Attachment 1_RFI_USSOCOM REPTILE 26-1_event Aug 2026.pdf

UNCLASSIFIED

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Solicitation Number: USSOCOM RFI REPTILE 26-1 (Rapid Experimentation of Prototyping Technology in Learning Environments): Counter-Unmanned-Systems (C- UxS)

Notice Type: Special Notice TYPE: A-Research and Development NAICS: 541715 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life

Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) Publish Date: 30 June 2026 Response Date: 14 July 2026, 12:00 Noon Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)

A. INTRODUCTION: REPTILE (Rapid Experimentation of Prototyping Technology in Learning Environments)

This Request for Information (RFI) is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this RFI is to solicit technology experimentation candidates from Research and Development (R&D) organizations, private industry, and academia for inclusion in future experimentation events coordinated by the U. S.

Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). USSOCOM invites industry, academia, individuals, and Government labs to submit technology experimentation nominations addressing innovative technologies identified in paragraph 5 below. The intent is to provide participants with the opportunity to gain Special Operations Forces (SOF) insight/perspective on participant technologies.

The REPTILE event will explore emerging technologies, technical applications, and their potential to provide solutions for future SOF capabilities.

Dates/Theme/Location: This RFI is for REPTILE 26-1 which will be held from 08-18 SEP 2026 at Gulfport, MS and seeks man-portable, Counter-Unmanned-Systems (C- UxS) systems

PURPOSE:

1. The purpose of REPTILE is to assess Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6+ systems from Research and Development (R&D) organizations, private industry, and academia for future U. S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) experimentation events.

USSOCOM invites participants to submit technological system nominations addressing capability needs. Participants will have the opportunity to stress their systems in combat-simulated environments, receive meaningful operator feedback, and validate their systems at TRL 7.

B. REPTILE Objective:

1. Experimentation Problem Statement: Special Operators have a need to

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defeat a swarm of up to 10x, Group 1-2, autonomous drones while operating in denied areas from static positions within wooded terrain in day and night conditions.

2. Experimentation Focus: The intent is to provide TRL 6, man-portable, C-UxS systems to a dismounted Special Operations Forces (SOF) Team operating in a simulated Denied, Disrupted, Intermittent, and Limited (DDIL) combat environment. The SOF Team will employ the C-UxS system to neutralize an enemy drone swarm, provide its operational assessment, and help validate the system at a TRL 7 or not. A SOF Team is defined as a Special Forces Operational Detachment – Alpha (SFODA), Marine Special Operations Team (MSOT), or Sea, Air, and Land (SEAL) Platoon. USSOCOM seeks C-UxS systems that are a singular system or a fully configured system of systems that gives a SOF Team the capability to neutralize a drone swarm.

3. Design Reference Mission: A SOF Team infiltrates behind enemy lines to conduct a special reconnaissance mission. The team establishes a Mission Support Site and Observation Point in wooded terrain to observe and report on an enemy facility. The SOF Team has the capability to defend itself against a potential drone swarm threat through its C-UxS system. At some point, the enemy compromises the SOF Team and sends a drone swarm to find, fix, and finish the SOF Team. The SOF Team employs its C-UxS system, neutralizing the drone swarm threat, to successfully exfiltrate the area without loss of life, limb, or eyesight.

4. Nomination Submission Deadline: 14 July 2026, at 12:00 Noon EDT. Submit via www.vulcan-sof.com.

5. USSOCOM Problem: Counter-Unmanned-Systems (C-UxS): USSOCOM seeks TRL 6 manportable and manpackable Counter Unmanned Systems (CUxS) capabilities that can rapidly detect, track, classify, and neutralize unmanned aerial threats, including drone swarms across a broad range of platforms, threat configurations and altitudes. There is interest in countering low flying fiberoptic–controlled UAS, FPV systems employing threat representative radios and waveforms, cooperative UAS mission architectures such as Group 2 ISR cueing Group 1 platforms, as well as EW/EM hardened, and autonomous unmanned aerial systems. Solutions that do not provide both detection and neutralization capabilities will not be considered.

5.1. C-UxS system capability considerations, but not limited to:

http://www.vulcan-sof.com/

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5.1.1. Fully integrated detection (sensor) and engagement (effector) capabilities

5.1.2. Early warning systems

5.1.3. Semiautonomous and autonomous platforms

5.1.4. Counter–fiberoptic and counter FPV capabilities

5.1.5. Ability to detect, track, and classify very low flying UAS

5.1.6. Active radar capable of mitigating ground clutter

5.1.7. Optics capable of ATR and tracking in cluttered backgrounds (trees, brush, thermal hotspots)

5.1.8. Integration into existing C2 systems; SCCA compatible (preferred, and some systems must integrate within 5 months if selected)

5.1.9. Electromagnetic (EM) hardened systems capable of operating in contested EM environments

5.1.10. Low collateral effectors (precision kinetic and non-kinetic)

5.1.11. Electromagnetic protection (EP) systems capable of detecting, characterizing, and geolocating EMI

5.1.12. EMI detection and geolocation accuracy (direction finding, target l location within 40 meters)

5.1.13. OMNI – Open Mission Network Integration

5.1.14. PLI – Position Location Information

5.1.15. FMV compatibility (Full Motion Video)

5.1.16. COT – Cursor on Target interoperability

5.1.17. Modular components; multi-factor integrations

5.1.18. Low cost, attritable, disposable, or rapidly produced CUxS/CUAS effectors

5.1.19. Software agnostic architectures

5.1.20. Kinetic, non-kinetic, or mixed modular payloads

5.1.21. Tactical C-UxS/C-UAS weapon systems

5.1.22. Low SWaP, jam resistant GPS antennas or alternative PNT solutions

5.1.23. Technologies to visually or digitally distinguish friendly UxS/UAS platforms

5.1.24. Operator worn or man-portable/man-packable active/passive detection/localization/classification solutions

5.1.25. Novel defeat capabilities, including autonomous/semiautonomous and AI integrated defeat platforms

5.1.26. Low SWaP kinetic defeat options (not ammunition specific)

5.1.27. Low collateral kinetic engagement options

5.1.28. Omni-directional detection coverage

5.1.29. Supports both stationary (short to medium term) and mobile operations with tactical teams

5.1.30. RF based cyber takeover capability

5.1.31. End to end detection and mitigation for situational awareness and operational continuity

5.1.32. Waterproof, robust, weather resistant platform designs

5.1.33. Low SWaP overall system design

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5.1.34. Advanced mobile CUxS robotics platforms

6. Security/Classification Requirements: Respondents shall not submit classified information in the technology experimentation nominations. If respondents believe classified information is required for their proposal, please contact tech_exp@socom.mil to coordinate appropriate information.

7. Safety Requirements:

7.1. All respondents shall review the USSOCOM REPTILE Dismounted Counter-

Unmanned Systems (C-UXS) Event Safety Guide (Attachment 3).

7.2. Those respondents who are invited to demonstrate their systems will complete a Deliberate Risk Assessment Worksheet (Department of Defense Form 2977) (Attachment 4) in accordance with MIL-STD-882E and the Department of the Army Techniques Publication No. 5-19 (ATP 5-19).

7.3. Risk assessments shall be emailed directly to the tech_exp@SOCOM.mil by

8 August 2026. Respondents should include instructions that describe the safe operation of the device nominated for the experiment.

8. Frequency Requirements: If your proposed capability has any device radiating on a given radio frequency or frequency band, you must have prior approval to transmit on that frequency. Prior approval includes:

8.1. Compliance with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Title 47, Part

15, or a Special Temporary Authority (STA) from the FCC.

8.2. If your proposed capability includes Government-owned equipment, and you will be operating within a Federal Band, you MUST have National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) frequency approval. Providing JF12 information will advance coordination and approvals as needed.

8.3. Respondents are advised NOT to wait for confirmation of

selection/invitation to the event before requesting a STA, if needed, from the FCC as such requests can take up to 60 days to get FCC approval.

8.4. Your authority to radiate must be emailed directly to tech_exp@socom.mil by 24 July 2026. All frequency questions shall be directed to the USSOCOM Technical Experimentation team at the email above.

9. Human Subjects. REPTILE will not conduct research or experimentation involving human subjects.

10. Other Special Requirements mailto:tech_exp@socom.mil mailto:tech_exp@SOCOM.mil mailto:tech_exp@socom.mil

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10.1. DO NOT submit formal proposals or marketing demonstrations.

10.2. Submissions after the deadline will not be accepted.

10.3. All responses must be in accordance with the topic of this announcement; solutions outside this scope will not be considered.

C. REPTILE 26-1 Submission Instructions:

1. READ ALL OF SECTION C BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO SUBMIT AS THE

REQUIREMENTS MAY HAVE CHANGED.

2. Submit C-UxS system nominations electronically via Scout Card in the Vulcan system at vulcan-sof.com. Scout Cards must be created within the Call for REPTILE 26-1: Counter-Unmanned-Systems (C-UxS). The Vulcan system is best accessed by using Firefox or Google Chrome browsers. USSOCOM personnel will review and assess submissions and invite nominees NLT 17 JUL 2026.

3. CRITICAL: It takes 35-40 minutes to complete the Scout Card and the Electronic

Supplemental Information link. If you try to submit it in the last 30 minutes of the day of the RFI closing, you will not succeed. PLAN ACCORDINGLY!

4. Nomination Submission Criteria

4.1 Vulcan Scout Card: Creating a Scout Card in the Vulcan system as described above. Submitters will need their Scout Card ID number to complete the following step.

4.2 DO NOT attempt this step if you don’t have or know the Vulcan Scout Card

ID. Completely and correctly filling in the Supplemental Information Electronic form via https://forms.osi.apps.mil/r/gjrjK7LmKB?origin=lprLink. This is listed as the last question in the Vulcan submission for this event. The Electronic Supplemental Information form is a MANDATORY requirement for ALL respondents.

Failure to fill out the electronic form, completely and correctly, via the link provided is grounds for immediate rejection of this event without further notice.

4.3 Devices with ANY radio frequency emissions will state the exact intended frequency or frequencies used by the device(s). DO NOT state in the electronic form that it will be provided on request; the form is the request.

4.4 An FCC STA, Experimental License, or NTIA document (for developmental https://forms.osi.apps.mil/r/gjrjK7LmKB?origin=lprLink

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radio frequency emitting devices). If neither is available at the time of submission, provide status of your FCC/NTIA request. Those using only the ISM Band must state the exact frequency range and must transmit at less than 1-watt.

4.4.1 ISM band rules require devices to operate without causing harmful interference and to accept any interference from other devices. In the United States, these rules are governed by the FCC, with Part 18 for ISM equipment and Part 15 for unlicensed communication devices that share ISM frequencies.

4.5 Instructions on how to safely employ the C-UxS system (as needed). Vendors will train operators prior to their employment between 08-18 SEP 2026.

4.6 If applicable, a picture of the device with a short description of the size (shows the dimensions or places the device next to a ruler, currency, or man-sized object for comparison).

4.7 A signed Photo Release (Attachment 2).

• File named as: Scout Card ID Company Name.

• Example: 99875_AcmeAnvil

5. Selected respondents will be invited to participate in USSOCOM experiments.

USSOCOM shall provide venues, supporting infrastructure, and assessment (operational and technical, based on availability of resources and written request as discussed above) personnel at no cost to invited respondent(s).

5.1. All respondents’ submission costs, travel costs, technology experiments, and experimentation associated costs will be at the respondents’ expense.

5.2. The REPTILE venue will only provide basic access to training areas or ranges (if approved and applicable) to conduct experiments, a facility to connect to the internet, basic venue infrastructure including frequency coordination/deconfliction, and shore power. Invited respondents must be prepared to be self-sufficient and not dependent on venue resources. Time and space will be made available for vendors to conduct real-time modifications and updates, if needed.

5.3. Technology developers are advised to bring all tools and equipment necessary to present/operate their technology at the event.

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D. BASIS FOR SELECTION TO PARTICIPATE: Selection will be based on the extent to which the C-UxS system provides the needed capability to SOF.

Refer to Para. B.5. for technical and operational requirements. Input from SOF Operators will have a higher weight.

E. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: All efforts shall be made to protect proprietary information that is clearly marked in writing. Technology Developers shall not display any proprietary or classified information at the event. Lessons learned by USSOCOM from these experiments may be broadly disseminated, but only within the Government. If selected, developers may be requested to provide additional information that will be used in preparation for the experiments.

F. USE OF INFORMATION: All proprietary information contained in the submission and technology experimentation shall be appropriately marked. The Government will not use proprietary information submitted by any one firm to establish future capability and requirements. During the event USSOCOM may broadcast technology experiments via video teleconference back to USSOCOM and/or their operational components. Respondents to this RFI shall review and submit the photography approval form at Attachment 2.

G. SPECIAL NOTICE:

1. Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) or contractor consultant/advisors to the Government will review and provide support during evaluation of submittals. When appropriate, non-Government advisors may be used to objectively review a particular functional area and provide comments and recommendations to the Government. All advisors shall comply with procurement integrity laws and shall sign non-disclosure statements. The Government shall take into consideration requirements for avoiding conflicts of interest and ensure advisors comply with safeguarding proprietary data. Submission in response to this RFI constitutes approval to release the submittal to approved Government support contractors.

2. There will be foreign attendees (military, government, or industry partners), who are interested in the capabilities being demonstrated at the TE event.

Respondents are ultimately responsible for complying with all International Trafficking in Arms Regulations (ITAR) /Export Administration Regulations (EAR) requirements associated with their equipment.

2.1 Before declaring their ITAR/EAR status, respondents to this RFI should verify the ITAR/EAR status of their technology by visiting the US Department of State Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (ITAR) website at:

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(https://www.pmddtc.state.gov/ddtc_public) and the US Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security website (https://www.bis.doc.gov/) for more information on Export Administration Regulations (EAR).

2.2 USSOCOM event organizers will restrict access as necessary to assist in protecting ITAR/EAR related technology demonstrations.

Contracting Office Address:

7701 Tampa Point Blvd MacDill AFB, Florida 33621-5323 Primary Point of Contact:

tech_exp@SOCOM.mil

(813) 826-4646 https://www.pmddtc.state.gov/ddtc_public https://www.pmddtc.state.gov/ddtc_public https://www.pmddtc.state.gov/ddtc_public https://www.bis.doc.gov/ https://www.bis.doc.gov/ mailto:tech_exp@SOCOM.mil