USSOCOM SOF RACER Human Performance Data Management System (HPDMS) Prototype: Executive Summary for Startups

Status: Open. White papers due October 23, 2026, 5:00 PM ET through the SOF RACER portal. Questions due October 16. Est. funding $10M to $30M (BW&CO estimate). SOF RACER membership required (free to join).

Book a Free Fit Call

Executive Summary

HPDMS is the first opportunity released through SOF RACER, USSOCOM's new rapid acquisition consortium. SOF AT&L wants a prototype of a modular, cloud-native system that brings together human performance data for the Preservation of the Force and Family (POTFF) program across all SOF components. It is built for health data, interoperability, AI and secure cloud companies, and for teams that combine them. White papers are due October 23, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET.

The effort starts with an Initial Operational Capability and must scale to Full Operational Capability without major rework. Every submission has to pass ten pass/fail screens before it is compared, including MHS GENESIS interoperability, a path to IL5/IL6 authorization and milestone-based pricing. Only SOF RACER members can submit.

Solicitation at a Glance

• Agency: U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), SOF Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (SOF AT&L)
• Program office: PEO SOF Warrior (PEO SV)
• Opportunity: SOF RACER Opportunity 0001, Human Performance Data Management System (HPDMS)
• Award vehicle: Prototype Other Transaction through the SOF RACER consortium (10 U.S.C. 4022)
• Estimated funding: $10M to $30M (BW&CO estimate). SOCOM has not published a budget. Vendors propose milestone-based pricing.
• Technology maturity: Prototype to IOC, with a path to enterprise FOC
• Submission: White paper, 10 pages max, PDF, through the SOF RACER portal
• Questions due: October 16, 2026, 5:00 PM ET
• Due date: October 23, 2026, 5:00 PM ET

Think your company qualifies? Talk with BW&CO before the October 23 deadline.

Book a Free Fit Call

What Is SOF RACER?

SOF RACER is USSOCOM's rapid acquisition consortium, launched in partnership with GovSignals in 2026. It gives companies, including those that have never held a federal contract, a single place to see SOCOM requirements and respond with short white papers instead of full proposals. Membership is free. HPDMS is the first opportunity released to members.

What Problem Is SOCOM Trying to Solve?

POTFF places providers inside SOF units to protect readiness and career longevity. Their data tools sit in separate silos by component and domain. Providers document the same encounter in a local tracking sheet and in the electronic health record. Commanders can't see a consolidated readiness picture, reports don't match across echelons, and an operator's history is dropped when they move units on PCS or PCA orders. SOCOM wants one system that fixes this and can prove program impact to oversight bodies.

USSOCOM J8, the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO), SOF AT&L and POTFF mapped HPDMS to the existing SOF Digital Common Core Capabilities Software ICD (DC3 SW-ICD). That speeds up the acquisition path, and every solution must trace back to that baseline.

Priority Capability Areas: What SOCOM Is Looking For

• Interface layer: Role-based views for six user tiers, provider encounter and session logging, de-identified commander dashboards with controlled drill-down, and a mobile self-service portal for service members. Query results must be 100% consistent across echelons.
• Data aggregation layer: A POTFF Common Data Model across five domains (physical, cognitive, spiritual, social and family, psychological), ML-driven schema mapping and entity resolution, AI data-quality agents, and a longitudinal record that follows each operator within 24 hours of a move.
• Analytics layer: ETL and statistics workspaces (Python, R, SQL), ML models for injury risk, readiness forecasting and resource optimization at over 85% validated accuracy, and secure GenAI with retrieval-augmented generation in IL5 and IL6 that can draft auditable responses to oversight requests in under 24 hours.
• Interoperability: Two-way, near-real-time exchange with MHS GENESIS using FHIR, consent-based ingestion from wearables, force plates, body composition scanners and training and nutrition apps, and links to service programs such as Army H2F and Air Force True North.
• Privacy and security: A firewall between clinical and non-clinical records, automated HIPAA Safe Harbor de-identification, FIPS 140-3 encryption across IL2, IL5 and IL6, role-based access, audit-by-default logging and full data lineage.

Funding and Award Terms

• Award type: Prototype Other Transaction through SOF RACER.
• Estimated amount: SOCOM has not published a budget. BW&CO estimates $10M to $30M across the prototype, based on the scope (IOC through enterprise rollout, MHS GENESIS integration, IL5/IL6 hosting and AI) and comparable SOCOM data platform awards. Treat this as a planning range, not a government figure.
• Pricing: Vendors propose milestone-based pricing that covers labor, cloud hosting, AI compute, licenses, integration, travel, training, sustainment and recurring costs.
• Delivery: Incremental agile releases, starting with replacement of legacy spreadsheets and the Common Data Model, then the service member portal and injury models, de-identified dashboards, wearable integration, GenAI and joint expansion, and EHR integration.

Eligibility Requirements and Participation

• SOF RACER membership: Required to see the full solicitation and submit. Membership is free.
• Competition: Full and open among SOF RACER members.
• Prior federal work: Not required to join SOF RACER, though relevant past performance makes up 15% of the evaluation.
• Teaming: Allowed. The breadth of the requirement (EHR integration, wearables, AI, IL6 hosting) makes teaming practical for most companies.

How to Apply

• Join SOF RACER: through the GovSignals SOF RACER page if you are not already a member.
• Submit questions: by October 16, 2026, 5:00 PM ET. Answers are shared with all members without naming who asked.
• Write a white paper: of up to 10 pages (cover page and certifications excluded) covering: proposed solution, technical approach, mission relevance, risk and security, relevant experience, execution approach and pricing.
• Follow the format: PDF, 8.5 x 11, 10-point minimum font, page numbers required. Tables and graphics count toward the limit. Mark proprietary information.
• Submit through the SOF RACER portal: by October 23, 2026, 5:00 PM ET. Email submissions are not accepted unless the government authorizes them.

What Happens After You Submit?

• Pass/fail screening: Ten mandatory screens: technical and functional requirements, MHS GENESIS interoperability, security and authorization path, CUI/PHI/PII protection, data portability, prototype execution, milestone schedule, pricing, SOF RACER eligibility and submission compliance.
• Comparative evaluation: Adjectival ratings (Outstanding to Unacceptable) across six weighted criteria: Innovation 25%, Relevance 20%, Risk Reduction 20%, Past Performance 15%, Business Viability 10%, Affordability 10%.
• Award timing: Not published.

Is This Opportunity a Good Fit for Your Company?

This fits companies that already run health or performance data platforms, EHR and FHIR integration, wearable and sensor data pipelines, healthcare AI and analytics, or secure DoD cloud environments. A credible answer on MHS GENESIS, IL5/IL6 authorization and HIPAA de-identification is required to pass screening.

If you have one strong piece, such as a wearable data platform or an injury prediction model, the realistic route is to team with a prime or integrator that covers hosting and authorization. If you have no path to IL5, join SOF RACER now and watch for the next opportunities.

How BW&CO Can Help

BW&CO has helped deep-tech and dual-use founders secure more than $350M in non-dilutive funding. For consortium opportunities like HPDMS, we help you:

• Decide whether to bid as a prime, sub or teammate
• Map your capability to the ten pass/fail screens before you write
• Build a 10-page white paper aligned to the six weighted criteria
• Structure milestone-based pricing the government can evaluate
• Prepare for the SOF RACER opportunities that follow

Plan Your HPDMS Submission

Frequently Asked Questions

What is HPDMS?

A prototype Human Performance Data Management System for USSOCOM's POTFF program that consolidates performance and health data across all SOF components.

Is this the first SOF RACER opportunity?

Yes. HPDMS is Opportunity 0001 on the SOF RACER portal.

Do I need to be a SOF RACER member?

Yes. Only members can see the full solicitation and submit. Membership is free.

When is it due?

October 23, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET. Questions are due October 16, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET.

How long is the white paper?

Up to 10 pages, not counting the cover page and required certifications, in PDF with 10-point minimum font.

How much funding is available?

SOCOM has not published an amount. BW&CO estimates $10M to $30M across the prototype, based on scope and comparable SOCOM data platform awards. Vendors propose milestone-based pricing.

What award type is planned?

A prototype Other Transaction through SOF RACER under 10 U.S.C. 4022.

What will sink a submission fastest?

Missing a pass/fail screen. A weak MHS GENESIS integration plan, no path to IL5/IL6 authorization or incomplete pricing can remove a submission before comparison.

Can small companies compete?

Yes. Prior federal contracts are not required to join SOF RACER, though past performance counts for 15%. Teaming helps cover hosting and authorization.

Can BW&CO help with an HPDMS submission?

Yes. We help founders decide whether to bid, find teammates and write white papers that pass screening. Book a call with our team.

Source: HPDMS Statement of Objectives and Attachment 2 Submission Instructions (SOF RACER member portal). About SOF RACER and how to join: GovSignals SOF RACER