How Battlefield Innovation Becomes Fieldable Capability

Full public-domain text, hosted on this site for reading. Source: Defense Innovation Unit (diu.mil).

We award contracts to companies offering solutions to national security challenges across a variety of technology areas.

— John Sundberg, CEO, Kinetic Data

"Our experience working with DIU has been a game-changer for Kinetic Data. DIU's guidance not only helped us prove our capabilities, but also made us more accessible within the government sector."

Our Acquisition Process

We engage across the Department of Defense to identify and understand critical national security challenges that can be solved with leading edge commercial technology within 12 to 24 months. Through our Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) process, we competitively solicit proposals for innovative solutions that meet the needs of our DoD partners.

DIU leverages Other Transaction authority (10 USC 4022) to award prototype agreements in as few as 60-90 days. More importantly, vendors that execute a prototyping project to the satisfaction of the sponsoring Government customer and their contract commitments are awarded a Success Memo for their technology solution. This Success Memo for the company's solution that was deemed a "success" enables any Federal Government Agency to leverage this solution without having to recompete. There is no time restriction on the use of the Success Memo.

How We Work with Commercial Companies

We make it easy for companies that have never before done business with the Department of Defense — or the U.S. government — to win contracts based on merit and implement solutions at commercial speeds. DIU has already introduced more than 100 first-time vendors to the DoD. Need help learning how to work with the DOW? We have a guide for that.

DIU delivers revenue through flexible prototype contracts that apply commercial innovations to solve national security challenges. Whether seeking hardware, software, or service solutions, DIU lowers the barriers to entry and makes it faster and easier for companies of any size to do business with the Department of Defense.

1. We solicit commercial solutions on our website that address current needs of our DoD partners. (View all open solicitations. Learn more about our Challenges.) 2. You send us a short brief about your solution. (View our Solution Brief Guidance.) 3. We'll reach out if we're interested in scheduling a pitch. If we're not interested, we'll strive to let you know ASAP. 4. Do you have a National Security Solution?

How We Work with the DoD

At DIU, projects begin with a demand signal from you, our DoD partners. In a fraction of the time it traditionally takes, we evaluate and select projects with viable commercial solutions that have the potential to make a difference across DoD and have strong indicators for adoption.

We deliver leading commercial technology to our partners quickly by facilitating prototype contracts between companies and DoD entities. After a successful prototype, any interested DoD entity has the authority to enter into non-competitive follow on production contracts or agreements to procure the prototyped solution(s).

1. You get in touch with us about a mission-critical challenge your organization is facing. We'll explore next steps if you can offer a dedicated DIU liaison and funding to prototype solutions. 2. Our team works with you to translate your challenge into a competitive, commercial solicitation designed to deliver innovative proposals. 3. We'll solicit commercial solutions, and together we'll award contracts for one or more prototype projects and begin to chart a path toward technology adoption. 4. Do you have a National Security Challenge?

Common Questions

#### Who is eligible to submit solution briefs?

Any individual or commercial entity is eligible to respond to a DIU solicitation. Whether you are experienced with selling to government or this is your first time, we encourage all entities with applicable commercial solutions to submit to open DIU solicitations.

#### What form will this agreement (contract) take?

DIU principally leverages the flexibility of Other Transaction (OT) authority to award or prototype OT agreements. OT procedures allow for successful prototypes to transition into large volume defense contracts. Please refer to the CSO Guide for more information.

#### When can I communicate with DIU?

Any time. Please visit the Contact page to reach out. We encourage communication with DIU before, during, and after the CSO process.

#### How is intellectual property treated and protected?

Virtually every aspect of an OT contract or agreement is negotiable, including IP. Prior to the start of a project, it is important that a company identify rights in pre-existing data. In general, companies retain ownership of IP assets created during the effort. DoD usually licenses certain rights to use these assets in accordance with the OT contract terms and conditions. These rights control, inter alia, how DoD can use, disclose, or reproduce company-owned proprietary information.

#### How do I get paid?

Payment will be made by the Defense Finance and Accounting Services and will be based upon milestones agreed to by DoD and the company and incorporated into the OT contract or agreement. Your company will be responsible for submitting invoices into the Invoicing, Receiving, Acceptance and Property Transfer (iRAPT) module of the Wide Area Workflow (WAWF) application. More information on iRAPT can be found here.

#### Are there opportunities for future business and follow-on work?

Yes. In accordance with 10 USC 4022, and upon a determination that the prototype project has successfully been completed, any competitively awarded prototype-OT contract or agreement may result in the award of a follow-on production contract or agreement without the use of additional competitive procedures.

— CAPT Jonathan Haase, Program Executive Officer, PMS 408

"DIU is PMS-408's key partner to evaluate emerging technology and rapidly transition next-generation capability inside the acquisition system and budget cycle."