OBJECTIVE
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; Cyber; Electronics; Human Performance; Immersive; Network Technologies; Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT); Power; Software Modernization; and Sensors.
DESCRIPTION
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 24 winners who can submit an Army SBIR Phase I proposal under topic A254-P039 xTechSearch 9 SBIR Finalist Open Topic Competition for a potential follow-on award of up to $250,000. By partnering with the Army SBIR|STTR Program, technologies that are selected from this competition to have the highest potential impact on the Army will have a structured pathway to continue developing those solutions for Army systems alongside Army customers. xTechSearch encourages submissions that may not be familiar with the Army problem your technology can solve, but can clearly articulate the solution's advantage, the technical viability, and commercial potential. The xTechSearch competition is supported by a wide range of subject matter experts across the Army and DoD to help evaluate the potential of your technology to improve operational effectiveness, reduce lifecycle costs, and accelerate the transition of cutting-edge technology into Army systems.
The SBIR|STTR program has aligned technologies that are experiencing rapid commercial traction with critical Army priorities into five portfolios of priority interest for this competition, each with core technology components identified. While xTechSearch 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: Devices that detect stimuli and produce an output, as well as onboard processing technologies that handle the output prior to transmission.
Immersive and Wearables: Immersive focuses on the simulation or extension of the real world, such as XR. Wearables focuses on devices, garments, or equipment for readiness, performance, recovery, or protection.
AI/ML: Technologies designed to enhance the full spectrum of Army operations and supplement decision-making capabilities. Includes advanced tools designed to augment business analytics and warfighting capabilities across multi-domain operations.
Energy Resiliency: Focuses on expeditionary applications of energy technologies designed to produce systems that maximize efficiency, adapt Army systems to reduce net energy demand or reliance on logistic fuel supply, and meet the power demands of future Army systems across echelons.
Contested Logistics and Sustainment: Strategic and operational technologies that involve planning and executing the movement and maintenance of forces and materials under adversarial conditions. Includes logistical operations, supply chain management, and sustainment activities.
Additional information on the Transition Broker Teams (TBT) can be found in the Appendix A section of the xTechSearch 9 competition RFI found here: https://www.xtech.army.mil/competitions/.
Technologies that fall exclusively within the portfolio of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command, which include military infectious diseases, military operational medicine, chemical biological defense, and clinical and rehabilitative medicine, are excluded from xTechSearch.
Join us for an exciting Ask Me Anything (AMA) session! This is a unique opportunity for interested companies to engage with experts, ask questions, and learn more about the xTech competition and how to participate. The meeting will take place May 21, 2025 at 1500 ET, you can access here via
MS Teams
.
The white paper submission deadline for xTechSearch 9 is June 4, 2025at 5pm ET. White papers must be submitted by following instructions provided at the xTechSearch 9 competition site here: https://www.xtech.army.mil/competitions/.
NOTE: White papers are NOT submitted to DSIP. Small business concerns that do not submit a concept white paper to the xTechSearch 9 competition before the June 4, 2025 deadline will be ineligible to compete or submit a full SBIR proposal to DSIP.
PHASE I
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.
PHASE II
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.
PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS
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.
REFERENCES
https://www.xtechsearch.army.mil
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
