Autonomous Closed Loop Control Mechanical Ventilation (ACLCMV) | MTEC-26-02-Ventilator
Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).
Executive Summary:
The Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC), in support of the Defense Health Agency (DHA), is seeking one company to develop and demonstrate the core technologies for an Autonomous Closed Loop Control Mechanical Ventilation (ACLCMV) system. This one-year prototype project focuses on reducing technical risk by developing physiological closed-loop control (PCLC) algorithms, defining the system hardware architecture, and preparing for FDA regulatory activities before a future Engineering & Manufacturing Development (EMD) effort.
This opportunity is intended for FDA Registered Medical Device Companies with in-house ventilator manufacturing capabilities that can rapidly mature an autonomous military ventilator for use in austere and prolonged-care environments.
Enhanced White Paper Deadline: July 15, 2026, Noon Eastern Time.
How much funding would I receive?
The U.S. Government anticipates providing:
Up to $1.9 million total for this effort.
One Firm Fixed Price (FFP) award is expected.
Initial Period of Performance not to exceed 12 months.
The Government may provide additional funding and/or additional time through award modifications for scope increases or follow-on efforts, depending on project results.
What could I use the funding for?
Funding supports research, design, development, and testing activities necessary to mature the ACLCMV concept during a 12-month technical risk reduction effort.
Required work includes:
Development and demonstration of a Physiological Closed-Loop Control (PCLC) software algorithm.
Definition of system hardware architecture and component selection.
Preparation and submission of an FDA Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) application.
Benchtop testing.
System demonstration at Fort Detrick, Maryland.
Program management and technical reporting.
The contractor is expected to deliver:
System architecture
PCLC algorithm
Test and Evaluation Master Plan
Benchtop validation
Final technical report
Monthly technical and financial reports
Prototype demonstration
Draft operations and user manuals
Cybersecurity documentation
FDA submission package
Are there any additional benefits I would receive?
Potential benefits include:
Opportunity for non-competitive follow-on work under the OTA if the prototype effort is successful.
Potential future production contract or transaction under 10 U.S.C. § 4022(f) following successful prototype completion.
Potential additional funding or extended scope through award modification.
Strategic oversight from the Joint Science and Technology Office.
The solicitation also states that competition is satisfied at the prototype stage, meaning additional competition may not be required for later development or production phases.
What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?
Milestone Timeline
Solicitation issued June 24, 2026
Proposers Conference July 2, 2026 at 11:00 AM EST
Enhanced White Paper deadline July 15, 2026, Noon Eastern Time
Selection notification Not specified
Expected project start September 2026 (subject to change)
Initial Period of Performance Up to 12 months
The solicitation states Offerors should plan for the project period to begin September 2026 (subject to change).
Where does this funding come from?
This Request for Project Proposals is issued by the Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC) in support of the Defense Health Agency (DHA).
The project is funded through the MTEC Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) for prototype projects with the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC) under 10 U.S.C. § 4022.
Strategic oversight will be provided by the Joint Science and Technology Office.
Who is eligible to apply?
Offerors must:
Be MTEC Members in good standing.
Become an MTEC member at least 3 days prior to Enhanced White Paper submission.
Possess a UEI and CAGE Code.
Be an FDA Registered Medical Device Company.
Have in-house ventilator manufacturing capabilities.
Subcontractors are not required to be MTEC members.
Who is not eligible to apply?
The following are not eligible:
Organizations that are not MTEC Members in good standing.
Prime Offerors that do not become MTEC members at least three days before submission.
Organizations that are not FDA Registered Medical Device Companies.
Organizations without in-house ventilator manufacturing capabilities.
Proposals that fail to satisfy mandatory Other Transaction Authority statutory requirements described in the Proposal Preparation Guide.
What companies and projects are likely to win?
The Government will evaluate proposals primarily on:
Technical Feasibility
Experience and Expertise
Competitive proposals will clearly demonstrate:
Strong alignment with the solicitation objectives.
Supporting preliminary data.
A technically feasible approach.
Ability to execute the work efficiently.
Commercialization strategy beyond DoD.
Manufacturing development plan.
Experienced technical and management teams.
Realistic project schedule.
Appropriate budget.
Offerors are expected to explain how they meet or exceed the requirements rather than simply restating them.
How competitive will this solicitation be?
The solicitation is expected to be highly competitive because:
The Government anticipates making one award.
Awards will be based on a best value determination.
Technical merit and organizational experience are evaluated before price.
Only qualified MTEC members meeting the mandatory eligibility requirements may compete.
Are there any restrictions I should know about?
Key restrictions include:
Enhanced White Papers are limited to 10 pages (excluding required appendices).
Submission must follow the mandatory format.
Submission must be made through the BIDS portal.
Only Stage 1 Enhanced White Papers are submitted initially; full Price Proposals are requested only from Offerors recommended for funding.
The MTEC Assessment Fee is 2% of the funded award value and cannot be charged to the Government award.
Cost sharing above statutory minimums is not required, but statutory OTA conditions must be satisfied.
Proposals that fail mandatory requirements may be eliminated during preliminary screening.
How long will it take me to prepare an application?
The solicitation uses an accelerated Enhanced White Paper process designed for rapid submissions.
Applicants must prepare:
A 10-page Enhanced White Paper.
Warranties and Representations.
Statement of Work / Milestone Payment Schedule.
Current and Pending Support.
Intellectual Property and Data Rights Assertions.
The solicitation does not specify how long applicants should expect to spend preparing an application.
How can BW&CO help?
BW&CO can help your team:
Determine whether your technology aligns with the solicitation.
Develop a competitive Enhanced White Paper that addresses the stated evaluation criteria.
Build a compliant Statement of Work and Milestone Payment Schedule.
Prepare required submission documents.
Develop commercialization and transition strategies aligned with Government expectations.
Position your proposal to clearly demonstrate technical feasibility, execution capability, manufacturing readiness, and commercialization planning.