Broad Agency Announcement - IDX 26 v2.docx

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

Broad Agency Announcement for Intelligence Processing & Analysis Intelligence Discovery Experiment (IDX) 2026

DISCLAIMER:

THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION: No award will be made because of this request. This RFI is for informational and planning purposes only. This is not an Invitation for a Bid, a Request for a Proposal, or a Request for a Quotation. No solicitation document exists, and a formal solicitation will not be issued by the Government after receiving responses to this RFI. The Government will not be liable for payment of any costs incurred in response to this RFI, participation in the Intelligence Discovery Experiment 2026, and is under no obligation to act in any way on the information received. No costs incurred by interested companies in response to this announcement will be reimbursed. The information provided may be used by the Army in developing a future acquisition strategy, Performance Work Statement, Statement of Objectives and/or Performance Based Specification(s). Interested parties are responsible for adequately marking proprietary or competition sensitive information contained in their response.

PURPOSE:

The US Army Futures and Concepts Center (FCC), Intelligence Concepts & Experimentation Division (ICED) is conducting market research to identify solutions to future requirements of intelligence data processing and exploitation capabilities from the point of collection to targeting and decision making. This Request for Information (RFI) supports the Intelligence Discovery Experiment 2026 (IDX 26), Intelligence Processing & Exploitation. The ICED is seeking RFI’s from industry, academia, and other government agencies regarding this capability.

BACKGROUND:

During this experiment we will be examining intelligence processing and exploitation from sensor/source through processor/exploitation to determine where inefficiencies and latency exist and how these processes can be improved in the future operational environment to support targeting and better decision making.

INFORMATION REQUESTED:

The Intelligence Concepts & Experimentation Division is requesting White Papers from industry, academia, and DoD on solutions leveraging any technology relevant to the following Focus Areas and requirements. Solutions should demonstrate significant capability in addressing the objective areas of this experiment.

Note: All correspondence including the Request for the Reference Design Document and Whitepaper shall have correct CUI markings in accordance with DoDI5200.48 –Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).

INTELLIGENCE DISCOVERY EXPERIMENT 2026 FOCUS AREAS

1. Improving Intelligence Processing & Exploitation for the Future Force. Identify areas in intelligence processing and exploitation for each of the intelligence disciplines where automation/artificial intelligence/machine learning can increase efficiency and reduce latency in support of targeting and decision-making in the future operational environment.

2. Army Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) Processing & Exploitation. Army SIGINT requires Artificial Intelligence (AI) and/or automated solutions to assist Collectors and Analysts to process and exploit Intelligence data. These solutions include, but are not limited to, the following requirements.

a. The capability to characterize and evaluate signals and the electromagnetic spectrum automatically.

b. Automatically track threat frequencies.

c. Automatically develop patterns of life/operations based on collected information.

d. Automated COMINT processing.

e. Ability to translate foreign languages (including dialects).

f. Automated ELINT capabilities.

3. Army Human Intelligence (HUMINT) & Counterintelligence (CI) Processing & Exploitation. Army HUMINT and CI requires AI/Machine Learning (ML) and automated solutions to assist Collectors in processing and exploitation of large, unstructured data. These solutions need to be able to conduct direct cross talk with cloud-based data repositories to drive collection based on historical data previously collected and processed. These solutions include, but are not limited to, the following requirements.

a. Capability to translate unstructured HUMINT reporting into a structured data layer with grids, place names, object names, and other identifiable features automatically that can be ingested into all-source databases.

b. Facial recognition software of High Value Individuals (HVIs) to search databases for dossier development.

c. Ability to search national, international, INTERPOL and coalition databases for HVIs/organizations.

d. Automated data mining (of friendly all-source databases) to find information on a particular individual or organization (with data normalization for different or partial name spellings) which produces a summary of all available information in addition to the ability to open original intelligence reports.

4. Army Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) Processing & Exploitation. Army GEOINT requires AI/ML and automated solutions to assist Analysts with processing and exploitation that can integrate with cloud or future repository-based Command and Control, Fires, and All-Source systems. This solution include, but are not limited to, the following requirements.

a. Automated data deep search of geospatial intelligence databases for specific entities.

b. Automated acquisition of map data, imagery, etc. from geospatial intelligence organizations with user-friendly interface that would automatically populate on Common Intelligence Picture/Common Operational Picture (CIP/COP).

c. Capability to query NGA databases for specific imagery and receive notification of availability of imagery.

d. Capability to query existing imagery for all types of target recognition.

e. A capability to automate depiction of geographical data (with first, second, or third degree georectification) that can be fused with all-source data from imagery.

f. Ability to identify Host Nation infrastructure/personnel to assist with risk assessment of collateral damage for targeting (HN hospitals, schools, cell towers, radio stations, power stations, etc)

5. Army Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) Processing & Exploitation. Army OSINT requires AI/ML and automated solutions to assist Analysts in OSINT processing and exploitation. These solutions will require a virtual format that will still operate under Virtual Private Network conditions and still be able to disseminate to Army Network(s). These solutions include, but are not limited to, the following requirements.

a. Ability to detect anomalies associated with deception/disinformation/ misinformation as well as alerts when an image has been manipulated by photoshop or other image manipulation software, and determination of whether the image has been posted before and, if so, provide the time and place (online) of where it was posted.

b. Ability to derive GEOCOORDS and metadata extraction from images, series of images or full-motion video.

c. A search function that can filter PAI by type of data, time, geography and keyword and correlate/associate data.

7. Army Intelligence processing requires AI/ML/automated solutions to process data specifically to support the targeting process.

PLANNING TIMELINE

· Initial Planning Conference: 22 January 2026

· Mid Planning Conference: 10 March 2026

· Final Planning Conference: 8 April 2026

· COMEX: 1 – 5 June 2026

· Execution: 7 – 13 June 2026 (travel days included)

CONTRACTOR SUPPORT:

The Government may use contracted personnel to provide administrative assistance to federal employees regarding all aspects of any actions ensuing from this announcement, including the evaluation of white papers and subsequent proposals. However, federal employees will be responsible for actual reviews and evaluations. Government support contractors will be bound by appropriate non-disclosure agreements (NDA) to protect proprietary and source-selection information. They are not permitted to release any source-selection information to third parties, including others in their organization. By submission of a white paper, offerors are hereby granting support contractors access to financial, confidential, proprietary, and/or trade secret markings.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: ???

WHITE PAPER SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

Submitted White Papers are discouraged from being marketing in nature or previously submitted ideas. The ICED is looking for true innovative, out‐of‐the‐box thinking, conceptual approaches, and ideas with respect to the focus areas listed. White Papers must be in the following format:

1. All White Paper submissions must be UNCLASSIFIED.

2. No more than 10 pages in length, single spaced in Microsoft Word or .pdf compatible format including graphs, pictures, and analyses. Documents longer than 10 pages will not be considered in their entirety. White Paper Data Sheet, Cover page and table of contents, if included, will not be included in the page count.

3. Page size shall be 8.5x 11 inches; Margins one inch, font size shall be 12 point, legible for tables and figures.

4. The IDX 26 Data Sheet (Appendix A) must be filled out and attached clearly outlining which “Focus Area(s)” the white paper pertains to. This ensures adequate and timely consideration.

Include the following information at minimum:

1. Clearly identify the functional and/or cost reduction benefits of your product or concept.

2. Identify the technical and programmatic risks you foresee in completing (or adapting) your design and include your program plan, timeline, testing, and current design level effort.

3. We are looking for emerging technologies that would be available for operational environment testing (i.e., TRL 3 or higher). Any empirical, laboratory, or field test data of the proposed technology should be included.

Note: All correspondence including the Request for the Reference Design Document and Whitepaper shall have correct CUI markings in accordance with DoDI5200.48 –Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).

POINT OF CONTACT INFORMATION:

BAA Point(s) of Contact are:

Primary: SSG Nathaniel Luickcaceres (Experimentation Operations NCO) Email: nathaniel.g.luickcaceres.mil@army.mil Phone: 520-533-6346 Alternate: MAJ Charles Block (Experimentation Operations Chief) Email: charles.d.block2.mil@army.mil Phone: 520-533-4674