Responses Due By
2026-06-10 23:59:59 US/Eastern Time
Work With Us - Commercial Companies - Submit Solution
MCM Modernization Prize Challenge
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Project Description
Problem
The U.S. Navy requires the ability to neutralize diverse maritime mine threats in high-current chokepoints to ensure freedom of navigation. Current Mine Countermeasure (MCM) operations are resource-intensive and place personnel and high-value assets at risk.
Mine threats are divided into two primary categories, each presenting materially different detection, classification, and neutralization challenges:
- Near Surface and Volume/Moored Mines: Mines suspended in the water column, anchored to the seabed by a mooring wire. This includes contact, influence, and command-detonated variants.
- Bottom Mines: Mines resting on or partially buried in the seabed. Effective neutralization requires precision terminal guidance and a neutralization mechanism designed for near-bottom detonation geometry.
Solution
The U.S. Navy, in partnership with the Defense Innovation Unit, seeks modular, communication-resilient, rapidly fieldable capabilities to reacquire and neutralize near-surface and volume mine threats in the water column. In addition, the Navy seeks the full kill chain detect-to-engage capability for bottom mines, from safe standoff. A solution will:
- Increase the speed at which MCM mission can be accomplished, whether fully autonomous or tethered with operator-in-the-loop
- Decrease the cost to neutralize
- Remove warfighters and manned assets from the threat zone with low operator burden
This challenge will test commercial solutions in a series of competitive sprints against one of three Tracks organized by mission, mine type, and position in the water column. For the purpose of this announcement, fully integrated vehicles with sensor/effector payloads and secure C2, ready for operational deployment within six months, are strongly preferred. Due to aggressive fielding timelines, this challenge is strictly seeking mature technologies of TRL 7 or higher. Conceptual designs or early-stage R&D (TRL 1-6) will not be evaluated.
Vendors should expect that their solution will integrate on an Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) of the Navy’s determination. Vendors should clearly describe their solution’s logistical deployment plan, meeting applicable SWaP-C objectives below for USV launch, or hand-launched from shore/pier, in their submission’s Capabilities Matrix (see below) for consideration under this Announcement.
Timeline
In-water testing will be conducted at a US Navy Warfare Center in the timeline below. The test asset utilized must be representative of production units in form, fit, and function. Timeline subject to change; additional details will be shared to vendors selected.
June 10 | AOI closes |
June 19 | Initial Prizes to Selected Performers |
Jul 6 - Jul 17 | Integration / risk reduction work (on site) |
July 17 - 19 | Test readiness 1:1 reviews (TRR) (on site) |
Jul 20 - Jul 24 | On water test event I |
Jul 27 - Aug 21 | On water test event II |
Aug 24 - Sep 4 | Post-mission analysis (Gov-led) |
Sep 18 | Final prizes announced |
Solution Attributes
It is highly desired that solutions meet some or all of the below attributes:
- Navigation: Fully GNSS-denied. Arrive at cue within minimal Circular Error Probability (CEP); maintain low positional drift for area searches.
- Maneuverability: Up to 4-knot sustained currents. Maintain station-keeping in up to 2-knot currents.
- Command & Control: Contested Electromagnetic (EM) spectrum with jamming/spoofing. Transmit authorization requests and sensor data over degraded, encrypted links with ≤ 3 decisions required from the operator per track. Establish continuous, real-time data pipeline streaming from the surface asset back to the Operations Center (Surface > OC). Provision of proprietary or applied data compression Intellectual Property (IP) alongside End-to-End (E2E) encryption standards utilized for the data relay.
- Targeting: Mixed minefield with co-located seabed clutter. Reacquire targets with high probability of reacquisition and classification, and low probability of false alarm (Pfa) against clutter.
- Engagement: Human-in-the-Loop (HITL) authorization required. Execute neutralization with a high probability of kill (Pk) after receiving Operator approval.
- Survivability: Surface operations in up to Sea State 4. All sub-systems should survive launch and operate reliably within a 30°F – 95°F temperature range.
- Host Platform SWAP-C: Max vehicle weight if Launcher required: Objective 250lbs; Threshold 500lbs. Power needs should not exceed 1000W
- Safety: Energetics and batteries should segregate from the vehicle and from each other up until employment.
- Accelerated CONOP: Quantifiable reduction in overall mission time, explicitly demonstrating capabilities enabling immediate "in-stride" mission analysis at the OC.
Mission Tracks
Vendors will self-select into which Track they compete, and may, but are not required to, compete in more than one, and may present different solutions between Tracks. Each Track is evaluated independently. The three Tracks for this Challenge define the specific operational conditions against which vendor solutions will be evaluated. Tracks share a common operational environment and force structure; they diverge at the point of terminal engagement, where the mine type and burial state drive materially different sensor, guidance, and neutralization method. Intended mission profiles and preferred capability characteristics can be found below.
Mission Track 1: Near Surface & Volume Engage
Overview and Threat Profile
- Target: Multiple Mine-Like Objects (MLOs).
- Depth: Near-surface (0–10m) and in the water column (11–50m).
- Objective: Neutralize multiple targets in a single sortie; Threshold: Neutralize one target in a single sortie.
Full Mission Profile
- Cuing: External 5–10m CEP provided at launch.
- Reacquire: Must re-acquire targets within 5–10m CEP using internal PNT. Preferably ≥ 60% Probability of Reacquisition (Pr).
- Standoff C2: Maintain encrypted C2 link. Transmit sufficient for positive identification to Operations Center (OC) for Human-in-the-Loop (HITL) authorization.
- Terminal Engagement: Execute physical approach while holding station within +/- 2m in up to 2-knot currents.
- Neutralization: Use of inert commercial payload required for T&E Event; Objective: proven integration of commercial or GFE kinetic neutralizer strongly preferred for Prize consideration.
- BDA (Objective): Optical or acoustic confirmation via UUV, ROV sUSV (surface sonar), or sUAS (aerial imagery for shallow targets). Preferably ≥ 60% Probability of Kill (Pk).
Mission Track 2: Bottom Mine Detect
Overview and Threat Profile
- Target: Bottom mine resting on seabed (max 300m depth).
- Environment: Exposed or lightly silted (< 20% burial); seabed clutter present.
- Navigation: Solution should maintain sufficient underwater navigation accuracy to support near-bottom localization in GNSS-denied environments.
Full Mission Profile
- Search & Detect: GNSS-denied transit and search using internal PNT. Search box size will be dependent on system search rate, no greater than 1 nmi x 1 nmi. Detection range should be ≥ 10m.
- Classify: Maintain < 10m standoff. Preferably ≥ 60% Probability of Classification (Pcd) and ≤ 40% Probability of False Alarm (Pfa).
- Standoff C2: Establish encrypted submerged link to pass high-fidelity sensor data and bottom imagery back to the Operations Center (OC).
Mission Track 3: Bottom Mine Engage
Overview and Threat Profile
- Target: Bottom mine resting on seabed (max 300m depth).
- Environment: Exposed or lightly silted (< 20% burial); seabed clutter present.
- Navigation: Solution should maintain sufficient underwater navigation accuracy to support near-bottom terminal engagement in GNSS-denied environments.
Full Mission Profile
- Cuing: External 5–10m CEP provided at launch. Must include local search capability if coordinates are degraded.
- Reacquire: Must re-acquire target within 5–10m CEP using internal PNT. Preferably ≥ 60% Probability of Reacquisition (Pr).
- Standoff C2: Maintain encrypted, submerged C2 link. Transmit sufficient for positive identification to OC for HITL authorization.
- Terminal Engagement: Execute near-contact neutralization profile while holding station within +/- 1m (bottom-lock). Must reject 95% of seabed clutter.
- Neutralization: Use of inert commercial payload required for T&E Event; Objective: proven integration of commercial or GFE kinetic neutralizer strongly preferred for Prize consideration.
- BDA (Objective): Acoustic post-shot return or secondary sensor pass (optical not required). Preferably ≥ 70% Probability of Kill (Pk).
Eligibility Requirements
Submission Requirements and Eligibility
Proposers must submit the Capabilities Matrix clearly describing the proposed system. A completed Capabilities Matrix is the only application requirement for this Challenge. Please do not submit any whitepapers or slide decks. Vendors should upload a PDF-export of their completed Matrix into the submission field titled, ‘Solution Brief’.
Prime/subcontractor teaming is acceptable, and subcontractors may change throughout the challenge (as long as the prime vendor remains the same). Novel standalone technologies (e.g. modular L&R systems, next-gen sonar, AI/ML for sensor fusion, aPNT, C2 pipelines, specialized energetics), while not eligible for the MCM Modernization Prize Challenge, may be considered for follow-on integration.
Prizes and Follow on Opportunities
Solutions competing in any single Track will be evaluated according to that Track’s Mission Profile. Prize funding is tied exclusively to the Full Mission Profile. Vendors competing in multiple Tracks are eligible for prize awards for each.
Cash Prizes
- Selection to compete: Up to $200,000 per-vendor depending on the total number of companies selected
- Total prize per Track: Up to $3,000,000. The Government may award 1-3 top performers in each Track.
Awards
- US Navy has allocated funding above and beyond the cash prizes in this challenge to immediately award to the top vendor(s)
- Successful completion of this prize challenge may result in the award of a follow-on Prototype Other Transaction (OT) and/or procurement for experimental purposes. This is a high priority mission set for the US Navy which is expected to expand.
Additional Information
International Participation and Logistical Support
Solutions from companies located in DoW Qualifying Countries (DFARS 225.872-1) are encouraged to participate in this Challenge. To facilitate participation within the established, compressed timeline, the U.S. Government will provide an official Letter of Invitation / Command Sponsor Letter and a Duty-Free Entry Certificate (under HTSUS 9808.00.30) to support the temporary import of hardware for evaluation.
Foreign vendors must utilize a U.S.-based partner, U.S. subsidiary, or a registered U.S. Customs Broker/Freight Forwarder to act as the Importer of Record (IOR). This U.S. entity will be responsible for submitting the appropriate Temporary Import License (e.g., ITAR DSP-61 or basic customs entry) using the government-provided sponsorship documentation. Vendors remain solely responsible for all shipping costs, coordination, and compliance with U.S. and foreign government regulations.
All participants, including those from Qualifying Countries, will be subject to Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (FOCI) screening prior to selection to compete in the Challenge, as well as for follow-on prototype or production awards.
Intellectual Property Considerations:
Applicants retain ownership of existing Intellectual Property (IP) submitted under this Challenge and agree that their submissions are their original work. Applicants are presumed to have sufficient rights to submit the submission. For any submission made to the Challenge, you grant DIU a limited license to use this IP for testing and evaluation for efforts specifically related to the Challenge. DIU will negotiate with individual competitors in the event additional usage, integration, or development is contemplated.
As part of the selection to compete, vendors agree to share MLO sensor data captured during the T&E Event.
About the Defense Innovation Unit
The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) strengthens national security by accelerating the adoption of commercial technology in the Department of War and bolstering our allied and national security innovation bases. DIU partners with organizations across the DoW to rapidly prototype and field dual-use capabilities that solve operational challenges at speed and scale. DIU is the Department’s gateway to leading technology companies across the country.
Other Transaction Authority:
This DIU public announcement is an open call to small businesses and non-traditional defense contractors seeking innovative, commercial technologies proposed to create new DoW solutions or potential new capabilities fulfilling requirements, closing capability gaps, or providing potential technological advancements, technologies fueled by commercial or strategic investment, but also concept demonstrations, pilots, and agile development activities improving commercial technologies, existing Government-owned capabilities, or concepts for broad Defense application(s). As such, the Government reserves the right to award a contract or an Other Transaction agreement for any purpose, to include a prototype or research, under this public announcement. The Federal Government is not responsible for any monies expended by the applicant before award and is under no obligation to award additional procurement transactions.
Satisfying Competition Requirements:
This DIU Challenge Open Call Announcement is considered to have potential for further efforts that may be accomplished via FAR-based contracting instruments, Other Transaction Authority (OTA) for Prototype Projects 10 USC 4022 and Research 10 USC 4021, Prizes for advanced technology achievements 10 USC 4025. The public open call announcement on DIU’s website is considered to satisfy the reasonable effort to obtain competition in accordance with 10 USC 4025(b), and 10 USC 4022 (b)(2). Accordingly, FAR-based actions will follow announcement procedures per FAR 5.201(b).
DIU reserves the right to cancel, suspend, and/or modify the Challenge, or any part of it, for any reason, at DIU’s sole discretion.
FAQs
1. Is there expected Government furnished equipment (GFE) or information (GFI)?
There is no expected GFE (e.g. USV host platform) or GFI (e.g. ATRs) that will be part of Challenge evaluation. While there may be available sUSVs on site, integration of a L&R system is not expected, and fully autonomous launch is not assumed in any Track Mission Profile. Systems are not expected to adopt Gov-owned ATR algorithms specific to their sensors.
2. Will testing occur on mine fields at a representative depth (e.g. ~300m on Tracks 2 and 3)?
T&E will be conducted at a Naval Warfare Center test locations seeded with representative mine shapes. For Tracks 2 and 3, depth will be max 300m.
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We Work With You
If we think there’s a good match between your solution and our DoD partners, we’ll invite you to provide us with a full proposal — this is the beginning of negotiating all the terms and conditions of a proposed prototype contract.
After a successful prototype, the relationship can continue and even grow, as your company and any interested DoD entity can easily enter into follow-on contracts.
Our Process
We solicit commercial solutions that address current needs of our DoD partners. (View all open solicitations and challenges.
You send us a short brief about your solution.
We’ll get back to you within 30 days if we’re interested in learning more through a pitch. If we're not interested, we'll strive to let you know ASAP.