Request for information (RFI) for ground combat vehicle production

The U.S. Army Contracting Command-Detroit Arsenal (ACC-DTA), operating under the Department of the Army, issued a Request for Information (RFI) on February 18, 2026, seeking industry input on innovative solutions for the rapid design, production, and delivery of ground combat vehicles. This special notice invites interested firms to provide their expertise and capabilities in developing next-generation combat vehicle manufacturing approaches. The RFI is open to all qualified respondents, including small businesses and nontraditional defense contractors. The government is gathering market research to inform future procurement strategies and does not guarantee that a subsequent solicitation or contract award will follow. Responses must be submitted electronically by March 19, 2026, at 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time.

The Army intends to procure 40 to 80-ton tracked combat vehicles with an aggressive timeline requiring approximately 10 prototype vehicles to begin production in fiscal year 2027 with a prototype lead time not exceeding 24 months, followed by sustained annual production capacity of up to 2,500 vehicles. Respondents should address rapid and scalable production capabilities, modern manufacturing practices including digital engineering and automation, supply chain resilience, flexibility to accommodate changing requirements, data rights strategies, and recommended contracting mechanisms. The government is particularly interested in responses addressing material handling, armor welding, heavy materials processing, and vehicle transportation qualifications, as well as facility compliance with Intelligence Community Directive 705 for secure production environments. Contractors may also propose partnerships with Army industrial facilities such as Rock Island Arsenal, Watervliet Arsenal, Anniston Army Depot, Sierra Army Depot, or Red River Army Depot. All submissions should be in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, or Adobe Acrobat format with a maximum file size of 10 megabytes, and firms may respond with partial capabilities rather than full solutions.