REARM Special Call: Robotic Enhancements for Armaments Manufacturing
Accelerating Advanced Manufacturing for the Munitions Industrial Base
The Robotic Enhancements for Armaments Manufacturing (REARM) Special Call is a competitive funding opportunity administered by NextFlex on behalf of the Department of War (DoW) to accelerate modernization of the U.S. Munitions Industrial Base (MIB).
REARM seeks projects that develop, demonstrate, and transition advanced manufacturing capabilities that improve manufacturing agility, scalability, resilience, and readiness. The Special Call emphasizes robotics, automation, digital manufacturing, advanced manufacturing processes, and advanced electronics manufacturing technologies that can be transitioned into operational defense production environments.
Approximately $1.4 million is anticipated to be available to support projects addressing one or more of three Technical Topic Areas.
Technical Topic Areas
Topic Area #1: Workforce Development and Operationalized Prototyping Ecosystems
Develop regional advanced manufacturing ecosystems, pilot-line capabilities, and workforce development initiatives that accelerate technology maturation and transition into defense manufacturing.
Topic Area #2: Advanced Munitions Circuitry and Novel Energetics Engineering
Advance manufacturing capabilities supporting electronic circuitry, energetics integration, power systems, and scalable manufacturing approaches for next-generation munitions.
Topic Area #3: Advanced Manufacturing of Microelectronics
Develop manufacturing technologies that improve fabrication, assembly, integration, and scalable production of microelectronics and hybrid electronic systems for defense applications.
Funding Overview
- Approximately $1.4M available
- Up to 12-month period of performance
- Expected maximum funding request of approximately $466,000 per Technical Topic Area
- Single-topic and multi-topic proposals are permitted
- Multiple awards are anticipated
Eligibility
Organizations are not required to be NextFlex members to submit a proposal.
Project work is expected to be performed primarily within one or more of the following states:
- Illinois
- Maine
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
Organizations selected for award will be required to become NextFlex members prior to execution of a subaward agreement.
Key Dates
| Milestone
|
Date
|
| Special Call Released
|
July 31, 2026
|
| Informational Webinar
|
August 19, 2026
|
| Proposal Due
|
September 10, 2026 (5:00 PM PT)
|
| Anticipated Award Notification
|
Late October 2026
|
| Anticipated Project Start
|
January 2027
|
Proposal Resources
Informational Webinar
An optional informational webinar will provide an overview of the REARM Special Call, Technical Topic Areas, proposal preparation requirements, evaluation process, and submission procedures. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions regarding the solicitation.
Date: August 19, 2026
Registration information will be posted when available.