CHARLESTON, S.C. — Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic announced on July 15 the kickoff of the inaugural Palmetto Tech Bridge (PTB) 2022 Prize Challenge Rodeo — an initiative worth $250,000 in total prize money.
 
Now through Aug. 15, innovators are encouraged to submit their ideas to the challenge.gov website to address five unique Navy challenges being presented to technology developers across traditional and non-traditional commercial industry and academic institutions.
 

• Innovative Methodologies to Acquire DevSecOps Capabilities
• Rapid Staffing Fulfillment Model 
• Brand Communication and Social Networking to Achieve Effective Market Saturation
• Advanced Battle Management Aids (BMAS) Model
• CMMC Barrier Reduction Approach for Small Business and Academia

 
The PTB Prize Challenge Rodeo will culminate with selectees appearing at a NIWC Atlantic event in Charleston, S.C., on Sept. 15 to present their solutions before a government panel and compete for a prize award of $50,000.00 for each award winner.
 
“As an organization, we are working very hard to understand the current innovation ecosystem that comprises start-ups, academia, traditional and non-traditional industry, and public institutions,” said Don Sallee, one of NIWC Atlantic’s leading acquisition planners. “One thing we do understand, it will be through expanding our partnerships that we will more rapidly transition advanced technologies and capabilities to fight the Naval force forward.”
 
In recent years, NIWC Atlantic has turned more and more to prize challenges as a way to crowdsource technical solutions directly from the public.
 
The NIWC Atlantic prize challenge is organized by the tech bridge and administered through GSA’s https://www.challenge.gov/ platform.
 
“Prize Challenges are one of several agile, innovative approaches and tools used at NIWC Atlantic to help the U.S. Navy and its joint partners identify and connect commercial technology solutions and best practices that turn the ingenuity of industry and academia into the warfighter’s most advanced capabilities,” said Erik Gardner, Palmetto Tech Bridge director.
 
NIWC Atlantic’s PTB engages off-base entities across South Carolina and the greater Southeast Region to encourage creative research, facilitate rapid acquisition actions and sponsor unique problem-solving events among diverse industry and academic partners.
 
One aspect of PTB’s mission is in seeking emerging dual-use technologies — solutions that benefit both national defense and regional economy interests.
 
More information about each of the five prize challenges is available at the following links:
 

• https://lnkd.in/gWYd_gdu
• https://lnkd.in/gyWyWUer
• https://lnkd.in/g83-KS76  
• https://lnkd.in/gsB3_CM5   
• https://lnkd.in/g7e3qnGC