JATF Autonomous Warfare Proving Ground
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), in collaboration with the Joint Acquisition Task Force (JATF), has issued a Special Notice for a JATF Autonomous Warfare Proving Ground Collaborative Event. This initiative seeks industry, academic, and national lab partners to establish a state-of-the-art autonomous systems warfare center at NASA Stennis Space Center (NSSC), MS. The goal is to enhance range capabilities, implement electromagnetic warfare, improve facilities, and create an autonomous systems laboratory. Requests to attend the Collaboration Event are due NLT June 24, 2026.
Purpose & Background
USSOCOM aims to create a proving ground to enable the integration, testing, and employment of all-domain unmanned systems, as called for by the US Drone Dominance Memo. The NSSC and surrounding region offer a suitable physical environment for testing operational concepts from seabed to low earth orbit, requiring development of necessary EMS and Digital Environments.
Objective
The objective is a multi-phase process to establish the proving ground at NSSC, MS. This includes improving existing facilities and range space, tying together nearby ranges, integrating industry and academia into a modern UxS laboratory, and developing by-domain labs, a technical integration facility, range development, and IT infrastructure. The process will move from the current state to Initial Operational Capability (IOC) and then Full Operational Capability (FOC).
Why Participate
USSOCOM intends to enter into non-FAR or FAR-based agreements with partners whose solutions are favorably evaluated. This serves as notification of intent to research feasibility under 10 U.S. Code, Section 4022 and/or 4022(f), and as a pre-solicitation activity per FAR 5.204. Solutions will be evaluated primarily for technical merit.
Event Timeline & Participation
- Phase 1 - Collaboration Event (CE): July 15, 2026, at SOFWERX (Tampa, FL). Provides insights into operational needs. Request to attend NLT June 24, 2026.
- Phase 2 - Submissions to Assessment Event (AE) Open: August 18, 2026, to September 18, 2026. Submit capabilities for USSOCOM review.
- Phase 2a - Q&A Telecon: September 2, 2026 (1:00-2:00 PM ET). RSVP available on/around August 18.
- Phase 3 - Downselect: September 21, 2026, to September 30, 2026. Invitations for AE issued on/around October 2.
- Phase 4 - Assessment Event (AE): October 20-22, 2026, at SOFWERX. Selected participants will pitch/demonstrate solutions to the USSOCOM evaluation panel.
Potential Contract Vehicles
Successful negotiations may lead to various agreement types, including Business to Business R&D agreements (sub-award through SOFWERX PIA), OTAs for research or prototype projects (10 U.S. Code Sections 4021, 4022, with potential for follow-on production without additional competition), Procurement for experimental purposes (10 U.S. Code Section 4023), CRADAs, Prizes, or FAR-based procurement contracts.
Key Dates
- Collaboration Event Request Due: June 24, 2026
- Collaboration Event: July 15, 2026
- AE Submissions Open: August 18, 2026
- AE Submissions Close: September 18, 2026
- Q&A Telecon: September 2, 2026
- Assessment Event: October 20-22, 2026
Additional Notes
Awardees may need to be compliant with NIST SP 800-171 for Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). The proving ground will be at NSSC, MS, while the Collaboration and Assessment Events will be held in person at SOFWERX in Tampa, FL. No set-aside is specified for this Special Notice.