Army Applications Laboratory DevX Autonomy Open Call

The Army Applications Laboratory DevX Autonomy program is a continuously open solicitation seeking advanced technology solutions related to autonomy and unmanned systems for the U.S. Army. The solicitation W911NF-26-S-0040 runs from December 30, 2025 through August 31, 2026, with monthly submission cutoffs evaluated on a rolling basis. Instead of traditional written proposals, vendors submit a 6-minute video pitch describing their solution, capabilities, and readiness. Subject-matter experts assess submissions against published criteria, and approved solutions become immediately available in a repository for government-wide award consideration. The program accepts submissions in seven categories: Platforms (ground, sea, and air autonomous systems), Payloads (sensors and communications), Mission-Enabling Solutions (human-system integration and mission planning), Lethal Capabilities, Sustainment Solutions (maintenance for autonomous systems), Subcomponents (motors, sensors, controllers), and Disruptive Innovations (transformative autonomy technologies). Strong solutions can move directly into contracting pathways without further competition.

The Army Applications Lab DevX Autonomy Open Call seeks innovative autonomous and unmanned system solutions across ground, air, and maritime domains for Army operational missions. Focus areas include AI-driven autonomy stacks, perception under degraded conditions, multi-vehicle coordination, edge AI for tactical platforms, human-machine teaming, robust autonomy in GPS-denied environments, and rapid prototyping of unmanned systems. Selected vendors gain direct access to Army program offices via the DevX agile contracting framework with rolling monthly evaluation cycles.

The FY2026 Department of Defense Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) program supports basic research in science and engineering at U.S. institutions of higher education, with emphasis on multidisciplinary research where more than one traditional discipline interacts. The Army, Navy, and Air Force basic research offices are seeking applications across 22 topic areas including artificial intelligence and autonomy, information sensing and processing, and systems manipulation. MURI grants typically provide $1.25 million to $1.5 million per year for three years with option to extend two additional years. Approximately $170 million in total funding is available annually across all topics. The program is administered through the Office of Naval Research (ONR), Army Research Office (ARO), and Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR).

The NSF Convergence Accelerator is a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) that funds multidisciplinary teams working to solve national-scale societal challenges through convergence research and innovation. Launched in 2019 under NSF's Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, the program operates in two phases: Phase 1 awards are up to $750,000, with successful teams advancing to larger Phase 2 awards. Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education and nonprofit or for-profit organizations. Track I and Track K focus on specific high-priority topics announced each funding cycle. The next deadline is June 15, 2026. Proposals must comply with updated NSF research security policies effective July 2025.

The USDA Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) 2026 provides $175 million in annual funding for research addressing the needs of the specialty crop industry, with a groundbreaking new $20 million set-aside for mechanization and automation research. For the first time, the SCRI Notice of Funding Opportunity explicitly funds AI-driven automation technologies to help specialty crop growers reduce labor costs, which have been among the most persistent financial pressures in fruit, vegetable, tree nut, and horticulture production. Priority areas include data-driven predictive tools using artificial intelligence, robotics, sensor technologies, precision agriculture, improved mechanization technologies that delay or inhibit ripening, decision support systems, management of quarantine pests, and cybersecurity for agricultural systems. The funding increase was enabled by the Working Families Tax Cuts legislation, more than doubling the previous SCRI budget from $80 million to $175 million per year. Applications are due by 5:00 PM Eastern Time on June 15, 2026. This represents the largest federal investment specifically targeting AI and automation in specialty crop agriculture.