Robotic and Autonomous Construction Equipment (RA-CE)
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
The U.S. Army is conducting market research through a Request for Information (RFI) for Robotic and Autonomous Construction Equipment (RA-CE). This initiative seeks commercially available remote and autonomous technologies to integrate with existing construction equipment platforms for combat engineering missions. The Army is interested in solutions for medium dozers, High Mobility Engineer Excavators (HMEE), skid steer loaders, and unmanned systems for site reconnaissance. Responses are due by July 8, 2026.
Purpose & Scope
This RFI, issued by the U.S. Army Product Manager Engineer, Maintenance and Support Equipment (PdM EMSE), aims to assess the current state of mature, field-relevant artificial intelligence (AI), autonomy, and robotic systems. The goal is to inform a rapid acquisition strategy and identify commercial solutions that can be integrated with existing construction equipment for remote and autonomous operation. This is for planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation.
Key Information Requested
The Army is seeking information on solutions for:
- Autonomy for Construction Equipment: Retrofitting or integrating autonomy/teleoperation into 65,000-lb dozers, HMEE-IV, and 7,000-lb skid steer loaders.
- Natively Integrated Platforms: Construction equipment with built-in remote or autonomous capabilities.
- Unmanned Site Survey: UAS or UGV platforms for reconnaissance and mapping.
- Autonomy Stacks & Architectures: Details on AI/ML models, integration capabilities (e.g., ROS 2, MOSA), and data pipelines.
- Command and Control (C2) Systems: Solutions for remote and autonomous equipment control.
- Cost & Schedule Estimates: Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) for integration, production, and delivery.
- Technical Details: Information on energy sources, safety V&V, MOSA compliance, TRL/MRL, and military standards compliance.
Submission Details
- Responses Due: July 8, 2026, by 3:00 PM EST.
- Submission Method: Email responses to david.s.berosik.civ@army.mil with the subject "Response to RA-CE RFI".
- Format: MS Word or PDF, limited to 10 pages per solution (excluding attachments).
- Proprietary Information: Must be clearly marked.
Additional Notes
The government may use AI tools to assist in reviewing submissions. Responses will not be returned, and detailed feedback will not be provided. This RFI is for market research purposes only.