Incubator Programs for Secure Facilities and Networks at Universities

The Department of War is conducting a Request for Information to assess the feasibility and benefits of establishing incubator programs at institutions of higher education for the development, operation, and sustainment of secure facilities and networks. Pursuant to Section 1071 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, this initiative aims to increase the availability of secure spaces for classified research and development, prototyping, and secure collaboration, while accelerating the transition of innovative technologies to mission use. The Department is seeking information from institutions capable of serving as regional innovation hubs that support multi-tenant use by government, industry, and academia, with a particular focus on expanding the cleared technical workforce and ensuring long-term economic sustainment through significant non-federal cost-sharing. This RFI is for planning and assessment purposes only and does not constitute a formal solicitation. Interested institutions must provide detailed information regarding their current security posture, technical capabilities, and administrative capacity, including compliance with NISPOM and ICD 705 standards. Key requirements for respondents include executive-level commitment statements from the President or Chancellor, cybersecurity certifications from the CIO or CISO, and evidence of robust insider threat and research security programs. The Department will evaluate responses based on alignment with defense technology priorities, regional strategic value, business model viability, and the ability to mitigate foreign ownership, control, or influence risks. Responses are due by November 12, 2026.