Responses Due By
2026-07-29 23:59:59 US/Eastern Time
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DIU Presents: Specular MIST Prize Challenge
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Project Description
Due to some language inconsistencies throughout this Prize challenge announcement, the Government has decided to extend the proposal submission period. Please note the new submission deadline below.
DIU Presents: Specular MIST Prize Challenge
Overview of the Event
The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), in collaboration with the Department of the Navy Rapid Capabilities Office (DONRCO) and Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, seeks to identify innovative, scalable, and cost-effective solutions to address modern maritime training and operational challenges. Traditional acquisition timelines no longer support the urgent needs of our warfighters. To maintain maritime superiority, the Specular MIST Challenge accelerates the prototyping and fielding of transformative technologies that deliver an operational advantage at speed.
A critical component of this modernization effort is the deployment of autonomous and containerized payloads to generate combat power at speed and scale. This initiative focuses on accelerating the development, prototyping, and production of a portfolio of payloads for integration onto manned and autonomous Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs), providing adaptable, lethal, and decisive advantages in contested maritime environments.
A team of subject matter experts will evaluate applicants across a multi-phase competitive process, down-selecting companies to participate in a live At-Sea Challenge demonstration event.
Problem Statement
Current maritime training frameworks and operational capabilities often rely on rigid, distribution-limited, or cost-prohibitive payloads that lack the flexibility to scale. To enable cost-effective sensing, training emulations, and electronic warfare capabilities across autonomous platforms, the DoD requires modular payloads optimized for Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) that feature open-system architectures and software-defined capabilities.
Submissions are open across three distinct Lines of Effort (LOEs):
- LOE 1: Threat Radar Simulators - Develop a fleet of maritime-suitable threat radar simulators to provide dynamic threat target presentations for modern training challenges. Emulators must emit complex S-band signals from a moving vessel, operate remotely, and be marinized to support future integration with autonomous USVs.
- LOE 2: Active Electronic Attack (EA) - Integrate modern active EA capabilities onboard autonomous USVs to execute autonomous electromagnetic warfare operations. Microwave Radio Frequency (RF) technology must sense, digitize, and react to the environment without operator input, featuring real-time adaptive jamming against multiple simultaneous signals.
- LOE 3: Passive Electronic Surveillance - Provide remotely operable electronic surveillance capabilities at scale to crewed and uncrewed surface platforms. Must sense and process the RF environment with remote operator input, providing state-of-the-art cybersecurity compatible with the existing Navy landing zone.
Technical Attributes
Solutions for LOE 1 & 2 should be designed with a modular, open-system architecture. A focus should be placed on real-time reprogramming and software-defined RF capabilities to deliver tunable solutions. Submissions must address the following focus areas:
- Tunable & Scalable: Demonstrate a modular open systems architecture with software-defined radio programming for maximum tunability and rapid technology insertion. Address your plan for solution availability, production capacity, and unit cost for 1, 10, 50, 100, and 300 units, beginning 6 months after Challenge completion.
- Integration: Address unmanned platform integration design, payload optimization (Size, Weight, and Power), and demonstrate the ability to account for vessel motion (roll, pitch, yaw) to ensure accurate payload pointing.
- Environmental Conditions: The solution must feature a resilient design addressing maritime conditions, elevated temperatures, and ship vibration while maintaining performance. It must also address power and thermal management to ensure efficient thermal dissipation for high-power components.
- Command and Control (C2): Detail a common C2 architecture capable of operating the primary payload and co-located systems remotely. For LOEs 1 and 2, The solution must demonstrate the ability to ingest target positioning data and automatically adjust antenna position accordingly. For LOE 3, the solution must be capable of operating with multiple layers of encryption while underway, while supporting data transfer of recorded wideband RF.
Specific Technical Requirements
The following Specifications must be met to have a viable solution.
For LOE 1: Threat Radar Simulators:
The emulator must meet the following minimum technical specifications:
- The system must provide an Effective Radiated Power (ERP) of 50 dBW operating at a 10% duty cycle.
- The radar waveform must support a pulse width ranging from 0.5 to 55 µs, a pulse repetition frequency (PRF) between 50 and 5,000 pps, and utilize both unmodulated pulse and Linear Frequency Modulation (LFM) techniques.
- The system must maintain a maximum harmonic level of 15 dBc and deliver a beamwidth capable of providing an instantaneous azimuth coverage of at least 10°, complete with elevation pointing capabilities.
For LOE 2: Active Electronic Attack (EA):
The system must demonstrate the ability to operate effectively in a contested electronic warfare environment. It must simultaneously detect and discern multiple discrete queued signals and provide adaptive jamming suppression in real-time without operator intervention.
For LOE 3: Passive Electronic Surveillance:
The system must be meet the following minimum technical specifications:
- The system must feature radio frequency (RF) environmental sensing capabilities that encompass, at a minimum, the VHF and UHF bands. It must include subsystems providing position and timing, and deliver a total instantaneous bandwidth of at least 50 MHz. Additionally, the system architecture must be fully capable of hosting and operating government-provided software.
- Submissions will be judged by the degree to which they comply with the NSA’s CSfC requirements for data at rest and data in transit, frequency range coverage beyond the minimum specified here, and innovative design decisions leading to cost savings in production or for technological refresh.
Competitive Process & Evaluation Criteria
The challenge is structured into three progressive evaluation phases:
Phase 1: Proposal & Down-Select
-White Paper Or Pitch Deck
Phase 2: At-Sea Live Demo
-Live demo at Southern California Event with Direct End-User Testing
Phase 3: Post-Demo Pathway
-Maturation Prizes and potential for Follow-on OTA prototype contract / Procurement
Phase 1: Proposal Evaluation & Down Selection
Initial evaluation of written submissions to select viable commercial technologies for live demonstration. Vendors selected to advance receive up to $250,000 to fund participation.
- Technical Viability & Alignment: Degree to which the solution meets the Technical Capabilities and individual LOE requirements.
- Team & Company Viability: Demonstrated capability, current production rates, and corporate expertise to successfully develop, deliver, and sustain the solution.
- Cost & Scalability: Feasibility of proposed pricing ranges across varying production volumes and lifecycle maintenance.
- Quality of Proposal: Clear, thorough explanation of how the technology fills current capability gaps and enhances operational effectiveness within the chosen LOE.
Phase 2: At-Sea Challenge Live Demonstration & Pitch Evaluation
Hands-on operational assessment under realistic conditions in Southern California, evaluated by a designated team of DoW end users. Down-selection to Phase 3 yields up to $1,000,000 per selected company and potential for follow-on prototype or production contract. Evaluated on Phase 1 criteria plus:
- Operational Effectiveness: Proven resilience and performance of the hardware/software when exposed to highly dynamic EM environment and maritime weather conditions.
- End-User Feedback: Ease of use, learning curve, and direct tactical feedback from operators testing the system. Selected companies must provide training documentation ahead of time to allow at least three operators to complete training prior to the event.
- Quality of the Pitch: Clear communication of the solution’s value proposition, commercial viability in non-defense markets, and responsiveness to technical or business questions from strategic advisors.
Phase 3: Post-Demonstration Pathway & User-Driven Iteration
High-performing vendors transition into unit-focused field assessments for extended evaluation, training, and rapid fielding. Prizes awarded in Phase 3 scale alongside direct feedback from operational units as they train with and deploy the systems.
- Rapid Delivery Capability: Ability of the vendor to manufacture and supply substantial numbers of operational systems shortly after completing Phase 2.
- TTP Impact: Measurable positive impact on unit Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs).
Challenge Timeline
Date Milestone
07/08/2026 Challenge Opens / Solicitation Release
07/29/2026 Phase 1 Submission Deadline (White Paper Or Pitch Deck)
08/05/2026 Announcement of Invited Phase 2 Down-Select Participants
08/07/2026 Virtual Q&A Session for Selected Participants
09/10/2026 At-Sea Challenge Live Demonstration Event Begins (Southern California)
09/25/2026 At-Sea Challenge Live Demonstration Event Ends
10/23/2026 Prize Challenge Board Deliberations Completed
10/30/2026 Prize Challenge Winners Announced
Benefits of Participating
- $5,000,000 Total Cash Prize Pool: Funding distributed across phases to incentivize maturation and cover live demonstration participation.
- Direct Exposure: Operational engagement with leaders across multiple branches of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).
- Follow-On Pathways: High-performing vendors stand eligible for rapid fielding opportunities, including cash prizes under 10 USC 4025, system procurement for extended testing, or Prototype Other Transaction (OT) agreements under 10 USC 4022.
Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility & Security Requirements
Participants must have active clearances and ability to access classified networks
Phase 1: Unclassified Execution
- Performance and deliverables during Phase 1 will be strictly unclassified.
- An active Facility Clearance (FCL) is not required to submit a proposal or participate in Phase 1. All development, testing, and evaluation during this phase will be conducted in unclassified environments.
Phase 2: Classified Integration & Network Access
To be eligible to participate, applicants must:
- Personnel Clearances (PCL): All contractor personnel performing work requiring access to classified information, networks, or facilities must possess and maintain a final U.S. Government Security Clearance at the SECRET level or higher. Interim clearances are acceptable for initial performance.
- Network Access: Compliance with all DoW, DISA, and local command policies regarding Secret Internet Protocol Router Network (SIPRNet) or Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System (JWICS) access. Access requires appropriate PCL, validated Need-to-Know, and up-to-date Cyber Awareness training.
- DD Form 254 & Safeguarding: All classified work will be performed in strict accordance with the DD Form 254. If the contractor is required to store classified material at their facility, they must possess a DCSA-approved classified storage capability (Safeguarding) at the SECRET level or higher. Otherwise, all classified work will be performed on-site at a government location.
Submission Requirements
Applications must be fully UNCLASSIFIED and submitted via the official portal at DIU.mil before the deadline. Companies may submit separate, distinct proposals for any combination of LOE 1, LOE 2, and/or LOE 3.
1. White Paper
A comprehensive overview detailing the proposed technology, technical approach, capabilities, and novelty.
- Format: Maximum of 6 pages, font size 11 or 12, 1-point line spacing, and 1-inch margins.
- Content: Must explicitly state current Technology Readiness Level (TRL) (TRL 6+ preferred for the sensor package), relevance to the specified LOE, and a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) for cost and schedule.
- Protective Markings: Where appropriate, apply standard restrictive text (e.g., “Do Not Publicly Release – Trade Secret”).
2. Pitch Deck
An administrative and technical pitch outlining the operational solution.
- Format: Sized 16:9 (1920x1080 pixels), horizontal presentation, PDF format.
- Length: Maximum of 8 slides total, plus 1 additional slide for each specific LOE you are applying to.
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.
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. With offices in Silicon Valley, Boston, Austin, Chicago and Washington, DC, DIU is the Department’s gateway to leading technology companies across the country.
Satisfying Competition Requirements:
This public announcement satisfies competition requirements under 10 USC 4025(b) and 10 USC 4022(b)(2). Upon successful completion of the prize challenge, the Government reserves the right to issue subsequent non-competitive or competitive efforts via FAR-based contracts, Other Transaction Authority (OTA) for Prototypes (10 USC 4022), or Prizes (10 USC 4025). Any FAR-based actions will follow procedures in 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
FAQs section:
1. What does winning look like?
a.) A combination of cash prizes as described above and the opportunity of a follow-on government contract.
2. Where can I submit additional questions not answered in this FAQ?
a.) Please send your questions via email to prizechallenge@diu.mil and reference ‘Specular MIST Prize Challenge’ in the subject line.
3. I have additional questions and want to talk to someone.
a.) While the Specular MIST Challenge remains open, no meetings with individuals or specific companies will be held on this topic in order to maintain a fair and competitive process.
4. Should I submit one proposal or multiple for each LOE?
a.) Submissions can be combined for LOE1 and LOE2 or submitted as separate proposals and a separate submission must be provided for LOE3
5. Who will operate capabilities selected for Phases 2 and 3?
a.) There will be a training period by companies for DoW operators beginning several days prior to the week of the demonstration events. To the maximum extent possible, military members will operate the capabilities.
6. Will there be follow on contracts?
a.) Being designated as a winner of a prize challenge under US Code 4025 makes your solution eligible for follow-on Prototype OTs.
b.) There is no guarantee that any follow-on awards or contracts will be awarded.
7. What happens at the end of Phase 2?
a.) Companies may be selected to continue to Phase 3 where they will provide capabilities and support to the partner unit over a period of 6-9 months for feedback and iterative product development. Additional prize funding will be awarded if selected for Phase 3.
8. If I’m already on the Blue UAS List, do I need to compete?
a.) Yes.
9. Can I team up with a partner?
a.) The DoW understands vendors may not address all attributes in this solicitation fully; teaming proposals are welcome. Due to the preference to demonstrate within three months of this solicitation, preference will be given to individual or team solutions with demonstrated performance to date.
10. Will proprietary solutions be accepted?
a.) While a modicum of integration is always required, solutions that are walled off or require extensive time, labor, and expense to integrate additional third party options will not be considered.
11. What should I put in my proposal?
a.) The criteria outlined in the AOI should be addressed. Key details should include size, weight, power, cost (SWaP-C), performance, ruggedness (e.g., IP rating), and ease of setup. Vendors should also outline delivery timelines, training plans, and their ability to scale production.
12. I have a great idea but it’s not called out as needed in this solicitation. Should I submit it?
a.) No.
13. Will I get feedback on my submission?
a.) Individual feedback will only be provided for submissions selected for Phases 2& 3.
b.) Industry wide feedback may be provided for common trends for success and failure of submissions selected / non-selected during Phase 1.
14. When do I need to submit to be considered?
a.) Submissions must be received by 29 Jul 26 to be evaluated.
15.) Do we need existing SIPRNet at our facility or can we use the Prize Challenge as our conduit to gain access as we meet all other requirements (PCL and compliance)?
a.) No, an existing FCL is not required to apply to this challenge. It is acceptable for teams who currently lack SIPRnet or JWICS access at their facilities to submit proposals, as long as they meet the other security criteria. Teams DO need to be able to access classified information (via JWICS OR SPIRNET) following Phase I, but it can be at another facility. DIU cannot support that access.
16.) Is this solicitation limited to payloads for preselected unmanned surface vessels (USVs), or may offerors propose an integrated USV and payload solution that meets the LOE requirements? If offerors may propose a USV, are there specific vessel criteria or performance requirements?
a.) The aim of this challenge is to deliver only the most viable, modular, containerized payload to perform on existing UxV platforms. Additional autonomous platforms are not desired.
17.) In regards to “LOE 3: Passive Electronic Surveillance:
Reference is made about current capability gaps, but no mention to what those gaps are. Would you elaborate on the gaps you are seeking to address?
a.) For LOE 3, we cannot share specific capability gaps at this level, but will provide additional specificity after phase 1 of the prize challenge.
The solicitation does not specify the RF sensing disciplines of COMINT or ELINT. Are you looking for one, both, just an RF emission survey, or something else?
b.) Both domains are desired.
LOE 3 requests “environmental sensing capabilities” which is vague. Would you prioritize search, identification, demodulation, fingerprinting, copy, recording, geolocation, or other desired RF sensing capabilities?
c.) We prioritize geolocation (including JICD 4.2 compliance), DVR, copy, recording, with potential follow on identification.
Are you seeking fully autonomous, man-on-the-loop, or interactive man-in-the-loop operation?
d.) We are seeking fully autonomous solutions.
18.) Would you clarify how you will evaluate during the demonstration? (What is the set-up platform and operating location?)
a.) All LOEs will be evaluated aboard a 120 foot motor vessel operating at sea.
19.) Where will the candidate sensors operate?
a.) Candidate systems for LOE 3 will be hosted inside the pilot house of the vessel, systems for LOEs 1 and 2 will be deck mounted. Government provided Starlink with Candidate systems for LOE 3 will be hosted inside the pilot house of the vessel, systems for LOEs 1 and 2 will be deck mounted. Government provided Starlink will be available for backhaul and C2 data pathways.
20.) What is the physical hosting environment?
a.) LOE 3 submissions will use a government furnished antenna for testing, though submissions with their own antenna will be considered.
21.) What data pathways are available? What does SWAP-C look like? Will the platforms have existing apertures, etc.?)
a.) LOE 3 submissions should target a 2 U size constraint, but larger systems that can easily fit within the pilot house will be considered for demonstration purposes.
22.) How firm are the demonstration dates?
a.) All demonstration dates are firmly mid through late September. Submissions for LOE 3 will need to plan for testing 9/11, and 9/14-17. These are firm dates.
23.) What are your target emitters for the ES LOE? Pulsed? CW? Both? (What CONOPs are best? Surface-Surface? Surface-Air? Surface-OTH? Surface-Space etc. Do you have thoughts on DF/geo performance?)
a.) All emitters listed, as well as push to talk, are of interest. Surface-Surface and Surface-Air CONOPS are of interest. Geolocation performance is a consideration for overall evaluation.
24.) I am reaching out to better understand a rough idea of what "cost-effective solutions" means in the context of a passive EW system for this use case. The baseline requirement of 50 MHz covering VHF and UHF on the receive side is quite limited, leading me to believe the target cost would be quite low. The higher the capability, the higher the expected cost, especially for larger bandwidths, processing, and other relevant capabilities such as direction finding. If you can share a rough order of magnitude on this topic or any other guidance that would be helpful.
a.) For LOE 3, solutions are expected to be 200k or less per unit at production, with competitive solutions substantially below this mark. LOE 3 solutions should be able to fit and operate in small USVs.
25.) Submission Requirements states that, “Companies may submit separate, distinct proposals for any combination of LOE 1, LOE 2, and/or LOE 3.” However FAQs answer # 4 states, “Submissions can be combined for LOE1 and LOE2 or submitted as separate proposals and a separate submission must be provided for LOE3”. Can we confirm that an offeror may provide one distinct proposal combining both LOE2 and LOE3? Submission Requirements for 1. White Paper, Content, require “a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) for cost and schedule.” Can the government better clarify what the ROM is expected to address ? Can the government confirm that the cost estimate limited to the scope of the demonstration in this challenge (maturation and coverage of live demonstration participation.?
a.) Solutions submitted that combine LOE 3 with other LOEs will be evaluated, however to be competitive for award under LOE 3, solutions should target minimizing SWAP and cost per unit. The ROM allows you to identify your financial assumptions for what you can provide the government. It allows you to identify what you can deliver for how much, and can include both your demonstration cost & projected post-challenge production costs if desired.
26.) The Other Transaction section of the Prize Challenge states the following: “This DIU Challenge public announcement is an open call to small businesses and non-traditional defense contractors…” Does this statement preclude a large business from submitting to this prize challenge as there is no statutory restriction under 4025 or 4022?
a.) Large businesses are not precluded from participating in this challenge. However, to be eligible for any further competition, traditional defense contractors acting as a prime must meet a cost-sharing requirement of 1/3 non-federal funds for any awardee that is not a non-traditional vendor (as defined in DFARS 202.101). However, this requirement is waived for traditional defense contractors if their proposed solution includes significant participation from non-traditional subcontractors. Consequently, prospective vendors can determine the applicability of a cost-share based on these guidelines.
27.) In regard to the subject request for White Paper, if a team submits a proposal that is a combined solution for LOE1 and LOE2 and the team is selected to advance to Phase 2 for both LOE1 and LOE2, would that team be eligible to receive up to $250,000 to fund participation for each LOE demonstration (total of $500,000)? In regard to the subject request for White Paper, if a team submits a proposal that is a combined solution for LOE1 and LOE2 and the team is selected to advance to Phase 3 for both LOE1 and LOE2, would that team be eligible to receive up to $1,000,000 to fund participation for each LOE demonstration (total of $2,000,000)?
a.) If a team is selected to advance for multiple LOEs, they are eligible to receive up to $250,000 at the end of Phase 2 for each LOE they have been selected for. To advance to Phase 3, a viable prototype is required. For those selected to advance to Phase 3, $1,000,000 will be split between selectees per LOE. For example, if one company is selected for both LOE 1 and 2, they are eligible to receive up to $2,000,000; if two companies are selected for a single LOE, each company would receive $500,000.
28.) Very little is said about the USV platforms,
- Do submissions need to include USV platforms or will the Navy be providing them?
- If the Navy is providing USV, can SWAP capabilities be provided?
- Does power source need to be part of the solution or is this being provided by TBD USV?
- Is there a targeted sized USV? LOE1 50 dBW requirement implies a mid to large sized USV to provide the power needed to generate 50 dBW EIRP with a 10 deg beamwidth, though the passive ES can be implemented on small USV
- Is the LOE1 50 dBW power requirement a hard number or is there a range that could be accepted, such as 30-50 dBW?
a.)
- The Navy will be providing USV platforms.
- SWAP capabilities of the USV platform will be provided as part of phase 3 development.
- Power will be provided via the vessel or by a generator on the vessel.
- LOEs 1 and 2 should target a mid USV, but a smaller SWAP will be graded higher than a larger SWAP. LOE 3 should target a small USV.
- 50dBW is the targeted requirement for LOE1.
29.) Could companies support participating teams as a commercial drivetrain and marine-integration partner? Additionally:
- Are gasoline two-stroke propulsion systems permitted on vessel platforms used in the Specular MIST Challenge, including the Phase 2 at-sea demonstration?
- Are there specific emissions, fuel, noise, safety, or environmental requirements that would affect the eligibility of a two-stroke marine drivetrain?
- Will participants be expected to provide their own vessel or USV platform, or will platforms be supplied by the Government or separate platform partners?
- Because the solicitation welcomes teaming proposals, is there a process through which a company could be considered as a drivetrain supplier or integration partner for companies competing under one of the three Lines of Effort?
- Could a company participate strictly as a supplier or subcontractor to a qualifying team, rather than submitting a standalone RF-payload proposal?
a.) The government is providing the Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) platform; therefore, proposals should only focus on the payload delivery described in the solicitation. Modifications to the vessel's propulsion or other operational systems are not requested. Companies are encouraged to partner with other organizations to deliver a complete solution, or they can provide the portion of the solution they specialize in and receive partner recommendations from the government during Phase 2.
30.) In regards to LOE 3. What does "cost-effective solutions" mean in the context of a passive EW system for this use case. The baseline requirement of 50 MHz covering VHF and UHF on the receive side is quite limited, The higher the capability, the higher the expected cost, especially for larger bandwidths, processing, and other relevant capabilities such as direction finding. Could you share a rough order of magnitude on this topic or any other guidance that would be helpful?
a.) "Cost-effectiveness" is open to the company's interpretation, as each specific company best understands its own unique development and operational costs. To account for this, a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) estimate is required with the submission. This ROM allows companies to clearly identify their own financial assumptions and provide estimates for both a baseline approach and/or a higher-capability solution.
31.) Would a large business with over $1B in annual revenue be disqualified from consideration because we are not a small business or non-traditional?
a.) Large businesses are not precluded from participating in this challenge.
32.) Can you please clarify the correct maximum number of pages allowed?
a.) Aim for 5 pages.
33.) LOE #2 describes the required EA functionality, but we did not see a defined frequency range associated with the capability. Can you provide any guidance regarding the expected frequency bands or a representative frequency range that solutions should be designed to address?
a.) A defined frequency range is not provided intentionally. Feel free to provide all or some of the potential ranges your solution(s) is/are capable of.
34.) For all LOEs, are there any preferred or required interface standards, communications protocols, middleware, or government reference architectures that vendors should anticipate supporting for payload integration, C2, and data exchange?
a.) For the purpose of phase 2 testing, Payload integration onto the vessel will be power and data via Starlink. Comm protocols, C2, data formats, etc are up to the vendor. The C2 needs to be conducted remotely via the Starlink network path (eg, be able to turn the system on and off via Starlink). For LOE 1 and 2, the C2 should also have a backup of being executed on the vessel if Starlink is not available (eg, be able to turn the system on and off while aboard the vessel). If selected for Phase 3, payload integration, C2, and data exchange will be worked via a common USV architecture.
35.) Can you confirm that one-third cost sharing is the only way for a Large Business to qualify - or are there other routes to qualify such as significant participation from a non-traditional partner.
a.) Cost sharing is not required for large businesses to participate in this prize challenge. Cost sharing would be required to participate in any OTA that results from this prize challenge, including any contracts awarded as prizes for LOE 3.
36.) In regard to LOE 2, what is the required Instantaneous Bandwidth (IBW) of the Adaptive EA System?
a.) To maintain operational security and a fair public process, we cannot provide technical or operational details beyond what is already outlined in the AOI.
37.) Our system Disrupts (hard kill with high power RF), not just Denies (traditional jamming), and thus does not require "detecting and discerning" to successfully conduct EA. Is "detect and discern" still a hard requirement as written, given our unique case?
a.) Yes, detect and discern would still be a requirement.
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