Army Ultrasound Prototype (W91CRB-RPP-USHC)

Executive Summary

The Army wants two commercial hand-carried ultrasound prototypes, FDA cleared for human use, to replace the aging device used in Role 3 field hospital ICUs. This is a Direct OTA, so consortium membership is not required. Proposals are due November 6, 2026, 16:00 EST.

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The deciding factor is commercial maturity. The Army is buying a COTS or NDI system that needs little or no modification, and the RPP says proposals for developmental items or significant redesign "will be evaluated unfavorably or excluded from consideration." Systems that military technicians can maintain without proprietary tools are rated highly favorably, and the awardee may receive a noncompetitive follow-on for approximately 107 units.

Solicitation at a Glance

• Agency: U.S. Army, PAE Maneuver Ground, Project Manager Maneuver Medical Systems (PM M2S); agreement activity U.S. Army Contracting Command (ACC), DoDAAC W91CRB
• Opportunity: Ultrasound Diagnostic System, Hand Carried (USHC) - Prototype
• Number: W91CRB-RPP-USHC
• Award Vehicle: Direct Other Transaction (OT) Agreement for a prototype project under 10 U.S.C. § 4022; "NOT a FAR-based Contract"
• Funding: No dollar amount posted; funded with FY26 Defense Health Program (DHP) RDT&E 2-year funds; one award planned
• Technology Maturity: COTS or NDI, FDA cleared for human use, requiring little to no modification
• Due date: "no later than 06 November 2026 16:00 Eastern Standard Time (EST)"

Think your company qualifies? Talk with BW&CO before the November 6 deadline.

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What Is the USHC Prototype?

The Ultrasound Diagnostic System, Hand Carried (USHC) is a diagnostic imaging device used in deployed field hospitals at Role of Care (ROC) 3 in the Intensive Care Unit. It helps clinicians examine the abdominal, vascular, cardiac and musculoskeletal systems. Through this Request for Prototype Proposals (RPP), PM M2S plans to award one OT agreement for delivery of two prototype units, which will go through operational testing by the Medical Test and Evaluation Activity (MTEAC) and environmental testing under MIL-STD-810H.

What Problem Is the Army Trying to Solve?

The currently fielded device, the Sonosite M-Turbo (manufactured in 2007), is no longer procurable through the DLA Electronic Catalog and "will be non-supportable by April 2028." The Army needs a replacement that lets ROC 3 clinicians:

• Perform Focused Assessment of Sonography in Trauma (FAST) exams to identify internal thoracic and abdominal hemorrhages.
• Guide procedures such as central venous line placement, nerve blocks and thoracenteses.
• Rapidly rule out deep vein thrombosis, pseudoaneurysms, compartment syndrome, or soft-tissue foreign bodies and abscesses.

Priority Requirements: What the Army Is Looking For

• FDA status: 510(k) clearance for human use if a Class II device, or FDA registration for human use if Class I.
• Imaging: live color Doppler, HD Flow, Power Doppler, Pulse Wave Doppler and Continuous Wave Doppler.
• Probes: general scanning, echocardiography, linear and curved high-resolution imaging, endo-cavity exams, 3D/4D volume rendering and phased-array cardiac imaging.
• Ports and display: at least two transducer ports (four desired) and a 13-inch or larger non-interlaced monitor (17-inch desired).
• Power: 110 to 120 VAC (60 Hz), with 220 to 240 VAC (50 Hz) also desired.
• Organic maintenance: a system maintainable by military Biomedical Equipment Technicians (BMETs) at Field and Depot levels with standard, non-proprietary tools.
• Additional attributes: fieldable maintenance kits, a ruggedized transport case, and standard non-proprietary consumables.
• Cybersecurity: a standalone system that does not connect to DoW networks during normal operation, with support for RMF/ATO documentation and NIST SP 800-171 compliance.

Funding and Award Terms

• Amount: the RPP does not post a dollar amount. Funding is FY26 DHP RDT&E 2-year funds, "subject to availability and Congressional appropriation."
• Number of awards: the Government intends one award and reserves the right to make more than one award or no award.
• Anticipated award: FY27 Q1.
• Period of performance: an estimated 12 months from award, with prototype delivery expected 45-60 days after award.
• Cost share: "Cost share is not required for this prototype effort." Voluntary cost share will be noted positively during evaluation.
• Warranty: at least one year covering parts, in-house labor and technical support, starting on delivery.
• Follow-on production: under 10 U.S.C. § 4022(f), the Government may award a follow-on agreement for approximately 107 USHC units without further competitive procedures.
• Data rights: the Government requires Unlimited Rights in technical data first produced or specifically modified under the agreement, plus a perpetual, royalty-free license for operation and maintenance manuals, schematics, parts lists and troubleshooting guides.

Eligibility and Participation

• Direct OTA: "consortium membership is NOT required."
• Nontraditional defense contractor: 10 U.S.C. § 4022 requires, to the maximum extent practicable, that at least one party is a nontraditional defense contractor or a nonprofit research institution. Vendors must state whether they qualify and justify it. If no party qualifies, the Government may still proceed if at least one-third of the total cost comes from non-Federal Government sources.
• SAM registration: "Vendors shall be registered in SAM.gov at the time of proposal submission."
• Trade Agreements Act: all systems, accessories and repair parts must be TAA compliant, and a Trade Agreements Certificate (Attachment A) is required.
• Small business: NAICS 334510 with a size standard of 1,250 employees; the Government encourages small businesses and nontraditional defense contractors to participate.
• Security: the effort is UNCLASSIFIED // CUI, and no facility or personnel clearances are required for proposal submission.

How to Apply

• Read the full RPP attached to the SAM.gov notice, including Appendix A (Data Rights Assertions Table) and Attachment A (TAA Certificate).
• Submit questions in writing to the Agreements Officer, with a copy to the Agreements Specialist, no later than October 28, 2026 at 15:00 EST. Answers will be posted as an RPP amendment.
• Prepare four volumes as separate PDFs: Executive Summary (1 page), Technical Approach (7 pages), Management, Past Performance & Schedule (5 pages) and Cost/Business Proposal (3 pages).
• Include a compliance matrix for each specification, your FDA 510(k) number or Class I registration status, at least two relevant past performance references, and pricing by CLIN with any modifications priced separately under CLIN 0007.
• Submit by DoD SAFE file transfer or secure email to the Agreements Officer named in the RPP no later than November 6, 2026, 16:00 EST.

What Happens After You Submit?

• Receipt: the Government intends to acknowledge receipt within two business days.
• Evaluation: a holistic, "best fit" review across Technical Approach, Technical Maturity and Commerciality, Performance Compliance, Reliability, Maintainability & Supportability, Schedule Realism, Past Performance (Acceptable/Unacceptable) and Cost/Price. The non-cost areas combined are more important than cost.
• Award: expected in FY27 Q1, with the Government able to award on initial proposals without discussions.
• Testing: after delivery, the two units go through MTEAC operational testing and MIL-STD-810H environmental testing, and the vendor provides technical representatives to support test events.

Is This Opportunity a Good Fit for Your Company?

It fits manufacturers, or authorized sellers, of an FDA-cleared, TAA-compliant hand-carried ultrasound system that already meets most of the Doppler, probe, display and power specifications, can ship two units within 45-60 days of award, and can show a path to producing about 107 more. Companies willing to support organic maintenance by military technicians have an advantage. A developmental device, or one needing significant redesign, does not meet the intent of this RPP.

How BW&CO Can Help

BW&CO has helped deep-tech and dual-use founders secure more than $350M in non-dilutive funding. For Army prototype OTAs like the USHC Prototype, we help you:

• Check fit quickly: map your system against each specification and additional attribute before you commit.
• Frame NDC status: prepare the nontraditional defense contractor statement or cost-share position.
• Write tight volumes: fit the technical and management story within strict page limits.
• Build the cost volume: price each CLIN, separate any modifications and set a milestone payment schedule.
• Plan the follow-on: address the 107-unit production run, warranty and organic maintenance plan.

Plan Your USHC Prototype Submission

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is issuing this opportunity?

PAE Maneuver Ground, Project Manager Maneuver Medical Systems (PM M2S), with U.S. Army Contracting Command (DoDAAC W91CRB) as the agreement activity.

When are proposals due?

"No later than 06 November 2026 16:00 Eastern Standard Time (EST)." Questions are due October 28, 2026 at 15:00 EST.

Do I need to join a consortium?

No. This is a Direct OTA, and the RPP states that "consortium membership is NOT required."

How much funding is available?

The RPP does not post a dollar amount. It names FY26 Defense Health Program RDT&E 2-year funds as the source, subject to availability.

Is cost share required?

No. Cost share is not a condition of award, though voluntary cost share will be noted positively during evaluation.

Can I propose a device that is still in development?

The RPP seeks COTS or NDI systems requiring little to no modification. Proposals for developmental items or those needing significant redesign will be evaluated unfavorably or excluded from consideration.

What happens after the prototype?

Upon successful prototype completion and validation, the Government may award a follow-on production agreement for approximately 107 USHC units without further competitive procedures.

Does my system have to be made in the United States?

The end product and all components must be manufactured in the United States or a TAA-designated country, and you must identify the country of origin for all major components.

Can BW&CO help with a USHC Prototype submission?

Yes. BW&CO helps teams check fit, prepare the NDC statement, write the four volumes and build the cost proposal. Book a call with our team.

Source: SAM.gov: Ultrasound Diagnostic System, Hand Carried (USHC) - Prototype (W91CRB-RPP-USHC)