MCS Area of Interest Armor Formation.docx

Area of Interest (AoI) Title: Mobile Camouflage System (Armor Formation) Agency: Department of the Army Program: Vehicle Protection Systems (VPS) Responses: See W912CH-26-S-0001 for Procedure Details

1.0 General Information

1.1 Introduction

The Army seeks innovative commercial solutions to enhance the survivability of armored formations. The primary goal of this Area of Interest (AoI) is to award an Other Transaction Authority (OTA) to one or more vendors whose white papers support the Army’s need and who meet the requirements of 10 USC § 4022. After award of the OTA, vendors will have the opportunity to assess vehicles at Ft. Hood, TX to gather data needed and then produce and deliver Mobile Camouflage System (MCS) kits for evaluation at a Soldier Touchpoint event. During this event, soldiers will provide direct feedback on the systems to determine which solution best meets their operational needs without hindering mission effectiveness. This effort will enable the Army to acquire an MCS that reduces the detectability of armored vehicles against a wide range of threats, including Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). The MCS should be a scalable, formation-level camouflage solution that supports both stationary and mobile operations without significantly degrading platform mobility, maintainability, or combat effectiveness.

To ensure the long-term sustainability of the capability, the Government is expecting at least Government Purpose Rights to the integration designs and methods developed specifically for applying the MCS to each designated Government vehicle platform. This includes vehicle-specific installation instructions, attachment point designs, and any interface control documents created to fit the MCS to the M1 Abrams, Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV), and M2A4 Bradley. As such, for all items, components, processes, or computer software where development is required under the OTA, the Contractor shall not absorb or self-fund all or any portion of the costs associated with such development without prior written approval of the Agreements Officer. Unless otherwise authorized by the Agreements Officer, all items, components, processes and computer software developed under the OTA shall be developed with direct Government funding including those items, components, processes and computer software developed by SubContractors at any level, with the direct Government funding flowing down to such SubContractors through the Contractor. The Contractor shall include this Government funding requirement in its subcontracts and shall require its SubContractors to include the flow down requirement in contracts with their SubContractors.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Government is not expecting these rights to extend to the vendor's proprietary MCS product itself, its underlying technology, material composition, or manufacturing processes. These rights are limited to the data required to independently install, remove, and sustain the vendor's MCS on its vehicle platforms.

While the details of the OTA are not finalized at this time, the Government expects rights in other data delivered under the OTA to be similar to those provided for in DFARS 252.227-7989, Rights in Technical Data, Computer Software, and Computer Software Documentation – Other Than Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Deviation 2026-O0036), DFARS 252.227-7990, Technical Data – Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Deviation 2026-O0036), and DFARS 227.7202-3, Rights in commercial computer software or commercial computer software documentation. The Government welcomes proposals that offer creative Specifically Negotiated Licenses for greater rights that meet the Government’s objectives.

Interested parties are highly encouraged to review the Army Contracting Command–Detroit Arsenal (ACC-DTA) Ground Maneuver Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) special posting W912CH-26-S-0001 at ACC-DTA Ground Maneuver Commercial Solutions opening (CSO) for complete details on the submission and evaluation process.

This CSO AoI seeks to solicit innovative solutions that meet the objectives detailed in Section 1.3. The term “innovative” is defined as any technology, process, or method, including research and development, that is new as of the date of proposal submission, or any new application of an existing technology, process, or method as of the proposal date.

The Contracting/Agreements Officer is not obligated to extend a request for Commercial Solution Proposal or make an award as a result of this CSO AoI; all awards/agreements are subject to the availability of funds and successful negotiations.

This CSO AoI is not an authorization to begin performance, and in no way obligates the Government for any costs incurred by the Offeror associated with developing a response. Prior to commencement of any activities associated with performance under this CSO AoI, the Government will issue a written directive or contractual document signed by the Contracting/Agreements Officer with appropriate consideration established. The Government reserves the right to modify the requirements of this CSO AoI.

The authority to issue this CSO AoI is derived from W912CH-26-S-0001, dated 08 January 2026. The CSO authority is 10 U.S.C. § 3458 – Authority to acquire innovative commercial products and commercial services using general solicitation competitive procedures/ DFARS 212.70 – Defense Commercial Solutions Opening.

1.2 Content of Solution Brief

The written solution brief shall address the following:

Vendors are required to submit CSO Phase 1 solution briefs in accordance with ACC-DTA Ground Maneuver CSO, W912CH-26-S-0001, Section 3.2.1.

Describe your technology and its relevance to Section 1.3 below.

1.3 AoI Mobile Camouflage System (Armor Formation)

The Army is actively pursuing commercial technology to enhance platform survivability by reducing the platform’s observable signature across relevant thermal and spectral bands. Vendors will be selected based on their proposed solutions to develop and deliver MCS kits for evaluation. This effort will enable the Army to acquire an MCS that reduces the detectability of armored vehicles against a wide range of threats, including Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). The MCS should be a scalable, formation-level camouflage solution that supports both stationary and mobile operations without significantly degrading platform mobility, maintainability, or combat effectiveness.

The key objectives for vendors are:

· Deliverables: Vendors shall provide a total of fifteen kits; five MCS kits and complete installation instructions for each designated platform—the M1 Abrams, AMPV, and M2A4 Bradley. At a minimum, the MCS shall provide signature-reduction performance in the following bands:

· Near-Infrared (NIR): Reduce contrast between the platform and its operational background when viewed by NIR-enabled sensors and illumination systems.

· Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR): Reduce the platform’s observable signature against SWIR imaging sensors, including systems used for surveillance and target acquisition.

· Mid-Wave Infrared (MWIR): Reduce thermal signatures associated with vehicle heat sources, including the engine compartment, exhaust system, drivetrain, and other heat-generating components.

· Long-Wave Infrared (LWIR): Reduce the platform’s thermal contrast against surrounding terrain and environmental conditions when observed by LWIR thermal-imaging systems.

· Radar signature reduction (optional): Where technically feasible, incorporate materials, geometry, or other features that reduce radar detectability or alter radar returns without adversely affecting platform mobility, maintainability, safety, or mission performance.

· Delivery Timeline: MCS kits will need to be delivered no later than 29 January 2027 to Ft. Hood, TX

· On-Vehicle Installation & Support: Vendors shall provide on-vehicle installation support for the delivered MCS kits and conduct hands-on training for Soldiers. This support is estimated to be needed between 01 February 2027-12 February 2027.

· Training shall address system installation and removal, inspection, routine maintenance, repair procedures, storage, and operational considerations.

· Vendor support should enable unit personnel to install, remove, and sustain the MCS without reliance on contractor support after initial fielding.

2.0 Submission Requirements

DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A. Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Vendors are required to submit CSO Phase 1 solution briefs, including a ROM, to include cost for usage and procurement, in accordance with ACC-DTA Ground Maneuver CSO, W912CH-26-S-0001, Section 3.2. Solution briefs received after the specified due date and time will be discarded and not be evaluated by the Government.

Submissions shall identify any restrictions on the Government’s rights (e.g. data rights) in using/disclosing/reproducing/modifying technical data, computer software, and nontechnical data (e.g. business/financial/administrative data) involved in the effort.

Any selected company/companies will be required to be registered in the System for Award Maintenance (www.sam.gov).

AoI Open Period: This AoI shall close on 14 October 2026 by 4:00pm ET.

Points of Contact (POCs) Solution briefs and any questions should be submitted to the following POCs:

Contract Specialist: Lauren Wagner, lauren.e.wagner10.civ@army.mil Contracting Officer: Jennifer Harris, jennifer.l.harris194.civ@army.mil