Autonomous Surface Craft

Overview

The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) invites solutions for autonomous surface craft capable of providing resilient, automated mission execution and navigation in contested nearshore environments. This effort aims to develop autonomous routing capabilities that enable vessels to safely and efficiently navigate littoral, estuarine, and inland waterways while accounting for environmental conditions, operational constraints, and contested threats.

Background

As the Department of War (DoW) initiates the processes for agility in contested logistical operations, maneuvering, and the induction of autonomous systems for operations in contested littoral, bay/estuaries and inland water regions, the requirement for apriori environmental and support information is essential to ensure success. Autonomous systems will operate in information-denied regions and therefore need a great amount of information about the operational environment prior to the mission. This includes information about the tidal stage, ocean swell, littoral conditions, logistical off-load/on-load information at the delivery locations, obstructions in the way, optimum path determination, etc.

Project Objective

The objective of this prototype project is to evaluate solutions capable of providing resilient, automated mission execution and navigation in contested nearshore environments.

Project Manager

Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory (CHL), U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC)

Requirements

ERDC is seeking prototype solutions that satisfy the following technical and operational requirements:

1. Dynamic In-Transit Re-Routing: The prototype craft must ingest, process, and execute external routing modifications and operational directives in real-time from authorized DoW command and control (C2) nodes or offboard sensor networks.
2. Littoral and Inland Operational Capability: The platform must demonstrate full navigational and mission operability within complex littoral, shallow-water, surf zone, and inland riverine waterways, effectively managing restricted-maneuver and high-hazard operating conditions.
3. Autonomous Demonstration in Operational Exercises: The prototype must participate in live DoW operational exercises to demonstrate autonomous routing, obstacle avoidance, and dynamic mission adaptation utilizing inputs and operational parameters supplied by DoW personnel.
4. Demonstrated DoW Mission Utility: Offerors must provide documented evidence of prior operational demonstration, testing, or evaluation verifying platform utility and baseline maturity within DoW or related national security operational contexts.

Applicants must be registered on SAM.gov. Submissions should NOT include confidential or proprietary details.

Estimated Government Funding Profile 

Funding of up to $1,500,000 may be awarded under this effort. The government anticipates fully funding the prototype project upon award.

One solution may be awarded within the limits of this funding profile. The selected vendor will be funded to execute the modernization starting in FY27 and concluding in FY29.

The USACE, ERDC is using competitive procedures to select participants in a prototype transaction under Title 10 U.S.C 4022. If the prototype is determined successful, agencies may exercise authority under 10 U.S.C 4022 to provide for, and award, a follow-on production transaction or FAR based contract without additional competitive procedures.

Estimated Period of Performance

The estimated period of performance for a prototype is 36 months post field demonstration and evaluation. The final duration within this range is contingent upon the level of modernization required to adapt the selected Commercial-off-the-Shelf (COTS) system to meet our specific operational requirements.

Given that this represents a rapidly needed capability for field operations, the development timeframe is critical.

Expected Result

This effort supports the development and evaluation of autonomous routing capabilities that enable resilient mission execution and navigation in contested littoral, estuarine, and inland waterway environments.

Evaluation Criteria

White papers will be reviewed based on an integrated assessment of the following:

• The degree to which the solution meets the requirements of the desired objectives.
• The degree to which the potential delivery schedule meets the government’s stated period of performance.
• The review of potential impacts of the data rights assertions.
• The review of whether the white paper sufficiently demonstrates 1) significant participation by Non-Tranditional Defense Contractors (NDCs) or significant participation by non-profit research institutions, 2) all significant participants in the transaction other than the Federal Government are small businesses, or 3) at least one-third of the total cost of the prototype project is to be paid out of funds provided by parties other than the Federal Government.

Notional Project Schedule

Proposed project milestones include:

September 24, 2026	Project Announced, Submissions Open
October 1, 2026	Question Period Ends
October 8, 2026	Submissions Close
October 2026	Evaluation Period, Virtual Pitch Hosted (if needed)
December 2026	Selected Participants Notified by ERDC of Request for Full Proposal

*If needed; dates may vary to accommodate project team and participant availability. The government may accelerate the pre-proposal review/feedback timeline, and therefore also require earlier delivery of full proposals.

Project Security Classification

Unclassified