Wearable CBRN Threat Monitoring Sensors
THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY – This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes – it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. This notice does not constitute a commitment by the United States Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. All information submitted in response to this announcement is voluntary; the United States Government will not pay for information requested nor will it compensate any respondent for any cost incurred in developing information provided to the United States Government. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued. It is the responsibility of the potential offerors to monitor sam.gov for additional information pertaining to this requirement.
The JPEO-CBRND Wearable All-Hazard Remote-monitoring Program (WARP) is conducting market research for wearable and attachable sensors capable of collecting, transmitting, and integrating data about the operational environment, personnel disposition, equipment status, and exposure to CBRN threats. Technologies should monitor for a broad range of markers concurrently with low Size, Weight, and Power (SWAP) attributes.
Device should be capable of real-time, continuous monitoring and display in real-time the following parameters:
Please respond to this RFI with the following details of your systems’ capability:
White papers, concept briefs, and technical insights that detail the design feasibility, integration paths, operational readiness, and sustainment strategies for any solutions capable of meeting the above criteria. Ideal responses will include: Technical description of proposed approach, summary of relevant experience or past performance, estimated timelines and scalability, identified sustainment considerations, potential cost drivers and risk factors.
Please visit the Joint Enterprise Technology Tool (JETT) page and select “Respond to an RFI” to share your capability with us. https://jacks.jpeocbrnd.army.mil/JETT
Response Deadline: 12.19.2025
Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA) is seeking information via conference calls with industry stakeholders in the cut-and-sew, automation, and manufacturing technology sectors to support the Department of Defense (DOD) clothing and textiles modernization, including the Joint Clothing & Textile Modernization Initiative (JCTMI). This RFI aims to gather insights, case studies, best practices, and resources to quantify the benefits of implementing design-for-commonality process changes in military combat clothing, such as the Advanced Combat Uniform (ACU), Flame Resistant ACU (FR-ACU), Improved Hot Weather Combat Uniform (IHWCU), Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform (MCCUU), and Navy Working Uniform Type 3 (NWU III). Beyond single-garment analyses, the RFI is designed to roll up comparable feature-level metrics (e.g., pocket construction, cuff width, closure type) into a holistic DOD view of potential commonality. This will allow the Government to assess alternatives consistently, using a quantified methodology across Services, thus reducing production costs, enhancing automation opportunities, and streamlining manufacturing processes through standardized design features and materials.
Key Opportunity: Responses to this RFI will inform the selection of 2-3 garments for physical prototyping, with potential contract R&D opportunities for industry partners to collaborate with AFFOA in manufacturing and testing prototypes to validate cost savings and manufacturing efficiency improvements.
Please refer to this document for further information:
http://affoa.org/wp-content/uploads/AFFOA_DFM_RFI_Sept2025.pdf
Response Deadline: 11.19.2025
Are you working on groundbreaking diagnostics or medical device countermeasures that address public health? I-CREATE is part of a global network of accelerator hubs that provide product development funding, accelerator services, and access to expertise for innovators developing health security solutions.
Startups and university-backed projects worldwide can apply for non-dilutive funding ranging from $50K to $200K. This funding supports the development, evaluation, or validation of innovative solutions aligned with BARDA’s mission to enhance pandemic preparedness and health security. I-CREATE is seeking proposals for the development of innovative diagnostic and medical device innovations, in alignment with BARDA’s mission to promote health security. Innovators are invited to submit proposals for funding to allow:
Learn more and apply here: https://www.universitylabpartners.org/i-create-solicitation
Response Deadline: 09.30.2025
The U.S. Army is seeking innovative technology solutions from eligible small businesses across the U.S. through the Expeditionary Technology Search (xTechSearch) competition. This platform offers participants the opportunity to pitch novel technology solutions—whether a new application for an existing technology or an entirely new technology concept—to the Army, engage with the Department of Defense (DoD), earn prize money, join an accelerator program, and winners will have the opportunity to submit a Phase I Army Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) proposal.
The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology (ASA(ALT)) recognizes the importance of strengthening partnerships with U.S. small businesses by (1) understanding the spectrum of ‘world-class’ commercial technologies that could benefit the DoD identifying and assessing a broad spectrum of cutting-edge commercial technologies with potential defense applications; (2) expanding the integration of non-traditional innovators into the Army and broader DoD Science and Technology (S&T) ecosystem; and (3) offering expert guidance, resources, and actionable feedback to accelerate development, increase technology maturity, and enable transition pathways into operational use.
The xTechSearch 9 competition will consist of three rounds:
The competition will award up to $900,000 in cash prizes throughout the competition to selected participants. Up to 60 finalists will receive a cash prize of $5,000 each and an opportunity to pitch their innovative technology solutions to a panel of Army and DoD subject matter experts (SMEs). The Army intends to select up to 24 final winners of the competition to receive an additional cash prize of $25,000 each. Final winners of the competition may submit a Phase I Army SBIR proposal worth up to $250,000 that should support proof-of-concept demonstrations with a period of performance not to exceed six months. Additional details on prize structure can be found in Section VII.
The xTechSearch competition aims to accelerate the integration of small businesses into the Army’s S&T ecosystem by facilitating research engagement opportunities with Army labs, including authorized access to the Army’s organic intellectual and technical capital. Throughout the competition, participants will receive detailed, constructive feedback from Army and DoD stakeholders. Finalists will have an opportunity to participate in an xTech Accelerator, offering access to training, mentorship and transition-focused support to help align technology solutions with end users and acquisition stakeholders across the Army and broader DoD.
The efforts described in this notice are being pursued under the authorities of 10 U.S.C. § 4025 to award cash prizes recognizing advanced technology achievements. Final winners will have the opportunity to submit a Phase I Army SBIR proposal under the provisions and requirements of 15 USC § 638.
While the authority of this program is 10 U.S.C. § 4025, the xTechSearch 9 competition may generate interest by another U.S. Army, DoD or United States Government (USG) organization for a funding opportunity outside of this program (e.g., submission of a proposal under a Broad Agency Announcement). The interested organization may contact the participant to provide additional information or ask for a request for proposal in a separate solicitation. Finalists of the prize competition may have opportunities to submit a separate proposal for further development of their proposed technology solution based on the needs of the Army. The Army may use a contract mechanism of their choice and will notify the participants accordingly.
All xTechSearch 9 competition submissions are treated as privileged information and contents are disclosed to Government employees or designated support contractors only for the purpose of evaluation and program support.
The xTech Program will provide a feedback report to participants during each part of the competition. These reports are intended to support the potential acceleration of technology transition by offering insights into relevant Army applications, recommendations for refinement to better meet Army needs, and suggested next steps for further development. Please note that while this feedback is provided as a resource, the government may not respond to individual questions or inquiries related to the content of the report.
Army Focus Areas:
xTechSearch is an open-topic competition designed to identify groundbreaking technologies with strong commercial traction that may also provide game-changing capabilities for the Army. This competition will be used to competitively down-select up to 24 winners who can submit a Phase I Army SBIR proposal under topic “A254-P039 – xTechSearch 9 SBIR Finalist Open Topic Competition” for a potential follow-on award of up to $250,000. By partnering with the Army SBIR|STTR Program, technologies that are selected from this competition to have the highest potential impact on the Army will have a structured pathway to continue developing those solutions for Army systems alongside Army customers. xTechSearch encourages submissions that may not be familiar with the Army problem your technology can solve, but can clearly articulate the solution’s advantage, the technical viability, and commercial potential. The xTechSearch competition is supported by a wide range of subject matter experts across the Army and DoD to help evaluate the potential of your technology to improve operational effectiveness, reduce lifecycle costs, and accelerate the transition of cutting-edge technology into Army systems.
The SBIR|STTR Program has aligned technologies that are experiencing rapid commercial traction with critical Army priorities into five portfolios of priority interest for this competition, each with core technology components identified. While xTechSearch encourages submissions aligned to the following SBIR|STTR portfolios and the associated core technology components, the program also welcomes proposals in any other technology domain with the potential to provide a disruptive advantage to the Army:
Additional information on the TBTs can be found in the RFI in Appendix A: TBT Core Competencies.
Technologies that fall exclusively within the portfolio of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command, which include military infectious diseases, military operational medicine, chemical biological defense, and clinical and rehabilitative medicine, are excluded from xTechSearch.
Phase 1 – Concept White Paper
May 7, 2025 – June 4, 2025
Up to 60 Finalists
$5,000 Each
Phase 2 – Finals
Sept. 8, 2025 – Sept 19, 2025
Up to 24 Winners
$25,000 Each
Phase 3 – Opportunity to Submit a Phase 1 SBIR Proposal
Oct. 6, 2025 – Oct 24, 2025
Up to 24 Winners
Up to $250,000
If you are interested in learning how you can work with AFFOA on this opportunity please contact AFFOA’s Ecosystem Technology Manager, Guan Wang at gwang@affoa.org.
Small, for-profit, independent U.S. businesses. Restrictions exist about (1) the type of firm; (2) its ownership structure; (3) the firm’s size in terms of the number of employees; and (4) prior, current, or pending support of similar proposals or awards, as follows:
(1) Type of Firm: An eligible firm must be organized as a for‐profit concern and meet all the other small business requirements in 13 C.F.R. § 121.702. Non‐profit entities are not eligible.
(2) Ownership and Control: A majority (more than 50%) of an eligible firm’s equity (e.g., stock) must be directly owned and controlled by one of the following:
a. One or more individuals who are citizens or permanent resident aliens of the U.S.;
b. Other for‐profit small business concerns (SBCs) (each of which is directly owned and controlled by individuals who are citizens or permanent resident aliens of the U.S.); or
c. A combination of (a) and (b) above.
Note: If an employee stock ownership plan owns all or part of the concern, each stock trustee and plan member is considered an owner. If a trust owns all or part of the concern, each trustee and trust beneficiary is considered an owner.
(3) Size: An eligible firm, together with the affiliates, must not have more than 500 employees.
(4) Prior, Current, or Pending Support with Similar Technology: Proposals submitted in response to this prize competition must not be substantially the same as another proposal that was funded, is now being funded, or is pending contract award with another federal agency. Small businesses with any question(s) concerning prior, current, or pending support of similar proposals or awards must disclose those as early as possible to the xTech Program Office.
Companies that have previously participated in xTechSearch competitions are eligible to apply with new technology concepts or improvements to previously submitted proposals.
A full description as well as the link to obtain the proposal templates, additional information and submissions can be found at: https://xtech.army.mil/competition/xtechsearch-9/
Response Deadline: 06.04.2025
Call for U.S. Textile Mill Participation in Pilot-Scale Fabrication of Reinforcement Material for Electrolyzer Membranes
Overview
Advanced Functional Fabrics of America, Inc. (AFFOA), in partnership with Z-Polymers, is seeking U.S.-based textile manufacturing partners to participate in a pilot-scale production trial of a novel reinforcement fabric designed for electrolyzer membranes used in fuel cells. In addition to this primary application, Z-Polymers is actively exploring additional opportunities in screen printing and filtration using similar fabric constructions. Furthermore, ongoing yarn development efforts are expected to expand the application space of Tullomer™-based textiles, enabling new market opportunities across a variety of high-performance sectors.
This initiative builds upon a successful lab-scale development effort completed in 2023–2024 by the AFFOA technical team under the Product Accelerator for Functional Fabrics (PAFF 1.0) program.
Z-Polymers’ proprietary Tullomer™ fiber was developed over the course of AFFOA’s PAFF 1.0 initiative. During that period, AFFOA collaborated with Z-Polymers to convert its proprietary composite yarn into scrim fabric using automated equipment, including the CCI Studio Dobby Loom. AFFOA also produced sample fabrics that enabled Z-Polymers to provide prospective customers with early prototypes for evaluation. Approximately 15M of fabric was woven. Various samples were prepared for customer evaluation, some examples of these at three different pick counts (Weft 70, 75, 80 ppi/Warp 70 epi) are shown in the appendix of this document.
The current effort is supported under PAFF 2.0, where Z-Polymers has been selected to further scale and commercialize this innovative solution. AFFOA will support Z-Polymers in identifying and engaging suitable textile mills across the U.S. to carry out pilot-scale production and validation of the fabric.
Why Partner on This Pilot?
Below are the projections provided to Z-Polymers by its launch customer for this specific market. The volume of 2M m2 represents about 10% market share, while customer’s actual market share is 35 – 40% in the segment (conservative estimates for valuation purposes). The product roadmaps for the tullomer and multifilament fibers are located in the appendix of this document.
| Projections | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | Year 6 |
| Electrolyzer (m2) | 56,954 | 150,764 | 470,716 | 1,204,350 | 1,543,058 | 1,982,052 |
| Screen Printing (m2) | 5,000 | 50,000 | 150,000 | 400,000 | 750,000 | 1,000,000 |
| Filtration (m2) | 10,000 | 25,000 | 100,000 | 500,000 | 1,000,000 | 2,000,000 |
The fabric conversion specifications are created by AFFOA Lead Textile Technologist Gabrielle Ferreira, based on the lab trial conducted at AFFOA through the PAFF 1.0 project. That document, the tullomer scrim fabric date sheet and images of the previously woven fabric can be found in the appendix of this document.
About Z-Polymers
Z-Polymers is a materials science company focused on advanced polymer innovation. Its proprietary Tullomer™ platform is a PFAS-free liquid crystal polymer exhibiting:
Tullomer™ is currently available in multiple formats, including multifilament yarns suitable for woven, and nonwoven fabric production.
Learn more: https://z-polymers.com
About Advanced Functional Fabrics of America, Inc. (AFFOA)
AFFOA is a non-profit, public-private partnership and one of the Manufacturing USA Innovation Institutes headquartered in Cambridge, MA. AFFOA’s mission is to “Rekindle the domestic textiles industry by leading a nationwide enterprise for advanced fiber & fabric technology development and manufacturing, enabling revolutionary system capabilities for national security and commercial markets”. https://affoa.org/
About Product Accelerator for Functional Fabrics (PAFF) Program
Launched in 2024, the PAFF program enables selected companies to leverage AFFOA’s technical engineering team with expertise in advanced textiles across design, prototyping, integration, testing, and process engineering at no direct cost to fill critical gaps in their functional fabric development processes and ultimately reduce time to market. https://affoa.org/opportunity/paff-2-0-product-accelerator-for-functional-fabrics/
How to Participate
If you are interested in participating in this opportunity and learning more about the details, please contact the AFFOA team for the next step
Gabrielle Ferreira
Lead Textile Technologist
Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA)
gferreira@affoa.org
Dr. Guan Wang
Ecosystem Technology Manager
Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA)
gwang@affoa.org
To be considered for future AFFOA collaboration projects, please complete the following:
[Vendor Survey Form – Z-Polymers Pilot Trial]
This form collects essential information on your mill’s capabilities, production equipment, material handling experience (especially with high-performance yarns), and availability to support future trials.
Deadline to Submit: June 15th, 2025
Response Deadline: 06.15.2025
RFI# AFFOA-CROSSFIT
1. Background
High-intensity and/or extended missions are encountered throughout defense operations & training, which induce fatigue and injury to the Warfighter. Countermeasure technologies are needed to accelerate recovery and return to mission-ready status for the warfighter. AFFOA, in collaboration with the US Department of Air Force and the Air Force Research Laboratory, is seeking wearable devices designed to accelerate recovery and/or provide in-operation performance support related to sleep, musculoskeletal system (MSK) recovery, or cognitive recovery. Of specific interest are commercial-off-the-shelf wearable device systems that are suitable for use in scenarios associated with various Military Occupational Specialties (MOS), and are at a manufacturing maturity for scale-up to commercialized production.
1.1. Purpose and objectives
AFFOA is seeking emerging technologies that are viable for accelerated Warfighter recovery. Of particular interest are wearable technologies with textile-based form factors. Please note that acceptable devices for this study must include an active recovery mechanism; data collection alone is not sufficient.
Systems should have the following attributes:
· Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) 6+
· Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) or “emerging” COTS
· Appropriate for daily use
· Intent for Made in USA, and/or roadmap to US manufacturing
AFFOA will perform a destructive teardown analysis of selected products, develop a manufacturing readiness level (MRL) and technology readiness level (TRL) assessment of related subcomponent materials and devices, identify a bill of materials (BOM), and document limitations for these wearable devices as they relate to integration, reliability, and scalability. Downselected companies will be expected to provide 1-2 functional samples of their products and work with the AFFOA team to answer questions regarding their manufacturing processes and design philosophy. Findings will be shared with the organizations who provided the selected products, as well as government sponsors.
2. Timeline
45-day open call from April 28, 2025 to June 13, 2025.
3. Company Eligibility
Eligibility for this program is limited to companies with a desire to manufacture in the US. Past manufacturing does not need to be domestic, however a vested interest in the development of a roadmap towards US manufacturing is a requirement. AFFOA membership is not a requirement for participation.
4. Application and Submission Information
AFFOA is requesting that organizations submit proposals for the inclusion of their wearable recovery devices in this study. Proposals for inclusion should contain the following:
1. Description of device, associated technologies and form factor, what does it do, and how does it do it? Please include pictures of the product, and/or a link to commercial product if available.
2. Any related studies or test results that can attest to the efficacy of the product, comments on the benefit to the warfighter, and any previous demonstrations and feedback if known.
3. Comments on system readiness – has it been manufactured? How many units? Is the device available to purchase at time of RFI?
Applications must be received by AFFOA by no later than 11:59 pm Eastern Time, Friday, June 13, 2025. Applications received after the deadline may not be considered or evaluated.
The RFI response should be submitted to jslade@affoa.org.
Disclaimer
This is an RFI only. The Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA) will not pay for any RFI developed or submitted. All costs incurred responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party’s expense. Failure to respond to this RFI will not preclude participation in any future solicitation.
This RFI is not associated with any Air Force or other DoD acquisition program and shall not be construed as a solicitation nor is participation a requirement for other government-funded opportunities
All responses that include business confidential or proprietary information should be clearly marked.
Upon review of all RFIs received, additional terms and conditions and/or ownership and use rights of the device may be requested for downselected systems.
Response Deadline: 06.13.2025

The Product Accelerator for Functional Fabrics (PAFF 3.0) is our third PAFF program specifically designed to accelerate advanced textile product development and manufacturing growth for U.S. manufacturers and innovators. PAFF 3.0 provides access to AFFOA’s technical expertise and facilities at no cost to support product and process development, helping US companies bring innovations to market more quickly. The cost of AFFOA labor will be covered by AFFOA’s Government funds, not by the participating companies.
PAFF 3.0 broadens the scope of no-cost accelerated development to focus on the following topics:
Learn more about the PAFF 3.0 program here.
AFFOA is issuing a solicitation in collaboration with the Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative (M2I2) to provide manufacturing equipment grants to Massachusetts-based AFFOA member businesses, and manufacturers. Through this grant, AFFOA is looking to help MA-based manufacturers, start-ups, and businesses scale-up their equipment needs to achieve domestic, manufacturing scale.
The targets for this equipment call are companies looking to ramp up production capability for advanced fiber, fabric, and/or textile products in Manufacturing Readiness Levels 4-7. High-tech, traditional, or start-up manufacturing firms with capabilities in manufacturing technology for fiber, fabric, or textile-related products or prototypes are therefore encouraged to apply.
We will be holding an informational webinar on Monday, August 16th from 1PM-2PM EST to brief interested parties. This webinar will feature a presentation on the M2I2 program by Farhad Vazehgoo, Acting Director of Advanced Manufacturing Programs, as well as more information on the funding opportunity.
Additional Information
Response Deadline: 08.26.2021