What to know about the contract between U.S. Special Operations Command and Collaboration.Ai:
- Collaboration.Ai, a Minneapolis-based software and services company, has won a $10 million, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract with U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)
- The four-year contract will see the company provide, “ecosystem development, facilitation, crowdsourcing, and networking support for the AFWERX Challenge program”
- The AFWERX Challenge is an Air Force program in which, “individuals, startups, small businesses, large enterprises, academics and research labs submit solutions to specific challenges to solve problems”
- The company’s first project under the new contract, a high-speed vertical take-off and landing concept, will launch in May 2021
- The Air Force previously awarded the company Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I, Phase II, and Phase III IDIQ contracts
- Collaboration.Ai has participated in 15 AFWERX Challenges that have (to date) resulted in 27 prototyping contracts
The Quote: Brennan Townley, CEO of Collaboration.Ai
“We’re proud to continue our relationship with the Air Force in support of AFWERX Challenges. By efficiently harnessing hidden and siloed talent, we’re able to help fast-track groundbreaking ideas. It’s a great example of how cross-sector teams can achieve synergy and tackle complex problems.”
For more information on Collaboration.Ai, the AFWERX Challenge program, and the contract, read the full release below.
Minneapolis, April 26, 2021— Software and services company Collaboration.Ai has been awarded an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract valued at $10 million with the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). As part of the four-year agreement, Collaboration.Ai will provide ecosystem development, facilitation, crowdsourcing, and networking support for the AFWERX Challenge program, which taps top subject matter experts in the U.S. and allied countries to accelerate Air Force innovation.
“We’re proud to continue our relationship with the Air Force in support of AFWERX Challenges,” said Brennan Townley, Collaboration.Ai CEO. “By efficiently harnessing hidden and siloed talent, we’re able to help fast-track groundbreaking ideas. It’s a great example of how cross-sector teams can achieve synergy and tackle complex problems.”
The company’s first project under the new charter will launch in May 2021. It centers on a high-speed vertical take-off and landing concept to enable runway-independent military missions, such as humanitarian rescues, personnel transfers, and equipment deliveries. Working with USSOCOM, Air Force Research Labs (AFRL), Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), and AFWERX teams, Collaboration.Ai will engage military, industry, and academic talent to uncover fresh thinking, advance new technologies, and expand the AFWERX community.
Previously, the Air Force has awarded Collaboration.Ai Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I, Phase II, and Phase III IDIQ contracts. Since 2019, the company has supported 15 AFWERX Challenges addressing a wide range of subjects, including personnel recruitment and well-being, renewable and resilient energy management, and integrated space operations. To date, these efforts have resulted in 27 prototyping contracts.
ABOUT COLLABORATION.AI
Collaboration.Ai is a software and services company based in Minneapolis, MN. We fundamentally believe new ideas, stronger human connections, and intelligent networks can lift up individuals, organizations, and communities. Using design thinking and artificial intelligence, we help organizations drive innovation, engineer more impactful teams, augment the human networking experience, and connect the right people, at the right time, around the right ideas.
ABOUT AFWERX
Established in 2017, AFWERX is a product of the U.S. Air Force, directly envisioned by former Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson. Her vision of AFWERX: to solve some of the toughest challenges that the Air Force faces through innovation and collaboration among our nation’s top subject matter experts. AFWERX serves as a catalyst to unleash new approaches for the warfighter through a growing ecosystem of innovators. AFWERX and the Department of the Air Force are committed to exploring viable solutions and partnerships to further strengthen the Department, which could lead to additional prototyping, research & development and follow-on production contracts.
