ERDC: Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory - Commercial Solutions Openings (CSO)
Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).
Executive Summary:
The Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) is accepting proposals through Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) Solicitation W913E526SC001 for innovative commercial technologies that advance cold regions science and engineering capabilities. The program seeks solutions across areas such as cold-region domain awareness, mobility and maneuver in extreme cold, ice operations, advanced materials, resilient energy systems, and cryospheric biochemical applications.
This is a rolling submission opportunity, meaning proposals are reviewed as they are received and awards may be issued shortly thereafter. The solicitation is open from 01 Jan 2026 through 31 December 2026, and submissions must be received through 5PM EST, the date of closing posted at the start of this solicitation. Companies are encouraged to submit early since funding decisions occur on a rolling basis.
How much funding would I receive?
Awards typically range from $500k - $5m. Key funding details stated in the solicitation:
Awards may be made as firm-fixed-price contracts.
The government may also award prototype agreements (e.g., Other Transaction Agreements) under 10 U.S.C. §4022 if deemed appropriate.
Funding availability is one of the evaluation factors, meaning some technically strong proposals may not receive awards if funding is unavailable.
Because no specific funding amounts are provided, the award value will depend on the proposed solution and available program funding.
What could I use the funding for?
Funding supports innovative commercial items, technologies, and services, including research and development, that advance cold-region capabilities.
Solutions should address one or more of the following research thrust areas:
Building Cold Region Domain Awareness
Enhancing Mobility and Maneuver in Cold Region Environments
Integrated Ice Operations
Advanced Materials Development and Applications in Extreme Cold Environments
Resilient Cold Region Energy Systems
Advancements in Cryospheric Biochemical Applications
“Innovative” is defined as:
A technology, process, or method that is new as of the date of proposal submission, or
A new application of an existing technology or method.
Solutions may include existing commercial technologies or new R&D approaches that improve mission capabilities.
Are there any additional benefits I would receive?
Potential benefits include:
Direct contracts with the U.S. Army / Department of Defense.
The possibility of prototype agreements (Other Transaction Agreements) when appropriate.
Opportunities to demonstrate technology to government evaluators if selected for a demonstration step.
Potential inclusion of proposals in a government “library” for future funding consideration if technically promising but unfunded initially.
What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?
Solicitation open period
01 Jan 2026 through 31 December 2026
Submission deadline
Submissions must be received through 5PM EST, the date of closing posted at the start of this solicitation.
Review timeline
Proposals are reviewed as they are received.
Evaluation is generally completed within 10 days of submission, though it may take longer for complex submissions or high submission volumes.
Because this is a rolling solicitation, companies are encouraged to submit early rather than waiting for the final closing date.
Where does this funding come from?
Funding comes from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL).
CRREL executes projects on behalf of:
Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology) (ASA(ALT))
Army Futures Command
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Other government organizations.
The CSO is authorized under Department of Defense Class Deviation 2022-O0007, allowing DoD organizations to procure innovative commercial solutions.
Who is eligible to apply?
The following requirements are explicitly stated:
Offerors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov).
Entities must be registered to bid on contracts, not just grants.
Offerors must provide a CAGE Code and Unique Entity ID in their submission.
All items, technologies, and services submitted under this CSO are treated as commercial items.
What companies and projects are likely to win?
Proposals are evaluated using three primary factors:
Technical merit
How innovative the solution is.
Whether the solution is technically feasible.
Importance to agency programs
Whether the solution enhances the agency’s mission effectiveness.
Funds availability
Whether sufficient funding exists to procure the solution.
Solutions are more likely to succeed if they:
Demonstrate clear innovation or a new application of existing technology.
Show commercial viability or existing market use.
Provide convincing evidence that the technology solves a real agency challenge.
Are there any restrictions I should know about?
Key restrictions include:
No classified or sensitive information may be included in submissions.
All proposal materials must be submitted as PDFs and the combined package must be 15 MB or less.
All prices must remain valid for at least 90 days after the response date.
Hardcopy submissions are not accepted; submissions must be made electronically.
Additionally:
The government may request additional documentation prior to award, including a contractor-developed Performance Work Statement (PWS).
The government reserves the right to select none of the submissions.
How long will it take me to prepare an application?
The proposal package is relatively lightweight compared to many federal R&D programs.
Required components include:
Cover Letter (max 2 pages)
Technical Volume
Solution brief (max 5 pages)
Pitch deck (max 15 slides)
Optional video demonstration (max 5 minutes)
Price Volume (no page limit)
Because of the short format and slide deck option, many companies can typically prepare a submission within a few weeks, depending on technical complexity.
How can BW&CO help?
BW&CO helps companies turn promising technologies into clear, competitive government submissions for CSO and BAA opportunities like this one.
We support clients by:
Translating technical solutions into government-ready proposal narratives
Developing the technical brief and pitch deck
Positioning your solution to align with CRREL’s Areas of Interest
Preparing the price volume and submission package
Managing submission through the ERDCWERX portal
Our goal is to help you present your innovation in a way that clearly demonstrates technical merit and mission impact.
How much would BW&CO Charge?
We have both fractional engagements ($250 an hour) and full engagements ($13,000 + 5%) available.