ARM26TX05-NP002 — xTech|Search 10 Competition

xTechSearch is an open-topic competition designed to identify groundbreaking technologies with strong commercial traction that may also provide game-changing capabilities for the Army. This competition will be used to competitively down-select up to 16 finalists who can submit a Phase I Army SBIR proposal for a potential follow-on award of up to $300,000.

The SBIR|STTR Program has aligned technologies that are experiencing rapid commercial traction with critical Army priorities into four portfolios of priority interest for this competition, each with core technology components identified. While xTech|Search encourages submissions aligned to the following SBIR|STTR portfolios and the associated core technology components, the program also welcomes proposals in any other technology domain with the potential to provide a disruptive advantage to the Army:  Sensors: Electronic devices used to measure physical parameters, often enabling enhanced automation through the Internet of Things.  Immersive and Wearables: Integration or extension of the real world through digital or simulated reality, such as augmented, virtual, and mixed reality. Wearables focus on smart electronic devices that can be worn by or attached to the user to gather data or provide insight during mission operations.  AI/ML: Technology that incorporates human intelligence into machines (AI) and allows machines to learn from data without explicit programming (ML).  Contested Logistics and Sustainment: Strategic and operational technologies that involve planning and executing the movement and maintenance of forces and materials under adversarial conditions.   Note: The topic listed below is part of the xTech|Search 10 Prize Competition. See the full xTech|Search 10 competition RFI here: https://www.xtech.army.mil/competitions/.   xTech|Search 10 will be used to identify small business concerns that meet the criteria for award. Finalists selected from the xTech|Search 10 prize competition will be the only firms eligible to submit a SBIR or STTR proposal under the topic listed above. Proposals submitted to the topic listed above by non-finalists or non-participants of the xTech|Search 10 competition will not be evaluated.

This topic is accepting Phase I submissions for a cost limit of $300,000 and a 6-month period of performance. Only finalists of the xTech|Search 10 competition are permitted to submit a phase I proposal for this topic. Companies will complete a feasibility study that demonstrates the firm’s competitive technical advantage relative to other commercial products (if other products exist) and develop concept plans for how the company’s technology can be applied to Army modernization priority areas. Studies should clearly detail and identify a firm’s technology at both the individual component and system levels, provide supporting literature for technical feasibility, highlight existing performance data, showcase the technology’s application opportunities to a broad base of customers outside the defense space, a market strategy for the commercial space, how the technology directly addresses the Army’s modernization area as well as include a technology development roadmap to demonstrate scientific and engineering viability. At the end of Phase I, the company will be required to provide a concept demonstration of their technology to demonstrate a high probability that continued design and development will result in a Phase II mature product.

Produce prototype solutions that will be easy to operate by a Soldier. These products will be provided to select Army units for further evaluation by the soldiers. In addition, companies will provide a technology transition and commercialization plan for DOD and commercial markets.

Complete the maturation of the company’s technology developed in Phase II to TRL 6/7 and produce prototypes to support further development and commercialization. The Army will evaluate each product in a realistic field environment and provide small solutions to stakeholders for further evaluation. Based on soldier evaluations in the field, companies will be requested to update the previously delivered prototypes to meet final design configuration.