ARMY AL&T
I
t began as a challenge to accelerate acquisition and attract nontraditional small businesses to work with the Army. But the Expeditionary Technology Search (xTechSearch) competition has succeeded in bringing into the acquisition
pipeline remarkable technologies—one a solid propellant that’s 40 percent more efficient than existing rocket fuel; another, a way to see through walls. And those are just the first two winners of the competition.
Determined to tackle the current modernization challenges, the Army is seeking out new and innovative technology concepts through the xTechSearch competition. Small businesses nation- wide have leveraged this opportunity to discuss how their technology concept can improve, enhance and further support the Army’s top priorities.
XTechSearch launched its fourth iteration in October 2019 at the Association of the United States Army’s (AUSA) Annual Meeting and Exposition, and is expanding to add program elements to increase education and engagement with the Army. Not only is xTechSearch a competition that provides small businesses with a platform to showcase their technologies to Army experts through various stages of development, it also now offers an accelerator program, increased collaboration opportunities, education sessions and opportunities for small businesses to engage with the program on social media. Te continuous efforts are geared toward assisting small businesses and providing them with insights on how to do business with the Army.
TACKLING MODERNIZATION, ONE GAP AT A TIME During each of the four phases of the competition, small businesses show how their technology concept can help the Army tackle its modernization challenges. Te small busi- nesses receive feedback and guidance from panels of expert Army judges on how to further develop their technologies so that they can meet the needs of the warfighter. Judging panels include representatives from across the Army enter- prise, including laboratory scientists and engineers, program managers, acquisition portfolio managers and the users of the technology themselves—Soldiers. Te constant feedback helps small businesses “discover how they can fit in and help the military. We’re trying to give an opportunity to dialogue with people in the Army to help understand what their needs are and what opportunities there are and the applications that we are rewarding and the Army will be able to fund,” explained Dr. Bruce D. Jette, assistant secretary of the Army
The competition is designed to be more than just winning a prize during each phase: It’s about making the right connections, growing small businesses and providing warfighters with the next- generation technology they need.
for acquisition, logistics and technology (ASA(ALT)), speak- ing at the AUSA Annual Meeting in October.
To date, the competitions have awarded more than $6 million in cash prizes to more than 235 small businesses, 36 of which have received more than $125,000 each to further advance their concepts. Two grand prize winners have received more than $325,000 each. (Te monetary structure of the prizes has changed since the first iteration.) Tese cash prizes are non-dilutive capital—funding that doesn’t require giving up any equity in the company—transferred directly to the compa- ny’s bank account with no contracts or intellectual property concessions. Te money is intended to help the businesses bring their technologies to fruition and open opportunities for the Army and other DOD organizations to invest in their products.
XTechSearch is working to break down the real and perceived barriers for small businesses to work with the Army and is entic- ing nontraditional innovators to come forward and communicate directly with Army stakeholders.
STRONGER CONNECTIONS, MORE OPPORTUNITIES Te technology search has become more than just a competi- tion; the program aims to uncover novel science and technology concepts while providing ongoing support and mentorships to gain insight and an understanding of how to do business with the Army while navigating its complexity—something that many small businesses need to successfully transition technologies into the Army. Te program has sought out various initiatives to support the participating small businesses and connect them with
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