DESCRIPTION

The U.S. Army would like to invite interested entities to participate in the Expeditionary Technology Search competition, a forum for eligible sole proprietors and small businesses across the U.S. to engage with the Department of Defense, earn prize money, participate in the accelerator program and potentially submit for a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award. xTechSearch offers an opportunity for eligible participants to pitch novel technology solutions – a new application for an existing technology or an entirely new technology concept – to the Army.

The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology recognizes that the Army must enhance engagements with small businesses by (1) understanding the spectrum of ‘world-class’ technologies being developed commercially that may benefit the DOD in the manufacturing space and (2) integrating the sector of commercial innovators into the DOD Science and Technology (S&T) ecosystem.

The xTechSearch 7 competition will provide up to $800,000 in cash prizes to select eligible entities. Ultimately, up to 20 finalists will receive a cash prize of $20,000 each and invitation to demonstrate their innovative technology solutions to Army challenges. Up to 10 participants will be selected as the final winners of the competition to receive an additional cash prize of $25,000 each and the potential opportunity to submit for a Phase I SBIR award of up to $250,000 each. Details on the prize structure and SBIR structure are listed below in the announcement. All SBIR plans are contingent on the reauthorization of the SBIR program.

The xTechSearch competition strives to integrate 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. Participants will receive detailed feedback from Army and DOD stakeholders. Participants will have access to training, mentorship, and other support infrastructure as they progress throughout 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.

The efforts described in this notice are being pursued under the authorities of 10 U.S.C. § 4025 (formerly 2374a) and 15 U.S.C. § 638 and 10 U.S.C. § 4022 (Prototype Projects) to award cash prizes and SBIRs to only those eligible entities as described in this announcement. While the authority of this program is 10 U.S.C. § 4025, the xTechSearch 7 competition may generate interest by another DOD organization for a funding opportunity outside of this program (e.g., submission of a proposal under a Broad Agency Announcement). The interested DOD organization may contact the participant to provide additional information or ask for a request for proposal in a separate solicitation.

Army Focus Areas:

xTechSearch is seeking novel, disruptive concepts and technology solutions with dual-use capabilities that can assist in tackling the Army’s current needs and apply to current Army concepts. The intent is to provide the Army with transformative technology solutions while enabling cost savings throughout the Army systems’ life cycle. Critical technology focus areas include Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning (AI/ML); Advanced Materials; Advanced Manufacturing; Autonomy; Energy Resiliency; Cyber; Electronics; Human Performance; Immersive; Network Technologies; Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT); Power; Software Modernization; and Sensors. See attached document on the Valid Eval registration page for a list of the top Army Modernization Priorities and other critical Army Focus Areas.

SCHEDULE AND PRIZES

PHASE 1: PART 1: CONCEPT WHITE PAPER

Sep 27, 2022 - Nov 6, 2022

Up to 50 semi-finalists

$5K/each

PHASE 2: PART 2: TECHNOLOGY PITCHES

Feb 21, 2023 - Mar 2, 2023

Up to 20 finalists

$15K/each

PHASE 3: PART 3: FINALS

Jun 19, 2023 - Jun 21, 2023

Up to 10 Winners

$25K/each

PHASE 4: REQUEST FOR PHASE I SBIR PROPOSAL

Jun 22, 2023 - Jul 25, 2023

Up to 10 winners

Up to $250K/each

ELIGIBILITY

• The entities allowed to participate in this competition must be sole proprietors (someone who owns an unincorporated business by himself or herself) or small business concerns in accordance with Small Business Administration guidance under 13 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 121.201, or any entity willing and able to be registered as a small business in the United States, meeting the requirements of 13 CFR §121.201, 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 in the case of a private entity, shall be incorporated in and maintain a primary place of business in the U.S., and in the case of an individual, whether participating singly or in a group, shall be a citizen or permanent resident of 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 competitions are eligible to participate for new technology concepts or improvements to prior submitted proposals.
• The finalists from the xTechSearch 6 competition are not eligible to participate in this competition unless they partner with another firm that did not reach the finals of xTechSearch 6 so long as the alternate firm is the primary lead and not the finalist company. All xTechSearch 6 finalists will be eligible again during the xTechSearch 8 competition to submit a proposal on their own.
• Technologies that fall exclusively within the portfolio of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command that include military infectious diseases, combat casualty care, military operational medicine, chemical biological defense, and clinical and rehabilitative medicine will be excluded from xTechSearch.