Approved for Public Release

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

DTRA / JSTO S&T CBRN-Capability Operational User Trial 2027 (SCOUT 27)

A. INTRODUCTION

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY - This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes - it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. This notice does not constitute a commitment by the United States Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. All information submitted in response to this announcement is voluntary; the United States Government will not pay for information requested nor will it compensate any respondent for any cost incurred in developing information provided. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the SAM.gov website: https://sam.gov/. It is the responsibility of potential offerors to monitor this site for additional information.

The primary purpose of this RFI is to solicit technology nominations specifically for SCOUT 27 and its concurrent Concepts Crucible event, scheduled for 12– 18 March 2027 at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, VA.

Strategic S&T Experimentation Pipeline Integration Note: While this RFI is focused on securing cutting-edge technologies for the March 2027 SCOUT 27 event, all submissions will be actively reviewed by the Joint Science and Technology Office (JSTO) Experiments & Exercises Branch (CBEX) for alignment across our broader, multi-event JSTO Experimentation Campaign.

Depending on technical maturity, logistical readiness, and scheduling requirements, selected technologies may also be considered for other upcoming campaign opportunities (which may execute prior to or after the March 2027 main event), as directed by strategic priorities, including:

• Micro-SCOUT: A rapid, focused Early User Assessment (EUA) and Technical Evaluation (TE). These highly agile, rolling "sprint" events focus on gathering rapid, high-fidelity warfighter feedback for individual systems.

• Accelerated Solution Exploration (ATDs) & CCMD Injects: Direct integration of highly mature capability sets into major, service-level, or Combatant Command (CCMD) exercises.

We are seeking submissions for two distinct technology categories:

https://sam.gov/

1. Ruggedized Prototypes (Technology Readiness Level 4-6+):

Seeking mature, ruggedized CBRN prototypes ready for operational assessment by Joint Warfighters during the SCOUT 27 Main Event (12-18 March 2027).

SCOUT immerses Joint Warfighters in realistic, peer-threat scenarios to validate the Form, Fit, and Function of individual technologies, while providing planners with an early look at the integration potential of networked, capability-focused sets.

2. Early-Stage Concepts (Technology Readiness Level 1-3):

We are seeking bold, early-stage ideas for inclusion in our concurrent "Concepts Crucible" exhibition track at SCOUT 27.

• This is the entry point into our S&T pipeline for posters, breadboard mock-ups, models and simulations, or theoretical designs.

• Static, Non-Operational Track: To ensure safety and protect early-stage intellectual property, these technologies will be evaluated strictly on a static display basis. Warfighters and technical subject matter experts (SMEs) will rotate through the Concepts Crucible for hands-on touch, system walkthroughs, and to provide direct, qualitative feedback. No operational field assessments or tactical maneuver trials will be conducted for this category.

• Poster Submissions: Respondents wishing to submit a concept poster may be invited to present their concept during a dedicated poster session or send their poster for static display. Information included on the poster must be unclassified.

• Innovation over Evolution: We are explicitly not interested in simple, evolutionary improvements to existing CBRN defense technologies. We seek fundamentally new approaches that deliver disruptive advantages and have the potential to reshape the future CBRN battlefield.

B. OBJECTIVE

In alignment with the Department of War's acquisition overhaul, the JSTO Experiments & Exercises Branch (CBEX) sponsors SCOUT to bridge the "Valley of Death." The objective is to evaluate early-stage concepts and mature prototypes in realistic, threat-informed environments. This campaign will deliver actionable, quantitative and qualitative data directly from Warfighters by rigorously assessing form, fit, function, usability, and DOTMLPF-P (Doctrine, Organization, Training, Material, Leadership & Education, Personnel, Facilities, and Policy) integration.

C. SCOPE & AREAS OF INTEREST

To prepare the Joint Force for highly contested, multi-domain environments on the future battlefield (2030–2040), JSTO is seeking innovative, leap-ahead technologies. Rather than flat technical specifications, we seek integrated capabilities aligned with the following core operational focus areas:

1. Decentralized Early Warning & Tactical Data Fusion

We seek technologies that establish resilient, wide-area sensing networks and accelerate commander decision-making under degraded conditions. Key interests include:

• Edge-Fused Sensor Networks: Low Size, Weight, Power, and Cost (SWaP-C) chemical, biological, and radiological presumptive point detectors and field-confirmatory sensors capable of autonomous mesh networking and automatic threat-mapping.

• Intelligent Signal Filtering: Advanced analytics, machine learning algorithms, and decision-support tools that process large-volume data streams at the edge, separating critical threat alerts from environmental background noise.

• Multi-Domain Data Integration: Software and middle-ware solutions that seamlessly integrate environmental sensor data and wearable physiological indicators directly into standard tactical networks (e.g., ATAK/COP) to provide real-time battlefield situational awareness.

2. Warfighter Burden Reduction & Extended Protection

We seek individual and collective protection capabilities that allow the Joint Force to operate, maneuver, and survive in highly contaminated environments without sacrificing combat effectiveness. Key interests include:

• Thermal and Physiological Relief: Novel individual protective equipment (IPE) ensembles, materials, or cooling technologies that significantly reduce heat stress and physical fatigue during extended operations.

• Low-Burden Wearable Sensors: Lightweight, passive, or low-power wearable chemical and biological sensors providing instantaneous, threshold-level warning without complicating warfighter loadout or gear interfaces.

• Resilient Infrastructure Protection: Lightweight, rapidly deployable collective protection (COLPRO) systems designed to secure command and control (C2) nodes, critical logistics staging areas, and fixed facilities against persistent hazards.

3. Autonomous & Precision Hazard Mitigation

We seek solutions that restore freedom of action, preserve high-value equipment, and rapidly clear contaminated areas while minimizing the logistical footprint. Key interests include:

• Autonomous Hazard Localization & Dispersal: Ground-based or aerial unmanned systems (UGVs/UAVs) equipped with sensors to autonomously locate/ map, and apply decontaminants to localized hazards on equipment or infrastructure.

• Sensitive Equipment Preservation: Waterless, non-corrosive, or low-impact decontamination technologies specifically designed for high-value sensitive surfaces, avionics, aircraft flight decks, and electrical systems.

• Pre-Incident Surface Preparation: Advanced coatings, surface treatments, or materials applied prior to operations that prevent agent absorption and enable rapid, low-effort hazard washdown.

4. Tactical-Edge Diagnostics & Expeditionary Resiliency

We seek medical, chemical, and biological defense technologies strictly dedicated to enabling tactical military operations within CBRN contaminated environments. Submitted technologies must directly support the commander's ability to maintain unit combat power, rapidly confirm CBRN exposures, or deploy targeted medical countermeasures at the point of need.

• Tactical CBRN Diagnostics: Portable, ruggedized diagnostic tools and sequencing platforms capable of rapid, point-of-need exposure confirmation for CWAs, PBAs, toxic chemical hazards, or biological agents, including emerging, novel, or synthetic agents.

• Far-Forward CBRN Therapeutics & Pretreatments: Lightweight, field-deployable medical countermeasures (such as advanced autoinjectors, dry-powder inhalers, or oral pretreatments).

• On-Demand MCM Synthesis: Austere, low-burden platforms for far-forward synthesis, manufacturing, or reconstitution of CBRN-specific medical countermeasures to bypass long-range cold chains.

• Exposure Tracking & Telemetry: Integrated software, wearable physiological sensors, and data workflows that automatically track and transmit CBRN exposure indicators.

D. EVALUATION CRITERIA

Submissions will be evaluated primarily on their operational potential and ability to provide:

• Enhanced Survivability & Reduced Warfighter Burden in contested, multi-domain environments.

• Improved Operational Effectiveness in dispersed or logistics-contested operations (e.g., Fixed-Site Base Defense/Hub operations).

• Increased Situational Awareness through advanced sensing and decentralized C2.

• Schedule Viability: Alignment of the technology's Anticipated Readiness Date with the SCOUT 27 execution window (12-18 March 2027) or concurrent rolling events.

Note: During the evaluation process, the JSTO selection team will align submissions to the most appropriate venue.

E. ELIGIBLE SOURCES

Submissions will be considered from the following sources: industrial/commercial entities, federal Research & Development organizations, academia, non-profits, DoW-sponsored Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) specified in Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul (RFO) Part 235.4, and University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs), if it is permitted by the UARC’s DoW sponsor.

F. SECURITY & FOREIGN DISCLOSURE RELEASABILITY

All submissions must be UNCLASSIFIED.

CRITICAL ENTERPRISE GUIDANCE: FOREIGN DISCLOSURE

RELEASABILITY

SCOUT 27 and the Concepts Crucible will host participant and observer delegations from international partner nations.

Selected technology developers must secure and provide explicit foreign disclosure clearance permissions prior to event execution:

• Government-Funded Tech: Sponsoring Program Manager, Contracting Officers Representative (COR), or security office written approval is required, explicitly clearing your technology for international partner observation.

• Compliance Liability: The individual technologist retains ultimate legal responsibility for complying with federal ITAR/EAR export control laws.

• Unclassified Briefings: JSTO expects all developers to prepare their on-site briefings, quad charts, and technical discussions at an unclassified level.

G. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS & INSTRUCTIONS

DO NOT SUBMIT PROPOSALS.

Two-Phased Submission Pathway.

To ensure enterprise-wide visibility while protecting developer resources and streamlining technical review, JSTO utilizes a strict two-phase submission process:

Phase 1: JETT Entry- Initial Review, and Selection

Phase 2: Vulcan-sof.com- Deep Dive Technical Questionnaire

Phase 1: Enterprise Submission (JETT)

All respondents must log their technology capability in the CBDP Enterprise "front door" for preliminary review and long-range tech watch. Please follow the steps below to submit your technology for consideration:

1. Access JETT via the following link: https://jacks.jpeocbrnd.army.mil/JETT.

If you don’t have a JETT account, please register and complete the email verification process. Please allow up to 24 hours for account access approval.

2. Once logged in, select the “Reply to an RFI” option and enter the corresponding RFI Notice ID: SCOUT 27, to ensure your response is linked to this specific opportunity.

3. Complete the brief questionnaire outlining your technology and attach your official Tech Quad RFI response using the document upload option.

4. If you have any questions or experience any issues, please contact the JETT team at: usarmy.apg.dod-jpeo-cbrnd.mbx.jett@army.mil.

Phase 2: Vulan-sof.com https://jacks.jpeocbrnd.army.mil/JETT mailto:usarmy.apg.dod-jpeo-cbrnd.mbx.jett@army.mil

Capabilities that are successfully selected during the Phase 1 JETT review will receive an official invitation to complete a deep-dive operational, logistical, and technical assessment card, and questionnaire on Vulcan-sof.com. Completion of the Vulcan-sof.com assessment is mandatory for down-select assessment and interview scheduling. A direct link will be shared upon official invitation.

DEADLINES, TIMELINES, & EVENT MAPPING

The JSTO selection team will review and map each submission based on technology maturity and operational requirements in accordance with the following POAM milestones:

• RFI Posting / General Submission Window: 1 September 2026 – 9 October 2026.

• SCOUT 27 & Concepts Crucible HARD Submission Deadline:

Submissions targeting the March 2027 SCOUT event must be received in the portal no later than (NLT) 9 October 2026 to be eligible for the formal down-select review cycle.

• Technology Down-Select Assessment Period: 10 October 2026 – 16 November 2026 (including military department reviews, stakeholder Vulcan-sof.com assessments, and selection workshops throughout September and October).

• Technology Selection Notifications (Acceptance / Decline): Official invitations and selection notifications will be dispatched on a rolling basis, with final notifications for SCOUT 27 and the Concepts Crucible completed NLT 16 November 2026.

• Technology Coordination Interviews: 17 November 2026 – 7 December 2026 (orienting developers on operations, administration, logistics, and prototyping objectives).

Notification of Invitation & Venue Mapping

The Government will conduct scoping reviews based on the data provided in the JETT submissions.

• Notifications for SCOUT 27 and the Concepts Crucible will be sent NLT 16 November 2026.

• Government Mapping & Opt-In: Upon selection, the Government will issue a formal invitation detailing the specific venue, dates, and location mapping. Respondents will have the opportunity to accept or decline the specific venue mapping without penalty to future opportunities if the mapped timeline does not fit their development roadmap or commercial availability.

H. USE OF INFORMATION

All submitted proprietary information will be protected from unauthorized disclosure. Respondents must clearly identify all proprietary information contained in supplemental documents. Technical lessons learned during these assessment venues may be broadly disseminated within the Government and its support contractors. To claim restrictions on technical data developed at private expense, respondents must assert their rights with sufficient specificity. The Government does not intend to award a contract or provide payment for information submitted in response to this RFI. JSTO will provide venues, supporting infrastructure, and assessment personnel at no cost to the selected respondent. The respondent’s travel and shipping will be at the respondent’s expense. The Government will provide no funding or reimbursement to respondents as part of this RFI and/or participation.

I. POINTS OF CONTACT

Questions regarding this RFI may be directed to: DTRA Ft Belvoir RD Mailbox CBEX Submissions dtra-dtra-scout-submissions@groups.mail.mil mailto:dtra-dtra-scout-submissions@groups.mail.mil