SAM #PEO_SDA_UxSAI_Msn_Autonomy_Systems_AE

USSOCOM seeks mission autonomy software solutions for unmanned systems under the UxSAI program.

USSOCOM is seeking mission autonomy software solutions for unmanned systems under the UxSAI program. - Agency: United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), Program Executive Office SOF Digital Applications (PEO-SDA) - Collaboration: SOFWERX is involved in the industry engagement process - Requirement: Decentralized, collaborative mission autonomy software for multi-platform, multi-domain unmanned systems - Must integrate with government-owned CHAOS (Collaborative Heterogeneous Autonomy Operations Software) baseline - Solutions must be open, modular, and configurable by government personnel without ongoing vendor support - Key features: peer-to-peer coordination, dynamic re-tasking, localized planning, resilience in contested electromagnetic environments - Eligibility: Open to industry, academia, national labs, and non-traditional partners - Compliance: Awardees may need to meet NIST SP 800-171 requirements for Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) - Contract Types: Multiple agreement types possible (OTA, FAR-based contracts, cooperative R&D agreements, prize competitions) - No specific OEMs, vendors, or part numbers are named; opportunity is open to all qualified providers - Period of performance includes multiple phases: submission, evaluation, demonstration, test and evaluation, and potential follow-on development

Description

PEO-SDA: UxSAI Mission Autonomy Systems Assessment Event (AE)

Submit NLT 08 September 2026 11:59 PM ET U.S. Citizens Only

Purpose  SOFWERX, in collaboration with USSOCOM Program Executive Office SOF Digital Applications (PEO-SDA), will host a series of events to identify and evaluate decentralized and collaborative mission autonomy solutions for heterogeneous, multi-platform, multi-domain unmanned systems in support of the Unmanned Systems Autonomy and Interoperability (UxSAI) program. This event aims to evaluate whitepaper responses and downselect innovative mission autonomy software for test and evaluation (T&E) that can execute diverse missions within complex, rapidly changing environments and seamlessly integrate into the Collaborative Heterogeneous Autonomy Operations Software (CHAOS) baseline.

Background/Synopsis Fielding and sustaining autonomy on unmanned systems requires mission autonomy software capable of executing diverse missions within complex, rapidly changing environments and traditional vertical-stack autonomy is constrained by proprietary, vendor-locked software architectures and is highly vulnerable to communications denial in contested electromagnetic environments. Decentralized mission autonomy addresses this gap by enabling peer-to-peer coordination, dynamic re-tasking, and localized planning without real-world communications or centralized command constraints. The UxSAI Program is seeking a mission autonomy software solution that can seamlessly integrate into the government-owned Collaborative Heterogeneous Autonomy Operations Software (CHAOS) baseline, allowing program personnel to rapidly field new capabilities independently.

Objective Identify mission autonomy software providers capable of delivering decentralized and collaborative autonomy solutions that integrate with the CHAOS baseline for multi-platform, multi-domain unmanned systems. The selected provider should deliver an open, modular capability that UxSAI personnel can configure and sustain organically, without ongoing vendor dependency for software development, and the UxSAI program intends to complete test and evaluation (T&E) on vendor deliverables as a part of this event. 

Why You Should Participate USSOCOM seeks to enter into non-FAR or FAR-based agreements with Industry, Academic, and National Lab partners whose solutions are favorably evaluated by PEO-SDA Subject Matter Experts (SMEs). As such, the follow-on Assessment Event (AE) is considered competitive and solutions will be evaluated independently of one another primarily for technical merit. This serves dually as notification of the intent to research the feasibility of an agreement under 10 U.S. Code, Section 4022 and/or Section 4022(f), and as notice of pre-solicitation activities IAW FAR 5.204.

Event Timeline

Phase 1 - 17 August 2026 to 08 September 2026 Submissions to the Assessment Event (AE) Open: Interested respondents who could potentially provide solutions that meet the needs of USSOCOM are encouraged to submit their capability for USSOCOM review. To submit your technology for potential Phase 4 attendance, please review the assessment criteria and follow the submission instructions at the bottom of this webpage.

Phase 1a - 20 August 2026 Q&A Telecon: Interested offerors may participate in a virtual Q&A session to better understand the PM's specific technology objectives. The telecon will take place on 20 August from 2:00-3:00 PM ET. RSVP at the bottom of this webpage.

Phase 2 - 09 September 2026 to 24 September 2026 Downselect: USSOCOM will downselect those respondents/submissions they feel have the highest potential to satisfy their technology needs. Favorably evaluated submissions will receive an invitation to attend the AE on/around 25 September.

Phase 3 - 29 September 2026 to 01 October 2026 Assessment Event (AE): During the AE, selected participants will be allotted a one-on-one session with the USSOCOM evaluation team where providers will demonstrate and discuss their capability based on additional discussion with UxSAI during this 1:1. This event will include any program-specific data requirements or constraints that vendors should address. This event will be held virtually.

Phase 4 – 06 October 2026 to 08 October 2026 Downselect for T&E:  The UxSAI evaluation team will provide additional information via a second round of 1:1s to selected providers to further tailor solutions for T&E evaluation by UxSAI at the next phase. 

Phase 5 – 28 October 2026 to 29 October 2026 T&E Assessment Event (AE): The USSOCOM UxSAI evaluation team will receive vendor deliverables via 1:1 discussions with them. Following this AE, UxSAI will run models and associated data through the process of T&E in their associated pipeline taking place 02-20 November. Performance metrics from this evaluation and associated information will be recorded by the evaluation team for follow-on discussions with providers. 

Phase 6 – 01 December 2026 to 02 December 2026 Debrief: The USSOCOM UxSAI evaluation team will present findings from model T&E through their pipeline directly with vendors through the third round of 1:1 discussions with them. This forum will facilitate another opportunity for Q&A with the evaluation team.

Phase 7 – 03 December 2026 Final Downselect for Further Development: Favorably evaluated submissions will receive a notification of selection after 04 December 2026. If the USSOCOM UxSAI evaluation panel favorably evaluates a solution, negotiations for Phase 8 may immediately begin.  

Phase 8 - Path Forward: Successfully negotiated awards may fall under any combination of these categories:

Business to business research and development agreement as a sub-award through the SOFWERX Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) (15 U.S. Code Section 3715) OTA for research or prototype projects (10 U.S. Code Sections 4021, 4022) An award under 10 U. S. Code, Section 4022 may result in the further award of a follow-on production agreement without additional competition based on successful prototype completion. The Government may make this follow-on production award based upon successful prototype criteria, which will be determined for each prototype project. Procurement for experimental purposes (10 U.S. Code Section 4023) Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (15 U.S. Code Section 3710a) Prizes for advanced technology achievements (10 U. S. Code Section 4025) and/or prize competitions (15 U.S. Code 3719) FAR-based procurement contract 

NOTE: Awardees may need to be compliant with NIST SP 800-171, Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in Non-Federal Systems and Organizations

How You Can Participate Government, Industry, Academia, National Labs, and Non-Traditional Attendees

RSVP to the 20 August Virtual Q&A Telecon: Click Here to RSVP (NLT 19 August 11:59 PM ET) Review Assessment Criteria: Click Here to Review Download the White Paper Template:Click Here to Review Complete the Submission Form: Click Here to Submit(NLT 08 September 11:59 PM ET)

Questions?

For event-related questions, please contact Alana Hymel Additional Links:PEO-SDA: UxSAI Mission Autonomy Systems Assessment Event (AE)

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