Immersive Commercial Acquisition Program (ICAP) 2026

Omran Aburayya
Jun 6
2 min read

If you are a mid‑ to senior‑level U.S. Department of Defense contracting officer seeking immersive, hands-on experience in commercial tech acquisition—applications for the 2026 Immersive Commercial Acquisition Program (ICAP) are now open (June 3–July 31, 2025). This is your chance to become a bridge between DoD and the rapidly advancing commercial tech sector.

📌 Fellowship Summary

Location: Fully remote/virtual
Host Institutions: Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) in partnership with Defense Acquisition University (DAU)
Program Level: Mid- to senior-level acquisition professionals
Target Group: Government civilian GS‑13/14 or NH‑03/04 (1102); or active military O‑4/O‑5 contracting officers
Field of Focus: Acquisition of commercial and non-traditional defense technologies
Funding:
- 12-month immersive DEU-funded program
- Your home organization continues salary and admin support
- DIU funds all training, travel, and equipment related to ICAP
Duration: 12 months, beginning October 2025 through September 2026
Application Window: June 3 to July 31, 2025
Start Date: October 2025; final selection notification in September 2025 (diu.mil, diu.mil)

🪖Programme Overview

Developed through a DAU–DIU partnership, ICAP immerses selected officers in DIU’s agile acquisition methods, placing them on real, service‑aligned projects involving commercial solution providers and DIU contracting teams. Participants also receive structured virtual training on Other Transaction (OT) authority via DAU’s Credentials Program.

During the programme, fellows:

Participate in real-time DIU projects, working with commercial and non-traditional vendors.
Learn and apply Other Transaction authority and the Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) process to fast-track contracts—often within 60–90 days compared to typical DoD timelines.
Engage with curated commercial industry interactions to understand what drives their decision-making.

🎁 Fellowship Benefits

Exclusive experiential training in cutting-edge acquisition models.
Hands-on engagement with service-driven DIU initiatives.
Deep understanding of commercial market dynamics and contracting speed.
Networking opportunities across DoD and tech industry stakeholders.
Earn a completion certificate and CLA‑eligible training credits via DAU.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Must be government civilian GS‑13/14 (NH‑03/04, 1102), or active duty O‑4/O‑5 contracting officer.
Demonstrated technical contracting expertise and innovative mindset.
Your organization must release you for a full 12-month virtual fellowship, while maintaining your salary and admin support.

📝 Application Procedure

Apply between June 3–July 31, 2025 via DIU’s application portal. (diu.mil, diu.mil)
Submit:
- Résumé
- Letter of intent
- Supervisor recommendation letter
Competitive selection through DIU panel interviews
Successful candidates notified in September 2025, begin the program in October
Upon completion, fellows deliver a capstone project/organizational training plan built on ICAP experiences

ℹ️ Additional Insights

ICAP is now in its fourth year, producing innovation-fluent contracting professionals across all branches and agencies.
Fellows undergo deep immersion in the CSO + OT process, giving them a skill set rare in traditional DoD acquisition circles
A public AMA session is scheduled for July 8, 2025, 3–4 p.m. EDT—ideal for hearing directly from current fellows and getting insider tips.