NGTRB Prototype Project
Request for White Papers
PROJECT OVERVIEW INFORMATION
PROJECT TITLE: Next-Generation Tactical Rechargeable Battery (NGTRB) Prototype Project
PROJECT SPONSOR: DEVCOM United States Army Research Lab (ARL) in coordination with Product Manager (PdM) Soldier Power, Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier
ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Request for White Papers (RWP)
AWARD AUTHORITY: This effort will be executed pursuant to 10 U.S.C. §4022 (Prototype Projects).
PROJECT OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: APEX-RWP-014-NGTRB
IMPORTANT DATES [All times listed herein are Eastern Time (ET)]
Coming Soon Announcement Posting Date: 4/23/2026
Draft Solicitation Posting Date: N/A
Virtual Industry Day Date: N/A
Request for White Papers Posting Date: 7/17/2026
Questions Due: NLT 7/21/2026, at 5:00 PM
White Papers(s) Due Date/Time: NLT 5:00 PM, 7/31/2026
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The BB-2590A/U rechargeable lithium-ion battery (MIL-PRF-32383/3, replacing the legacy MIL-PRF-32052/1) is the workhorse tactical rechargeable power source across DoD. It powers AN/PRC-117, AN/PRC-148, AN/PRC-152, AN/PRC-138, SINCGARS, dismounted sensors, electronic warfare suites, ground robotics, and many additional fielded systems. Despite incremental capacity improvements, the underlying lithium-ion chemistry imposes four persistent operational and logistical constraints: (1) loss of charge acceptance below 0 °C, requiring active heating before recharge; (2) UN 38.3 Class 9 hazmat classification, which restricts air shipment and complicates expeditionary distribution; (3) thermal-runaway pathways under abuse or damage; and (4) a critical-materials supply chain dominated by Section 1260H entities and non-allied sources at the cell level.
APEx, in coordination with PdM Soldier Power, seeks a single-award prototype effort to demonstrate and deliver a next-generation BB-2590A/U-form-factor battery that materially eliminates one or more of these constraints while meeting or exceeding the existing MIL-PRF-32383/3 performance envelope and remaining fully drop-in compatible with fielded charging infrastructure (e.g., AN/PSC-15, AN/PSC-19, AN/PRQ-7 chargers; SC-C-179495 connector).
This is a Request for White Papers (RWP) with a Q&A period. The Government expects to invite selected respondents to submit a full Request for Solutions (RFS) response, or the Government may proceed directly to negotiation under 10 U.S.C. § 4022 with the selected respondent. However, the Government reserves its right to modify the selection process at any time, including but not limited to industry day(s), oral presentations, negotiations with multiple respondents, etc.
The NGTRB prototype project is UNCLASSIFIED.
ANTICIPATED FUNDING
The Government anticipates making a single award, expected not to exceed $200,000 for the performer.
POINTS OF CONTACT
JETX Consortium Manager
Subject Line: APEX-RWP-014-NGTRB
RWP DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS
To view and download the entire NGTRB prototype project RWP to include the associated attachments, click on the button below. As a reminder, to access the documents you must be a paid member in good standing in the Advanced Prototyping and Experimentation (APEx) Consortium and be a member in good standing in the Tech Accelerator Community. If you are not a paid member in good stadning you can start and complete the application process at www.techaccelertor.us/membership.
SOLUTIONS SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
Submit your white paper(s) for this opportunity by clicking the button below. As a remider, you must be a paid member in good standing in the Advanced Prototyping and Experimentation (APEx) Consortium and be a member in good standing in the Tech Accelerator Community.
Submit questions or feedback regarding this opportunty to info@techacclerator.us.