Chemical Protective Textiles Challenge

Chemical Protective Textiles Challenge

The Chemical Protective Textiles Challenge, a partnership between Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA) and the Capability Program Executive for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defense (CPE CBRND), and sponsored by its SPARK innovation incubator, seeks commercially available or high technology readiness level (TRL) textile materials that enhance protection for Warfighters against hydrofluoric acid, hydrogen fluoride gas, jet and rocket fuel hazards, and related threats. By engaging material manufacturers, textile innovators, and industry partners, the challenge aims to identify high-potential materials for performance evaluation and eventual integration into protective garments and accessories. Top solutions, evaluated by a technical panel of judges from AFFOA, government, industry and operational subject matter experts will receive awards. Participation is voluntary, and awards do not constitute government endorsement, contracts, or future obligations of funding.

The Problem

Warfighters and support personnel in chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threat environments face exposure to corrosive acids, acid gases, and fuel exposure-related hazards. Hydrofluoric acid and hydrocarbon fuels can cause severe health consequences through skin contact, inhalation, and contamination of protective equipment. Existing protective textiles often struggle to balance chemical barrier performance with durability, manufacturability, and wearer comfort. The challenge aims to identify commercially available or high-TRL materials that offer improved protection, comfort and usability, while remaining practical to produce and field.

The Goal

The objective is to identify materials that provide better protection against hydrofluoric acid (HF), hydrogen fluoride gas, and fuel hazards, while maintaining durability, manufacturability, and compatibility with Warfighter protective clothing. Manufacturers and textile innovators are invited to submit material solutions for performance review and testing. The initiative is sponsored by SPARK and supported by CPE CBRND, with AFFOA administering the challenge, industry engagement, testing, and manufacturing-readiness activities.

Your Solution

Candidates should be commercially available or near-commercial, high-TRL textile materials that deliver enhanced protection against HF, and fuel hazards. Solutions should balance chemical barrier performance with durability, manufacturability, and user comfort, and be suitable for integration into Warfighter clothing and equipment. The process favors practical performance data, real-world usability, domestic supply chain resiliency, and scalable manufacturing potential.

Important Dates

Guidebook

Download the Chemical Protective Textiles Challenge Guidebook for full challenge details, including information and material submission requirements, evaluation criteria, timelines, and other details.

Submission Templates

A template for the Candidate Material Information Package will be provided shortly to aide with submission.

Industry Day

Chemical Protective Textiles Challenge – Industry Day 

Join us on August 6, 2026 (New Date) at Fayetteville Technical Community College in Fayetteville, North Carolina. 

Find out more and Register Here

AFFOA, in partnership with the Capability Program Executive for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defense (CPE CBRND), and SPARK, CPE CBRND’s Innovation Incubator, invites textile manufacturers, material innovators, and industry partners to participate in Industry Day for the Chemical Protective Textiles Challenge. 

The Industry Day is designed to provide prospective challenge participants with a deeper understanding of the operational challenges, technical objectives and evaluation considerations associated with the Challenge. The event will bring together representatives from CPE CBRND, AFFOA, operational end users and industry stakeholders to facilitate information exchange and foster engagement between technology developments, challenge stakeholders and sponsors. 

The Industry Day also provides participants with an opportunity to Showcase Material Solutions by signing up for a demo table and Directly Engage With the Technical Evaluation Panel through the optional private pitch sessions.

Privately Pitch your Solution to the Selection Committee at Industry Day

If your company has a commercially available or high technology readiness level (TRL) solution and you would like to be considered for this challenge, this is a great opportunity to privately share and pitch your technology(s) to the selection committee.

Pitches are limited to 10 minutes, followed by a question-and-answer session with the committee.

To request a Pitch Session for Industry Day, please complete this form by July 24.

To protect confidentiality, participants may not attend pitch sessions for other competitors.

If your organization has any non-disclosure or confidentiality requirements, please notify AFFOA by July 24.

We would like to extend a special thank you the North Carolina Military Business Center for their assistance with this event.

Participation at a Glance

Step 1: Learn More and Confirm Eligibility (Guidebook Section 3. Eligibility Requirements)

Review the official Challenge Guidebook to verify your materials and solution meet eligibility criteria and understand submission requirements.

Step 2: Register for Industry Day and Request a Pitch Time (Guidebook Section 5.1)

Register to attend the Industry Day and complete the Industry Day Pitch Request Form to participate in the private pitch sessions. You can also sign up for a demo table to showcase your material solutions during the Networking Session to increase awareness with broader innovation and user community. 

Step 3: Develop the Formal Challenge Submission (Guidebook Sections 5.2 – 5.5 Required Submission Materials – Challenge, Formatting Guidelines, and Submission Process) 

Create a comprehensive technical package submission with data, manufacturing readiness, and deployment considerations. Follow the official submission process, adhere to formatting guidelines, and meet deadlines. Provide material samples / swatches for panel evaluation. 

Step 4: Semifinalist Selection and Award

Up to 3 Semifinalist will be requested to submit materials for testing. Semifinalists will receive prize awards following material submission for testing.  

Step 5: Challenge Winner Selection and Award

A winning solution will be announced following completion of the testing and evaluation according to the published timeline. Awards are merit-based and subject to stated terms and conditions. 

Important Notes

The Challenge is open to all US-based organizations, and is also open to organizations located outside the United States based on qualifying country provisions contained in DFARS 225.003 and the exception for chemical warfare protective clothing acquisitions contained in DFARS 225.7002-2(m)(2), which permits acquisitions of chemical warfare protective clothing and components thereof when the acquisition furthers an agreement with a qualifying country. As of February 2026, qualifying countries include Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. The Challenge Sponsor and Administrator reserve the right to update eligibility requirements and qualifying country determinations if applicable regulations or program requirements change.

Awards are merit-based and do not constitute government contracts or future obligations. Public releases and publicity follow the program’s guidelines, and participants may receive recognition if successful.

Who is Involved

The Capability Program Executive for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defense (CPE CBRND) leads efforts to deliver integrated CBRN defense capabilities to the Joint Force. SPARK, the CPE CBRND innovation incubator, collaborates with industry, academia, and non-traditional innovators to identify and accelerate emerging technologies that address critical capability gaps. AFFOA (Advanced Functional Fabrics of America) administers the challenge and leverages its national textile ecosystem and technical expertise to convene participants, coordinate evaluation, and support manufacturing readiness.