The Department of Defense, through the Washington Headquarters Services Acquisition Directorate, has issued a request for prototype proposals for the Joint Directed Energy Consortium, or JDEC.
According to the solicitation posted on SAM.gov Friday, the other transaction agreement, spearheaded by the Consortium Management Organization, calls for potential partners to submit their proposals for establishing and managing the JDEC. Interested vendors can submit their bids until Sept. 15.
What Is the Joint Directed Energy Consortium?
The consortium is a DOD initiative managed by the Joint Directed Energy Transition Office and designed to accelerate the development of directed energy technologies to support warfighters in tackling existing and emerging threats. It allows the DOD to access commercial innovations, empower universities, small businesses, nonprofit research institutions and other consortium members to advance high-energy laser and high-power microwave technologies and integrate them into the DE systems.
The potential contractor will receive an estimated $450 million for consortium management and project execution for over five years. The JDEC is allowed to pursue follow-on production on behalf of the JDETO.
