The U.S. Army’s battlefield edge depends on life‑saving technologies that keep Soldiers alive in the most contested environments. The Global Tactical Edge Acquisition Directorate (G-TEAD) and the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), in partnership with U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR‑AF), launched the AI Assisted Triage & Treatment Prize Challenge. The challenge seeks portable, network-enabled solutions that provide real-time medical triage and predictive alerts for critical physiological conditions, all while being accessible to both medical and non-medical users in austere, contested, and Denied, Disrupted, Intermittent, and Limited (DDIL) settings.
With a $999,000 prize pool, up to eight finalists will be awarded a cash prize along with the invitation to demonstrate their cutting-edge solutions during the Sword operational exercise in May 2026. Following the Sword 26 exercise, top-performing teams may be selected to negotiate prototype Other Transaction (OT) projects, enabling them to further develop and scale their solutions into operationally relevant capabilities without additional competition.
The AI Assisted Triage & Treatment Prize Challenge has the potential to transform battlefield medical care for the Army and greater Department of War (DOW) by delivering innovative, AI-powered solutions that enhance triage efficiency, improve survival rates, and provide real-time situational awareness in challenging environments.
Prize Challenge Overview
The Army seeks businesses across the globe to participate, engage with DOW experts, and refine their solutions to address critical medical battlefield needs.
Phase One: Open Call Submission (February 17-March 2, 2026)
- Eligible vendors must submit a five-page white paper outlining their proposed solution’s features, technical feasibility, scalability, and potential benefits to military operations.
- Semi-finalists will be notified the week of March 9 if they have been selected to advance to the virtual pitch and interview event.
Phase 2: Pitch Event (April 7-8, 2026)
- Semi-finalists will present their solutions and engage with a panel of experts to showcase the innovation, feasibility, and impact of their technologies.
- Up to eight finalists will be selected to receive a share of the $999,000 prize pool and an invitation to participate in the Sword 2026 demonstration event for further evaluation.
Phase 3: Demonstration Event (May 8-12, 2026)
- Finalists will participate in the Sword 2026 Demonstration Event, showcasing their solutions in a real-world operational exercise to validate performance and impact in battlefield conditions.
- Top performers from the Sword 2026 event may be invited to negotiate Prototype Other Transaction (OT) agreements, enabling further development and potential scalability of their solutions without additional competition.
Eligibility Requirements
The AI-Assisted Triage & Treatment Prize Challenge is open to U.S. and international participants, subject to a security screening prior to acceptance as a finalist. Participants must demonstrate their solution’s capabilities at a Department-determined test site in Europe by May 2026. Companies without a Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code must register in the System for Award Management (SAM) and maintain an active registration to qualify for a Prototype Other Transaction (OT) agreement, if selected.
Small businesses and non-traditional defense vendors are highly encouraged to apply. Vendors not meeting these criteria may qualify if their team advancing to Phase 4 includes at least one non-traditional defense contractor or non-profit research institution with significant participation in the project, or if at least one-third of total project costs are funded by non-government parties.
About G-TEAD
The Army Pathway for Innovation and Technology (PIT)’s Global Tactical Edge Acquisition Directorate (G-TEAD) is the force’s premier acquisition hub, designed to close the gap between evolving threats and the speed of delivering critical solutions. G-TEAD’s mission is to rapidly transform urgent commanders’ needs into combat-ready, interoperable systems, ensuring Soldiers sustain battlefield dominance in any environment.
Through synchronized efforts across the acquisition enterprise and close collaboration with allied partners, G-TEAD accelerates the delivery of minimum viable products (MVPs) to theater, bridging innovation with mission success. As the Army’s central hub for agile capability deployment, G-TEAD ensures Soldiers are equipped with the tools they need to win—wherever and whenever the fight arises.
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