Distributed Micro Sensors CE

Request to Attend NLT 28 May 2026 11:59 PM ET
U.S. Persons Only

Purpose 
SOFWERX, in collaboration with USSOCOM Program Executive Office (PEO) SOF Warrior, will host a series of events to address the challenges faced by operating forces in detecting diverse threats in forward conflict zones

Background/Synopsis
Operating forces face a range of complex threats on the modern battlefield from toxic environmental hazards to chemical, biological, and radiological hazards. These threats can be persistent and / in some scenarios the result of inadvertent collateral contamination as well as deliberate adversary contamination or terrain-denial efforts. Enhancing the extended sensory perception of a ground maneuver force is essential to realizing the ‘Avoid Being Hit’ and the ‘Survive if Hit’ components of a ‘Formation-based Layered Protection’ (FbLP) strategy. The Army’sFbLP encompasses a converged system of sensors, and AI-driven command along with the effects of weapons, across warfighting formations to make those formations harder to find and kill. It emphasizes the development of a network of active/passive defense layers that detect, track, and engage threats at machine speed.  

Objective
This event aims to identify suites of low-cost, disposable, threat-agnostic micro-sensors capable of targeting seismic, toxic, and signal hazards which can be quickly deployed to potentially form wireless mesh networks. Advancing these solutions will enable timely, informed tactical decisions and enhance operational effectiveness and survivability on the battlefield.

Other Areas of Interest

• Power supply for extended duration (up to 30 days) 

• Acoustic sensing 

• Communications and waveform propagation 

• Novel employment/deployment strategies and techniques 

• Novel sensor degradation (drop and forget, self-destroying) 

• Automation for sensor triggering 

Why You Should Participate
USSOCOM seeks to enter into non-FAR or FAR-based agreements with Industry, Academic, and National Lab partners whose solutions are favorably evaluated by Special Operations Forces Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (SOF AT&L), Special Operations Forces Warriors (SW). As such, the follow-on Assessment Event (AE) is considered competitive and solutions will be evaluated independently of one another primarily for technical merit. This serves dually as notification of the intent to research the feasibility of an agreement under 10 U.S. Code, Section 4022 and/or Section 4022(f), and as notice of pre-solicitation activities IAW FAR 5.204.

Event Timeline
Phase 1 - 24 June 2026 Collaboration Event (CE): SOFWERX will host the Collaboration Event (CE) with Industry, Academic, and Laboratory partners focused on Distributed Micro Sensors needs. During this event, Warfighters will interact with potential solution offerors and further communicate operational needs. Participation in this event is not mandatory, however, it is designed to provide insights to ensure potential offerors fully understand the problem set(s) and to increase the likelihood of matching their technologies with Warfighter needs. This CE is also an opportunity for attendees to meet and form partnerships that may provide a more comprehensive solution. If you do not wish to participate in the CE, you are free to submit your technology on/around 27 July for the AE. Request to attend the CE below,NLT 28 May. Favorably evaluated requests will receive an invitation to attend the event on/around 03 June.  

Tentative Agenda
All times listed are in ET
8:00 – 8:20: Participants arrive at SOFWERX
8:20 – 8:25: SOFWERX Welcome
8:25 – 8:45: Stakeholder Overview & Problem Set
8:45 – 9:45: Current Limitations Breakout
9:45 – 10:00: Break
10:00 – 11:00: Ways to Overcome Limitations Breakout
11:00 – 12:00: Lunch (on your own)
12:00 – 2:30: Problem Statement Development
2:30 – 2:45: Break
2:45 – 3:45: Problem Statement Briefs
3:45 – 4:30: Voting
4:30 – 5:00: Path Forward

Note: Agenda is subject to change

This event will be held in person at SOFWERX and will have a virtual component. 

Phase 2 - 27 July 2026 to 28 August 2026 Submissions to the Assessment Event (AE) Open: Interested respondents who could potentially provide solutions that meet the needs of USSOCOM are encouraged to submit their capability for USSOCOM review. To submit your technology for potential Phase 4 attendance, please review the assessment criteria and follow the submission instructions that will be near the bottom of this webpage on/around 27 July.

Phase 2a - 12 August 2026 Q&A Telecon: Interested offerors may participate in a virtual Q&A session to better understand the PM's specific technology objectives. The telecon will take place on 12 August from 1:00–2:00 PM ET. RSVP form will be available on/around 27 July.

Phase 3 - 31 August 2026 to 15 September 2026 Downselect: USSOCOM will downselect those respondents/submissions they feel have the highest potential to satisfy their technology needs. Favorably evaluated submissions will receive an invitation to attend the AE on/around 16 September.

Phase 4 - 13 October 2026 to 15 October 2026 Assessment Event (AE): During the AE, selected participants will be allotted a one-on-one session with the USSOCOM evaluation panel to pitch, demonstrate, and/or discuss their solutions. The forum will include a Q&A portion and discussions may continue outside of the event. Solution brief presentation guidelines will be outlined in the event invitation and solutions will be assessed according to the criteria in the link provided below. If the USSOCOM evaluation panel favorably evaluates a solution brief, negotiations for Phase 5 may immediately begin.

This event will be held in person at SOFWERX. 

Phase 5 - Path Forward: Successfully negotiated awards may fall under any combination of these categories:

• Business to business research and development agreement as a sub-award through the SOFWERX Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) (15 U.S. Code Section 3715)
• OTA for research or prototype projects (10 U.S. Code Sections 4021, 4022)
  • An award under 10 U. S. Code, Section 4022 may result in the further award of a follow-on production agreement without additional competition based on successful prototype completion. The Government may make this follow-on production award based upon successful prototype criteria, which will be determined for each prototype project.
• Procurement for experimental purposes (10 U.S. Code Section 4023)
• Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (15 U.S. Code Section 3710a)
• Prizes for advanced technology achievements (10 U. S. Code Section 4025) and/or prize competitions (15 U.S. Code 3719)
• FAR-based procurement contract 

NOTE: Awardees may need to be compliant with NIST SP 800-171, Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in Non-Federal Systems and Organizations

How You Can Participate
Government, Industry, Academia, National Labs, and Non-Traditional Attendees

1. Request to attend the 24 June Collaboration Event: Click Here to Request to Attend (NLT 28 May)

Questions?

For event-related questions, please contact Olivia Larounis olivia.larounis@sofwerx.org