How the CDAO Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace Works
Launched by the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO), Tradewinds cuts the traditional 18-to-24 month defense acquisition cycle down to days by creating a pre-competed repository of video-demonstrated AI/ML technologies.
The 5-Minute Video Rule
Unlike traditional 80-page FAR whitepapers, Tradewinds forces contractors to pitch like commercial tech founders. Evaluators grade submissions exclusively on a single 5-minute video presentation. Videos longer than 300 seconds are disqualified without appeal.
- Minute 0-1: Military operational friction point & problem scope
- Minute 1-3: Live working product demonstration & benchmark metrics
- Minute 3-4: Commercial viability & dual-use scaling proof
- Minute 4-5: Cost structure, OTA transition path, and data rights
Rapid “Awardable” Contracting
Once a video pitch scores “Awardable”, it enters the Tradewinds Marketplace. Any DoD contracting officer across the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Combatant Commands can directly purchase the solution using:
- OTA (10 U.S.C. 4022): Direct prototyping agreements with nontraditional defense contractors.
- Competition Satisfied: The Tradewinds assessment satisfies the Competition in Contracting Act (CICA).
- Follow-on Production: Direct sole-source production award eligible upon successful prototype completion.
The F2T2EA “Kill-Chain” Matrix
The Pentagon categorizes all sensor-to-shooter operations into the Joint Kill-Chain. Top-scoring AI pitches explicitly articulate which stage they compress:
- Find / Fix: Satellite, radar, and RF anomaly detection and geolocation.
- Track / Target: Continuous multi-target tracking under electronic jamming.
- Engage / Assess: Automated battle management, weaponeering, and post-strike BDA analysis.