WHAT IS SOFWERX?

SOFWERX is a platform established under a Partnership Intermediary Agreement between USSOCOM and DEFENSEWERX to help USSOCOM solve challenging Warfighter problems. We are a public facing emissary that facilitates collaboration, innovation, prototyping and exploration with Industry, Labs, Academia and Government Stakeholders.

WHAT ARE THE CAPABILITIES OF SOFWERX?

The SOFWERX facility has numerous meeting spaces and can accommodate meetings or workshops ranging from 4 – 250 personnel, as well as numerous open collaboration spaces for interactive collisions. Each space is designed for spurring innovative thought and can be rapidly reconfigured to accommodate the needs of the user. The Foundry (located within the SOFWERX facility) is a rapid prototyping workshop which contains the following capabilities:

• Welding
• Grinders
• Iron Worker
• Manual Lathe/Mill
• CNC Lathe/Mill
• Plasma Cutter
• Horizontal Bandsaw
• Hydraulic Compress Break
• Drill Press
• 3D Printers

WHAT IS THE SOFWERX CHARTER?

Our charter is two-fold: 1) Create and maintain a platform to accelerate delivery of innovative capabilities to USSOCOM and 2) Facilitate capability refinement through exploration, experimentation and assessment of promising technology.

HOW DOES SOFWERX CONDUCT STEM OUTREACH?

The SOFWERX STEM team is equipping the next generation of problem solvers by providing exciting opportunities for students at all levels to acquire the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) skills that will assist the Warfighters of tomorrow. By sponsoring various clubs, teams or classes as well as hosting several internal STEM events each year, SOFWERX is ensuring future innovators learn how to tackle challenging, real-world problems.

HOW DOES SOFWERX CONDUCT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT?

SOFWERX offers opportunities to enhance and expand current workforce skill sets through a variety of traditional and non-traditional methods. This includes collaboration and assessment events, leadership seminars and guest lecturers.

What is DEFENSEWERX?

DEFENSEWERX (formerly the Doolittle Institute) was established in 2012 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit and is headquartered in Niceville, Florida. The DEFENSEWERX mission is to cultivate a vibrant ecosystem by shaping successful collisions to innovate and commercialize technologies that benefit the Warfighter. DEFENSEWERX has several innovation hubs located across the USA, one of which is SOFWERX.

What is a Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA)?

I/A/W 15 U.S. Code § 3715 “Use of partnership intermediaries” SOFWERX performs services for the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) that increase the likelihood of success in the conduct of cooperative or joint activities with small business firms or institutions of higher education.

What gives a PIA its authority?

15 USC 3715.

SOCOM

• USSOCOM – United States Special Operations Command
• SOF – Special Operations Forces
• SF – Special Forces
• MIPR – Military Interdepartmental Purchase Request
• SIPR – Secret Network
• NIPR – Unclassified Network

CONTRACTS

• FBO – Federal Business Opportunity
• RFI – Request for Infor (Posted on FBO
• PM – Program Manager
• IRAD – Internal Research and Development
• CRADA – Cooperative Research and Development Agreement
• PIA – Partnership Intermediary Agreement
• FAR – Federal Acquisition Regulation
• RAPS – Rapid Acquisition Prototyping Series
• RIPS – Rapid Innovation Project Series
• CPO – Collaborative Project Order
• SOW – Statement of Work
• SOO – Statement of Objectives

COMPONENTS

• JSOC – Joint Special Operations Command
• MARSOC – Marine Special Operations Command
• USASOC – United States Army Special Operations Command
• SOCAF – Special Operations Command Africa
• NAVSOC – Navy Special Operations Command
• AFSOC - Air Force Special Operations Command
• NAVSPECWARCOM (or NSWC) – Naval Special Warfare Command
• NSW – Naval Special Warfare
• NSWG – Naval Special Warfare Group
• SEALs – Sea, Air, Land
• SWCC – Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen
• SFG(A) – Special Forces Group (Airborne)

DEPARTMENTS

• AR – Acquisition Resources
• S&T – Science & Technology
• SOF AT&L – Special Operations Forces Acquisition Technology & Logistics
• PEO – Program Executive Office
• PMO – Program Managing Office
• PEO-FW – Fixed Wing (Planes)
• PEO-RW – Rotary Wing (Helicopters)
• PEO-SW – SOF Warrior
• PEO-TIS - Tactical Information Systems
• PEO-C4 – Command, Control, Communications, Computers
• PEO-M – Maritime
• PEO-SRSE – Special Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Exploitation

J CODES: RESPONSIBILITIES

• J1 – Manpower & Personnel
• J2 – Intelligence
• J3 – Operations
• J4 – Logistics
• J5 – Strategy, Plans, and Policy
• J6 – Communications / IT
• J7 – Joint SOF Development
• J8 – Resources & Requirements

Theater Special Operations Command (TSOC)

• SOCAFRICA – Special Operations Command-Africa
• SOCCENT – Special Operations Command-Europe
• SOCKOR – Special Operations Command-Korea
• SOCNORTH – Special Operations Command-North
• SOCPAC – Special Operations Command-Pacific
• SOC-R – Special Operations Command-Riverine
• SOCSOUTH – Special Operations Command-South

OTHER

• AFB – Air Force base
• ATV – All Terrain Vehicle
• CCA – Combatant Craft Assault
• CCT – Combat Controller
• CSO – Critical Skills Operator
• DoD – Department of Defense
• GMV – Ground Mobility Vehicle
• ISR – Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance
• JCET – Joint Combined Exchange Training
• JSOU – Joint Special Operations University
• LTATV – Lightweight Tactical All-Terrain Vehicle
• MISO – Military Information Support Operations
• MRAP – Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle
• NG – National Guard
• NSCV – Non-Standard Commercial Vehicle
• PJ – Pararescueman (or Pararescue Jumper)
• RHIB – Rigid-hull Inflatable Boat
• RPA – Remotely Piloted Aircraft
• SDVT – SEAL Deliver Vehicle Team
• UAV – Unmanned Aerial Vehicle