xTech|Kinetic Reach Competition - SBIR Topic ARM26BX03-DP007

Funding Amount:

Est. $2,000,000

Deadline to Apply:

TBD

Objective:

The U.S. Army is seeking innovative force sustainment solutions from eligible small businesses across the U.S. through the xTech Kinetic Reach competition. This platform offers participants the opportunity to engage with the Department of War (DoW), earn prize money and submit a Direct to Phase II Army Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) proposal.

The U.S. Army FUZE xTech Program, in partnership with the U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF) and Global Tactical Edge Acquisition Directorate (G-TEAD) is executing the xTech|Kinetic Reach competition as part of the G-TEAD Accelerated Capability Event (ACE) series. xTech|Kinetic Reach addresses the growing uncrewed aerial system (UAS) threat by identifying high-potential solutions and accelerating transition through funding and integration into live USAREUR-AF-led exercises. Integrating into a USAREUR-AF-led exercise is critical to: (1) validate capabilities under operationally realistic conditions, (2) inform acquisition and integration decisions, and (3) address near-term gaps in autonomous ground operations and effects delivery in contested environments.

The Army recognizes that the DoW must enhance engagements with U.S. small businesses by (1) understanding the spectrum of world-class technologies being developed commercially that may benefit the DoW; (2) integrating the sector of non-traditional innovators into the DoW Science and Technology (S&T) ecosystem; and (3) providing expertise and feedback to accelerate, mature, and transition technologies of interest to the DoW.

Description:

​​xTech|Kinetic Reach is a focused open-topic competition designed to identify cutting-edge technology solutions that will drive significant advancements in military capabilities while addressing complex challenges and enhancing national security. In largescale combat operations, U.S. Army forces must sustain dispersed, continuously moving formations while operating inside highly contested environments characterized by persistent observation, long range fires, electromagnetic interference, degraded mobility corridors, and severely constrained logistics. Current sustainment and recovery methods rely heavily on manned systems that are increasingly vulnerable, slow to adapt, and unable to meet the demands of operations conducted near or within the Autonomous Zone. The Army requires a suite of interoperable, autonomous or minimally manned capabilities - spanning ground and air distribution, power generation, forward arming and refueling, and vehicle recovery - that can operate with minimal oversight, low signatures, reduced logistical burden, and seamless command and control (C2) integration. These capabilities must sustain tempo, reduce soldier exposure, and ensure survivability and mission continuity across the entire sustainment and recovery enterprise in high-threat, GPS and communications degraded environments where traditional methods are no longer feasible or survivable.

The Army is seeking to evaluate capabilities that demonstrate performance in one of six (6) capability areas, and meet the following criteria for its capability area:

Topic 1: Uncrewed Ground Payload Transportation

Topic 2: Autonomous container Handling/Movement System

Topic 3: Future Power Generation

Topic 4: Autonomous UAV/UGV Forward Arming and Refueling Point (FARP) System

Topic 5: Uncrewed Aerial Payload Transportation

Topic 6: Uncrewed, Automated, Ground Recovery System

Full competition details including details on these 6 topic areas of interest can be found in Appendix A section of the xTech|Kinetic Reach competition RFI here: https://www.xtech.army.mil/competitions/.

xTech|Kinetic Reach is a focused open-topic competition designed to identify cutting-edge technology solutions that will drive significant advancements in military capabilities while addressing complex challenges and enhancing national security. In largescale combat operations, U.S. Army forces must sustain dispersed, continuously moving formations while operating inside highly contested environments characterized by persistent observation, long range fires, electromagnetic interference, degraded mobility corridors, and severely constrained logistics. Current sustainment and recovery methods rely heavily on manned systems that are increasingly vulnerable, slow to adapt, and unable to meet the demands of operations conducted near or within the Autonomous Zone. The Army requires a suite of interoperable, autonomous or minimally manned capabilities - spanning ground and air distribution, power generation, forward arming and refueling, and vehicle recovery - that can operate with minimal oversight, low signatures, reduced logistical burden, and seamless command and control (C2) integration. These capabilities must sustain tempo, reduce soldier exposure, and ensure survivability and mission continuity across the entire sustainment and recovery enterprise in high-threat, GPS and communications degraded environments where traditional methods are no longer feasible or survivable.

The Army is seeking to evaluate capabilities that demonstrate performance in one of six (6) capability areas, and meet the following criteria for its capability area:

Topic 1: Uncrewed Ground Payload Transportation

Topic 2: Autonomous container Handling/Movement System

Topic 3: Future Power Generation

Topic 4: Autonomous UAV/UGV Forward Arming and Refueling Point (FARP) System

Topic 5: Uncrewed Aerial Payload Transportation

Topic 6: Uncrewed, Automated, Ground Recovery System

Full competition details including details on these 6 topic areas of interest can be found in Appendix A section of the xTech|Kinetic Reach competition RFI here: https://www.xtech.army.mil/competitions/.

The U.S. Army intends to award up to $1,500,000 in cash prizes throughout the competition. Up to 15 finalists will be selected at the conclusion of the Part 1 evaluation period and will be provided the opportunity to participate in the Part 2 live Soldier exercise, anticipated to occur in November 2026. Finalists who attend the Soldier exercise will receive a cash prize of $25,000, following the event. Finalists who also participate and have their technology integrated in the exercise will receive an additional $25,000, following the event. Following completion of the exercise, up to five (5) final winners will be selected to receive an additional cash prize of $150,000 each. Final winners may be considered for potential follow-on agreements and contracting opportunities. Part 2 winners that qualify as U.S. Small Businesses will have the opportunity to submit a Direct to Phase II Army SBIR proposal worth up to $2,000,000.

PHASE I

This topic is accepting Direct-to-Phase II submissions with a cost limit of $2,000,000 and a period of performance of 12-18 months. Only winners of the xTech|Kinetic Reach competition are permitted to submit a proposal for this topic.  In order for proposers to submit a DP2 proposal, they must provide the justification documentation to substantiate that the scientific and technical merit and feasibility described above has been met and describes the potential military and/or commercial applications. Documentation should include all relevant information including, but not limited to: technical reports, test data, prototype designs/models, and performance goals/results.

PHASE II

Produce prototype solutions that will be easy to operate by a Soldier. These products will be provided to select Army units for testing and experimentation with end Users in a realistic field environment. Feedback from testing and experimentation will be provided directly to Small Businesses to iterate rapidly on recommended modifications or improvements for Army operational use. In addition, companies will work with Army partners to develop a draft technology transition and commercialization plan for DoW and commercial markets.

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS

Complete the maturation of the company’s technology developed in Phase II to TRL 8/9 and produce prototypes to support scaling and fielding of the technology with the Army and pursue commercialization pathways.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

xTech|Inversion Competition - SBIR Topic ARM26BX03-NP006

Funding Amount:

Est. $300,000

Deadline to Apply:

June 30th, 2026

Description:

​​The U.S. Army is seeking information from eligible small businesses across the U.S. to identify and advance commercialization pathways for a curated portfolio of high-potential Army Intellectual Property (IP) sets through the xTech|Inversion competition. This platform offers participants the opportunity to engage with the Department of War (DoW), earn prize money, and submit a Phase I Army Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) proposal.  

​The Army FUZE xTech Program is partnering with the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of the Army (DUSA) and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research and Technology (DASA R&T) to deliver the xTech|Inversion competition. The Army recognizes the DoW must enhance engagements with U.S. small businesses by (1) understanding the spectrum of world-class technologies being developed commercially that may benefit the DoW; (2) integrating the sector of non-traditional innovators into DoW Science and Technology (S&T) ecosystem; and (3) providing expertise and feedback to accelerate, mature, and transition technologies of interest in the DoW. 

​The xTech|Inversion competition will consist of three parts:  

1. ​Call for concept white papers; 

2. ​Finals pitch event; and 

3. ​Opportunity to submit a Phase I Army SBIR proposal.

​The competition will award up to $1,000,000 in cash prizes throughout the competition to selected participants. Up 12 finalists will receive a cash prize of $20,000 each and an opportunity to pitch their innovative technology solutions to a panel of Army and DoW experts in August 2026 at Fed Supernova in Austin, TX. The Army intends to select up five final winners to receive an additional cash prize of $152,000 each. Final winners may submit a Phase I Army SBIR proposal worth up to $300,000. Phase I Army SBIR proposals will be considered under the topics within the competition Request for Proposal (RFP) for proof-of-concept demonstrations that are not to exceed six months in duration. Additional details on prize structure can be found in Section VII of the competition RFI.  

​The xTech|Inversion competition is conducted in accordance with 10 U.S.C. § 4025, which authorizes the use of prize competitions to stimulate innovation and identify promising technologies for national security applications.  Any subsequent Army SBIR opportunity will be conducted separately under 15 U.S.C. § 638 and applicable Army SBIR procedures. All final winners will be eligible to submit for a Phase I Army SBIR proposal under the provisions and requirements of 15 U.S.C. § 638.  

​While the DoW authority of this program is 10 U.S.C. § 4025, the xTech|Inversion competition may generate interest by another U.S. Army, DoW or United States Government (USG) organization for a funding opportunity outside of this program (e.g., submission of a proposal under a Broad Agency Announcement). The interested organization may contact the participant to provide additional information or ask for a request for proposal in a separate solicitation. Finalists of the prize competition may be invited to submit a separate proposal for further development of their proposed technology solution based on the needs of the Army. The Army may use a contract mechanism of their choice and will notify the participants accordingly.  No license to any U.S. Government-owned IP is granted by virtue of participation in or winning the prize competition.  

​All xTech|Inversion competition submissions are treated as privileged information, and contents may be disclosed to employees of the U.S. government, governments of allied nations, designated support contractors at the U.S. government’s discretion for the purpose of evaluation, program support, potential inclusion in Army or DoW marketplaces, and potential follow-on opportunities.  

​The Army FUZE xTech Program intends to provide feedback from evaluators to participants during each part of the competition. The purpose of providing this feedback is to help accelerate the transition of the technology to an Army end-user by providing insight into the best applications for the technology, suggestions for product improvement for Army use and recommended next steps for development. However, the Government is not required to respond to questions or inquiries regarding this feedback. 

​Problem Statement 

​The xTech|Inversion competition seeks white paper submissions from eligible U.S. small businesses proposing commercialization strategies, technical feasibility approaches, and transition pathway for Army intellectual property aligned to one of the 16 available IP sets: 

• ​IP Set 1: Fibers Loaded with a Zirconium (IV) Hydroxide to Capture/Degrade Toxic Chemicals 

• ​IP Set 2: MXene Catalyst for Chemical Detox 

• ​IP Set 3: Hazardous Chemical Detoxification Using MOF beads 

• ​IP Set 4: Advanced Sealing Interface Surveillance Technology 

• ​IP Set 5: Spatial Calibration for Accurate Long-Distance Measurement Using Infrared Cameras 

• ​IP Set 6: Precise Wide Area Ionosphere Correction Solution for Multi-Spectrum Alternative Sources of Space-Based PNT Signals 

• ​IP Set 7: Pleated Filtration Apparatus Having a Filter Membrane 

• ​IP Set 8: Non-Contact Power Meter Independent of Placement of Field Sensors Around the Cable 

• ​IP Set 9: Production of High Energy-Dense Liquid Hydrocarbon from Low Energy-Dense Aqueous Solutions of Oxygen Containing Organic Compound(s) 

• ​IP Set 10: Deformable Array of Semiconductor Devices 

• ​IP Set 11: Dual Coil Inductive Energy Generator 

• ​IP Set 12: Voltage Step-Up Converter Circuits for Low Input Voltages 

• ​IP Set 13: Autonomous UV and Brush Apparatus for Well Fouling Prevention (Wellbot) 

• ​IP Set 14: Photocatalytic Water Treatment 

• ​IP Set 15: High-Performance Cold Mix Asphalt System 

• ​IP Set 16: Rapidly Deployable Over Decking Systems

​Detailed descriptions for each IP set are available in Appendix A of the competition RFI. 

​Only one submission per IP set, per eligible entity is permitted; if submitting an application to more than one IP set, the technology solution must be different.  

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Development of Directed Energy Systems for Space-Based Applications - SBIR Topic DAF26BX03-DV505

Funding Amount:

Est. $3,000,000

Deadline to Apply:

July 22nd, 2026

Objective:

SpaceWERX, in partnership with Space System Command (SSC) and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), are seeking innovative solutions to enable the development of directed energy systems for dual-use applications in space. These systems can include High Energy Laser (HEL) systems or particle accelerators (neutral or charged particle beams). This effort aims to bridge the gap between terrestrial directed energy capabilities and the unique requirements of the space environment to provide a multi-mission, dual-use architecture. The goal is to close key capability gaps such as space-qualification, power and thermal management, beam control, and pointing accuracy for space-based systems capable of transferring high energy flux to targets of interest needed to support the Space Force’s future architecture.

ITAR:

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with section 3.5 of the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws.

Description:

This project is a strategic partnership between AFRL and SSC to develop space-based directed energy systems. Directed energy systems pose many promising dual-use applications including but not limited to space-based defensive capabilities such as non-kinetic missile defense, space-based power beaming, lunar prospecting, target identification, or debris remediation. For certain applications such as remote power transfer, high energy laser systems can bridge a critical capability gap involving the "power-mass" penalty of traditional orbital platforms, where rigid solar arrays and battery density limit mission longevity and payload capacity. Addressing this now is essential due to the rapid proliferation of distributed constellations that require agile, modular energy solutions to maintain a responsive space architecture. Failure to solve these constraints will lead to the continued deployment of static, short-lived systems unable to adapt to evolving orbital mission requirements or emerging commercial energy demands. Other directed energy capabilities such as particle beam technology offers unique advantages such as active orbital probe inspection or deep space prospecting.

The desired end state is a compact, space-qualified directed energy architecture that increases the current state of the art in power output, beam quality and control providing reliable power-transfer capabilities while meeting strict low-SWaP (size, weight, and power) configurations. Achieving this will enable a more resilient space architecture that integrates novel thermal protection, advanced control algorithms for increased pointing accuracy, and radiation resiliency to survive extreme orbital conditions. These improvements should result in a measurable increase in mission capability with the program ultimately targeting the transition of these technologies toward TRL 6 prototypes in preparation for an on-orbit flight demonstration.

PHASE I

This topic is intended for technology proven ready to move directly into Phase II. Therefore, Phase I awards will not be made for this topic. The applicant is required to provide detail and documentation in the Direct-to-Phase-II (D2P2) proposal which demonstrates accomplishment of a “Phase I-type” effort, including a feasibility study. This includes determining, insofar as possible, the scientific and technical merit and feasibility of ideas appearing to have commercial potential. It must have validated the product-mission fit between the proposed solution and a potential U.S. Air Force (USAF) and/or USSF stakeholder. The applicant should have defined a clear, immediately actionable plan with the proposed solution and the U.S. Department of Air Force (DAF) customer and end-user. The feasibility study should have:

1. Clearly identified the potential stakeholders of the adapted solution for solving the USAF and/or USSF need(s).

2. Described the pathway to integrating with DAF operations, to include how the applicant plans to accomplish core technology development, navigate applicable regulatory processes, and integrate with other relevant systems and/or processes.

3. Describe if and how the solution can be used by other U.S. Department of War (DoW) or Governmental customers.

PHASE II

The proposed solutions should develop and demonstrate innovative technologies to support space-based directed energy systems. Solutions should provide capabilities such as high-efficiency laser sources and/or compact particle accelerator technologies designed for multi-mission utility, ranging from orbital power transfer to material prospecting. The objective of the Phase II effort is to develop, mature, and demonstrate via ground based demonstration for eventual on-orbit demonstration. Phase II solutions should focus on the hardware integration of the directed energy system and include solutions for areas of technical concern such as power/thermal management, high precision pointing, and adaptive control for precision beam-pointing. Offerors are expected to present a complete end-to-end architecture that demonstrates the system's ability to maintain power density over extended ranges in a simulated space environment. Performers should transition from laboratory-scale breadboards to high-fidelity engineering models that reflect the form factor and mass constraints of a standard, commercially available spacecraft bus.

Proposed solutions should include the integration of technologies that address current hurdles to space-based operations such as:

- High-efficiency systems with low mass-to-power ratio that leverages radiation-tolerant design architectures

- Novel solutions for achieving pointing accuracies needed for long range engagement such as non-mechanical beam steering to minimize jitter

- Advanced thermal & power management

The prototype should undergo rigorous validation to demonstrate readiness for future orbital deployment. Successful Phase II efforts will include:

- Thermal Vacuum (TVAC) Testing

- Hardware-in-the-Loop (HITL) testing to demonstrate pointing and tracking against simulated orbital targets

- Launch environment simulation and testing representative of standard launch profiles.

A credible development timeline must include major milestones for design reviews, subsystem validation, and integrated testing. Completion of Phase II provides the technical foundation for potential follow-on on-orbit demonstrations, though it does not imply a guaranteed transition to a Program of Record. Final deliverables should include a ground-based demonstration, comprehensive test data, and a refined manufacturing plan for scalable production.

Proposed schedules may account for how follow-on awards, such as a Phase III, in a rapid timeframe could be used to mature the capabilities needed to achieve an on-orbit demonstration. Proposed solutions should include quarterly program management reviews at the sponsoring organization facility and include ground testing demonstrations as part of the proposed work plan.

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS

Proposed technologies must demonstrate feasibility by the end of Phase II through rigorous modeling, benchtop testing, and/or subcomponent validation in relevant conditions. Phase II performers are expected to show measurable progress toward subsystem integration, with a clearly defined pathway to full system demonstration. Top-performing solutions that advance during the initial period of performance may be eligible for follow-on awards leading to on-orbit demonstrations coordinated with the sponsoring organization. Any competitive follow-on efforts will focus on advancing technologies to Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7, with priority given to architectures demonstrating the greatest technical maturity, feasibility, and alignment with DoW operational needs. Solutions should consider dual-use pathways such as providing space-based power transfer solutions to the commercial market.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Safe Falling and Failing For Humanoid Robots - SBIR Topic DAF26BZ03-DV019

Funding Amount:

Est. $2,000,000

Deadline to Apply:

July 22nd, 2026

Objective:

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with section 3.5 of the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws.

Integrated System Mitigates Fall Damage to Humanoid Robots and Ensures Operational Recovery with Minimized Performance Degradation

ITAR:

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with section 3.5 of the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws.

Description:

Within the sector of humanoid robotics, there has been significant progress in technological maturity, opening their applicability to Air Force operations, such as maintenance activities, hazardous environment exploration, and assistance with physically demanding tasks. Humanoid robots have the capability to access areas and support operations traditionally done by human personnel, focusing on tasks that have posed significant challenges for their repetitive or strenuous nature. Noting that these tasks are often adjacent to those which are more suited to the adaptability of human personnel, promoting safe and effective human-robot collaboration environments allows for improved performance through careful consideration of workspace design and task allocation to minimize potential hazards.Establishing effective coordination of humanoid robots within environments where they are to perform near human personnel on complex tasks remains a hurdle to developing control strategies that ensure improvements in personnel safety and overall productivity. Of significant note is the inherent instability and susceptibility to falling of humanoid robots, which pose a significant challenge to their widespread deployment. Despite the fact that falls can lead to costly repairs, operational downtime, and even complete robot failure, current fall mitigation strategies are often limited in their effectiveness and can significantly hinder robot agility and performance.This project seeks to develop a comprehensive safe falling system that allows humanoid robots to autonomously detect imminent falls, react in real-time to minimize impact forces, and recover gracefully. This system should include software algorithms for fall detection and recovery strategies, and/or hardware considerations for mitigating damage and ensuring safe landing. The system should be robust enough to handle falls from various heights and orientations, while remaining lightweight and minimally intrusive to the robot's design and performance during regular operation. Additionally, the system should be adaptable for different humanoid applications and specifications.

PHASE I

This is a Direct-to-Phase II initiative. Companies must demonstrate, from the outset, a prototype system capable of detecting falls in a simulated environment. This includes presenting algorithms for fall detection and preliminary strategies for impact mitigation. Demonstrate an understanding of the integration challenges and potential solutions for incorporating the system onto a physical humanoid robot platform. Provide a clear plan for testing and validation of the proposed system.

PHASE II

Develop a functional prototype integrated onto an existing humanoid robot platform. Demonstrate the system's effectiveness in real-world fall scenarios, showcasing its ability to detect falls, activate mitigation strategies, and minimize damage. Quantify the system's performance in terms of impact reduction, recovery time, and overall robustness. Refine the system based on testing results, optimizing for performance, reliability, and adaptability to different humanoid platforms. The expected TRL from Phase II is TRL 7 or 8.

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS

If Phase II is successful, Phase III will focus on transitioning the technology to a production-ready state. This includes further refinement of the system, rigorous testing and validation in diverse operational environments, and development of user-friendly interfaces for system configuration and monitoring. Explore potential applications in various sectors. Integrate the safe falling system into commercially available humanoid robots. This technology has the potential to significantly improve the robustness and reliability of humanoid robots, accelerating their adoption across a wide range of applications.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Humanoid Robotic Fleet Management - SBIR Topic DAF26BZ03-DV020

Funding Amount:

Est. $2,000,000

Deadline to Apply:

July 22nd, 2026

Objective:

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with section 3.5 of the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws.

To Effectively and Efficiently Coordinate Multiple Humanoid and Industrial Robots for Complex Tasks in Dynamic Industrial Environments

ITAR:

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with section 3.5 of the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws.

Description:

Within Air Force depots for aircraft maintenance and sustainment, there are many workloads that present significant challenges for human personnel due to reasons including high physical demand, repetitive tasks, and unfriendly environmental conditions. In the endeavor of optimizing manufacturing and sustainment operations, robots have increasingly been integrated, serving to separate human personnel from potentially hazardous activities and creating opportunities for process improvement. The robots that have been determined to be most versatile in industrial settings as support to human personnel are those designed to operate similarly, in a humanoid manner.As the potential of humanoid robots for widespread deployment in various applications is growing in accordance with their increasing sophistication and capability, so is the cruciality of managing and coordinating large fleets of these robots effectively for the maximization of their utility and the assurance to complete tasks successfully. While implementing a fleet management system allows for the dynamic allocation of robots to specific maintenance tasks based on real-time demand and priority, resource utilization optimization, and aircraft downtime minimization, current robot management systems often lack the scalability, flexibility, and robustness required for complex, real-world deployments involving humanoid robots beyond material handling operational scenarios. Current research emphasizes the integration of advanced sensing capabilities, such as computer vision and tactile feedback, into humanoid robots to enable them to perform intricate maintenance tasks, such as component inspection and repair, with increasing autonomy and precision to support a shift in robot fleet management towards decentralized control architectures that allow humanoid robots to adapt to changing task priorities and collaborate more effectively with human personnel. This project seeks to develop a humanoid fleet management system that provides a centralized platform for monitoring, controlling, and coordinating the activities of multiple robots across a variety of manufacturing and sustainment operations. The system should enable autonomous task allocation based on robot capabilities and availability, optimize resource utilization, allow real-time monitoring and control, facilitate seamless communication between robots and human operators, and adapt to dynamic changes in the operational environment. The system should be scalable to fleets of varying sizes and adaptable to different humanoids, other robot platforms, and operational scenarios.

PHASE I

This is a Direct-to-Phase II initiative. Companies must demonstrate, from the outset, (1) a prototype system capable of basic fleet monitoring for mobile and non-mobile platforms, task assignment, and adaptive autonomous robot control in a simulated environment. (2) An understanding of the challenges associated with managing and coordinating humanoid robot fleets and propose innovative solutions for addressing these challenges. (3) Proven experience deploying autonomous systems performing manufacturing and sustainment activities beyond material handling. Provide a clear plan for scaling the system to larger fleets and more complex operational scenarios.

PHASE II

Develop a functional prototype of the humanoid fleet management system and demonstrate its performance on a physical fleet of robots including humanoid, non-humanoid mobile, and non-mobile industrial robotics platforms. Evaluate the system's effectiveness in coordinating the robots to perform a range of collaborative tasks in a real-world environment, showcasing its ability to adapt to dynamic conditions and optimize resource utilization. Quantify the performance improvements achieved through fleet management compared to individual robot operation. Refine the system based on experimental results, focusing on scalability, robustness, and user-friendliness. The expected TRL from Phase II is TRL 7 or 8.

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS

If Phase II is successful, Phase III will focus on transitioning the fleet management system to a commercially viable product. This includes further development and refinement of the system, rigorous testing and validation in diverse operational environments, and integration with existing robotic platforms and control systems. Explore potential applications in various sectors, including manufacturing, logistics, and inspection. Develop partnerships with robotics manufacturers to integrate the fleet management system into their product offerings, paving the way for widespread adoption of humanoid robot fleets across a range of industries.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Nickel Molybdenum Hard Chrome Alternative - SBIR Topic DAF26BZ03-DV021

Funding Amount:

Est. $2,000,000

Deadline to Apply:

July 22nd, 2026

Objective:

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with section 3.5 of the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws.

The objective of this topic is to advance the development and validation of a nickel molybdenum plating alternative to traditional hard chrome plating, specifically targeting aerospace applications such as landing gear actuators. This Phase D2P2 effort aims to address the critical need for eliminating hexavalent chromium usage by 2030 in Army facilities and phasing out chrome plating in Navy facilities by 2039. The research will focus on thorough fatigue testing and performance evaluation of the newly developed Maxterial H-max nickel molybdenum plating chemistry. By achieving these goals, the initiative will support broader DoW modernization priorities in advanced materials and manufacturing, while ensuring compliance with environmental regulations and enhancing operational readiness.

ITAR:

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with section 3.5 of the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws.

Description:

The "Nickel Molybdenum Hard Chrome Alternative" topic under AFWERX aims to advance an innovative solution for replacing hexavalent chromium use in aerospace applications, such as landing gear actuators. Hexavalent chromium is known for its adverse health and environmental impacts, and the Department of War (DoW) faces regulatory mandates to eliminate its usage. The U.S. Army is tasked with phasing out hexavalent chromium by 2030, and similar efforts are underway in Navy facilities with a target elimination date of 2039.

The focus of this project is to develop and validate the Maxterial H-max nickel molybdenum plating chemistry as an alternative to traditional hard chrome plating. Initial Technology Readiness Level (TRL) at the project start is estimated to be TRL 4, indicative of technology validated in a lab environment. The anticipated target TRL at the completion of Phase II is TRL 7-8, demonstrating system prototype demonstration in an operational environment.

Desired outcomes include the identification, development, and validation of a robust alternative plating process that meets performance criteria for fatigue resistance, durability, and corrosion resistance in aerospace components. Additionally, the solution should support DoW modernization priorities in advanced materials and manufacturing while complying with environmental regulations and enhancing operational readiness.

The required efforts will be divided into specific phases:

Phase I: This phase will conduct full-scale fatigue testing, performance evaluation, and validate the plating process under simulated operational conditions. Deliverables will include comprehensive performance reports, validation of scalability (installing a dem/val tank), and a transition plan detailing how the process will be integrated into existing manufacturing protocols.

The minimum deliverables for the project will include:

Validated Maxterial 

H-max formulation

Fatigue and performance test data

Operational readiness assessment

Compliance analysis with existing DoW policies

Transition plan

By end of topic D2P2 completion, the anticipated benefits are to provide the DoW with a viable, environmentally safe alternative to hard chrome plating used in the aerospace industry, significantly reducing health hazards, and ensuring compliance with future regulations while enhancing durability and performance of critical aerospace components.

PHASE I

As this is a Direct-to-Phase-II (D2P2) topic, no Phase I awards will be made. To qualify, applicant(s) must demonstrate feasibility through prior efforts. Required documentation includes performance data, fatigue testing results, environmental compliance assessments, and validation reports of Maxterial H-max nickel molybdenum plating's durability and corrosion resistance, supporting an alternative to traditional hard chrome plating.

PHASE II

The Phase II effort will develop and validate the Maxterial H-max nickel molybdenum plating alternative to hard chrome, targeting TRL 7-8. Key goals include full-scale fatigue testing, performance validation, environmental compliance, and operational readiness. Successful outcomes are comprehensive performance reports, validated scalability, and a transition plan for integration into existing manufacturing protocols.

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS

The Phase III effort will advance the Maxterial H-max nickel molybdenum plating to TRL 9, transitioning into full-scale manufacturing for aerospace and commercial applications. This includes landing gear actuators and automotive parts, ensuring environmental compliance. Expect additional Air Force integration and broader DoW and commercial sector adoption, enhancing durability, performance, and safety while meeting regulatory mandates.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

A4MT - Weapons Trailer Hydraulic Heating - SBIR Topic DAF26BZ03-DV022

Funding Amount:

Est. $2,000,000

Deadline to Apply:

July 22nd, 2026

Objective:

The Air Force seeks to enhance the operational reliability and readiness of the MHU-196 Weapons Hydraulic Trailer in cold-weather environments by addressing performance degradation of hydraulic systems under extreme conditions. Current mitigation measures have proven insufficient, resulting in delayed weapons loading, increased equipment downtime, increased manpower hours, and added maintenance burden. These limitations directly impact sortie generation timelines, particularly for missions requiring rapid response and sustained readiness in arctic and contested environments.The objective of this D2P2 effort is to prototype, test, and validate a heating capability that ensures hydraulic systems maintain consistent performance in low-temperature environments. By focusing on accelerated development at this phase, the Air Force intends to leverage demonstrated feasibility and commercial technologies to rapidly transition into integrated testing and qualification. The desired outcome is an adaptable, mission-ready capability that improves sortie generation, extends equipment service life, and reduces operator risk without increasing logistical burden.This D2P2 effort emphasizes speed-to-field and risk reduction by building on work already accomplished in earlier analyses and market investigations. The immediate goal is to deliver a solution capable of maintaining operational continuity for weapons handling and loading operations in austere or extreme climates. Success in this phase will enable flexibility for future adaptation, scaling, and integration across additional weapons handling platforms and mission sets.

Description:

The MHU-196 Weapons Hydraulic Trailer is a critical Air Force system used to transport, load, and service munitions across bomber and nuclear platforms. Its performance directly supports sortie generation timelines and mission readiness. In cold-weather environments, however, the trailer’s hydraulic systems suffer from degraded performance due to thickened hydraulic fluid, stressed seals, and overburdened pumps. This results in delayed weapons loading, increased downtime, and higher maintenance costs.Interim solutions, such as reservoir heaters and external “boogie skirt” heating, have been fielded but are not effective in sustaining hydraulic performance across the full system. This operational gap creates a risk to munitions handling and sortie generation for AFGSC, and other commands operating in austere or arctic conditions.This challenge presents a clear opportunity to develop an improved thermal management capability for the MHU-196 that ensures reliable operation in extreme environments. The desired outcome is a validated, mission-ready system that maintains hydraulic performance in cold weather, reduces maintenance burden, and extends trailer service life. Such a solution will directly improve sortie generation rates, increase operational resilience, and reduce risks to operators and equipment. Leveraging commercial innovations in heating and insulation technologies, this effort can provide a rapid, low-risk pathway to fielding an effective solution.The project begins at an estimated TRL 4–5, with feasibility already established through earlier analysis, market research, and evaluation of interim heating methods. The goal at the end of Phase II is to achieve TRL 7–8 by developing, integrating, and demonstrating a prototype in relevant operational environments, with a clear roadmap for certification and production. Required efforts will include design and fabrication of a prototype heating system, laboratory and field testing in cold-weather conditions, assessment of compliance with nuclear and Air Force standards, and evaluation of logistics, maintainability, and lifecycle cost.The minimum acceptable deliverables for Phase II are a fully integrated prototype demonstrated on an MHU-196 trailer, a test and evaluation report documenting laboratory and field performance, a certification roadmap aligned with nuclear and Air Force requirements, and a transition plan detailing options for scaling and fleet-wide implementation. Advancing this capability through a Direct to Phase II effort ensures accelerated development and transition, closing a validated operational gap and enhancing readiness for critical munitions operations in contested and extreme environments.

PHASE I

As this is a Direct-to-Phase-II (D2P2) topic, no Phase I awards will be made as a result of this topic. To qualify for this D2P2 topic, feasibility is demonstrated through a prior "Phase I-type" effort that does not constitute work undertaken as part of a prior or ongoing SBIR/STTR funding agreement. Documentation establishes a clear understanding of the operational problem, validates solution feasibility, and provides evidence that the proposed approach is mature enough to proceed directly into prototyping under Phase II.The operational problem has been validated. The MHU-196 Weapons Hydraulic Trailer experiences significant degradation in cold-weather environments, delaying sortie generation and increasing maintenance burden. Hydraulic fluid thickens, seals and pumps are stressed, and downtime increases in sub-zero conditions. Interim measures, including Zerostart reservoir heaters and external “boogie skirt” heating, have been employed but do not maintain hydraulic fluid temperature across the full system. This persistent gap is documented through field reports and supporting analysis.Phase I-type feasibility work has already been completed. Technical reviews and market research identified heat trace with integrated insulation as the most promising approach to sustain system performance across the trailer. Commercial vendor data, engineering evaluations, and comparative analysis of performance characteristics—including thermal efficiency, durability, and scalability—demonstrate that mature technologies exist and can be adapted to meet Air Force requirements, while providing sustainment and lifecycle cost benefits for reduced maintenance and manpower. Feasibility documentation includes operational problem statements, third-party and government analysis, vendor specifications, and measurements from comparable use cases. This body of work confirms an initial entry point of TRL 4–5, with a clear path to advance to TRL 7–8 by the end of Phase II through prototype development, integration, and demonstration in relevant operational environments.The prior analysis and validation efforts fulfill the objectives of a Phase I effort by defining the problem, demonstrating technical feasibility, and identifying viable solution pathways. With technical risk reduced, this D2P2 effort can focus directly on prototyping, environmental testing, certification, and preparation for transition to operational use.

PHASE II

Phase II will design, integrate, and demonstrate a heating capability for the MHU-196 Weapons Hydraulic Trailer to ensure reliable operation in cold-weather environments. The desired outcome is a prototype that sustains hydraulic performance in sub-zero conditions, improving sortie generation, reducing downtime, and lowering maintenance risks. The effort will advance the system from TRL 4–5 to TRL 7–8 by the end of Phase II.The Period of Performance includes prototype design, fabrication, and integration into the MHU-196 trailer. Functional requirements include maintaining hydraulic fluid viscosity within operating parameters, enabling cold-weather startup within defined timelines, and sustaining performance across the full hydraulic circuit. The system must be energy-efficient, durable, and compatible with existing trailers without adding logistical burden.Testing will consist of laboratory validation, environmental chamber evaluation, and field demonstrations in cold-weather environments. Success will be measured by the ability to maintain hydraulic fluid temperatures in the target range (down to -25°F), reduce cold-start times versus current procedures, and confirm that no adverse impacts occur on trailer reliability or maintainability. Compliance with Air Force safety standards and a defined nuclear certification pathway will also be required.Use cases include munitions loading in arctic climates, dispersed operations under Agile Combat Employment, and nuclear sortie generation for AFGSC. Success will be defined by seamless integration into the existing fleet, improved operational resilience, and reduced sustainment burden.Minimum deliverables are: a prototype heating system integrated and demonstrated on an MHU-196; a test and evaluation report covering lab, field, and compliance results; a certification and transition roadmap; and a plan for scaling across the fleet.By the end of Phase II, the Air Force will have a validated capability to close the cold-weather performance gap for the MHU-196, strengthening readiness and ensuring reliable munitions handling in extreme environments.

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS

Phase III will transition the MHU-196 Weapons Hydraulic Trailer heating capability into full operational use, with an expected entry point of TRL 7–8 at the conclusion of Phase II. Efforts will focus on final qualification, nuclear certification, and scaling integration across the MHU-196 fleet to ensure reliable cold- weather performance for munitions handling operations. Military applications include supporting AFGSC bomber and nuclear sortie generation, where hydraulic trailer reliability directly impacts alert posture and mission timelines. The system also applies to PACAF and USAFE operations in arctic climates, supporting Agile Combat Employment and dispersed operations, and to AETC training environments, ensuring Airmen gain proficiency on equipment consistent with operational systems. Commercial applications extend to industries reliant on hydraulic systems in cold environments, including airport/aerospace ground support equipment, construction, mining, oil and gas, logistics, and emergency/disaster response trailers. These sectors face similar cold-weather challenges, and a heating solution that reduces downtime and maintenance can deliver measurable cost savings and improved efficiency. Transition planning will include production scaling, integration with Air Force sustainment organizations, and alignment with nuclear certification and Air Force safety requirements. Engagement with AFMC, AFSC, and Air Logistics Complexes will ensure smooth sustainment pathways, while further opportunities exist to adapt the technology to other weapons trailers and expeditionary support equipment.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Complementaru Flush Air Data System for Subsonic/Transonic Bomber Operations and Weapon Platforms - SBIR Topic DAF26BZ03-DV023

Funding Amount:

Est. $2,000,000

Deadline to Apply:

July 22nd, 2026

Objective:

This effort seeks to mature, develop, and validate a modular, complementary Flush Air Data System (FADS) designed to augment existing pitot-static air data architectures across all AFGSC platforms, including bomber operations, weapon platforms, UAS, and test assets. The system will provide redundant, jam-resistant, and stealth-compatible air data sensing to enhance flight safety, data integrity, and mission resilience in contested environments.

Description:

Targeting Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 6–7, the effort will integrate the complementary FADS within an Agile Pod or fuselage-mounted configuration, enabling non-intrusive flight validation without modification of existing primary systems. The goal is to demonstrate reliable interoperability and data fusion between FADS and the aircraft’s existing air data computers, ensuring cross-verified, all-weather flight parameters for improved survivability, redundancy, and operational assurance.

Key objectives include:

Developing a robust and adaptable flush-mounted pressure sensing system optimized for AFGSC platforms, with scalable designs applicable across the AFGSC portfolio, as well as to other Air Force and Department of War (DoW) aircraft, UAVs, and missile systems, enabling smoother technology transition and broader fleet impact. Ensuring accurate and resilient air data measurement throughout dynamic flight conditions, addressing challenges such as icing, electromagnetic interference, and sensor degradation. Conducting comprehensive ground tests followed by flight validation to demonstrate system reliability, accuracy, and seamless integration with existing aircraft systems.

The desired outcome is a flight-validated complementary FADS that enhances aircraft survivability, minimizes maintenance burdens, and increases data assurance under contested conditions. This effort directly aligns with AFGSC modernization priorities and DoW objectives in maneuver, sensing, and technology protection, ensuring an immediate operational benefit while enabling a smoother, lower-risk technology transition across the AFGSC portfolio. Over time, data and performance collected through this complementary system will inform future modernization pathways, enabling potential transition to a primary flush air data architecture once validated and qualified for operational use.

AFGSC’s B-52 and B-1 bombers currently rely on traditional pitot/static probe systems to measure airspeed, altitude, and trajectory—critical parameters for ensuring flight safety and executing missions effectively. These legacy systems, while proven, are single points of failure and introduce operational limitations in contested and low-observable environments. Protruding pitot probes increase drag and radar cross-section, elevating detectability and reducing effectiveness and survivability. They are also susceptible to icing, contamination, and physical damage, which can drive up maintenance costs and reduce mission flexibility.

Although concerns over legacy air data systems persist, the fundamental pitot-static sensing principle, introduced in the early 20th century, remains the Department of the Air Force’s current state-of-the-art and primary method for air data measurement on bomber and mobility aircraft—despite incremental advances in digital air data computers. While Flush Air Data System (FADS) concepts have existed since the 1970s, no system has yet matured into an operationally qualified, modular, and low-observable solution for subsonic and transonic military platforms. Existing low-observable air data treatments and experimental flush systems have been demonstrated in limited tests or stealth programs; however, these remain platform-specific, non-modular, and not qualified for sustained operational use.

Currently, no DoW air data solution combines low-observable design, modular integration, and jam-resistant redundancy for subsonic and transonic bomber operations. This effort moves beyond the current state-of-the-art by introducing a complementary, fleet-ready FADS architecture optimized for contested, all-weather environments.

A Complementary FADS augments traditional pitot/static architectures rather than replacing them. It embeds precision surface pressure sensors flush with the aircraft skin or within modular pods to provide a secondary, independent data stream that validates and reinforces the primary system. This approach ensures data continuity under jamming, icing, or probe damage conditions, while not impacting aerodynamic drag and radar cross-section.

Unlike prior NASA/AFRL FADS demonstrations focused on hypersonic vehicles, this effort will deliver a mission-qualified, low-observable, and cyber-secure complementary system tailored to the subsonic and transonic flight regimes of AFGSC bombers and weapon platforms. The subsonic and transonic regimes for these heavier aircraft pose unique challenges such as flow separation, shockwaves, complex pressure gradients, and unsteady aerodynamic phenomena that complicate the accurate extraction and processing of air data from flush sensors. These conditions require specialized calibration, signal processing algorithms, and system designs not yet mature for operational use.

This complementary design preserves existing flight-control architectures while introducing an operationally resilient, scalable capability that strengthens flight-data assurance and paves the way for future full-system modernization under separate initiatives.

While starting with AFGSC bomber operations, the design is intentionally modular and mission-agnostic so validated sensors and algorithms can transition to all AFGSC platforms, weapon platforms, UAS, missiles, and other systems. This dual-use potential enhances transition pathways and aligns with broader DoW modernization priorities in hypersonic, test instrumentation, and distributed sensing (supports new DoW CTAs - AAI, Q-BID, and SHY).

The proposed effort seeks to mature and demonstrate a modular, flush-mounted air data sensing system optimized for the unique operational and geometrical complexities of AFGSC bomber airframes, and to provide opportunities to modernize, digitize, and standardize these capabilities across the bomber fleet and other AFGSC aircraft and weapon platforms. The flush system will ensure:

Robust, adaptable pressure port placement tailored to complex airframes or weapon platforms. Accurate and resilient air data measurement throughout subsonic and transonic maneuvers (including climbs, descents, and rapid flight profile transitions), while compensating for flow disturbances. Effective operation in icing conditions and GPS-denied or contested electromagnetic environments. Reduced logistics and sustainment burdens when compared to pitot probe maintenance and susceptibility to fouling or physical damage (indirectly supports new DoW CTA LOG)

The effort will begin at TRL 3-4 (TRL 4 preferred; TRL 3 may require strong prior work) and progress through iterative design, ground, and flight testing to achieve TRL 6–7. The Phase II path will use Agile Pod or non-intrusive fuselage deployment for flight validation to minimize aircraft modification risk. Deliverables include a validated flight test report, verified performance metrics, and a modular, cyber-hardened system architecture compatible with Open Mission Systems (OMS), model-based flight controls, and digital engineering environments.

Effort phases shall include:

Phase I: N/A (prior feasibility work performed)

Phase II: Fabrication of flight-ready sensor modules, integration with aircraft interfaces, ground testing including environmental and EMI/EMC assessments, and in-flight testing for performance validation, accuracy, and reliability. Phase III (Transition):Seamless technology handoff to Air Force program offices for fleet upgrade initiatives and technology insertion, with detailed documentation, manufacturing process development, and sustainment planning.

Minimum acceptable deliverables include a fully documented flight test report demonstrating TRL 6-7 readiness, verified sensor performance metrics across target flight regimes, cyber-hardened system architecture compliant with Air Force digital standards, and a scalable modular design enabling rapid adaptation to multiple platform types.

This capability directly supports AFGSC’s weapon system readiness (AFGSC/CC's #1 priority), bomber program priorities (AFGSC A5/8), bomber modernization programs (AFLCMC), and mission assurance by improving flight data integrity for nuclear deterrence and conventional strike operations in contested airspace. Beyond bombers, the technology offers transition potential across the Air Force portfolios—including weapon platforms, UAVs, hypersonic test assets, and missile platforms—advancing DoW objectives in Technology Maneuver, Manufacturing, and Protect & Defend.

Over time, data and performance collected through this complementary system will inform future modernization pathways, enabling a potential transition to a primary flush air data architecture once validated, further strengthening the resilience and technological readiness of AFGSC’s bomber fleet and weapon platforms. By mitigating vulnerabilities pitot/static systems with a stealth-compatible, all-weather, jam-resistant alternative, this effort enhances platform survivability, reduces lifecycle cost, and ensures enduring global strike readiness.

PHASE I

As this is a Direct-to-Phase-II (D2P2) topic, no Phase I awards will be made. To qualify, the applicant must demonstrate feasibility through prior "Phase I-type" efforts with documentation such as data, reports, feasibility studies, specific measurements, and success criteria from prototype testing. This should show the technology's current maturity and ability to meet AFGSC's operational needs for Flush Air Data Systems.

PHASE II

The Phase II effort will mature, integrate, and flight-demonstrate a prototype complementary Flush Air Data System (FADS) that provides jam-resistance, a reduce radar cross section, and highly accurate real-time air data for all AFGSC platforms. Building on prior feasibility studies and subscale testing at TRL 3-4, this effort will advance the technology to TRL 6–7 through integration within an Agile Pod on a B-52 and follow-on validation across other AFGSC-selected aircraft and/or weapon platforms. This pod-based approach enables rapid demonstration without structural modification, reduces certification risk, and provides a scalable path for later integration across the AFGSC portfolio.

This effort directly supports AFGSC’s modernization and weapon system readiness priorities, enhancing targeting precision, flight-data resilience, and survivability in contested environments while establishing a low-risk foundation for future full-system modernization.

Objectives and Desired Outcomes

The overarching goal is to deliver a validated, flight-tested complementary FADS prototype that meets or exceeds legacy pitot performance while minimizing drag, icing, and radar-signature penalties. Success will be measured by the system’s ability to generate precision, real-time air data across subsonic and transonic flight regimes, with demonstrated resilience to jamming, icing, and fouling. Desired key outcomes include:

Aerodynamic Database (ADB): Develop an aerodynamic model spanning subsonic through transonic flight regimes, leveraging Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and wind tunnel data. Agile Pod Integration: Deliver a fully integrated flush-mounted air data sensing hardware/software system incorporated within an Agile Pod, facilitating rapid platform transition and reduced certification risk without requiring aircraft structural modifications. Ground Testing: Conduct comprehensive ground-based assessments to verify hardware performance and environmental resilience. Flight Demonstration: Execute flight validation on the chosen AFGSC platform (B-52), assessing system accuracy across high-altitude cruise, maneuvering, and transonic profiles. Comparative analyses with legacy pitot systems will quantify improvements in accuracy, redundancy, survivability, and targeting capabilities. System Transition Roadmap: Provide a detailed transition plan including performance validation, manufacturing readiness, and integration paths for AFGSC aircraft and weapon platforms, future aircraft/weapon platforms, and other Department of the Air Force applications.

Technical Goals and Functional Requirements

Port Placement Optimization: Determine optimal flush port configurations/placement for redundancy and survivability while preserving a reduced radar signature.

Algorithm Maturation: Refine system algorithms for real-time processing, targeting jam-resistance precision within ±3% of legacy pitot accuracy across the operational envelope.

Operational Envelope: Demonstrate performance from take-off roll to the maximum operational air speed and altitudes up to the platform’s service ceiling.

Resilience Analysis: Achieve ≥95% valid air-data accuracy despite the loss of up to two pressure sensing ports.

Integration Requirements: Ensure full compatibility with AFGSC aircraft’s power, thermal, and avionics margins while remaining OMS-compliant.

Testing Requirements and Success Criteria

Ground Tests: Wind-tunnel and bench validation of hardware and algorithms.

Success Criterion: Air-data accuracy within 10 percent of nominal values.

Flight Tests: Flight series on the B-52 Agile Pod covering subsonic–transonic regimes.

Success Criterion: FADS outputs demonstrate parity or improvement over pitot/static data within statistical confidence intervals.

Data Analysis: Generate quick-look reports after each sortie and a consolidated validation package comparing FADS and pitot accuracy, latency, and reliability, and any other requested pitot system metrics.

Success Criterion: Reports, analyses, and validation information delivered IAW contract timelines.

Deliverables

Aerodynamic simulation results based on the developed ADB. Integrated FADS hardware and software within a B-52 Agile Pod for testing. Ground-test report documenting design verification, environmental qualification, and EMI/EMC compliance. Flight test quick-look reports and consolidated performance analyses. Final transition package, including integration plan, manufacturing readiness assessment (MRL 4–5 target), cost model, and roadmap for AFGSC and derivative fleets/weapons.

Period of Performance Outcomes

By project completion, this effort will advance FADS technology from TRL 3-4 to TRL 6–7, delivering a flight-validated prototype that enhances radar-signature control, jam-resistance, and air-data precision across AFGSC flight regimes. Beginning with the B-52 Agile Pod demonstration and scaling across AFGSC platforms, the program establishes a clear transition path into AFGSC and AFLCMC bomber modernization portfolios and future digital-flight-control programs. The complementary FADS also lays the foundation for future primary-system modernization across Air Force, unmanned, and hypersonic test vehicles—strengthening operational resilience and readiness in contested airspace.

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS

Phase III will transition the complementary Flush Air Data System (FADS) from a flight-tested prototype to a fully operational, production-ready system ready for fleet integration and broader AFGSC and USAF applications. Initial integration and demonstration will occur on the B-52 Agile Pod test platform, with potential for B-1 testing if platform availability permits. After successful transition within the AFGSC bomber portfolio, the effort will expand to other Air Force platforms and later to UAS and subsonic/transonic missile systems where compact, low-drag, and jam-resistant air-data sensing is essential.

At the onset of Phase III, FADS is expected to be at least Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 following Phase II flight demonstrations. The effort will mature the technology to TRL 7-8 through operational testing, certification, and fleet-level integration. Activities will include alignment with USAF and DoW acquisition standards, air worthiness qualification, cybersecurity accreditation, and verification of compliance with Open Mission Systems (OMS) and Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) standards, culminating in readiness for full operational deployment. The project will produce validated documentation packages for Technical Orders (T.O.s), configuration management baselines, and maintenance procedures supporting transition to depot-level sustainment.

Military Applications

FADS augments and modernizes legacy pitot-static architectures on strategic bomber and AFGSC platforms, improving survivability, mission assurance, and flight-safety margins by reducing radar cross-section and mitigating vulnerability to icing or probe damage. It provides high-precision, jam-resistant air-data to enhance navigation, targeting, and flight-control performance in contested environments.

Beyond bomber modernization, the technology supports missile, hypersonic, reentry-vehicle, and UAS applications requiring resilient, low-observable air-data sensing.

Following successful AFGSC integration, FADS will transition through the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) Program Offices and the Program Executive Officer (PEO) Bombers, with potential alignment under future Digital Flight Control Modernization or Bomber Avionics Modernization efforts. Technology integration will also be coordinated with AFLCMC/WBD (B-52 Program Office), AFLCMC/WBN (B-1), AFLCMC/WBS (B-21), AFLCMCWBZ (B-2), PEO Mobility, and USSF for future application to mobility aircraft and tankers operating in contested or denied environments.

Commercial Applications

Parallel to military applications, the FADS offers strong commercial potential in sectors facing similar aerodynamic and operational challenges. Business-jet, advanced-air-mobility (AAM), and eVTOL manufacturers seek compact, low-drag, and all-weather air-data systems to replace pitot-based sensors that are prone to icing and require frequent maintenance. FADS offers a lightweight, modular, and high-reliability solution adaptable to civilian certification pathways while improving safety and operational efficiency.

Phase III Effort and Transition Planning

Phase III activities will include:

System refinement based on Phase II flight test data to enhance reliability, accuracy, and jam resistance. Production engineering and scale-up to manufacturing-ready status, including supplier qualification and quality control implementation. Formal integration on selected platforms with necessary certification testing and documentation development. Fleet-level roll-out planning, including logistics, sustainment, and lifecycle cost assessment. Engagement and coordination with key AFGSC, AFMC, AFLCMC, and PEOs for enduring support and technology insertion. Identification of additional transition pathways across USAF and DoW portfolios, including mobility aircraft, UAS, and missile systems.

By the end of Phase III, FADS will achieve TRL 7–8, validated for operational use and production. The complementary system will deliver a scalable, modular, and cyber-secure sensing capability that enhances platform survivability, flight-data assurance, and mission success in contested environments. Its dual-use applicability ensures value across military and commercial aerospace sectors, supporting both AFGSC and DoW modernization priorities while strengthening U.S. industrial leadership in advanced sensing technologies.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Platform-Agnostic, Open Architecture, Advanced Automated Search & Track and Target Recognition Enhancement for Airborne, Fixed-Wing Special Operations Applications - SBIR Topic DAF26BZ03-DV024

Funding Amount:

Est. $2,000,000

Deadline to Apply:

July 22nd, 2026

Objective:

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with section 3.5 of the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws.

The goal is to enhance operational efficiency, reduce crew workload, and improve mission outcomes for a variety of crewed and uncrewed SOF platforms that use EO/IR sensors.

ITAR:

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with section 3.5 of the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws.

Description:

The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) seek artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled technologies aimed at automating and optimizing search and track functions, particularly for electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) sensors on Special Operations Forces (SOF) unique platforms such as the AC-130J Ghostrider.

PHASE I

As this is a Direct-to-Phase-II (D2P2) topic, no Phase I awards will be made as a result of this topic. To qualify for for this D2P2 topic, the Air Force expects the applicant(s) to demonstrate feasibility by means of a prior 'Phase I-type' effort that does not constitute work undertaken as part of a prior or ongoing SBIR/STTR funding agreement. Applicant(s) should provide documentation demonstrating a clear understanding of advanced automated search & track algorithms, advanced MTI/ATR concepts and software, open source architectures, and integration of miniaturized/hardware-lite solutions for use on a variety of platforms. This project will push the state-of-the-art in optimized, automated search & track functions, with provisions for open architectures for potential adoption across multiple SOF platforms. Applicant(s) will provision for a prototype roll-on/roll-off capability for flight evaluation (i.e. AC-130J) integrated into existing onboard sensors and operated by SOF aircrew in a relevant environment.

PHASE II

The goal is to reduce operator workload, improve situational awareness, and accelerate closure of the kill chain to improve operational outcomes. At its core, the project is software intensive and in theory would integrate into any platform with imaging sensors and SWAP-C to accommodate the processing power required for AI-enabled advanced search & track functions. It is anticipated the Phase II effort would include development on multiple ATR modes including: maritime/air-to-air/filtering and LLM learning to optimize ATR in all operational environments. A substantial ground-based R&D effort is required to evaluate software/algorithms using feeds collected from typical SOF platforms (including but not limited to EO/IR FMV sensors). Successful implementation could lead to a path to integration and procurement; a follow on Phase III could significantly increase the scope to a variety of host platforms.

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS

This topic has limited application in the commercial sector.Successful completion of a SBIR Phase II with a platform-agnostic, open architecture, advanced automated search & track capability for airborne, fixed-wing platforms would have wide-ranging applications across the DoW. The ultimate goal is to reduce operator workload, improve situational awareness, and accelerate closure of the kill chain to improve operational outcomes. At its core, the project is software intensive and in theory would integrate into any platform with imaging sensors and SWAP-C to accommodate the processing power required for AI-enabled advanced search & track functions. Phase III could significantly increase the scope to a variety of host platforms with direct path to fleet-wide integration and procurement.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

High Spectral/Spatial/Temporal Resolution MWIR Hyperspectral Imager - SBIR Topic DAF26BZ03-NV015

Funding Amount:

Est. $250,000

Deadline to Apply:

July 22nd, 2026

Objective:

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with section 3.5 of the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws.

Development of an infrared hyperspectral imager covering the wavelength range 2.0 micrometer to 5.0 micrometer with spectral resolution of 40 nm or better.

ITAR:

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with section 3.5 of the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws.

Description:

Hyperspectral MWIR infrared imagers are required to characterize signatures of military targets, both cooperative and hostile. The specific need is the characterization of missile plume and hardbody signatures in static and free flight tests. This threat characterization supports the design and testing of missile warning and countermeasure systems. The hyperspectral imagery data would also be useful in temperature/emissivity determination of hypersonic thermal protection systems during ground tests in arc-heated facilities.The focal plane of the imager should consist of at least 100 x 100 spatial pixels (threshold) with an objective of 256 x 256 spatial pixels or greater. Full-frame hyperspectral cube data rate should be at least 60 cubes per second (threshold) with an objective of 120 cubes per second or faster. The spectral resolution should be 40 nm (threshold) with an objective of 30 nm or better. The detector pixel pitch should be no bigger than 30 mm, with an objective of 15 mm. The detector well depth should be at least 30 Me-. The field of view of the hyperspectral imager shall be adjustable through the use of optics/lenses that do not impact the basic functionality. Snapshot data acquisition is preferred over scanning mode.

PHASE I

The Phase 1 effort should develop and prove the feasibility of the proposed approach through an analysis of alternatives, identification of high-risk technical elements, and generation of a conceptual design matrix that lays out how achievable design parameters impact system requirements – e.g. cube rate achievable as a function of focal plane array size and spectral resolution. The system design should be sufficiently detailed to guide the Phase II work with a minimum of risk. The Phase I effort will culminate in a conceptual design that optimally meets system requirements and a detailed plan for development of a prototype system during the Phase II effort.

PHASE II

The conceptual Phase 1 design will be matured into a detailed design. Iterative prototypes may be developed to validate the fundamental approach. The Phase II effort will culminate in the demonstration and delivery of a fully operational prototype hyperspectral imager that offers the best compromise of the threshold/objective requirements described above, along with a validated design for future larger scale production.

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS

Phase III efforts would include a limited production of a number of imagers for inclusion in existing DoW signature measurement systems, such as the Arnold Engineering Development Complex Field Measurement Team and the Center for Countermeasures Joint Standard Instrumentation Suite. Hyperspectral infrared imagers of this type would find wide military application for surveillance, night vision, and target detection, identification, and tracking. As mentioned above, applications for non-contact temperature/emissivity measurements for hypersonic systems and other defense applications are also possible. Commercial applications for security, surveillance, and non-contact imaging thermometry for manufacturing should also be pursued. Infrared hyperspectral imagers are now a ubiquitous piece of laboratory hardware. Advances in infrared hyperspectral imagery will find wide application supporting many disciplines.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Compact High-Pressure CO₂ Compressor for Aviation Thermal Management Systems - SBIR Topic DAF26BZ03-NV016

Funding Amount:

Est. $250,000

Deadline to Apply:

July 22nd, 2026

Objective:

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with section 3.5 of the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws.

The objective of this effort is to design and develop a compact, aviation‑grade CO₂ compressor capable of meeting the unique thermal management demands of military aircraft. The compressor must support high‑pressure transcritical CO₂ cycles while remaining lightweight, compact, and highly efficient over a wide range of heat loads. The project will evaluate potential options such as (but not limited to) scroll, semi‑hermetic reciprocating, and screw compressor architectures, assessing their respective benefits and challenges, including efficiency, vibration, noise, reliability, turn-down, and high‑pressure capability, to identify the most suitable design for aviation applications. The selected compressor shall support mission heat loads up to 200 kW with a turndown ratio of 3:1 (threshold) and 4:1 (objective), maintain the TMS outlet temperature at 20 °C ± 5 °C under dynamic loads, and reject heat to a 50 °C sink during transcritical (R-744) operation using a gas cooler as needed. The compressor shall be lightweight, compact, low-noise, and demonstrate high isentropic efficiency at the design point.

ITAR:

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with section 3.5 of the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws.

Description:

This topic focuses on developing a compact, high-efficiency CO₂ (R-744) compressor specifically tailored for aircraft thermal management systems (TMS) across a wide range of Air Force platforms, including fighters, transports, tankers, and next-generation autonomous collaborative platforms (ACP). Modern aircraft face growing thermal challenges from advanced mission systems such as radars, electronic warfare, and high-power avionics that demand reliable, lightweight, and efficient cooling solutions. While legacy refrigerants such as R-134a and R-1233zd(E) are commonly used, they require bulky, heavy components that constrain system design. By contrast, CO₂ offers high volumetric cooling capacity, environmental neutrality, and the potential for significant reductions in system size and weight. Military aviation operations introduce unique challenges. CO₂ systems operate at substantially higher pressures and often in transcritical cycles, requiring compressors capable of safely handling high pressure conditions while minimizing vibration, noise, and weight. The compressor must maintain high efficiency across a wide range of operating conditions, including hot-day ground operations and high-altitude low-temperature environments. This project seeks to develop and demonstrate compressor technologies that deliver a compact, high-efficiency, low-noise, and reliable aviation‑grade CO₂ compressor capable of precise temperature control and reliable operation throughout all mission phases. The proposed work should address the critical challenge of managing high heat loads in military aircraft. This project will leverage the thermodynamic properties of CO₂ to develop a compact, lightweight, and energy‑efficient thermal management CO2 compressor capable of reliable performance during high-demand phases of the mission, such as takeoff, climb and mission system engagement. The compressor should be designed to handle the highly dynamic thermal loads generated by next‑generation electrified aviation systems, ensuring stable and efficient cooling performance throughout all mission phases. The heat load can vary throughout a mission from notionally 200 kW during takeoff to 75 kW at cruise conditions, and the compressor must be able to operate efficiently over the entire range of heat loads. The compressor must cool the heat load to 20 °C ± 5 °C, and be capable of rejecting heat to a heat sink at 50 °C with a typical gas-cooler if needed. Proposals should address the development of an aviation-grade CO₂ compressor capable of operating efficiently across the full environmental, temperature, and pressure envelopes encountered in aircraft TMS, including high-altitude low-temperature environments, shock, vibration, EMI, etc., while operating in a transcritical thermodynamic cycle.

PHASE I

Design and develop a conceptual laboratory prototype of a compact CO₂ compressor optimized for aviation thermal management systems. Perform modeling and simulation to evaluate compressor performance under transcritical operating conditions and validate feasibility of achieving weight and efficiency targets.

PHASE II

Refine and fabricate a functional prototype CO2 compressor based on Phase I results. Conduct laboratory testing to assess heat rejection efficiency, weight reduction, and reliable operation across representative aviation conditions.

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS

This phase will transition the developed CO₂ compressor for dual application in military and commercial aviation environments, including collaboration with aircraft OEMs to support integration, certification, and flight qualification.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Quantum Solutions for Proactive Advanced Response in Cyber Warfare - QSPARX - SBIR Topic DAF26BZ03-NV017

Funding Amount:

Est. $250,000

Deadline to Apply:

July 22nd, 2026

Objective:

The primary objective of this Phase I SBIR effort is to develop and validate an AI-driven cybersecurity platform tailored to the Air Force District of Washington's (AFDW) urgent needs for post-quantum cryptographic (PQC) readiness. The proposed solution aims to enhance threat detection, cryptographic resilience, and mission assurance across high-value networks and communications managed by the 844th Communications Group (CG) at Joint Base Andrews and the National Capital Region. This project focuses on transitioning existing cryptographic assets to quantum-resilient standards to address quantum-enabled threats while minimizing disruptions to legacy infrastructure. Expected outcomes include the creation of a prototype that demonstrates automated threat detection, risk scoring, and compliance monitoring within Air Force environments, leveraging AI and machine learning technologies to ensure robust cyber defense mechanisms post-quantum era.

Description:

The Air Force District of Washington (AFDW) and the 844th Communications Group (CG) at Joint Base Andrews face significant cyber threats from adversaries leveraging quantum computing capabilities. Current cryptographic measures are inadequate against quantum decryption techniques, which could compromise classified and sensitive data, crucial systems, and overall mission assurance. To address these vulnerabilities, this project proposes developing an AI-driven cybersecurity platform designed to transition existing cryptographic assets to post-quantum cryptographic (PQC) standards. This solution will enhance threat detection, cryptographic resilience, and mission assurance across high-value AFDW networks and communications.

The desired outcome of this project is to create a robust cyber defense system that integrates advanced machine learning algorithms for automated threat detection, risk scoring, and compliance monitoring. This platform will ensure seamless PQC integration while minimizing disruptions to the legacy infrastructure, ultimately safeguarding critical Air Force data and assets. The project will commence at a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 3, focusing on analytical and experimental proof-of-concept, and aims to reach a TRL of 6 by the end of Phase II, demonstrating a system/subsystem prototype in a relevant environment.

The project will involve the following efforts and activities across its phases:

Phase I:

Conduct a comprehensive cryptographic asset inventory within the AFDW, identifying key management practices, storage locations, and interoperability with legacy systems.

Develop a clear mapping of existing cryptographic foundations to pinpoint areas needing quantum-resilient upgrades.

Establish success metrics, including detection accuracy and response times, for the AI/ML components of the solution.

Deliverable: A prototype demonstrating automated threat detection, risk scoring, and compliance monitoring, validated in simulated Air Force environments.

Phase II:

Enhance the prototype based on Phase I feedback, scaling the solution for broader network integration and real-world application within the AFDW and beyond.

Conduct extensive testing and validation of PQC algorithms in forensic cryptographic workflows, ensuring robust performance under diverse threat scenarios.

Deploy the fully developed platform in live Air Force environments, providing continuous monitoring and automated response capabilities.

Deliverable: A fully functional AI-driven cybersecurity platform with demonstrated effectiveness in operational Air Force settings, maintaining compliance with PQC standards and legacy system integration.

By leveraging a Quantum Value Pipeline framework, this project will significantly elevate the cybersecurity posture of the AFDW, addressing urgent post-quantum threats while maintaining mission-critical operations. The anticipated advancements in AI and machine learning will foster innovation and align with DoW cybersecurity policies, ensuring long-term resilience and superiority in the quantum era.

PHASE I

The Phase I effort will assess the feasibility of an AI-driven platform for PQC transition. Key goals include conducting a cryptographic asset inventory, mapping key management, storage, and legacy interoperability. Success criteria: a prototype demonstrating automated threat detection, risk scoring, compliance monitoring in Air Force environments, and metrics on AI/ML effectiveness, such as detection accuracy and response times.

PHASE II

Phase II will deliver a fully validated AI-driven cybersecurity platform, integrating post-quantum cryptography. Success includes achieving TRL 6 with seamless deployment in operational environments, confirmed through rigorous testing and compliance monitoring. Metrics: enhanced threat detection accuracy, response times, and robustness against quantum-enabled cyber threats, ensuring mission assurance for AFDW networks.

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS

Phase III will focus on deploying the AI-driven PQC platform for real-world Air Force and commercial environments. Military applications include enhanced cryptographic resilience and threat detection in high-value networks. Commercially, the platform offers robust cybersecurity solutions for critical infrastructure. Expected TRL at entry is 6, advancing to TRL 9. Transition planning includes obtaining necessary DAF approvals and exploring collaboration with allies and private-sector partners.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Leveraging AI/ML for Optimizing JAG Data, Decision Making, and Military Justice Outcomes - SBIR Topic DAF26BZ03-NV018

Funding Amount:

Est. $250,000

Deadline to Apply:

July 22nd, 2026

Objective:

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with section 3.5 of the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws.

This SBIR Phase I initiative aims to explore and validate AI/ML solutions specifically for enhancing the data management, decision-making, and judicial outcomes within the Air Force District of Washington Judge Advocate (AFDW JA). The primary objective is to prototype advanced AI/ML techniques that can address the unique challenges associated with JAG data lifecycle and operational demands. This includes:

Optimizing JAG Data Management: Employing AI/ML for automated document classification, metadata extraction, and intelligent eDiscovery to streamline evidence review processes.

Enhancing Decision-Making: Utilizing predictive analytics for case forecasting, resource allocation, and bias detection to ensure equitable and efficient legal rulings.

Improving Military Justice Outcomes: Implementing generative AI for rapid advisory responses, anomaly detection in compliance pipelines, and reinforcement learning for workflow improvements.

The aim is to develop capabilities that bolster data integrity, mitigate risks in critical areas such as military justice proceedings, and support the AFDW JA's mission to provide timely, accurate legal counsel. These efforts will align with Department of War ethical AI principles, ensuring secure data handling on IL5-compliant platforms, and adhere to the guidelines set forth in Air Force Doctrine Note 25-1 for responsible AI integration.

ITAR:

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with section 3.5 of the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws.

Description:

The legal and judicial data management processes within the Air Force District of Washington Judge Advocate (AFDW JA) are currently labor-intensive and prone to delays due to the reliance on manual reviews and updates. These challenges hinder the timely delivery of accurate and independent counsel required for contingency responses, ceremonial honors, and global operational support. This Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) topic aims to address these issues by introducing innovative AI/ML solutions that automate and expedite AFDW JA's workflows, thereby enhancing mission effectiveness and efficiency.

Key areas of focus include:

Military Justice under the UCMJ: Automating the intake and processing of judicial and legal case data through advanced AI techniques such as natural language processing for automatic document classification, metadata extraction, and anomaly detection.

Contracting Oversight: Leveraging predictive modeling techniques to improve data quality, accuracy, and mitigate bias in decision-making processes.

Interagency Civil Support: Utilizing generative AI for rapid query responses and reinforcement learning to optimize workflow efficiencies, along with advanced data visualization tools to provide actionable insights and facilitate stakeholder briefings.

The desired outcome of this project is to transform the unstructured data overload into actionable intelligence, thereby reducing processing delays by 50-70% and significantly enhancing overall legal advisory excellence. The proposed AI/ML solutions must comply with Air Force standards and Department of War ethical AI principles, ensuring secure and explainable outputs that are compatible with existing Air Force data platforms. This will support seamless integration and scalability across the National Capital Region and worldwide missions.

The initial Technology Readiness Level (TRL) at the project start is TRL 3, with the aim to achieve TRL 6 by the end of Phase II. The efforts required to achieve these objectives include:

Phase I: Conducting feasibility studies, developing preliminary AI/ML models, and validating the core functionalities through prototype testing. Minimum deliverables include a detailed feasibility report, initial prototype/wireframe demonstration, and a comprehensive plan for Phase II development.

Phase II: Refining and expanding the AI/ML models based on Phase I results, conducting extensive testing in operational environments, and finalizing the integration with existing AFDW JA systems. Minimum deliverables include a fully functional AI/ML solution, detailed testing and evaluation reports, and documentation for system integration and user training.

By implementing these advanced AI/ML solutions, the AFDW JA will enhance its capability to provide timely and accurate legal counsel, aligning with the strategic objectives of the Air Force District of Washington and ensuring operational readiness and effectiveness.

PHASE I

Phase I aims to explore AI/ML analytics, predictive models, and visualizations for AFDW JA's data handling and decision processes. The focus is on theoretical design validated by simulated data, addressing issues such as data quality and predictive modeling. Deliverables include a technical report, conceptual prototypes, and a transition plan. Success is measured by conceptual innovation and alignment with AFDW JA's operational needs.

PHASE II

In Phase II of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) effort, participants will advance the conceptual framework from Phase I into a functional prototype of the AI/ML solution, conducting rigorous development, integration, and validation testing to demonstrate operational viability for Air Force judicial and legal case management use cases. Building on synthetic or de-identified datasets representative of military justice proceedings, contracting oversight, and operational legal support scenarios, the prototype must exhibit end-to-end performance in automating data ingestion, quality enhancement, and decision support, while quantifying impacts on AFDW JA's mission objectives for improved data quality, accuracy, and timeliness in delivering independent counsel. The prototype shall implement automated ingestion pipelines for large-scale, unstructured judicial and legal data volumes, integrated with machine learning-based data quality issue detection—such as real-time identification of missing values, inconsistencies, or biases—and deploy predictive modeling and imputation techniques (e.g., generative adversarial networks or ensemble-based methods) to resolve gaps and boost data integrity for enhanced decision-making. Participants must also integrate interactive data visualization interfaces to dynamically display pre- and post-imputation analytics, including metrics on completeness, accuracy improvements, and derived insights for judicial process reviews. Testing will occur in simulated operational environments to evaluate scalability, interoperability, and robustness against edge cases, with all elements adhering to Department of War ethical AI principles and Air Force standards for secure, explainable AI, ensuring compatibility with existing data ecosystems. Deliverables include a working prototype, comprehensive validation reports with empirical benchmarks (e.g., imputation accuracy >90%, processing efficiency gains >50%), user feedback from AFDW JA stakeholders, and a detailed Phase III commercialization and transition strategy to support full-scale deployment across the National Capital Region and worldwide missions.

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS

In Phase III, the validated AI/ML solution from Phase II will transition to full-scale production, deployment, and commercialization, integrating into AFDW JA's operational systems for real-world application in military justice, contracting, and contingency support, with DoW funding or non-SBIR contracts facilitating rapid fielding. This phase emphasizes scalability, user training, and sustainment to achieve enterprise-wide efficiencies, such as 70%+ reductions in data processing times and enhanced equity in outcomes. Dual-use potential extends to civilian sectors, including federal/state courts and private law firms, where the technology can automate legal data management, predictive case analytics, and compliance reporting, fostering partnerships for broader market adoption in judicial tech and legal AI services.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Field Speciation of Ultrafine to Coarse Particulate - SBIR Topic DHA26BZ03-NV006

Funding Amount:

Est. $300,000

Deadline to Apply:

July 22nd, 2026

Objective:

Develop and demonstrate the efficacy of a fieldable capability to identify the chemical composition of ultrafine, fine and coarse particulate ranging from 0.01 microns (10 nanometers) to 10 microns.

Description:

This SBIR topic aligns with the DHA Environmental Exposures Toxic Injury Prevention Roadmap, specifically focusing on enhanced tools and assessment methodology for acute and chronic exposure to military-relevant chemicals, materials, and hazards.

The DoW requires the capability to comprehensively characterize particulate composition in situ in the field to replace current methods which require samples to be collected and sent to a reach back laboratory. Particulate exposure is correlated with exacerbating asthma, cardiopulmonary disease and systemic effects (1-2). Chemical composition is important to correlate exposure with health impact (1-2). Particulates of interest for monitoring in the DoW are broad and include those generated from both environmental and occupational sources. The primary chemical classes of interest include biological, carbonaceous (i.e. soot) and metals. Particulates are generated at relatively high concentrations from maintenance processes and high intensity processes such as weapons firing, engine emissions and fires. Particulates generated from maintenance processes can be present in a broad size range depending on the nature of the process, while the peak size of particulates generated during high intensity processes are often less than 0.1 microns (100 nanometers) (3). In outdoor environments, particulates pick up additional contaminants, such as biological materials (4). There are methods available to collect particulates and submit for laboratory analysis, but methods to characterize particulate composition on-site in field environments are limited in the ability to detect all class of interest (carbonaceous, metals, biologicals) and all size fractions (ultrafine, fine, coarse).

Developing a comprehensive detection capability for ultrafine particulates is a critical investment in the long-term readiness and well-being of the force. Standard monitoring equipment often fails to detect submicron particles, which pose a medical threat due to their ability to penetrate the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Service members operating in environments such as burn pits, flightlines/flight decks, or industrial maintenance facilities may be exposed to hazardous concentrations without warning, leading to systemic inflammation, cardiovascular stress, and respiratory toxicity. Proactive, quantitative surveillance provides data to allow commanders to make informed decisions to protect the force, enables preventative medicine personnel to mitigate hazards, and creates a permanent exposure data health record essential for future service member and veteran health care.

The novel materiel solution desired is a field portable capability to characterize the chemical composition of ultrafine, fine and coarse particulate ranging from 0.01 microns (10 nanometers) to 10 microns. The priority is for the device to differentiate between carbonaceous, metal, water vapor and biological particulate. However, additional speciation of elemental versus organic carbon, specific metals, minerals and biologicals is also desired. The sensitivity of the device must be low enough to be compatible with field relevant concentrations (size-dependent, available in literature referenced). The response from sample collection to reporting must be real-time or near real-time (< 10 minutes). The device must integrate a simple user-interface and calibration capability, require minimal input from the user and produce data output which can be easily interpreted. The device must also be ruggedized to meet requirements in MIL-STD-810H (5). Reliance on consumable materials such as working fluids should be minimized. Both onboard and wireless data transmission capability must be integrated into the device. Device cost threshold should target <$50K per unit to ensure practicable transition.

PHASE I

The Phase I effort will focus on a determination of a technological approach and proof of feasibility for developing a field portable capability to characterize the chemical composition of ultrafine, fine and coarse particulate ranging from 0.01 microns (10 nanometers) to 10 microns that will at a minimum differentiate between carbonaceous, metal, and biological particulate, as well as water vapor droplets. Additional speciation of specific metals would be highly beneficial. The ability to sample particulate in the ultrafine to coarse size ranges and differentiate composition in each size class is a requirement and shall be incorporated into the design. The feasibility analysis can include a review of currently available technology and analysis of components that can be combined and miniaturized while maintaining performance. The technical approach description shall also include an analysis of strategies for maximizing accuracy and stability in a broad range of environments and minimizing complexity, as well as a preliminary design. An integrated solution and design for field accuracy checks with minimal consumables and logistics requirements shall also be included.

PHASE II

The Phase II effort will include the development of at least two prototype devices and a robust performance evaluation to determine accuracy when exposed to particulate emission sources at a broad range of environmental conditions, including -26 to +109 degrees Fahrenheit and 0 to 95% humidity (see MIL-STD-810H). The devices must also be evaluated for ruggedness. The size and weight of the device must be minimized to less than 2000 cubic feet and less than 30 pounds. Detection accuracy, consistency, response time and stability over time as a function of particulate source and concentration across both devices should be evaluated. The operational range for temperature, humidity and pressure should be evaluated and reported. Phase II shall also include the development of a plan for scaling the manufacturing of the device with an estimated cost per unit. Finally, the ability to confirm detection accuracy in the field must be demonstrated.

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS

The envisioned end state is a field portable capability to characterize the chemical composition of ultrafine, fine and coarse particulate ranging from 0.01 microns (10 nanometers) to 10 microns that can be sold commercially as a standalone device. To achieve this end state, phase III efforts should include further hardware refinement for manufacturability, software refinement to ensure useability and technology demonstration in a broad range of field environments and conditions. Development of both private and military sectors shall be investigated. Commercial applications where this capability may be used include occupational exposure assessments to assess and document worker exposure in maintenance facilities, construction sites, firing ranges, emergency response sites, flightlines and medical facilities. Military applications include occupational exposure assessments (i.e. compliance monitoring) and will be primarily tailed for acute threat warning and assessment in alignment with military medical modernization requirements.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Open Architecture OEM Real-time Ultrafine Particulate Sensor - SBIR Topic DHA26BZ03-NV007

Funding Amount:

Est. $300,000

Deadline to Apply:

July 22nd, 2026

Objective:

Develop and demonstrate the efficacy of a low size, weight, power, and cost, and open-architecture ultrafine particulate sensor with real-time detection down to 0.01 microns (10 nanometers) or less at concentrations up to 10^6 particles per cubic centimeter.

Description:

This SBIR topic aligns with the DHA Environmental Exposures Toxic Injury Prevention Roadmap, specifically focusing on enhanced tools and assessment methodology for acute and chronic exposure to military-relevant chemicals, materials, and hazards.

Ultrafine particulates pose a significant health risk due to their ability to penetrate deep into the lungs, enter the bloodstream, and translocate to the brain. Exposure has been correlated with exacerbating asthma, cardiopulmonary disease and systemic effects (1). However, current mass-based exposure assessment standards are inadequate for characterizing the risks associated with these low-mass, high-surface-area particles and mixtures. The DoW currently lacks a detection capability to comprehensively characterize a service member’s exposure to ultrafine particulates, which results in the inability to evaluate potential correlation with health outcomes. Ultrafine particulates of interest for occupational monitoring include those generated from high intensity processes such as weapons firing, engine emissions and fires (2-3). Submicron particulate exposure in occupational environments with these emission sources is highly variable and depends on proximity to the source and airflow conditions, which necessitates personal breathing zone monitoring (i.e. affordable sensors). The peak size of particulates generated from these processes are less than 0.1 microns (100 nanometers). Most commercially available Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) particulate matter sensors use an optical measurement approach, which limits the lower size that can be detected to about 0.3 microns. Currently available direct reading instruments for measuring particulates less than 0.3 microns in real-time include condensation particle counters and electrometers, which are expensive (>$10K). Most are not available as an OEM version to be integrated with other sensors. Those that are available suffer from a relatively low upper concentration limit (10^5 particles per cubic centimeter) so cannot be used in the field for emission exposure measurements, where concentrations are often closer to 10^6 particles per cubic centimeter or higher (4).

Developing a comprehensive detection capability for ultrafine particulates is a critical investment in the long-term readiness and well-being of the force. Standard monitoring equipment often fails to detect submicron particles, which pose a medical threat due to their ability to penetrate the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Service members operating in environments such as burn pits, flightlines/flight decks, or industrial maintenance facilities may be exposed to hazardous concentrations without warning, leading to systemic inflammation, cardiovascular stress, and respiratory toxicity. Proactive, quantitative surveillance provides data to allow commanders to make informed decisions to protect the force, enables preventative medicine personnel to mitigate hazards, and creates a permanent exposure data health record essential for future service member and veteran health care.

The novel materiel solution desired is a low size, weight, power and cost OEM ultrafine particulate sensor with real-time detection down to 0.01 microns (10 nanometers) or less at concentrations up to 10^6 particles per cubic centimeter. Individual sensors must be <$1K and have an open architecture that will allow for end user integration with other sensors or devices. The sensor must be ruggedized to meet requirements in MIL-STD-810H (5). In addition to the sensor, a solution to test calibration status in the field must also be developed. The development of the sensor and bump test solution must be coupled with a demonstration of efficacy to meet the stated requirements as well as repeatability in manufacturing consistency and performance across multiple sensors. Reliance on consumable materials such as working fluids should be minimized.

PHASE I

The Phase I effort will focus on a determination of a technological approach and proof of feasibility for developing a low cost (<$1K) OEM ultrafine particulate sensor that meets the required specifications, including ability to measure down to at least 0.01 microns (10 nanometers) at concentrations up to 10^6 particles per cubic centimeter with sensor response time of one second and accuracy of ±10% and sensor stability for at least one year. The feasibility analysis can include a review of currently available technology and analysis of components that can be simplified, miniaturized or eliminated while maintaining performance. The technical approach description shall also include an analysis of strategies for maximizing accuracy and stability in a broad range of environments as well as a preliminary design. A solution for field accuracy checks with minimal consumables and logistics requirements shall also be included.

PHASE II

The Phase II effort will include the development of three to five prototype devices and a robust performance evaluation to determine sensor accuracy when exposed to different ultrafine particulate emission sources at a broad range of environmental conditions, including -26 to +109 degrees Fahrenheit and 0 to 95% humidity (5). Sensor accuracy, response time and stability over time as a function of particulate source and concentration across 3-5 copies should be evaluated. The operational range for temperature, humidity and pressure shall be reported. Phase II will also include the development of a plan for scaling the manufacturing of the sensor with estimated per sensor cost. Finally, the ability to evaluate sensor accuracy in the field must also be demonstrated.

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS

The envisioned end state is an OEM ultrafine particulate sensor that reliably measures particulates < 0.01 – 0.3 microns and can be sold commercially as a compliment to currently available optical sensors which typically measures particulates in the 0.3 – 10 micron size range. To achieve this end state, phase III efforts should include further hardware refinement for manufacturability, software refinement to ensure useability and technology demonstration in a broad range of field environments and conditions. Development via both private and military sectors should be investigated. Commercial applications where this capability may be used include wildfire response, manufacturing facilities, construction sites, airport flightlines, medical facilities and firing ranges to both assess and document worker exposure levels but also to evaluate the efficacy of controls. Development through government pathways may be considered in support of joint defense and medical modernization applications including comprehensive exposure monitoring and threat detection.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Digital Twin of the Organization for Enhanced Mission Readiness - SBIR Topic DLA26BZ03-NV011

Funding Amount:

Est. $100,000

Deadline to Apply:

July 22nd, 2026

Objective:

The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) seeks to develop and implement a dynamic workforce digital twin to enhance organizational effectiveness, support mission-critical decisions, and accelerate the adoption of advanced technologies. As Artificial Intelligence (AI) fundamentally changes the workforce of the future, the Department must achieve a 10x productivity increase to maintain strategic overmatch and compete effectively with near-peer adversaries and the workforce plays a critical role in achieving this scale. The primary objective is to create a Digital Twin (DT) of the organization capable of generating synthetic data and enabling leaders to react quickly to dynamic changes. This tool will inform key workforce-related decisions, improve how work gets done, and allow for robust scenario-planning for core mission activities under unpredictable global conditions.

ITAR:

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with section 3.5 of the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws.

Description:

A digital twin of the organization is a critical enabler for the DLA, empowering leaders to model and test workforce scenarios, optimize processes, and achieve the exponential efficiency gains required for modern great power competition. Current static models are insufficient for the agility needed today. The proposed solution will move beyond legacy systems by integrating real-time data to provide dynamic insights into workforce capabilities, productivity limitations, and the potential impacts of organizational restructuring.

Crucially, this organizational DT must possess the capability to generate synthetic data to simulate complex, unforeseen scenarios, allowing the enterprise to react rapidly to supply chain disruptions, geopolitical shifts, or internal surges. By modeling the workforce of the future—one that is heavily augmented by AI—this effort will explore innovative data sources and functionalities to address critical questions:

•  Strategic Competition & Productivity: How can we leverage the DT to identify structural and process pathways to a 10x productivity increase, countering the scale of adversaries like China?

•  Surge Deployment & Rapid Reaction: How ready is the workforce for a sudden surge scenario? Utilizing synthetic data generation, how can we proactively test personnel moves to backfill deployed staff without mission degradation?

•  AI Integration & Organizational Structure: What are the root causes of manual work, and what activities must be stopped or automated by AI? How does the organizational structure need to shift to maximize human-machine teaming and efficiently integrate new mission sets?

Research and Development (R&D) efforts for this topic should demonstrate a technical feasibility that has not been fully established and must be judged to be at a Technology and/or Manufacturing Readiness Level (TRL/MRL) between 3 and 6 to be considered for funding.

PHASE I

Not to exceed a duration of 12 months and a cost of $100,000. Phase I will focus on exploring the value of a digital workforce twin by delivering a proof-of-concept. This phase includes:

1.  Identifying and ranking high-impact use cases (e.g., surge deployment in human capital, order-to-cash in finance, human-machine teaming integration).

2.  Identifying necessary data sources, articulating a data acquisition and synthetic data generation plan, and defining success criteria.

3.  Developing a business case on the expected ROI of the tool and a product roadmap for a Minimum Viable Product (MVP).

An alignment or collaboration with a relevant DLA Component organization (e.g., DLA J1, J6, J3, and J7) is highly desirable.

PHASE II

Phase II will consist of establishing a pilot-scale process to build, test, and validate a functioning Minimum Viable Product (MVP) of the digital workforce twin solution. This will be conducted in a series of milestone-driven agile sprints to rapidly deliver incremental value and incorporate user feedback. The goal is to produce a functioning tool that can simulate scenarios via synthetic data, scale to other use cases, and refine the business case for further investment based on demonstrated mission value in increasing productivity. Collaboration with a relevant DoW Component organization is highly desirable.

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS

At this point, no specific funding is associated with Phase III. The progress and relationships developed in Phases I and II should position the solution for transition to production in support of DoW orders. The underlying technology can be adapted for a wide range of commercial and public sector applications, including corporate strategic planning, human resource management in large enterprises, and organizational design for complex, non-DoW government agencies navigating the AI transition. The goal is the organic growth of the business by applying the solution to both defense and commercial markets.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

AI-Powered Tool for Automated Evaluation of Vendor Economic Dependency - SBIR Topic DLA26BZ03-NV012

Funding Amount:

Est. $100,000

Deadline to Apply:

July 22nd, 2026

Objective:

Develop an innovative, AI-driven tool to automate the assessment of economic dependency for vendors within the Defense Logistics Agency's (DLA) supply chain. This capability will enable DLA to proactively identify relationships and analyze potential related-party transactions and economic dependencies in compliance with federal accounting standards and audit recommendations, including specifically Statements of Federal Financial Accounting Standards 47, thereby enhancing supply chain resilience, financial stewardship, and audit compliance.

ITAR:

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with section 3.5 of the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws.

Description:

DLA's global mission relies on a vast and diverse industrial base. Ensuring financial transparency and mitigating supply chain risk requires a comprehensive understanding of the economic relationships between DLA and its key suppliers. Current methods for this analysis are manual, time-consuming, and cannot effectively scale across thousands of vendors and millions of transactions.

This SBIR topic seeks the development of an AI-powered tool to automate this process. The desired solution would integrate with DLA's business systems to identify significant vendor relationships and automatically retrieve publicly available financial data (e.g., from SEC filings). Using this data, the tool will apply a defined criterion for economic dependency (e.g., percentage of a vendor's revenue derived from DLA) to flag potential related parties. The solution should also be capable of assessing risk based on contract type (e.g., cost-reimbursement vs. fixed-price). The final tool must be designed to operate in a secure government environment and provide auditable, traceable results

PHASE I

Conduct a feasibility study to demonstrate the core concepts. This includes developing a proof-of-concept tool that can successfully identify a universe of vendors from sample contract data, retrieve public financial information from sources like the SEC's EDGAR system, commercial public 10K reports, SAM.gov, and apply the economic dependency criteria. The study must address SFFAS 47. The final report should include the prototype design, preliminary results, established golden dataset to base subsequent review and analysis upon, and a detailed plan for a Phase II effort. The Phase I award will not exceed $100,000 over a 12-month period.

PHASE II

Develop a scalable prototype of the AI tool within a government-approved development environment that fits DLA tech stack. The prototype must demonstrate the ability to process a large volume of vendor and contract data, accurately retrieve external information to support the evaluation of relationships and economic dependencies, assess and map/categorize risk and materiality, and provide transparent evidence for DLA assertions and/or disclosures with deep reasoning anchored to SFFAS 47. Phase II will include rigorous testing to validate the accuracy and efficiency of the tool and will produce a detailed transition plan for integration into DLA's operational environment. The Phase II award will not exceed $1,000,000 over a 24-month period.

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS

A successful solution will be transitioned from development to production for operational use within DLA’s environment and technology stack to support ongoing audit readiness and supply chain risk management. This technology has applicability for other DoW components and federal agencies seeking to automate financial oversight and identify concentration risk within their own supply chains or those using Defense Capital Working Funds (DCWF) to support investment analysis, strategic supply chain management, budgetary projections, and financial compliance, where identifying and understanding economic dependencies on the DLA and DoW is critical to fiscal stewardship.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Next-Generation Non-Lithium Battery Technology for Safe, Extreme-Environment, High-Performance Resilient Military Logistics and Field Operations - SBIR Topic DLA26BZ03-NV013

Funding Amount:

Est. $100,000

Deadline to Apply:

July 22nd, 2026

Objective:

Develop and demonstrate a non-lithium battery cell and/or prototype battery pack capable of supporting BB-2590/U-class applications, with emphasis on safety, transportability, and domestic manufacturability, while achieving mission-relevant performance thresholds.

Description:

DLA’s current battery portfolio, including the widely fielded BB-2590/U rechargeable battery (NSN: 6140-01-490-4316), relies heavily on lithium-ion chemistries with significant exposure to foreign (including Chinese-origin) supply chains. Section 154 of the FY2024 NDAA restricts DoD procurement from certain foreign sources beginning in October 2027, creating an urgent need for compliant alternatives.

Beyond supply chain risk, lithium-based batteries present operational challenges including hazardous material classification for transport, thermal runaway risks, limited long-duration storage performance, and handling complexity in forward-deployed environments.

DLA requires a non-lithium battery solution that can support BB-2590/U-class applications while improving:

• Safety: Reduced or eliminated thermal runaway risk 

• Transportability: Less restrictive hazardous material classification and simplified logistics handling 

• Storage Readiness: Low self-discharge and long-duration storage (≥12–24 months) 

• Operational Performance: Reliable function across -30°C to +60°C environments 

• Durability: Resistance to shock, vibration, and field conditions 

• Supply Chain: Fully domestic or NDAA-compliant sourcing 

Solutions may not need to exceed lithium-ion performance in all areas but must demonstrate clear operational advantages in safety, logistics, or sustainment.

Performance Targets:

Proposed solutions should aim to meet or approach:

• Energy Density: ≥150 Wh/kg (threshold), ≥200 Wh/kg (objective) 

• Cycle Life: ≥500 cycles to 80% capacity 

• Storage Life: ≥12 months with minimal degradation 

• Operating Temperature: -30°C to +60°C 

• Safety: No thermal runaway under standard abuse conditions 

• Transport: Reduced hazardous classification compared to Li-ion (if applicable)

• MIL-STD environmental qualification testing covering temperature, vibration, and mechanical shock

• Preliminary safety qualification aligned with MIL-PRF-32383/3

• Validated domestic bill of materials demonstrating NDAA-compliant manufacturability

• Commercialization plan and domestic manufacturing roadmap with cost-per-unit projections at production volume

Scope

Phase I (6 months, up to $100K)

Focus on cell-level feasibility and trade-space validation:

• Demonstrate a non-lithium electrochemical system with initial performance data 

• Characterize:

  • Energy density (Wh/kg, Wh/L) 

  • Cycle life projections 

  • Voltage profile and discharge characteristics 

  • Temperature performance 

• Conduct preliminary safety testing, including abuse tolerance 

• Perform storage/self-discharge testing 

• Provide:

  • Concept for integration into BB-2590/U-class form factor 

  • Initial domestic supply chain assessment 

  • Phase II development plan 

Phase II (18 months, up to $1M)

Focus on prototype demonstration and transition readiness:

• Develop a prototype battery module or pack aligned with BB-2590/U electrical requirements 

• Conduct:

  • Environmental testing (temperature, shock, vibration) 

  • Extended cycle and storage validation 

  • Safety characterization aligned with military battery standards 

• Deliver:

  • Prototype system demonstration 

  • Validated domestic Bill of Materials 

  • Manufacturing feasibility and cost model 

  • Transition plan including pathway to qualification and DLA procurement

PHASE I

Phase I Deliverables (up to 6 months, up to $100,000)

The Phase I effort will establish the core technical feasibility of the proposed non-lithium battery chemistry through systematic cell characterization and safety testing. The following deliverables are expected:

Electrochemical Characterization: Prototype cells at a relevant form factor shall be characterized and tested, with performance data reported for energy density in Wh/kg and Wh/L, cycle life to 80% capacity retention, nominal voltage, and operational temperature range across both cold and high-heat conditions.

Safety Testing: Thermal stability characterization shall be conducted to demonstrate the absence of thermal runaway response under representative charge, discharge, and abuse conditions, establishing the fundamental safety advantage of the proposed chemistry over conventional lithium-based systems.

Self-Discharge Assessment: A storage stability assessment shall be conducted to measure self-discharge rates over a defined period, providing quantitative data to evaluate the technology's potential for reducing infrastructure overhead associated with long-term DLA war-reserve and pre-positioned stock storage.

PHASE II

Phase II Deliverables (18 months, up to $1,000,000)

Building on the Phase I feasibility demonstration, Phase II will advance the technology to a battery pack level and generate the qualification and commercialization data required for DLA procurement consideration. The following deliverables are expected:

•  Scaled Battery Pack Prototype: A fully integrated battery pack prototype shall be developed meeting the form factor and electrical specifications of target DLA battery applications, demonstrating the scalability of the Phase I cell technology to a system-level configuration.

•  MIL-STD Environmental Testing: The prototype shall be subjected to MIL-STD environmental qualification testing covering operational temperature performance and mechanical vibration, demonstrating suitability for deployment across diverse military platforms and environments.

•  Preliminary Safety Qualification: Safety qualification data shall be generated in alignment with applicable MIL-PRF specifications, providing DLA and its program offices with a preliminary compliance baseline for procurement and fielding consideration.

•  Validated Bill of Materials: A validated bill of materials shall be developed demonstrating the domestic manufacturability of the battery system, supporting DLA's interest in building a resilient and accessible domestic supply base for next-generation battery technologies.

•  Commercialization Plan and Manufacturing Roadmap: A detailed commercialization plan and domestic manufacturing roadmap shall be delivered, including cost-per-unit projections at production volume, outlining the pathway for transitioning the technology from prototype to DLA-procurable supply item and broader commercial markets — including heavy-duty vehicle electrification, maritime autonomous systems, and stationary grid-scale energy storage.

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS

This technology has strong dual-use potential across both defense and commercial markets.

Defense Applications:

•  Man-portable communications systems

•  Unmanned systems (UGV/UAS)

•  Expeditionary sensors and electronic warfare systems

•  Pre-positioned war reserve energy storage

Commercial Applications:

•  Industrial and warehouse robotics

•  Remote sensing and IoT systems

•  Medical and safety-critical portable devices

•  Backup and stationary energy storage systems

•  Maritime and off-grid energy solutions

The emphasis on safety, long storage life, and simplified logistics positions non-lithium technologies as attractive alternatives in markets where lithium-ion risks or transport constraints are limiting factors.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

NAVAIR & NAVSEA Open Topic for Counter Unmanned Air Systems (C-UAS) - SBIR Topic DON26BX03-NP002

Funding Amount:

Est. $315,000

Deadline to Apply:

July 22nd, 2026

Objective:

The DON is seeking proposals for enhancing existing prototypes or concepts to improve C-UAS operations and demonstrate a novel, highly effective, and scalable capability to counter the rapidly proliferating threat of hostile UAS. Adversaries are increasingly leveraging low-cost, autonomous, and often numerous UAS to gain an asymmetric advantage, conduct surveillance, and execute kinetic attacks, posing a significant risk to U.S. and allied forces, critical infrastructure, and mission success. This SBIR Open Topic seeks innovative solutions that can detect, track, identify, and neutralize single and multiple UAS threats in complex operational environments, ultimately providing the warfighter with a decisive overmatch capability to ensure freedom of maneuver and protection of assets.

ITAR:

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with section 3.5 of the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws.

Description:

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) present a complex, multi-dimensional challenge that affects everything from individual ship protection to broad strategic operations in the U.S. Navy. The proliferation of cheap, easily accessible, and increasingly sophisticated unmanned systems by both state adversaries and non-state actors has created an urgent and evolving threat landscape. Events in the Middle East, where Navy vessels have been actively engaging drones, have transformed these threats from a theoretical problem into a daily operational reality. The nature of the UAS threat for Naval installations, Naval aircraft, and Naval ships is diverse and rapidly changing, creating a significant challenge for Naval defenses. C-UAS is enabled by secure communication and information technology and includes technologies to Detect, Track, Identify, Assess, and Neutralize single and swarms of UAS from Air, Sea, or Ground leveraging Manned or Unmanned platforms. Primary technology areas of interest are listed below; however, solutions outside these areas will be considered. Please indicate the technology area of interest within the Technical Abstract section of the online proposal Cover Sheet Volume, Volume 1.

• AI-Powered Target Recognition for C-UAS: Develop and train machine learning object detection algorithms for the real-time classification and identification of UAS threats from various sensor inputs, including imagery and RF signatures.

• AI/ML-Enhanced Swarm Detection, Tracking, and Anomalies: Develop an AI/ML-enhanced monitoring framework that integrates advanced object detection with behavioral analysis to detect, track, and predict the collective intent of diverse drone swarms in real time. The framework should evaluate potential risks by establishing behavioral baselines and assessing factors such as flight paths, payloads, and proximity to sensitive areas. By identifying real-time anomalies, such as deviations in trajectory or formation, the framework will serve as a primary trigger for risk escalation and the deployment of protective measures, providing a sophisticated solution for managing the complexities of coordinated swarm behavior.

• Non-Kinetic / Low Kinetic Defeat System for Small UAS: Develop a lightweight system with a focus on minimizing size, weight, and power requirements for integration on Naval platforms for the non-kinetic/low kinetic defeat of Group 1 and 2 UAS at tactically relevant ranges.

• AI/ML for Countering Advanced Signature Management: Develop an AI/ML framework to specifically detect threats employing programmable signature management. This framework will overcome the "target novelty" problem by continuously adapting to previously unseen signature patterns during a mission. The core requirement is for the system to increase its detection accuracy against these evolving threats, providing a decisive countermeasure to adversaries attempting to visually cloak their assets to evade traditional sensors.

PHASE I

The DON is planning to issue multiple Phase I awards for this topic but reserves the right to issue no awards. Each Phase I proposal must include a Base and Option period of performance. The Phase I Base must have a period of performance of four (4) months at a cost not to exceed $75,000. The Phase I Option, if exercised, must have a period of performance of six (6) months at a cost not to exceed $100,000.

Phase I feasibility will describe the existing proposed technology, existing DON system(s) to improve, modifications required, anticipated improvements to existing capabilities, and impacts to current C-UAS recognition, detection, tracking, low-cost non kinetic defeat of Group 2 and below UAS. Results of Phase I will be detailed in a final technical report (Final Report).

Phase I Base deliverables include:

Kick-Off Briefing, due 15 days from start of Base award

Final Report, due 120 days from start of Base award

Initial Phase II Proposal, due 120 days from start of Base award

PHASE II

All Phase I awardees may submit an Initial Phase II proposal for evaluation and selection. The evaluation criteria for Phase II are the same as Phase I (as stated in this CSO). The Phase I Final Report and Initial Phase II Proposal will be used to evaluate the small business concern’s potential to develop new products or adapt commercial products to fill a capability gap, improve performance, or modernize an existing capability for DON, and transition the technology to Phase III. Details on the due date, content, and submission requirements of the Initial Phase II Proposal will be provided by the awarding SYSCOM either in the Phase I contract or by subsequent notification.

The scope of the Phase II effort will be specific to each project but is generally expected to harden, ruggedize, and/or marinize the technology for integration into an operational environment. The outcome is to be a demonstration of a working prototype that can be tested and/or certified. The final report should include a fielding approach (including updated logistics and safety considerations) and a plan for further commercialization (non-DoW).

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS

C-UAS technologies possess significant dual-use potential for commercial and civil sectors. The same core capabilities for detecting, tracking, identifying, and mitigating drone threats can be adapted to safeguard critical infrastructure such as airports, power grids, and data centers from unauthorized drone incursions. Furthermore, these systems can provide security for large public gatherings at stadiums and arenas, prevent the use of drones for smuggling contraband into correctional facilities, and protect sensitive industrial sites from corporate espionage.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Long-Range Listening Device - SBIR Topic DON26BZ03-NV054

Funding Amount:

Est. $315,000

Deadline to Apply:

July 22nd, 2026

Objective:

Develop and demonstrate a long-range listening device capable of accurately identifying and recording sounds at a distance.

ITAR:

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with section 3.5 of the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws.

Description:

Counterintelligence and Human Intelligence (CI/HUMINT) Marines perform intelligence operations in support of Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) operations, with a focus on the collection of information and identification of threats posed by hostile organizations, espionage, sabotage, subversion, or terrorism. They require organic, portable capabilities to aid in the collection of information for intelligence reporting to decision makers. The capability to surveil sounds from a distance enhances their toolset. While long-range listening devices exist, innovation is required to meet the Marine Corps' portability, range, target area, accuracy, and recording requirements.

This SBIR topic seeks a small device that can accurately identify and record sounds at a distance.

Requirements for the Long-Range Listening Device

- Capable of effectively identifying and recording sounds at a distance of 200m (Threshold), while maintaining a minimal terminal target area of no more than 2 meters (Threshold).

- Capture and deliver sufficient recorded sound quality and target precision (at range) for a human listener to reliably differentiate voice, mechanical noises, and natural sounds such as wind and water.

- Small enough for an individual person to transport (50lbs or less) and set up from transit case to operational within one hour.

- Non-military in appearance (preferred).

- Able to operate by battery power with a minimum continuous recording time of 24 hours.

PHASE I

Design a concept for a long-range listening device that can meet the performance and size constraints listed in the Description. Demonstrate and validate the feasibility of the concept. Prepare a Phase II development plan with performance goals, key technical milestones, and risk reduction approaches.

PHASE II

Produce prototype hardware for a long-range listening device based on the Phase I work and requirements in the Description. Demonstrate and validate prototype performance in a realistic operational environment.

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS

Though the primary objective is to support the Marine Corps to transition to support CI/HUMINT and force protection operations for the MAGTF. The other military Services and federal law enforcement agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Secret Service, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), are likely to adopt this capability for similar long range surveillance operations. State and local law enforcement and private investigators could also employ the capability for surveillance.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

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