PEO-SW: Low-Cost Thermal EO/IR FPV Cameras

Submit NLT 12 December 2025 11:59 PM ET

Purpose
SOFWERX, in collaboration with USSOCOM Program Executive Office-Special Operation Forces Warrior (PEO-SW), will host a series of events to evaluate low-cost First Person View (FPV) Small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) (Group 1) Thermal and EO/IR cameras. Primary focus is fixed mounted cameras with low SWaP and secondary focus is gimballed payload with IR Pointer. 

Background/Synopsis
Current fielded camera systems are high cost or low quality making it uneconomical for consumable FPV drones to operate, or ineffective in training and the battlefield due to lower quality. USSOCOM requires lower cost camera units to bring down the overall cost of the Group 1 UAS program.

Objective
Primary objective is to field and deploy low-cost/low-SWaP Thermal and EO/IR cameras that can integrate onto current and future Group 1 sUAS FPV drones. Secondary objective is to find a low-SWaP gimballed Thermal and EO/IR with a Class 3B IR Pointer.

Why You Should Participate
USSOCOM seeks to enter into non-FAR or FAR-based agreements with Industry, Academic, and National Lab partners whose solutions are favorably evaluated by PEO-SW Subject Matter Experts (SMEs). As such, the follow-on Assessment Event (AE) is considered competitive and solutions will be evaluated independently of one another primarily for technical merit. This serves dually as notification of the intent to research the feasibility of an agreement under 10 U.S. Code, Section 4022 and/or Section 4022(f), and as notice of pre-solicitation activities IAW FAR 5.204.

Event Timeline
Phase 1 - 13 November 2025 to 12 December 2025 Submissions to the Assessment Event (AE) Open: Interested respondents who could potentially provide solutions that meet the needs of USSOCOM are encouraged to submit their capability for USSOCOM review. To submit your technology for potential Phase 3 attendance, please review the assessment criteria and follow the submission instructions at the bottom of this webpage.

Phase 1a - 02 December 2025 Q&A Telecon: Interested offerors may participate in a virtual Q&A session to better understand the PM's specific technology objectives. The telecon will take place on 02 December from 1:00-2:00 PM ET. RSVP at the bottom of this webpage.

Phase 2 - 15 December 2025 to 02 January 2026 Downselect: USSOCOM will downselect those respondents/submissions they feel have the highest potential to satisfy their technology needs. Favorably evaluated submissions will receive an invitation to attend the AE on/around 05 January.

Phase 3 - 27 January 2026 - 29 January 2026 Assessment Event (AE): During the AE, selected participants will be allotted a one-on-one session with the USSOCOM evaluation panel to pitch, demonstrate, and/or discuss their solutions. The forum will include a Q&A portion and discussions may continue outside of the event. Solution brief presentation guidelines will be outlined in the event invitation and solutions will be assessed according to the criteria in the link provided below. If the USSOCOM evaluation panel favorably evaluates a solution brief, negotiations for Phase 4 may immediately begin.

This event will be held in person at SOFWERX and will have a virtual component. 

Phase 4 - Path Forward: Successfully negotiated awards may fall under any combination of these categories:

• Business to business research and development agreement as a sub-award through the SOFWERX Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) (15 U.S. Code Section 3715)
• OTA for research or prototype projects (10 U.S. Code Sections 4021, 4022)
  • An award under 10 U. S. Code, Section 4022 may result in the further award of a follow-on production agreement without additional competition based on successful prototype completion. The Government may make this follow-on production award based upon successful prototype criteria, which will be determined for each prototype project.
• Procurement for experimental purposes (10 U.S. Code Section 4023)
• Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (15 U.S. Code Section 3710a)
• Prizes for advanced technology achievements (10 U. S. Code Section 4025) and/or prize competitions (15 U.S. Code 3719)
• FAR-based procurement contract 

NOTE: Awardees may need to be compliant with NIST SP 800-171, Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in Non-Federal Systems and Organizations

How You Can Participate
Government, Industry, Academia, National Labs, and Non-Traditional Attendees

1. RSVP to the 02 December Virtual Q&A Telecon: Click Here to RSVP (NLT 01 December)
2. Review Assessment Criteria: Click Here to Review
3. Download the White Paper Template: Click Here to Review
4. Complete the Submission Form: Click Here to Submit