Global Tactical Edge Acquisition Directorate (G-TEAD) Marketplace

Active

Contract Opportunity

Description

The U.S. Army announces the launch of the Global Tactical Edge Acquisition Directorate (G-TEAD) Marketplace, a flexible acquisition vehicle and innovation platform designed to accelerate delivery of operationally ready (TRL 6+) equipment and software to the Army and U.S. Army Service Component Commands (USASCCs) and allied/partner nations.

The G-TEAD Marketplace merges Prize Challenge events (e.g., Army xTech Program) and DEP submissions through open call announcements to create a competitive, compliant, and scalable acquisition framework. Vendors who qualify will have their capabilities added to the G-TEAD Marketplace and remain eligible for rapid follow-on contracts or Orders without the need for further competition.

The inaugural Prize Challenge under this announcement is the Army xTech Counter Strike Competition. Selected vendors will receive prize funds, demonstrate solutions in Germany, and leave behind kits for operational evaluation. Winners will be onboarded into the G-TEAD Marketplace for potential follow-on procurement following the planned demonstrations.

Goals

• Accelerate warfighter-relevant technology fielding.


• Ensure competition requirements are satisfied up front, enabling direct ordering.


• Provide a unified environment for U.S., NATO, and partners.


• Enable compliant acquisition pathways to include via FAR, OTs (10 USC 4021, 4022, 4023), BAAs, CSOs, and 10 USC 4025 (Prize Competitions).


• Support Foreign Military Sales and Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) for allied/partner nations.

Vendor Marketplace On-Ramp Pathways:

• Prize Challenge Path: Vendors compete in prize-based challenges (e.g. xTech Counter Strike competition), receive initial prize funding, demonstrate solutions in designated regions, and qualify to onboard into G-TEAD Marketplace.


• DEP: Future notices will be used to issue calls for Submission via DEP.


• We expect to execute multiple Prize challenges annually, beginning with, the first of many being, xTech Counter Strike in partnership with USAREUR-AF.

Ordering Channels

• Army Direct: Army Contracting Command executes Contracts or Orders.


• FMS: Partner nations via DSCA/ACC or other designated ordering authority contracting activities.


• Direct Foreign Purchases: U.S. vendors via DCS; foreign vendors via national processes.


• Decentralized Ordering: Army PEOs or other Army, DoD, or U.S. agencies / activities with contracting and Ordering authority.

Initial Focus Areas

xTech Prize Challenge #1: Counter Strike

• Sense and Warn: Develop and integrate systems that can rapidly detect, identify, and track UAS threats.


• Defeat: Create and deploy a layered set of defeat mechanisms. This includes both non-kinetic options and kinetic solutions.


• Integration and Command & Control (C2): Develop a seamless C2 platform that integrates data from various sensors and defeat systems.


• Interoperable: Must be NATO interoperability solutions.

New Prize Challenges will be issued as additional focus areas are identified.

Submission Instructions

• Prize Challenge Path: Register and submit for the xTech Counter Strike Competition at https://www.xtech.army.mil.


• DEP: Future notices will be used to issue calls for Submission via DEP. Authorities Used (not all-inclusive)

• FAR (Federal Acquisition Regulation) – Contracts


• 10 USC 4021 – Research Other Transaction (OT)


• 10 USC 4022 – Prototype Other Transaction (OT)


• 10 USC 4023 – Procurement for Experimental Purposes


• 10 USC 4025 – Prize Competitions


• 10 USC 3458 – Commercial Solutions Openings (CSO)


• 48 CFR § 35.016 – Broad Agency Announcements (BAA)

Points of Contact

• Technical POC: MAJ Robert Davis, robert.e.davis556.mil@army.mil


• Contracting POC (409th CSB): Mr. Chris Paitson, john.c.paitson.civ@army.mil,
  
  Mr. Aaron Ritter, aaron.m.ritter.civ@army.mil


• Capability Lead (G-TEAD): MAJ Cody Lucas, joseph.c.lucas.mil@army.mil,
  
  Ms. Traci Williams, traci.b.williams.civ@army.mil

2. Vendor Submission Guidance

Please refer to the xTech Counter Strike Competition submission form (https://www.xtech.army.mil).

3. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the G-TEAD Marketplace?

A: Is an ASA(ALT) initiative to accelerate testing and experimentation directly aligned with the warfighter to provide capability at the speed of war. The marketplace will incorporate contracting and innovative acquisitions strategies in a platform enabling U.S., NATO, and partners to acquire TRL 6+ solutions rapidly through pre-competed vendor onboarding tied directly to direct user feedback and exercises.

Q2: How does this differ from xTech?

A: xTech is one of the Prize Challenge onramps into the G-TEAD Marketplace. Vendors selected through xTech Prize Challenge competitions (e.g. xTech Counter Strike) are onboarded into the G-TEAD Marketplace for future contracts/orders.

Q3: Can foreign companies participate?

A: Yes, subject to export and security compliance, and provided they are not from a Foreign Country of Concern (FCOC).

Q4: What happens after G-TEAD Marketplace onboarding?

A: Vendors are listed in the G-TEAD Marketplace, visible to Army, NATO, and partner buyers, and eligible for direct contracts/orders without additional competition.

Q5: What authorities will be used to place orders?

A: Contracts/Orders may be executed under the authorities listed in section 1 above or via FMS/DCS channels.

4. Draft Timeline

The official timeline for the xTech Counter Strike competition will be detailed in the link above. A draft timeline for the process is below:

• 2 Sep 2025 – (est.) 12 Sep 2025: xTech Counter Strike White Paper submission window


• 3 Oct 2025: Down select notification for finalists


• 12–20 Nov 2025: xTech Counter Strike experimentation event in Germany


• 24 Nov 2025: Final prize awards announced; vendors onboarded to G-TEAD Marketplace

Attachments/Links