LYNX is a digital, AI/ML-enabled platform launched by the Department of War's Office of Small Business Programs to help companies present capabilities, complete readiness assessments, get AI‑informed roadmaps, find teaming partners, and discover mission‑aligned opportunities. Key features include structured company profiles, in‑depth readiness assessments, AI/ML-generated roadmaps and matching, advanced search for partner discovery, training resources, and exportable/shareable profiles.
LYNX targets new entrants, small businesses, non‑traditional suppliers, and growing defense contractors; the platform is positioned for businesses, industry associations, and government organizations—there is no public indication it is for foreign firms without restrictions (foreign participation would remain governed by federal procurement and national‑security rules).
The announcement says LYNX creates a common framework for readiness and capability and improves discovery for DoW, but it does not claim full integration with legacy procurement systems; instead LYNX provides profiles, assessments and exports that can be shared and used to inform engagement and partner matching while procurement and vendor registration continue to occur in existing federal systems (e.g., SAM.gov).
LYNX asks companies to build detailed profiles and complete readiness assessments, which could include proprietary details about capabilities; the platform’s public description says profiles are exportable/shareable and that LYNX uses standard cybersecurity controls, but the announcement and platform pages do not publish full data‑protection specifics—details on encryption, access controls, and classified handling are not publicly provided.
Using LYNX is described as an available tool to help firms present capabilities and find partners; the public materials describe registration as "open now," but they do not state it is mandatory for competing for defense contracts—existing procurement and registration processes remain in force, so LYNX appears optional.
Businesses can register at the public portal (https://www.lynxconnect.io) by creating a company profile and completing an initial assessment; registration is described as open now. The announcement and platform site do not mention fees or specific prerequisites—LYNX is presented as a free registration tool for businesses, though users should confirm any costs or eligibility steps in the platform’s Terms of Use or with OSBP.
The platform is operated by the War Department Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) as part of the Assistant Secretary for Industrial Base Policy’s efforts; OSBP will use LYNX to improve supplier visibility and coordinate with other acquisition and industrial‑base offices, though the announcement does not lay out a detailed governance chart or coordination procedures.