed operational and technical feedback from Army stakeholders. Participating companies will have access to training, mentorship and other support infrastructure as they progress through the contest to determine how best to align their technology solutions with real users and buyers within the Army. Finalists will be entered into the xTech Accelerator to receive intensive mentorship and access to networking events to help grow their companies for Army and commercial users. xTechSearch is an opportunity for businesses to pitch novel technology solutions – a new application for an existing technology or an entirely new technology concept – to the Army.

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

SCHEDULE AND PRIZES

PHASE 1: Concept White Paper

Feb 24, 2020 - Mar 31, 2020

Up to 60 Winners

$5,000/winner

PHASE 2: Technology Pitches

Jul 7, 2020 - Jul 10, 2020

Up to 20 winners

$10,000/winner

PHASE 3: Semifinals

Mar 2, 2021 - Mar 3, 2021

Up to 10 winners

$120,000/winner

PHASE 4: Finals

Aug 31, 2021 - Sep 2, 2021

Up to 12 winners

1st Place: $250K; All others: $10,000K/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 in the United States (U.S.) if selected to participate in this competition.

Each eligible entity:

• • Shall be incorporated in, and maintain, a primary place of business in the U.S.;
  • 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.