USSOCOM SOF RACER Sensor Fusion Platforms Prototype: Executive Summary for Startups

Status: Open. Proposals due October 23, 2026, 5:00 PM ET through the SOF RACER portal (SOCOM's revised RFP confirms the date). Questions due October 16. 0 to 5 awards, with a follow-on production ceiling of $75M. SOF RACER membership required (free to join).

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Executive Summary

Sensor Fusion Platforms is the second opportunity released through SOF RACER, USSOCOM's rapid acquisition consortium. SOCOM wants a prototype software platform that fuses data from cameras and ground sensors on an edge processor, shows it on one map, and controls the connected sensors, plus design plans for Light, Medium and Heavy hardware variants. It supports Special Operations Forces reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition (RSTA) missions.

SOCOM plans 0 to 5 prototype Other Transaction awards. Vendors that complete the prototype can receive a follow-on production contract without new competition, with an estimated ceiling of $75M over a five-year or longer ordering period. Proposals are limited to 6 pages, and 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 Tactical Information Systems (PEO-TIS)
• Opportunity: SOF RACER Opportunity 0002, Rapid Prototyping: Sensor Fusion Platforms
• Award vehicle: Prototype Other Transaction through the SOF RACER consortium (10 U.S.C. 4022)
• Number of awards: 0 to 5
• Follow-on production: Estimated ceiling of $75M, five-year or longer ordering period, awarded without new competition to successful prototype vendors
• Prototype funding: Not published. The government applies a prototype cost constraint at screening.
• Submission: Proposal, 6 pages max, through the SOF RACER portal
• Questions due: October 16, 2026
• Due date: October 23, 2026, 5:00 PM ET (revised RFP, October 13)

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

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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 proposals. Membership is free. Sensor Fusion Platforms is the second opportunity released to members, after the Human Performance Data Management System (HPDMS).

What Problem Is SOCOM Trying to Solve?

SOF teams need to pull data from many cameras and sensors into one picture at the tactical edge, from a two-person reconnaissance team to a forward operating base. Today there is no standard, modular, AI-enabled platform that scales across those missions. SOCOM wants one product family with a common operating system, applications and user interface, so software upgrades, sensor integrations and training are done once and apply to every variant.

Priority Capability Areas: What SOCOM Is Looking For

• Edge sensor fusion: Process data from at least five sensor types on an edge processor with hardline sensors and no internet or cloud dependency: PTZ cameras, passive infrared, seismic and two more from a list that includes radar, acoustic, RF, LIDAR, magnetic, shot detection and others.
• Graph data architecture: Store all sensor data, target tracks, events and relationships in a graph-based architecture (such as a knowledge graph) that supports semantic queries and fusion, exposed through a documented API for third-party and government AI models.
• Operator interface and C2: Fused real-time map and video display, offline 2D/3D GIS with MIL-STD-2525D symbols, synchronized playback and clip export, picture-in-picture and split-screen video, GMTI track history, alerts, presets, identity-based access, and command and control of connected cameras and sensors.
• Detection and tracking: Baseline detection and classification of persons, vehicles, aircraft, UAVs and watercraft, and slew-to-cue that points an EO/IR gimbal at a target detected by another sensor.
• Dissemination and communications: Export to TAK and other tools using public or government standards such as CoT, GeoJSON, ISA or OMNI, with a path to MANET radios and over-the-horizon links.
• Hardware variants (design plans): Light, man-packable: at least two 4K cameras and 8 ground sensors, under 4 lb. Medium, dismounted: eight 4K cameras and 16 sensors, under 8 lb. Heavy, mounted or fixed: 16 4K cameras and 24 sensors, under 30 lb. Weights exclude sensors, radios and power.

Funding and Award Terms

• Award type: Prototype Other Transaction through SOF RACER. 0 to 5 awards.
• Prototype amount: Not published. Proposals must fit a government-provided prototype cost constraint, a pass/fail screen.
• What you price: The software demonstration, design plans for three variants, and a rough order of magnitude (ROM) for development cost, schedule and unit price per variant.
• Follow-on production: Successful prototype vendors can receive a follow-on production contract without new competition under 10 U.S.C. 4022(f). The government estimates a ceiling of $75M over a five-year or longer ordering period, including sustainment.

Eligibility Requirements and Participation

• SOF RACER membership: Required to see the full solicitation and submit. Membership is free.
• Required details: CAGE code, SAM Unique Entity ID and SOF RACER member or application ID, plus the completed eligibility checklist (Attachment 4).
• Prior federal work: Not required to join SOF RACER. Past performance counts for 5% of the evaluation.
• Teaming: Allowed. Software, sensor and rugged hardware companies may need each other to cover the demo and the three variant designs.

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. Answers are shared with all members without naming who asked.
• Write a proposal: of up to 6 pages covering company information, current capabilities and TRL, supply chain management, schedule, cost, and technical approach and architecture. The eligibility checklist and one product spec sheet do not count toward the limit.
• Follow the format: 8.5 x 11 pages, Times New Roman 12-point equivalent, 1-inch margins, sequential page numbers, table and figure text no smaller than 8 point. Mark proprietary information.
• Submit through the SOF RACER portal: by October 23, 2026, 5:00 PM ET.

What Happens After You Submit?

• Pass/fail screening: Six screens: technical and functional requirements, working demonstration, hardware design plans, prototype cost constraint, milestone schedule and submission compliance.
• Comparative evaluation: Adjectival ratings across ten weighted criteria: Sensor Fusion and Data Integration 20%, Communications and Disconnected Operations 15%, Current Capability and TRL 15%, User Interface, GIS, Video and C2 10%, MOSA and Scalability 8%, Demonstration Schedule 8%, Existing Sensor Integrations 7%, Demonstration Cost 7%, Supply Chain 5%, Past Performance 5%. Shorter executable schedules get greater consideration.
• Prototype phases: Virtual kickoff and System Requirements Review within two weeks of award, Preliminary and Critical Design Reviews with read-aheads five working days ahead, a working software demonstration, and an in-person presentation of the three variant designs and updated ROM.
• Success: The demonstration is pass/fail against every Attachment 1 requirement. The government may allow one re-demonstration.

Is This Opportunity a Good Fit for Your Company?

This fits companies that already have sensor fusion or C2 software running at the edge, computer vision and edge AI teams, counter-UAS and perimeter security integrators, ISR camera and unattended ground sensor makers, and rugged edge compute builders. Current Capability and TRL plus Existing Sensor Integrations make up 22% of the score, so working integrations matter more than plans.

If you have one strong piece, such as a sensor, a detection model or rugged hardware, the realistic route is to team with a fusion and C2 software company. If you have no working edge demo yet, 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 Sensor Fusion Platforms, we help you:

• Decide whether to bid as a prime, sub or teammate
• Map your product to every Attachment 1 demonstration threshold before you write
• Fit a strong 6-page proposal to the ten weighted criteria
• Build a schedule and cost that pass screening and score well
• Position for the follow-on production contract

Plan Your Sensor Fusion Proposal

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Sensor Fusion Platforms prototype?

A SOCOM effort to prototype edge software that fuses camera and sensor data, displays it on one map and controls the sensors, plus design plans for Light, Medium and Heavy hardware variants.

Is this a SOF RACER opportunity?

Yes. It is Opportunity 0002 on the SOF RACER portal, the second after HPDMS.

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. SOCOM's revised RFP moved the date from October 20 to October 23, matching the portal. Questions are due October 16.

How much funding is available?

The prototype amount is not published, and proposals must fit a government cost constraint. Follow-on production has an estimated ceiling of $75M over five years or more.

How many awards will SOCOM make?

Zero to five prototype agreements.

Does the demo have to run without the cloud?

Yes. The demonstration must run on an edge processor with hardline-networked sensors and no internet or cloud back-end processing.

What sensors are required?

At least five types: PTZ cameras, passive infrared, seismic and two more from Annex A, such as ground radar, acoustic arrays, RF, LIDAR or shot detection.

How long is the proposal?

Six pages maximum. The Attachment 4 eligibility checklist and one product spec sheet are not counted.

Can BW&CO help with a Sensor Fusion Platforms proposal?

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

Source: Sensor Fusion Platforms Prototype RFP and Attachments 1 to 5 (SOF RACER member portal). About SOF RACER and how to join: GovSignals SOF RACER