The U.S. Army is seeking innovative technology solutions from eligible small, medium, or large businesses attending CES 2027 in Las Vegas, NV, from January 6–8, 2027, to assist with key Army priorities through the xTech|Live at CES 2027 competition. This platform offers participants the opportunity to engage with the U.S. Department of War (DoW) and compete for prize money. The Army FUZE xTech Program, managed under the Office of the U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology (ASA(ALT)), is partnering with Program Management Executive (PME) Mission Autonomy to deliver the xTech|Live at CES 2027 competition. Recognizing the need to reach beyond traditional defense partners, the U.S. Army is actively expanding its engagement with the commercial sector through dynamic platforms such as live pitch competitions – creating new opportunities for industry to directly shape the future of national security. This initiative aims to (1) understand the spectrum of ‘world-class’ technologies being developed commercially with potential U.S. DoW applications; (2) actively integrate the sector of non-traditional innovators into the U.S. DoW Science and Technology (S&T) ecosystem; and (3) provide expertise and feedback to accelerate, mature, and transition technologies of interest to the U.S. DoW. The xTech|Live at CES 2027 competition will consist of three (3) rounds:
Optional pre-registration with quad chart submission (if selected will secure a guaranteed time slot for the live pitch event);
On-site registration with elevator pitch (on a first-come, first-serve basis); and
Live pitch event.
The competition will award up to $500,000 in cash prizes to selected participants. Up to 40 applicants will be selected to present their technology concept to a live panel of U.S. Army and DoW subject matter experts (SMEs) at CES 2027 from January 6–8, 2027. The U.S. Army intends to select up to five (5) winners to receive a cash prize of $100,000 each. Additional details on prize structure can be found in Section VI of the RFI. There are two (2) ways to register for xTech|Live at CES 2027:
Pre-registration with quad chart submission to potentially secure a guaranteed timeslot for the live pitch event; and
On-site registration with 60-second elevator pitch, available on a first-come, first-serve basis, subject to the Army’s needs.
All eligible entities, regardless of registration method, will be required to complete a registration form. This is required to ensure alignment with the U.S. Army’s operational needs and priorities. Additional details on the registration options can be found in Section IV. All presentations will be conducted in front of a public audience. In addition to non-dilutive cash prizes, participants may have the opportunity to engage with U.S. Army and DoW experts attending CES 2027, receiving valuable feedback on their innovations. The xTech|Live at CES 2027 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 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 – Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs
Government organizations are encouraged to consider leveraging these statutory authorities to pursue follow-on awards with companies identified through the xTech 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. While the authority of this program is 10 U.S.C. § 4025, the xTech|Live at CES 2027 competition may generate interest by another U.S. Army, DoW or United States Government (USG) organization for a funding opportunity outside of this program (e.g., submission of a proposal under a Broad Agency Announcement). The interested organization may contact the participant to provide additional information or ask for a request for proposal in a separate solicitation. Winners of the prize competition may have opportunities to submit a separate proposal for further development of their proposed technology solution based on the needs of the Army. The Army may use a contract mechanism of their choice and will notify the participants accordingly. The Army FUZE xTech Program intends to provide feedback from evaluators to participants following the live pitch event. The purpose of providing this feedback is to help accelerate the transition of the technology to a U.S. Army end-user by providing insight into the best applications for the technology, suggestions for product improvement for U.S. Army use and recommended next steps for development. However, the Government will not respond to inquiries regarding this feedback. Problem Statement The U.S. Army is seeking novel technologies and commercially developed capabilities that may contribute to future Army needs and advance the Army’s ability to adopt emerging technologies from the broader innovation ecosystem. Through this competition, the Army intends to understand the range of technologies being developed by commercial companies, startups, and other innovators that may have potential applications in national security. The Army is particularly interested in technologies that may improve operational effectiveness, decision-making, resilience, efficiency, human performance, and the ability to scale new capabilities in the following three (3) topic areas:
Scaling Assured Autonomy for Operational Use
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Robotics, Sensors, and the Internet of Things
Technologies that fall exclusively within the portfolio of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC), which include military infectious diseases, military operational medicine, chemical biological defense, and clinical and rehabilitative medicine, are excluded from xTech|Live at CES 2027. Detailed topic descriptions can be found in Appendix A of the RFI.
