Private Capital Investor Cohort (PCIC)
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
SOFWERX, in collaboration with USSOCOM, is seeking private capital organizations for a Private Capital Investor Cohort (PCIC). The initiative aims to identify firms with novel technology companies that align with the Special Operations Forces Acquisition Technology and Logistics (SOF AT&L) portfolio to accelerate capability development. This Special Notice announces an Assessment Event (AE) that could lead to various non-FAR or FAR-based agreements. Submissions are due March 3, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET.
Purpose & Objective
The primary objective is to establish a purpose-driven community focused on accelerating SOF capabilities to solve operational problems. This program will host virtual and in-person events to foster best practices for delivering new capabilities rapidly to the SOF warfighter.
Who Should Submit
Private capital organizations are encouraged to submit if they meet the following criteria:
- A record of investing in defense technology, particularly those aligned with the SOF AT&L portfolio and with successful exits.
- Experience investing at Seed, Series A, or later stages (Series B and beyond).
- May include growth equity and/or traditional banking firms.
- Must have raised an investment fund and be actively deploying capital.
- Must be accredited investors as defined by Rule 501 of Regulation D of the Securities Act of 1933.
- Participants must be US Citizens; non-US Citizen employees must be excluded from the active PCIC program.
Event Timeline & Process
- Phase 1 (Submissions Open): February 9, 2026 – March 3, 2026. Interested respondents submit their capabilities.
- Phase 2 (Downselect): March 3 – March 6, 2026. USSOCOM will downselect submissions, and favorably evaluated respondents will receive a Request for Information (RFI) around March 9.
- Phase 3 (Assessment Event - AE): March 11 – March 27, 2026. Selected companies will undergo review by a USSOCOM evaluation panel, which may include Q&A sessions. This event will be held virtually via MS Teams. Successful evaluations may lead to immediate negotiations for Phase 4.
Potential Outcomes
Successfully negotiated awards may fall under various categories, including:
- Business-to-business research and development agreements via the SOFWERX Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA).
- Other Transaction Authority (OTA) for research or prototype projects (10 U.S. Code Sections 4021, 4022), with potential for follow-on production without additional competition.
- Procurement for experimental purposes (10 U.S. Code Section 4023).
- Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADA).
- Prizes for advanced technology achievements and/or prize competitions.
- FAR-based procurement contracts.
Key Requirements & Submission
Awardees may need to be compliant with NIST SP 800-171 for Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). To participate, download the White Paper Template and complete the submission form by March 3, 2026, 11:59 PM ET.
Contact Information
For event-related questions, contact Alana Hymel (as mentioned in the description), or the primary point of contact, Ronald Reed (ronald.e.reed.civ@socom.mil).