CSO-Watervliet Arsenal FY26

U.S. Army Contracting Command – Watervliet Arsenal (ACC-WVA) Organic Industrial Base (OIB) Modernization Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) Solicitation Number: W911PT26SC001

1. General Information

1.1 Authority

The Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) authority is per Section 1823 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026, which amended Section 3458 of Title 10, as codified by Public Law 119-60. DFARS Subpart 212.70 implements 10 U.S.C. 3458 for the acquisition of innovative commercial products or commercial services through the use of a general solicitation known as a Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO). Contracting officers may use CSO’s to obtain innovative solutions or potential capabilities that fulfill requirements, to close commercial capability gaps, or provide potential innovative technological advancements; and when meaningful proposals with varying technical or scientific approaches can be reasonably anticipated. Under a CSO, the Department of War may competitively select proposals received in response to a general solicitation, similar to a broad agency announcement, based on a review of proposals by scientific, technological, or other subject-matter expert peers. Use of a CSO in accordance with DFARS Subpart 212.70 is considered to be a competitive procedure for the purposes of 10 U.S.C. 221 and FAR 6.102. Finally, Contracting Officers shall treat items, technologies, and services acquired using a CSO as commercial items. Contracts or purchase orders resulting under this authority shall be fixed-price, including fixed-price incentive fee contracts.

1.2 Background

The U.S. Army recognizes that investments in producibility and advanced manufacturing, as well as existing capabilities will need to continue to be made to support a vast array of crucial activities, including but not limited to acquisition, sustainment, logistics, and ultimately the Army’s Modernization of its Organic Industrial base (OIB). In order to deliver impactful operational results, the U.S. Army must modernize the OIB, particularly in the areas of agile / flexible facilities, connected digital enterprise, advanced manufacturing, Digital Twin, automation, and cyber security. DEVCOM has coined these technologies collectively as Convergent Manufacturing. Additionally, Watervliet Arsenal is looking for modified existing commercial technologies, services, and concurrent manufacturing; in an effort to ensure no drop in capabilities and producibility. With the focus on both “new capabilities”, “modified existing capabilities”, and “operational constructs” convergent manufacturing technologies will accelerate the OIB’s capability