Army Expeditionary Technology Search (xTechSearch) | Tech News

The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (ASA(ALT)) is announcing the Army Expeditionary Technology Search – xTechSearch – to be featured at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., on 8 to 10 October 2018. xTechSearch will highlight opportunities for nontraditional defense partners to collaborate with the Army to tackle the most poignant Army modernization challenges.

The ASA(ALT) recognizes that the Army must enhance engagements with the entrepreneurial funded community, small businesses, and other non-traditional defense partners, by: (1) understanding the spectrum of technologies being developed commercially that may benefit the Army; (2) integrating the sector of nontraditional innovators into the Army’s research and development ecosystem; and (3) providing mentorship and expertise to accelerate, mature, and transition technologies of interest to the Army.

Pursuant to Title 15, United States Code, Section 3719, the xTechSearch competition will provide prizes to select businesses for innovative technologies and ideas that can solve Army challenges. The program will also integrate these nontraditional innovators into the Army’s Science and Technology (S&T) ecosystem by providing cooperative research opportunities with Army labs, including access to the Army’s organic intellectual and technical capital. xTechSearch is an opportunity for small businesses to pitch technology solutions – a new application for an existing technology or a new technology concept entirely – to the Army.

xTechSearch is a novel approach for linking innovators directly with the Army labs, with a focus on lowering the entrance barriers and spurring innovation.

Technology Focus Areas:

The Army wants the innovation community to explore the full ideation space and the art-of-the-possible. The ASA(ALT) is soliciting innovative, paradigm-breaking technologies from the nontraditional defense community to support the following Army modernization priorities:

• Long Range Precision Fires. Provide massed, mobile, operational-level kinetic and non-kinetic strike options to restore overmatch, improve deterrence, and disrupt Anti-Access/Area-Denial (A2/AD) on a complex, contested, and expanded battlefield. Potential technology areas include:
  • Propulsion for extended long-range missiles
  • Extended range cannon artillery
  • Enhanced guidance/navigation for weapon systems
  • Advanced energetics
  • Advanced warheads for cluster munitions
  • Next-generation RADARs
• Next Generation Combat Vehicle (NGCV). Develop replacements for current tanks and infantry fighting vehicles that realize weight, sustainment, and cost-per-unit savings. This will increase the capability of our existing formations and improve our ability to survive and win in the complex and densely urbanized terrain of an intensely lethal and distributed battlefield where all domains are continually contested. Potential technology areas include:
  • NGCV Design
  • Vehicle Protection against advanced threats
  • Robotics and autonomy for combat operations and logistics
  • Advanced power generation
  • Advanced materials
  • Efficient Manned-Unmanned Teaming Constructs
  • Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Autonomy
• Future Vertical Lift (FVL) to develop replacement aviation platforms that include unmanned and autonomous attack, reconnaissance, utility, and MEDEVAC with increased speed and extended range and station time to operate in complex, dense urban terrain on an intensely lethal, distributed, and expanded battlefield within contested air space. Potential technology areas include:
  • Platform development and demonstration
  • Next-generation unmanned aircraft system technologies
  • Aviation protection and aircraft survivability
  • Improved situational awareness
  • Integrated Mission Systems
  • Advanced power systems
  • Efficient Manned-Unmanned Teaming Constructs
  • Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Autonomy
• Network with hardware, software, and infrastructure to provide resilient mission command on the move to wage the maneuver ISR, joint fires, and sustainment fights to retain and exploit the initiative against a peer adversary in an inherently contested cyber and electromagnetic environment. Potential technology areas include:
  • Secure Tactical Communications
  • Interoperable hardware, software, and information systems
  • Cyber Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA)
  • Assured Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT)
  • Persistent Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR)
• Air and Missile Defense to reduce the cost curve of missile defense, restore overmatch, survive volley-fire attacks, and operate within sophisticated A2/AD and contested domains. Potential technology areas include:
  • Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense (SHORAD)
  • Smaller and more affordable missiles
  • High Energy Lasers
  • Gun-based counter-tactical and small unmanned air systems (UAS) capabilities
  • Advanced seekers
  • Advanced energetics and propulsion
  • Next-generation RADARs
• Soldier Lethality to improve Soldier and small unit performance, reduce surprise, increase protection, and enhance lethality in close combat on an intensely lethal and distributed battlefield and within complex, urban terrain. Potential technology areas include:
  • Advanced lethality and projection
  • Training
  • Improved Soldier protection equipment
  • Improved situational awareness and communications
  • Optimized and enhanced human performance
  • Asymmetric Vision and Decide Faster technologies
  • Prolonged field medical care

Proposal Submission

The xTechSearch program is voluntary and open to all interested traditional and nontraditional small businesses. 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 Army will also provide opportunities to engage with Army laboratory assets across the United States, including establishing Cooperative Research and Development Agreements, Cooperative Research Alliances, Commercial Test Agreements, and additional engagement opportunities with Army Subject Matter Expertise.

The Phase I proposal must include a white paper describing the novel technology concept, innovative application concept and integration with the Army’s modernization priorities and a completed xTechSearch registration form. Please submit a technology proposal concept white paper (no greater than 1,000 words) and the xTechSearch registration form to the ASA(ALT) at usarmy.pentagon.hqda-asa-alt.mbx.xtechsearch@mail.mil by 11 July 2018. Any proprietary information must be marked and clearly identified by respondents.

When responding, please complete the xTechSearch registration form included in the announcement that includes a brief description of the company, any previous or on-going work with the Department of Defense, alignment to modernization priority and a company point-of-contact with a phone number and e-mail address.

xTechSearch-Registration-Form

Source: challenge.gov