When you submit to a DIU solicitation, we'll ask you to include a solution brief. Here's some guidance about what that entails.

What is a Solution Brief?

Solution Brief Requirements

We strongly recommend that Solution Briefs not exceed 5 written pages using 12-point font or 15 briefing slides. These limits are not requirements but are strongly recommended. Please save your document or brief as a PDF before you include it in your online response to a DIU solicitation.

Suggested Contents

  • Title Page: Please include a title referencing the DIU solicitation name; company name; date; and a point of contact name, e-mail address, phone number, and address (this will not count against the page limit)

  • Executive Summary: A short summary of the technology.

  • Technology Concept: Describe the unique aspects of your technology and the proposed work as it relates to the solicitation to which you are responding. Identify whether the effort includes the pilot or demonstration of existing commercial technology (identified as commercially ready and viable technology), or the development of technology for potential defense applications. If development or adaptation is proposed, identify a suggested path to mature your technology. Lastly, identify which aspects of your technology may be considered proprietary. Diagrams or graphics depicting the essence of the proposed solution are strongly encouraged.

  • Company Information: Provide a brief overview of your company, including a summary of gross sales/revenue or current fundraising to date including investors/funding rounds (if applicable). Provide a summary of product commercialization history, roadmap, and go-to-market strategy.

Unnecessarily elaborate brochures or proposals are not desired.

Additional Information

  • Companies may submit multiple solution briefs in response to any single solicitation if each submission represents a separate and distinct concept. Individual solution briefs may only address one concept based on the open DIU solicitation.

  • Submissions must be submitted electronically via the DIU website. Submissions sent through other channels or after the solicitation period has ended will not be reviewed or evaluated.

  • Solution briefs that are not chosen for the in-person pitch phase will be notified in writing as soon as practicable.

  • Solution briefs selected for the next phase (pitches) will be notified via email with further details and instructions.

Always consult the Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) guidance and solicitation specific requirements before you submit to a DIU solicitation.


Additional Resources

How to Pitch to DIU

DIU hosted a webinar on May 6, 2021 where we shared best practices for responding to a DIU solicitation. Watch this recording to learn more!

How DIU Works with Commercial Companies

Watch this overview to learn more about the DIU process and how we lower barriers to entry into the defense market for companies that have never before worked with the Department of Defense.