83 FR 59365 - Expeditionary Technology Search (xTechSearch) II Prize Competition Announcement

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 226 (November 23, 2018)

Under the provisions of applicable laws and regulations, the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (ASA(ALT)) is announcing the second cohort of the Army Expeditionary Technology Search--xTechSearch II Prize Competition--for the Army to enhance engagements with the entrepreneurial funded community, small businesses, and other non-traditional defense partners. The xTechSearch program will provide an opportunity for businesses to pitch novel technology solutions, either a new application for an existing technology or an entirely new technology concept, to the Army.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 226 (Friday, November 23, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59365-59366]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-25502]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Expeditionary Technology Search (xTechSearch) II Prize 
Competition Announcement

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Announcement of competition.

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SUMMARY: Under the provisions of applicable laws and regulations, the 
Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and 
Technology (ASA(ALT)) is announcing the second cohort of the Army 
Expeditionary Technology Search--xTechSearch II Prize Competition--for 
the Army to enhance engagements with the entrepreneurial funded 
community, small businesses, and other non-traditional defense 
partners. The xTechSearch program will provide an opportunity for 
businesses to pitch novel technology solutions, either a new 
application for an existing technology or an entirely new technology 
concept, to the Army.

DATES: 
    1. December 31, 2018 at 12:59PM PST. Deadline for submission of 
White Papers to the xTechSearch competition. Submissions received after 
the deadline will not be considered.
    2. February 25-March 8, 2019. Semifinalists--Up to 60 participants 
conduct technology pitches to xTechSearch panels.
    3. March 26-28, 2019. Up to 25 finalists featured at the 
Association of the United States Army Global Force Symposium and 
Exposition in Huntsville, AL.
    4. October 2019. Capstone Demonstration with Army subject matter 
experts and Leadership.

ADDRESSES: Proposals must be submitted at Challenge.gov: https://challenge.gov/a/buzz/challenge/88/ideas/top.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Jennifer Smith, Deputy Director 
for Laboratory Management (ASA(ALT)) Office of the Deputy Assistant 
Secretary of the Army, Research and Technology, (703) 697-0685 or via 
Email at: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Eligibility: The entities allowed to participate in this 
competition are small businesses as defined in 13 CFR part 121. To 
qualify, the participating entity must fall within the size standard by 
North American Industry Classification System code 541713, 541714, and 
541715.

[[Page 59366]]

    There may be only one submission per business. In addition, each 
entity:
     Shall be incorporated in and maintain a primary place of 
business in the United States;
     May not be a Federal entity or Federal employee acting 
within the scope of their employment.
     Sole proprietors may participate in xTechSearch if the 
individual is a citizen or permanent resident of the United States and 
the business is registered in the United States.
     Foreign companies may participate in xTechSearch by 
establishing a US domestic business relationship (e.g., wholly owned US 
subsidiary) or partner with a US 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.
    Registered participants shall be required to agree to assume any 
and all risks and waive claims against the Federal Government and its 
related entities, except in the case of willful misconduct, for any 
injury, death, damage, or loss of property, revenue, or profits, 
whether direct, indirect, or consequential, arising from their 
participation in a prize competition, whether the injury, death, 
damage, or loss arises through negligence or otherwise.
    Participants shall be required to obtain liability insurance or 
demonstrate financial responsibility, in amounts determined by the 
Army, for claims by--
     Third parties for death, bodily injury, or property 
damage, or loss resulting from an activity carried out in connection 
with participation in a prize competition, with the Federal Government 
named as an additional insured under the registered participant's 
insurance policy and registered participants agreeing to indemnify the 
Federal Government against third party claims for damages arising from 
or related to prize competition activities; and
    The Federal Government for damage or loss to Government property 
resulting from such an activity.
    Prizes will be offered under 15 U.S.C. Section 3719 (Prize 
competitions).
     The total prize pool is $2.18M.

Evaluation Criteria and Process

Phase I: Concept White Paper Contest

    The Phase I proposal must be a white paper describing the novel 
technology concept, innovative application concept and integration with 
one or more of the Army's technology focus areas. The proposal must be 
submitted via the Challenge.gov portal as a single searchable PDF file 
containing:
     Title.
     Author(s).
     Army Technology Focus Area: Choose from the eight (8) 
Technology Focus Area(s):
    [cir] Long Range Precision Fires.
    [cir] Next Generation Combat Vehicle.
    [cir] Future Vertical Lift.
    [cir] Network with hardware, software, and infrastructure.
    [cir] Air and Missile Defense.
    [cir] Soldier Lethality.
    [cir] Medical Technologies.
    [cir] Military Engineering Technologies.
     Keyword(s): Provide up to ten (10) keywords that describe 
the technology.
     Abstract: Provide an abstract (up to 250 words).
     White Paper: Technology proposal concept, no greater than 
1000 words (not including title, author(s), keywords, abstract, company 
bio, graphs, figures or images). The word limit on the White Paper 
submission will be strictly enforced.
     List of prior SBIR awards in the past 5 years: Include 
Date award received, Funding organization, Phase of awards, and Topic 
Title awarded.
     Company Biography (Optional): Company background 
information, up to 1 page.
    Contestants' concept papers will be reviewed by a panel of subject 
matter experts who will select the contestants to be invited to the 
xTechSearch Technology Pitch Forums. Companies selected by the panel 
will receive a prize of $4,000 and an invitation to Phase II: 
xTechSearch Technology Pitches.
    Concept White Papers will be ranked using the following Scoring 
Criteria:
     Potential for Impact/Revolutionizing the Army--50%.
     Scientific and Engineering Viability--50%.

Phase II: xTechSearch Technology Pitches

     Up to sixty (60) selected contestant semi-finalists will 
be invited to complete an in-person venture style pitch to a panel of 
Army subject matter experts and judges at locations across the United 
States.
     Companies will pitch their technology and a proposed live 
proof-of-concept demonstration for Phase III (15 minute pitch followed 
by 10 minutes for questions and answers).
     Up to twenty five (25) semifinalists selected by the judge 
panel will receive a prize of $10,000 and be invited to display an 
exhibit and make a formal public oral presentation of their proposal at 
the 2019 AUSA Global Force Symposium and Exposition Innovators' Corner 
in Huntsville, AL.
     Scoring Criteria:
    [cir] Potential for Impact/Revolutionizing the Army--40%.
    [cir] Scientific and Engineering Viability--40%.
    [cir] Proof-of-Concept Demonstration Plan--10%.
    [cir] Team Ability--10%.

Phase III: AUSA Innovators' Corner

     The AUSA Innovators' Corner phase provides up to twenty 
five (25) xTechSearch semifinalists to be featured at the AUSA 
Innovators' Corner at the AUSA Global Force meeting, 26-28 March 2019 
in Huntsville, AL. The finalists will leverage Army-sponsored exhibit 
space to engage with Department of Defense (DoD) customers, Army 
leadership, industry partners, and academia.
     Up to twelve (12) Phase III prize winner finalists will be 
announced at AUSA and provided a prize of $120,000 and 6 months to 
demonstrate proof-of-concept for their xTechSearch technology at the 
Phase IV: xTechSearch Capstone Demonstration.

Phase IV: xTechSearch Finale Demonstration--October 2019

     Each Phase III finalist will demonstrate proof-of-concept 
for their technology solution to Army subject matter experts and DoD 
leadership at the AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition, October 2019, 
Washington DC. A single grand-prize winner will be selected for the 
technology concept with the greatest potential for impact and to 
revolutionize the Army.
     The winner of the Finale Demonstration will be awarded a 
prize of $250,000.

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. Section 3719; Pub. L. 96-480, Section 24, 
as added Pub. L. 111-358, title I, Section 105a, Jan. 4, 2011 Stat. 
3989.

Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-25502 Filed 11-21-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-03-P