The Department of Defense (DoD), Washington Headquarters Services (WHS), has a Commercial Solutions Opening.

The Washington Headquarters Services (WHS) Acquisition Directorate (AD) is an essential mission partner and trusted advisor, providing innovative and agile contracting solutions throughout the acquisition life cycle as the Single Enterprise Contracting Office (SECO) to the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), offices thereunder, and other Department of Defense (DoD) mission partners. WHS/AD awards and manages research and development projects authorized by 10 United States Code (U.S.C.) Section (§) 4001. The WHS/AD Emerging Capabilities and Defense Prototyping Branch (ECDP) executes and manages other transaction agreements (OTs) authorized by 10 U.S.C. § 4021 “Research projects: transactions other than contracts and grants”, 10 U.S.C. § 4022 “Authority of the Department of Defense to carry out certain prototype projects”, 10 U.S.C. § 4023 “Procurement for experimental purposes”, or 10 U.S.C. § 3458 “Authority to acquire innovative commercial products and commercial services using general solicitation competitive procedures.”

In executing the authority in 10 U.S.C. § 4022, the Government partners with nontraditional and traditional defense contractors and non-profit research institutions to carry out prototype projects that are directly relevant to enhancing the mission effectiveness of personnel of the DoD or improving platforms, systems, components, or materials proposed to be acquired or developed by the DoD, or to improvement of platforms, systems, components, or materials in use by the armed forces. The information provided in this Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) is intended to ensure that to the maximum extent practicable, competitive procedures are used when entering into agreements to carry out these prototype projects. 10 U.S.C. § 3458 authorizes the DoD to acquire innovative commercial products and services, including commercial software for defense purposes, through a competitive selection process.

This CSO seeks innovative, commercial approaches to accelerate the attainment of defense capabilities. This CSO anticipates awarding prototype agreements under the authority in 10 U.S.C. § 4022 or 10 U.S.C. § 3458. This includes not only commercially available technologies fueled by commercial or strategic investment, but also concept demonstrations, pilots, and agile development activities that can incrementally improve commercial technologies, existing Government-owned capabilities, concepts for defense application, or innovative commercial products or services.