Ground-Based Affordable Mass Prize Challenge

Eligibility

This solicitation is open to U.S. and international vendors. Companies may submit individually or as part of a team or partnership that combine complementary technologies, manufacturing capabilities, or domain expertise. The Government is only interested in full systems. Solutions with demonstrated operational performance are of particular interest, but prior combat use is not required for consideration.

Awarding Instrument

This DIU Challenge 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.

This competition is conducted in accordance with 10 U.S.C. § 4025, which authorizes the use of prize competitions to stimulate innovation and identify promising technologies for national security applications. Requirements for competition under 10 U.S.C. § 3201 are satisfied upon completion of the challenge and use of prize authority. As such, this competition serves as a competitive down select mechanism that enables government organizations to engage with finalists and winners through a variety of follow-on acquisition pathways, including but not limited to:

• 10 U.S.C. § 4114 – Selection of contractors for prototype projects
• 10 U.S.C. § 4022 – Prototype projects
• 10 U.S.C. § 4023 – Procurement for experimental purposes
• 10 U.S.C. § 4001 – Research and development
• 10 U.S.C. § 4021 – Other Transaction Authority (OTA)
• 10 U.S.C. § 3458 – Authority to acquire innovative commercial products and commercial services using general solicitation competitive procedures
• 15 U.S.C. § 3703 – Technology innovation partnerships
• 15 U.S.C. § 638 – SBIR and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs

Follow-on Production

Companies are advised that a prototype Other Transaction (OT) agreement awarded in response to this AOI can lead directly to a significantly larger follow-on production contract or transaction available for use by multiple organizations across the DOW. This potential follow-on award may occur without the use of further competitive procedures. All prototype OT agreements will include verbiage notifying the awardee that, upon the successful completion of the prototype project, this competitively awarded OT may result in the award of a follow-on production contract or transaction without the use of competitive procedures.

Government organizations may consider leveraging these statutory authorities to pursue follow-on awards with companies identified through the DIU competition process. This approach supports rapid technology maturation, accelerates the transition of innovative capabilities to the field, and promotes collaboration with non-traditional and small business performers.

U.S. Small Business Eligibility (for potential Army SBIR Opportunity)

Finalist invited to the DIU G-BAM Prize Challenge Phase 2 demonstration and pitch that qualify as a U.S. Small Business will have the opportunity to submit a Direct to Phase II (DP2) Army Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) proposal worth up to $2,000,000, not to exceed 18 months in duration. U.S. Small Businesses eligible for potential Army SBIR opportunities will only be permitted one SBIR DP2 proposal if selected to demonstrate.

In accordance with the DP2 Army SBIR requirements, each eligible proposing small business shall provide documentation or demonstrate feasibility of sufficient solution maturity to be eligible for a DP2 Army SBIR award along with the DP2 proposal. Work submitted within the feasibility documentation or demonstration must have been substantially performed by the proposing small business and/or the principal investigator. If technology in the feasibility documentation is subject to Intellectual Property (IP), the proposing small business concern must either own the IP or must have obtained license rights to such technology prior to proposal submission, to enable it and its subcontractors to legally carry out the proposed work.

Small, for-profit, independent U.S. businesses. Restrictions exist about (1) the type of firm; (2) its ownership structure; (3) the firm’s size in terms of the number of employees; and (4) prior, current, or pending support of similar proposals or awards, as follows:

1. Type of Firm: An eligible firm must be organized as a for‐profit concern and meet all the other small business requirements in 13 C.F.R. § 121.702. Non‐profit entities are not eligible.
2. Ownership and Control: A majority (more than 50%) of an eligible firm’s equity (e.g., stock) must be directly owned and controlled by one (1) of the following: 
   1. One (1) or more individuals who are citizens or permanent resident aliens of the U.S;
   2. Other for‐profit small business concerns (SBCs) (each of which is directly owned and controlled by individuals who are citizens or permanent resident aliens of the U.S.); or
   3. A combination of (a) and (b) above.
   4. Note: If an employee stock ownership plan owns all or part of the concern, each stock trustee and plan member is considered an owner. If a trust owns all or part of the concern, each trustee and trust beneficiary is considered an owner. 
3. Size: An eligible firm, together with the affiliates, must not have more than 500 employees.
4. Prior, Current, or Pending Support with Similar Technology: Proposals submitted in response to this prize competition must not be substantially the same as another proposal that was funded, is now being funded, or is pending contract award with another federal agency. Small businesses with any questions concerning prior, current, or pending support for similar proposals or awards must disclose those as early as possible to the Army FUZE SBIR Program Office.

Allied Collaboration

The UK Ministry of Defence is assisting with this Challenge and may provide expertise in long-range effectors. Note the 'Export Controls' section of this AoI.

Export Controls

U.S. EAR: Information sharing with the U.K. will be conducted in accordance with the Bureau of Industry and Security, Department of Commerce’s Interim Final Rule dated April 19, 2024, which removed many export licensing requirements under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) for 600-series items and missile-technology (MT) controlled items for exports, reexports, and in-country transfers to or within the U.K., subject to certain exceptions (e.g., items requiring a license under § 742.6(a)(9) or other “license to all destinations” requirements).

U.S. ITAR: Information sharing with the U.K. will be conducted in accordance with 22 CFR § 126.4, Transfers by or for the United States Government, paragraph (b), which removes the licensing requirement for the export, reexport, retransfer, or temporary import of a defense article or the performance of a defense service, when made by another person for a department or agency of the U.S. Government.

Solutions submitted by U.K. companies are eligible for export control relief under General Export Authorisation No. 001 (Partner Countries), provided they meet the conditions of the authorisation. Non-U.S.-based companies should consider any applicable home-nation export controls on technical information when preparing solution briefs for review by U.S. and U.K. government teams.