SAM #RFI-ACT-SACT-03-2026

NATO RFI: Innovation Continuum 2026 – Task Force X - ARCTIC (Maritime Domain Awareness Solutions)

NATO's Headquarters Supreme Allied Command Transformation (HQ SACT), via the US Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), is seeking industry input for innovative research and development solutions to support Arctic maritime domain awareness and deterrence. - Request for Information (RFI) targets transformative military applications for Task Force X (TFX) Arctic initiative and Arctic Sentry operation - Focus areas include: - Multi-Domain Operations - Digital Transformation - Emerging and Disruptive Technologies (AI, autonomous systems, quantum, cyber resilience) - Industry, academia, and NATO Science & Technology partners are invited to submit catalogues of their most advanced R&D projects - No specific products, quantities, or OEMs listed; this is not a formal procurement - Selected organizations may be invited to participate in the Innovation Continuum 2026 milestone events: - SPARK (Feb 24-26, 2026, Bulgaria) - IGNITE (May 5-7, 2026, Poland) - GLOW (Sep 1-3, 2026, Canada) - SHINE (Oct 5-9, 2026, Canada) - Potential for further collaboration under NATO's Framework for Collaborative Interaction (FFCI) - RFI response deadline: April 21, 2026; questions due by April 14, 2026 - Place of performance and contracting office: Norfolk, Virginia, USA; milestone events in Bulgaria, Poland, and Canada

Description

Headquarters Supreme Allied Command Transformation (HQ SACT) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to address solutions supporting ACT’s Task Force X (TFX) Arctic initiative and ACO’s enhanced vigilance Arctic Sentry operation.

The North Atlantic and Arctic regions have become central arenas of strategic competition. These maritime spaces are critical to Allied freedom of action, while also constituting key operating areas for adversaries’ strategic capabilities, including submarines, long-range bombers and missile systems. In the context of constrained naval resources, NATO must adapt its operational approaches to maintain credible and persistent awareness, while simultaneously shaping the Alliance’s future capability development. As surveillance missions are currently resource-intensive, HQ SACT and the Center for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE) aim to enhance the multinational Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) architecture, and deterrence by presence through the implementation of the TFX - Arctic initiative, conducted in coordination with relevant national capabilities, and industrial partners.

Industry is encouraged to submit catalogues showcasing their most innovative research and development efforts with potential transformative military applications. ACT will review these submissions and invite selected organizations to participate in the 2026 Innovation Continuum. For the most promising proposals, ACT may provide enhanced collaboration opportunities through targeted projects under the Framework for Collaborative Interaction (FFCI) and facilitate streamlined transitions to rapid adoption activities.

This is not a formal request for submissions as part of a procurement; but rather a general request intended to determine whether any possible solutions exist that should be included in one or many alternatives during development.

Do NOT submit your RFI questions/responses to the Department of Commerce. All requests for clarifications, questions, and responses to this RFI must be sent via email to all Points of Contact indicated in the RFI. Individual emails will not be accepted and should not be sent. Contracting and Technical POCs must be included in any correspondence.

HQ SACT’s reference for this RFI is RFI-ACT-SACT-03-2026 and all correspondence and submissions concerning this matter should reference this number.

Due date for questions: 9:00 am ET 14 April 2026 

Due date for submission of RFI responses: 9:00 am ET 21 April 2026

Your participation in this RFI is greatly appreciated.  

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