Army xTech|Search 10 Competition: SBIR Topic ARM26BX05-NP011
Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).
Quick Answer
xTech|Search 10 is an open-topic Army prize competition that identifies groundbreaking, commercially traded technologies with the potential to deliver game-changing capabilities to the Army. Companies enter by submitting a concept white paper to the xTech|Search 10 competition by October 19, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET. The competition runs in four rounds and awards up to $1,000,000 in cash prizes. Up to 50 semifinalists receive $5,000 each, up to 20 finalists receive an additional $20,000 each, and up to three winners receive an additional $200,000, $100,000, and $50,000. Finalists and winners become eligible to submit a Phase I Army SBIR proposal under topic ARM26BX05-NP011 or a Phase I Army STTR proposal under topic ARM26TX05-NP002 for a potential follow-on award of up to $300,000. Proposals submitted to these topics by non-finalists or non-participants will not be evaluated.
What is the xTech|Search 10 competition?
xTech|Search 10 is an open-topic competition run by the U.S. Army FUZE xTech Program, managed under the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology (ASA(ALT)), in partnership with the Army FUZE SBIR|STTR Program. Its purpose is to surface technologies that already have strong commercial traction and that could also provide a disruptive advantage to the Army. Rather than defining a single narrow problem, it invites companies across many technology domains to demonstrate why their solution is best in class and how it maps to Army needs.
The competition functions as a front door to the Army SBIR and STTR programs. It is structured as a prize competition first and a funding pathway second. Companies compete on the strength of a concept white paper, advance through a virtual pitch and a live demonstration, and only finalists and winners are permitted to submit a Phase I proposal under the associated topics. The competition itself is the gate, and the SBIR or STTR award is the prize on the other side of it.
The competition is conducted under 10 U.S.C. 4025, which authorizes prize competitions to stimulate innovation and identify promising technologies for national security applications. Because requirements for competition under 10 U.S.C. 3201 are satisfied on completion of the challenge, xTech|Search functions as a competitive down-select mechanism that lets government organizations pursue follow-on awards through a range of acquisition pathways, including prototype projects, Other Transaction Authority, research and development contracts, and the SBIR and STTR programs.
Because it is open-topic, xTech|Search 10 is one of the most accessible entry points into Army non-dilutive funding for deep-tech startups that may not have a background in defense work but can clearly articulate a technical and commercial advantage.
How much funding is available?
There are two separate pools of money in this competition, and it is worth keeping them distinct when you plan.
Cash prizes. The competition awards up to $1,000,000 in non-dilutive cash prizes across the rounds. Prize money is awarded for advancing, not for delivering a contracted scope of work.
Follow-on SBIR and STTR contracts. Finalists and winners may submit a Phase I Army SBIR proposal under ARM26BX05-NP011 or a Phase I Army STTR proposal under ARM26TX05-NP002, each worth up to $300,000, to further develop and demonstrate proof of concept with an Army customer. Across up to 20 selectees, the Army has indicated up to $6,000,000 in total Phase I SBIR or STTR contract value tied to this competition.
What is the prize structure by round?
The competition consists of four rounds, with cash awards at each stage:
Round 1, concept white papers. Up to 50 semifinalists are selected at the close of the Part 1 evaluation period. Each receives a cash prize of $5,000 and an invitation to pitch.
Round 2, virtual semifinals pitch event. Semifinalists pitch their technology concept to a panel of Army and DoW subject matter experts. Up to 20 finalists are selected and each receives an additional cash prize of $20,000.
Round 3, finals demonstration event. Finalists demonstrate their solution to a panel of Army and DoW subject matter experts. Up to three winners are selected and receive an additional cash prize of $200,000 for first place, $100,000 for second place, and $50,000 for third place.
Round 4, opportunity to submit a Phase I proposal. Finalists and final winners may submit a Phase I Army SBIR or STTR proposal worth up to $300,000.
Additional detail on the prize structure is in Section VII of the official RFI.
What technologies is the Army looking for?
xTech|Search 10 is deliberately broad. The competition invites industry partners to submit innovative technologies addressing any valid Army need or capability gap. If your technology does not map neatly to a named priority area but you can show it delivers a game-changing capability, you are still encouraged to apply.
That said, the Army has been explicit that highest priority goes to solutions aligned with the core priorities of the newly established Army Pathway for Innovation and Technology (PIT) office. The PIT is chartered to rapidly bridge the valley of death by matching Soldier-driven innovation with streamlined transition pathways for Warfighter-identified gaps at the Corps and Division levels. Evaluation will give strong consideration to technologies that directly address critical Army Warfighting Functions across the PIT focus areas.
Note that this is a meaningful change from prior xTech|Search cycles, which organized priority interest around technology portfolios such as sensors, wearables, and AI/ML. This cycle organizes priority interest around Warfighting Functions instead. If you are reusing language from an earlier xTech submission, reframe it accordingly.
What are the PIT priority focus areas?
The priority areas include, but are not limited to, the following:
All Arms Maneuver. Expanding combined arms operational reach through endurance and lethality to exploit all-domain maneuver, both manned and unmanned. Examples include autonomous breaching and terrain shaping.
Command and Control (C2) and Counter-C2 Networks. Survivable communications, mobile multi-domain C2 decision systems, deep-sensing battlefield visibility, electromagnetic and cyberspace advantage, and resilient command posts capable of denying and disrupting adversary ISR and targeting operations. Examples include resilient communications, deep sensing, and C2 overmatch.
Formation-Based Layered Protection. Multi-domain force readiness plus advanced protection, signature management, and concealment capabilities to safeguard dispersed formations across all operational environments. Examples include adaptive camouflage and force protection.
Adaptive Sustainment. Rapid inter-theater and intra-theater strategic lift, prolonged expeditionary supply and power distribution, forward maintenance and equipment fabrication, and resilient mass-casualty medical care and Soldier support across distributed operational environments. Examples include distributed tactical logistics and theater lift.
Cross Domain Fires. Rapid, synchronized deliberate and dynamic joint targeting, multi-domain kinetic and non-kinetic effects delivery including cyber and electronic warfare, persistent air and missile defense against UAS and advanced threats, and resilient control of protected space-domain assets.
What is excluded from this competition?
Technologies that fall exclusively within the portfolio of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC) are excluded from xTech|Search. That portfolio covers military infectious diseases, military operational medicine, chemical biological defense, and clinical and rehabilitative medicine.
The word to focus on is exclusively. A dual-use medtech or biotech platform with applications outside the USAMRDC portfolio, for example a sensing, materials, power, or autonomy technology with a medical application among others, is not automatically ruled out. If your technology sits near this line, it is worth getting a read before you invest in a white paper.
Who is eligible to apply?
The competition is open to small, for-profit, independent U.S. businesses. Restrictions apply to the type of firm, its ownership structure, its size, and prior or pending support of similar proposals:
Type of firm. The firm must be organized as a for-profit concern and meet all other small business requirements in 13 C.F.R. 121.702. Non-profit entities are not eligible.
Ownership and control. More than 50 percent of the firm's equity must be directly owned and controlled by one or more individuals who are U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens, by other for-profit small business concerns that are themselves directly owned and controlled by U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens, or by a combination of the two. If an employee stock ownership plan owns all or part of the concern, each stock trustee and plan member counts as an owner. If a trust owns all or part of the concern, each trustee and trust beneficiary counts as an owner.
Size. The firm, together with its affiliates, must not have more than 500 employees.
Prior, current, or pending support. Your submission must not be substantially the same as another proposal that was funded, is now being funded, or is pending contract award with another federal agency. Any questions about overlapping support should be disclosed to the Army FUZE xTech Program Office as early as possible.
Companies that have previously participated in xTech|Search competitions are eligible to apply with new technology concepts or with improvements to previously submitted proposals. Only one submission per eligible entity is permitted, so the single shot you get needs to be your strongest technology story.
Failure to meet any requirement results in ineligibility for award. The government reserves the right to verify eligibility and make all final determinations at its sole discretion.
What is the timeline and key deadline?
The single most important date is the white paper deadline. Everything downstream is gated by it.
September 10, 2026 to October 19, 2026. Concept white paper submission window. Submissions are due October 19, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET. Up to 50 semifinalists at $5,000 each.
January 18 to January 29, 2027. Virtual semifinals pitch event to a panel of Army and DoW subject matter experts. Up to 20 finalists at $20,000 each.
March 2 to March 4, 2027. Finals demonstration event, held at or around eMerge Americas in Miami. Up to three winners at $200,000, $100,000, and $50,000.
March 4, 2027. Winners announced.
March 4, 2027 to April 30, 2027. Window for finalists and winners to submit a Phase I Army SBIR or STTR proposal, up to $300,000 each, for up to 20 selectees.
The competition RFI and application link are available at https://www.xtech.army.mil/competitions/.
Companies that did not participate in the competition, or that participated but were not selected as finalists or winners, are not permitted to submit under ARM26BX05-NP011 or ARM26TX05-NP002 and will not have proposals evaluated. Because the competition is the gate, the October 19 deadline closes off the entire pathway. Build your timeline backward from that date.
What do participants get beyond the money?
The non-cash value of this competition is real and is frequently underweighted by first-time applicants.
Participants receive feedback from Army and DoW evaluators at each part of the competition. The stated purpose of that feedback is to accelerate transition by giving insight into the best applications for your technology, suggestions for product improvement for Army use, and recommended next steps for development. Note that the government may not respond to follow-up questions about the feedback it provides.
Finalists have the opportunity to participate in an xTech Accelerator, which offers training, mentorship, and transition-focused support to help align technology solutions with end users and acquisition stakeholders across the Army and the broader DoW. The competition also facilitates research engagement opportunities with Army labs, including authorized access to the Army's organic intellectual and technical capital.
Separately, participation can generate interest from other Army, DoW, or U.S. Government organizations for opportunities outside this program, such as a Broad Agency Announcement submission or a separate proposal request. Finalists may be invited to submit under a contract mechanism of the Army's choosing.
How is proprietary information handled?
Submissions may be reviewed by government personnel and by authorized nongovernmental evaluators supporting the competition. Nongovernmental evaluators are subject to nondisclosure, conflict-of-interest, access-control, and use restrictions. The government will not disclose properly marked proprietary information outside the government except as authorized by law and by the participant's submission agreement. Information will not be disclosed to a foreign government or foreign person unless separately authorized and consistent with applicable export-control, security, and foreign-disclosure requirements.
The practical takeaway is to mark proprietary content properly in your white paper rather than withholding the technical substance that makes your submission competitive.
What happens in each SBIR phase?
Phase I. Open to xTech|Search 10 finalists and winners only, with a cost limit of $300,000 and a six-month period of performance. The company completes a feasibility study demonstrating its competitive technical advantage relative to other commercial products and develops concept plans for applying the technology to Army priorities. The study should identify the technology at both the component and system levels, provide supporting literature for technical feasibility, highlight existing performance data, show application opportunities to a broad customer base outside defense, present a commercial market strategy, explain how the technology addresses the Army need, and include a technology development roadmap. Phase I closes with a concept demonstration showing a high probability that continued development yields a mature Phase II product.
Phase II. The company produces prototype solutions that a Soldier can easily operate. Prototypes are provided to select Army units for Soldier evaluation. The company also delivers a technology transition and commercialization plan covering both DoW and commercial markets.
Phase III dual use. The company matures the Phase II technology to TRL 6 or 7 and produces prototypes to support further development and commercialization. The Army evaluates each product in a realistic field environment, and the company updates prototypes toward a final design configuration based on Soldier feedback. Phase III work is funded through non-SBIR sources.
How do you actually enter and win?
The path is sequential and unforgiving of missed steps. Submit a competitive concept white paper by October 19, 2026. Get selected as one of up to 50 semifinalists. Deliver a virtual pitch in January 2027 and get selected as one of up to 20 finalists. Demonstrate your solution at the finals in March 2027. Then submit a Phase I SBIR or STTR proposal as an invited finalist or winner between March 4 and April 30, 2027. There is no way to skip the competition and go straight to the SBIR or STTR proposal.
The self-assessment is straightforward. If you can achieve the competition objective better than any other company on the market, you have a strong likelihood of advancing and you should apply. Open-topic competitions reward companies that can crisply demonstrate a defensible technical edge and real commercial traction.
What does a competitive white paper need to show?
Winning white papers for open-topic competitions tend to do four things well:
Commercial traction that is evidenced, not asserted. Revenue, customers, partnerships, pilots, or independent validation rather than a concept alone.
A clear and defensible technical advantage over existing commercial products, stated in terms a non-specialist evaluator can grade.
A direct line to a specific Army need. This cycle, that means naming the Warfighting Function and PIT focus area your technology serves and describing the Soldier-level gap it closes.
A credible path to maturation and transition so the Army can see how the capability actually reaches Soldiers.
Because the topic is open, judges are comparing very different technologies against one another. Clarity, evidence, and a sharp articulation of why your solution is game-changing carry more weight than technical density. And because you get only one submission per entity, the choice of which technology and which focus area to lead with is itself a strategic decision.
Why this competition matters for deep-tech startups
xTech|Search 10 is one of the lowest-friction ways for a commercially oriented startup to enter the Army SBIR and STTR ecosystem. It does not require a prior defense relationship, it rewards existing commercial traction, and it offers a structured pathway from a single white paper to a $300,000 non-dilutive Phase I award, with up to $225,000 in cash prizes along the way for a company that advances to first place, plus accelerator access and direct engagement with Army stakeholders. For a seed to Series A company with a strong product and no in-house grants team, the competition format lets you compete on the strength of your technology and your traction rather than on your familiarity with federal proposal mechanics.
How can BW&CO help?
BW&CO provides end-to-end support across the full xTech|Search 10 pathway. That includes competition strategy and focus-area positioning, concept white paper development, virtual pitch and finals demonstration preparation, and full Phase I SBIR or STTR proposal writing for finalists and winners, along with administrative and compliance support. We help you position your commercial traction and technical advantage for open-topic judging criteria, map your technology to the right PIT focus area and Warfighting Function, and build the timeline backward from October 19 so nothing slips.
Frequently asked questions
What is Army SBIR topic ARM26BX05-NP011?
It is the Phase I Army SBIR topic tied to the xTech|Search 10 prize competition. Only finalists and winners selected from the competition are eligible to submit a Phase I proposal under this topic. Proposals from non-finalists or non-participants will not be evaluated. There is a parallel Phase I Army STTR topic, ARM26TX05-NP002, tied to the same competition.
How do I apply to xTech|Search 10?
You apply by submitting a concept white paper to the xTech|Search 10 competition through the official Army xTech portal at https://www.xtech.army.mil/competitions/. You do not apply to the SBIR or STTR topic directly.
When is the deadline?
Concept white papers are due October 19, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET. The submission window opened September 10, 2026.
How much funding can I receive?
The competition awards up to $1,000,000 in cash prizes overall. A single company advancing to first place could receive $5,000 as a semifinalist, $20,000 as a finalist, and $200,000 as the first place winner. Finalists and winners may also submit a Phase I Army SBIR or STTR proposal worth up to $300,000.
How many companies advance at each stage?
Up to 50 semifinalists, up to 20 finalists, and up to three winners. Up to 20 selectees may submit a Phase I SBIR or STTR proposal.
Can I submit both an SBIR and an STTR proposal?
The competition provides the opportunity to submit a Phase I Army SBIR proposal under ARM26BX05-NP011 or a Phase I Army STTR proposal under ARM26TX05-NP002. STTR requires a formal partnership with a research institution, so the choice usually follows your existing research relationships. Confirm the specifics against the RFI and topic language before you commit.
Does my technology have to fit one of the PIT focus areas?
No. The competition welcomes technologies addressing any valid Army need or capability gap. However, evaluation gives strong consideration to solutions aligned with the PIT focus areas, so aligning your narrative to one of them is a practical advantage.
Who is eligible to apply?
Small, for-profit, independent U.S. businesses. The firm must meet the small business requirements in 13 C.F.R. 121.702, be more than 50 percent directly owned and controlled by U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens or by qualifying U.S.-owned small businesses, and have no more than 500 employees including affiliates. Non-profits are not eligible.
Can I apply if I entered a previous xTech competition?
Yes. Companies that previously participated in xTech|Search competitions may apply with new technology concepts or with improvements to previously submitted proposals.
How many submissions can my company make?
Only one submission per eligible entity is permitted.
Are any technology areas excluded?
Yes. Technologies falling exclusively within the USAMRDC portfolio are excluded, which covers military infectious diseases, military operational medicine, chemical biological defense, and clinical and rehabilitative medicine.
Can I submit a Phase I proposal without entering the competition?
No. Only xTech|Search 10 finalists and winners may submit a Phase I proposal under these topics. There is no direct submission path.
Where are the finals held?
The finals demonstration event is scheduled for March 2 to March 4, 2027, at or around eMerge Americas in Miami.
