Status: Open. Solution briefs due December 10 (federal contracting site, SAM) or December 11 (Vulcan), 2026. Plan for December 10, 5:00 p.m. ET.
Executive Summary
The U.S. Army's office for GPS and navigation equipment, Project Manager Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PM PNT), sits in its intelligence and electronic warfare portfolio, the Capability Program Executive Intelligence and Spectrum Warfare (CPE ISW). On November 10, 2026 it opened a Call for Solutions for Standalone Non-Radio Frequency Systems under the Army Open Solicitation, a standing way to buy commercial technology (Commercial Solutions Opening, CSO W9128Z-25-S-A002).
The Army wants commercial positioning and navigation that runs on vehicles or standard smartphones and tablets with no input from GPS or any other radio frequency (RF) source. The first step is a solution brief of up to 10 pages uploaded through Vulcan. The SAM notice and the Vulcan call list different deadlines, so plan for the earlier one, December 10, 2026, 5:00 p.m. ET.
Solicitation at a Glance
- Agency: U.S. Army PM PNT, under CPE ISW; contracting by Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground
- Notice: W56KGY-27-PNT-C4S-0001 (SAM special notice, November 5, 2026)
- Call: "Standalone Non-Radio Frequency Systems for the U.S. Army" on Vulcan, opened November 10, 2026, 10:00 a.m. CT
- Authority: Army Open Solicitation, Commercial Solutions Opening W9128Z-25-S-A002
- Funding: No dollar amount posted
- Possible outcomes: Capability demonstration, FAR contract, Other Transaction (OT) prototype agreement, SBIR/STTR or market research
- Technology maturity: Technology readiness level (TRL) 5 or higher at Phase 1 start
- Due date: SAM: December 10, 2026, 5:00 p.m. ET. Vulcan: December 11, 2026, 10:59 p.m. CT. Plan for December 10.
Think your company qualifies? Talk with BW&CO before the December 10 deadline.
What Is the PM PNT Non-RF Call?
It is a Call for Solutions under the Army's Commercial Solutions Opening, a competitive way to buy commercial technology with simpler terms than a standard contract. Companies submit a short solution brief through Vulcan, the Department of War's technology scouting site. The Army may then ask for a pitch and test the technology at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.
What Problem Is the Army Trying to Solve?
Army units need reliable position and navigation without RF signals for mounted and dismounted operations in contested electromagnetic environments, especially urban canyons, dense foliage and areas with interference. The Army says current alternatives often drift too far or fail when they rely only on signal-based methods, which puts maneuver, logistics and command and control at risk.
Priority Capability Areas: What the Army Is Looking For
- Core Capability & Accuracy: continuous RF-free position estimates; performance comparable to high-grade GNSS receivers under test and better than native dead reckoning
- Initialization: position at mission start without RF input
- SWaP: use existing sensors, maps and computing on vehicles or smartphones; give numbers for added size, weight and power; local processing with optional cloud visualization
- Resilience & Testing: prior tests across geographies and mission threads; robustness in feature-poor terrain and extreme weather; regaining a fix after losing one
- Maturity & Upgradability: TRL 5 or higher at Phase 1 start
- Security & Integration: cybersecurity, data integrity and privacy; interfaces (APIs) into Army Assured PNT architectures and mission planning tools; low-integration, plug-and-play solutions preferred
- Growth Potential: how the system grows over time, for example a data flywheel
Funding and Contract Terms
The call posts no dollar amount. At the Army's discretion, fully mature solutions, partial solutions or solutions that are not yet commercially ready may receive an OT agreement or contract to mature them, or be kept in a library for 12 months for a later award. Not every mature solution will be awarded.
Eligibility Requirements
- Who can submit: Companies with commercially available or near-commercial RF-free positioning solutions; the call lists no set-aside or clearance requirement
- Registration: Vulcan accounts must use an official organizational email
- Classification: Solution briefs must be unclassified and contain no personally identifiable information
How to Submit
- Open the call: Log in to Vulcan, go to Calls and choose "Standalone Non-Radio Frequency Systems for the U.S. Army"
- Use one scout card per solution: Submit an existing scout card or create a new one; do not duplicate cards
- Upload the brief: Attach a solution brief of up to 10 pages or slides (Times New Roman, 12-point minimum, 5 MB maximum); test reports can go in an appendix
- Name your IP: Identify any intellectual property and limits on the government's use of it
- Ask questions by email: Send questions only to the contracting officer with the subject line "Call for Solution, Non-RF PNT Solutions" as written in the notice
What Happens After You Submit?
- Phase 1: Solution brief review and a possible oral presentation (pitch)
- Phase 2: Evaluation at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, which can include the loan of two production-representative units for each solution
- Library: Solutions not chosen right away can be held for 12 months for later consideration
Is This Opportunity a Good Fit for Your Company?
It fits visual and terrain-relative navigation companies, inertial and magnetic navigation sensor makers, quantum sensing teams, map-matching and sensor fusion software startups, and autonomy, robotics and smartphone navigation companies that already have field test data. Teams below TRL 5 should consider an SBIR topic or an Army research announcement first.
How BW&CO Can Help
BW&CO has helped deep-tech and dual-use founders secure more than $350M in non-dilutive funding. For Commercial Solutions Opening calls like this one, we help you:
- Check your fit against the seven objective areas
- Turn your test data into evidence the Army can score
- Write the 10-page solution brief and set up the Vulcan scout card
- Prepare the pitch and the Aberdeen evaluation plan
- Plan the follow-on route: OT, contract or SBIR
Frequently Asked Questions
Which deadline is correct?
The sources differ: December 10, 2026, 5:00 p.m. ET on SAM and December 11, 2026, 10:59 p.m. CT on Vulcan. Plan for December 10. We will update this page when the Army clarifies.
Is there a dollar figure?
No. The call does not post a total or an award size.
Do smartphone solutions count?
Yes. The call names vehicle systems and standard smartphones and tablets.
How mature must the technology be?
TRL 5 or higher at the start of Phase 1.
How long can the brief be?
Up to 10 pages or slides, not counting the cover sheet, in 12-point Times New Roman or larger.
Can we submit more than one solution?
Yes. Create a separate scout card and brief for each solution.
What does Phase 2 involve?
An evaluation at Aberdeen Proving Ground, which can include loaning the Army two production-representative units.
What if our solution is not ready yet?
The Army may keep it in a library for 12 months, or award an agreement to mature it.
Can BW&CO help with a PM PNT submission?
Yes. We help teams frame their test evidence, write the solution brief and prepare for the pitch and evaluation. Book a call with our team.
Source: PM PNT Call for Solutions W56KGY-27-PNT-C4S-0001 on SAM.gov