The Defense Innovation Unit Experimental encourages defense companies to work with nontraditional contractors through the organization’s technology development programs, SpaceNews reported Tuesday.DIUx has awarded 67 contracts over the past three years and majority of the contract awards went to companies that do not generally function as government contractors.
The organization selects contractors to build prototypes through “other transaction” agreements as part of a procurement strategy called Commercial Solutions Openings.
Col David Robinson, acting military director and U.S. Army lead for DIUx, told SpaceNews that the 2018Â National Defense Authorization Act has expanded OTAs to allow further involvement of conventional defense firms.
The report said DIUx’s programs covers the areas of cyber; space and information technology;Â autonomy and counter-unmanned aircraft systems, human systems augmentation and artificial intelligence.
