Page Text: We award scalable contracts to companies offering solutions to national security challenges across a variety of technology areas - from artificial intelligence and machine learning to autonomy, cyber, human systems, and space.
Work With Us
Our Process
We engage across the Department of Defense to identify and understand critical national security challenges that can be solved with leading edge commercial technology within 12 to 24 months. Through our Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) process, we competitively solicit proposals for innovative solutions that meet the needs of our DoD partners. DIU leverages Other Transaction authority (10 U.S.C. § 2371b(f)) to award prototype agreements in as few as 60-90 days. More importantly, after a successful prototype, the company involved and any DoD entity can enter into a follow-on production contract or agreement just as easily.
Enter a $100+ billion market
How We Work with Commercial Companies
We make it easy for companies that have never before done business with the Department of Defense - or the U.S. government - to win contracts based on merit and implement solutions at commercial speeds. DIU has already introduced more than 50 first-time vendors to the DoD.
DIU delivers revenue through flexible prototype contracts that apply commercial innovations to solve national security challenges. Whether seeking hardware, software, or service solutions, DIU lowers the barriers to entry and makes it faster and easier for companies of any size to do business with the Department of Defense.
We solicit commercial solutions on our website that address current needs of our DoD partners.
You send us a short brief about your solution.
We’ll reach out within 30 days if we’re interested in scheduling a pitch. If we're not interested, we'll strive to let you know ASAP.
Access advanced commercial solutions
How We Work with the DoD
At DIU, projects begin with a demand signal from you, our DoD partners. In a fraction of the time it traditionally takes, we evaluate and select projects with viable commercial solutions that have the potential to make a difference across DoD and have strong indicators for adoption.
We deliver leading commercial technology to our partners quickly by facilitating prototype contracts between companies and DoD entities. After a successful prototype, any interested DoD entity has sole source justification to enter into follow-on production contracts or agreements to procure the prototyped solution(s).
You get in touch with us about a mission-critical challenge your organization is facing. We’ll explore next steps if you can offer a dedicated DIU liaison and funding to prototype solutions.
Our team works with you to translate your challenge into a competitive, commercial solicitation designed to deliver innovative proposals.
We’ll solicit commercial solutions, and together we’ll award contracts for one or more prototype projects and begin to chart a path toward technology adoption.
Dr. Will Roper
Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics
We’ve established a culture where software developers and operators are tied at the hip. And that allows our team to get software out the door much faster, and to be able to run more stable production. We developed this methodology in close partnership with the Defense Innovation Unit.
Areas We Focus On
Do you have a solution to a national security challenge?
We currently have 1 Open Solicitations and are excited to explore your solutions.