ERDC: Civil Works Strategic Focus Areas - Commercial Solutions Openings (CSO)

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) is seeking innovative commercial technologies, products, and services that advance Civil Works research and development priorities across infrastructure, ecosystems, water management, sediment management, crisis preparedness, and AI-driven engineering solutions.

This opportunity is structured as a Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO). Companies first submit a short solution brief (maximum three pages) describing their innovation. If the government determines the concept is promising and funding becomes available, the company may be invited to submit a full proposal and receive a contract award.

Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis until 5PM EST, 31 December 2026, making this an ongoing opportunity for companies developing technologies relevant to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works missions.

How much funding would I receive?

The document states that:

• Strategic Focus Areas generally have no known funding specifically available at the time of submission.

• If a submitted solution is selected and funding becomes available, the government will issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) that includes further details and pricing requirements.

Offerors are required to provide a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) price estimate in the initial solution brief. Awards typically range from $500k - $5m.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding may support innovative commercial technologies, products, services, or research and development efforts that advance Civil Works capabilities.

Projects must align with one of the following Strategic Focus Areas:

Infrastructure – NextGen Water Resources Infrastructure

• Robotic inspection and repair technologies

• Novel and sustainable construction materials

• Sensors and structural monitoring technologies

• Flood and seismic damage prediction and mitigation

• Advanced manufacturing and infrastructure prototyping

• Hydropower innovations

• Corrosion mitigation technologies

• Systems engineering tools for maintenance optimization

Water Modeling – Comprehensive Water Risk Management

• Integrated sensing systems for water monitoring

• Risk-informed decision support tools

• National-scale water simulation frameworks

• Modeling of compound hazards (storms, flooding, groundwater, etc.)

• Arctic environmental modeling

• Drought and groundwater interaction modeling

• Community resilience tools

Sediment Management – Innovation in Sediment Management

• Non-traditional dredging approaches

• Improved dredged material placement

• Sediment prevention technologies

• Autonomous surveying and dredging technologies

• Sediment transport modeling tools

• Real-time dredging monitoring sensors

• Coastal mapping technologies

Ecosystems – Sustainable Species Management

• Aquatic ecosystem restoration technologies

• Environmental decision-support tools

• Monitoring technologies for threatened and endangered species

• Invasive species detection and management technologies

Crisis Preparedness – Crisis Preparedness, Response, and Recovery

• Real-time crisis communication technologies

• Multi-hazard crisis modeling

• Autonomous reconnaissance systems

• Decision-support tools for disaster response

• Debris removal technologies

• Temporary power solutions for critical infrastructure

• Virtual training environments for crisis response

• Post-wildfire risk management tools

AI, Robotics, and Data – Innovative Applications of Big Data and AI

• Data engineering and automation tools

• AI-driven decision-making systems

• Cyber operational technology for infrastructure protection

• Autonomous robotics systems for infrastructure inspection and mapping

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Potential benefits include:

• The opportunity to receive a government contract if a submitted solution is selected and funding becomes available.

• The possibility of direct engagement with ERDC technical teams, including solution pitches and discussions.

• Solutions may remain in the government’s electronic library for consideration for up to three years if initially selected but not funded.

Awards may be issued through FAR-based contracts or Other Transaction agreements, depending on the solution and contracting approach used.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Solution brief submission deadline:
5PM EST, 31 December 2026.

Key timeline steps:

1. Submit a solution brief (maximum 3 pages).

2. Government experts review submissions.

3. If promising, the government may:

   • Ask questions via email, or

   • Invite the company to present a solution pitch.

4. If the solution is selected and funding becomes available, the government will issue a Request for Proposal (RFP).

5. After the RFP, proposals will be evaluated and contracts may be awarded.

If a solution is not selected, offerors will generally be notified within 30 days of submission.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding originates from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and is administered through the Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC).

The program supports the Civil Works mission areas, including:

• Flood risk management

• Inland and coastal navigation

• Aquatic ecosystem restoration

The CSO is authorized under a Department of Defense Class Deviation (2022-O0007) that allows the government to acquire innovative commercial solutions through a streamlined process.

Who is eligible to apply?

However, the following requirements are stated:

• Offerors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) to receive an award.

• The company’s address in the proposal must match the SAM registration information.

Solutions must be submitted through the ERDCWERX electronic portal.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Solutions will be evaluated based on:

• How innovative the solution is

• Feasibility of solving a government challenge

• Potential to enhance mission effectiveness

• Availability of funding

Strong proposals typically:

• Demonstrate a clear mission impact

• Provide evidence of commercialization or real-world use

• Include technical evidence, diagrams, models, or figures

• Show how the technology is new or a novel application of an existing technology

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Key requirements include:

• Solution briefs must be no more than three pages.

• Submissions must follow specified formatting requirements:

  • 12-point Times New Roman

  • 1-inch margins

  • Single spaced

  • PDF format under 20 MB

• Classified or proprietary information should not be included.

• All submissions must be written in English.

All resulting contracts will be firm-fixed price, and commercial acquisition procedures will be used.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

The initial submission is a three-page solution brief, which typically requires significantly less effort than a full proposal.

The solicitation does not specify preparation time requirements, but the short format suggests companies can prepare submissions relatively quickly compared to traditional federal proposals.

If selected, the government may later request a full proposal including a Performance Work Statement (PWS) or Scope of Work (SOW) before award.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO helps companies quickly determine whether this opportunity is a strong fit and prepares competitive submissions by:

• Identifying the best strategic focus area alignment

• Crafting a clear and compelling solution brief

• Demonstrating mission relevance and innovation

• Developing the technical narrative and commercialization evidence

• Preparing companies for potential solution pitches or follow-on proposals

How much would BW&CO Charge?

We have both fractional engagements ($250 an hour) and full engagements ($13,000 + 5%) available.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.