An Upcoming Funding Opportunity: Ventilation

WASHINGTON, June 4, 2026 -- The Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC) announced a pre-announcement for an upcoming Request for Project Proposals (RPP) in support of the Department of the Air Force focused on the development of an Autonomous Closed Loop Control Mechanical Ventilation (ACLCMV) system. The effort seeks the design, development, and demonstration of advanced physiological closed-loop control technologies and system architecture for a next-generation military mechanical ventilator.

The proposed ACLCMV system is intended to provide autonomous ventilatory support in austere, resource-limited, and prolonged-care environments while reducing the burden on medical personnel. By leveraging advanced Physiological Closed-Loop Control (PCLC) algorithms, the system is expected to continuously assess patient physiological responses and automatically adjust ventilation settings, including Positive End Expiratory Pressure (PEEP), with minimal manual intervention.

The initiative addresses a critical operational need for aeromedical evacuation and prolonged field care scenarios where highly trained respiratory and critical care personnel may be limited. Current mechanical ventilators require frequent manual adjustments to maintain optimal patient care, creating significant challenges during en-route care operations and in environments where caregivers may be responsible for multiple critically ill patients simultaneously.

The technical objective of the upcoming RPP is to reduce technical risk associated with an autonomous ventilator system through the development and demonstration of core PCLC algorithms and the definition of a system-level hardware architecture. The effort is expected to advance the technology to a level sufficient to support future Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) activities and potential follow-on system development.

According to the pre-announcement, proposed solutions should focus on two primary areas. The first is the development and demonstration of a PCLC software algorithm capable of receiving physiological inputs and autonomously adjusting ventilator parameters to maintain patient stability. The second is the definition of a system architecture and hardware framework, including the assessment of candidate components, interfaces, and technologies capable of meeting the environmental and operational requirements of military medical missions.

The Government anticipates making one award with a period of performance not to exceed 12 months. The upcoming RPP is expected to utilize a two-stage acquisition approach. During Stage 1, current MTEC members will submit Enhanced White Papers for evaluation. Offerors whose submissions best align with Government priorities will be invited to participate in Stage 2 by submitting a full cost proposal and any additional required documentation.

The RPP is expected to be posted on the MTEC website (mtec-sc.org) and summarized on SAM.gov. A proposal preparation period of approximately 30 days is anticipated following release. MTEC membership is required for proposal submission, and additional information on joining is available at https://mtec-sc.org/how-to-join/.

MTEC's mission is to assist the Department of Defense U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC), the Defense Health Agency (DHA), and other Government agencies in advancing medical technologies that protect, treat, and optimize Warfighter health and performance across the full spectrum of military operations. MTEC operates under a 10-year renewable Other Transaction Agreement (OTA), Agreement No. W81XWH-15-9-0001, with the Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity (DHACA).

More information about MTEC programs and opportunities is available at https://mtec-sc.org/.

SOURCE Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC)