DAF SBIR DAF27BZ01-DV013: Advanced Reserve Power Source Technologies

Quick Answer

DAF27BZ01-DV013 is a Department of the Air Force SBIR Direct to Phase II topic in DoW SBIR 2027 BAA Release 1 for weapon reserve power sources that meet or beat current thermal battery performance. Targets include 20+ year storage life, activation to full voltage within 600 ms, 5+ minutes of activated life, at least 40 Wh/kg (goal above 100 Wh/kg), and pulse power of at least 2.5 kW/kg over 60 seconds. Awards are up to $2,000,000 over up to 24 months, closing November 25, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET.

Safety is non-negotiable. Lithium chemistries must show no venting under NAVSEA S9310-AQ-SAF-010 test conditions because of the NOSSA certification path for ordnance.

Topic at a Glance

• Topic number: DAF27BZ01-DV013
• Title: Advanced Reserve Power Source Technologies
• Component: Department of the Air Force
• Solicitation: DoW SBIR 2027 BAA, Release 1
• Program and phase: SBIR Direct to Phase II
• Award ceiling: $2,000,000
• Period of performance: 24 months
• Technical volume limit: 35 pages or slides
• Projected CMMC level: Level 2 (Self)
• Export control: Restricted under ITAR (22 CFR 120-130) or EAR (15 CFR 730-774). Foreign national participation must be disclosed and may be restricted.
• Focus areas: Advanced Materials; Emerging Threat Reduction; Hypersonics
• Keywords: weapons power source, reserve battery, thermal battery, electrochemical power source, specific energy, specific power
• Pre-release: October 7, 2026
• Opens: October 28, 2026
• Closes: November 25, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET
• Submission portal: DSIP at dodsbirsttr.mil

What the Air Force Is Looking For

Air Force Armament Directorate programs need power for avionics, guidance, and ordnance initiation across the full flight profile. Thermally activated reserve batteries risk obsolescence as power and energy requirements rise, and other chemistries suffer failure modes, short storage life, or a poor fit to weapon requirements.

Power and energy density is the primary objective, with affordability, safety, and reliability close behind. The source must stay inert and maintenance free in storage for 20+ years without inadvertent activation and survive shock, vibration, and MIL-HDBK-310 1 percent hot and cold temperatures across carriage, high-speed free flight, and storage.

Performance targets

• Storage life of 20+ years with no maintenance or significant energy loss.
• Rise to full voltage within 600 ms of activation and 5+ minutes of activated life.
• Specific energy of at least 40 Wh/kg, with a goal above 100 Wh/kg.
• Pulse power averaging at least 2.5 kW/kg, with a goal above 5 kW/kg, over 60 seconds.
• Inherently safe with no thermal runaway; lithium designs must show no venting under NAVSEA S9310-AQ-SAF-010.

How the Phases Are Structured

Phase I is skipped. Because this is Direct to Phase II, your proposal must prove feasibility already exists. The DAF will not consider a proposal that fails to show technical merit and feasibility, or whose feasibility was not substantially performed by your firm or principal investigator. Prior work must identify candidate materials, technologies, and designs with the rationale for each and supporting performance data.

Phase II delivers a prototype power source providing 2.5 kW/kg for 60 seconds, performance characterization including captive carry and free flight shock and vibration (Wh/kg, Wh/L, power, temperature range, safety), and a manufacturing assessment of a concept design. Government data may be provided after selection.

Phase III ranges from qualification to possible program of record transition, with production in the hundreds to thousands. Named PEO customers include AFLCMC/EB, Army PEO M&S TAGM, Navy PMA-242, and SOCOM.

Funding and Proposal Limits

• Direct to Phase II award maximum: $2,000,000. Proposals above this amount will not be considered for evaluation or award.
• Award maximum duration: 24 months.
• Technical Volume (Volume 2) limit: 35 pages or slides.
• No Phase I awards will be made under this topic.
• TABA: DAF will provide up to $50,000 per Phase II award in addition to the topic amount, and you may split it 50/50 across a first and a sequential Phase II. The detailed request must be in Volume 5.

Who Is Eligible

• You must be a U.S. small business concern that meets SBIR ownership and size rules at the time of award.
• You must document that you already completed Phase I type feasibility work. That work must have been substantially performed by your firm or your principal investigator, and it cannot be based on or logically extend from any prior or ongoing federally funded SBIR or STTR work.
• Firms majority owned by multiple venture capital operating companies, hedge funds, or private equity funds are eligible to propose to DAF topics.
• DoW now limits proposals on a per-topic basis, so plan on one strong proposal for this topic.

Key Dates and How to Apply

• Now through October 28, 2026: pre-release. Topic authors are listed on the DSIP Topics and Topic Q&A page and you can call or email them directly with technical questions. This is the only window for direct contact.
• October 28, 2026: the topic opens for proposals in the Defense SBIR/STTR Innovation Portal (DSIP). After this date, questions go through DSIP Topic Q&A only.
• November 25, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET: complete proposals must be certified and submitted in DSIP. A proposal still marked In Progress or Ready to Certify is not considered submitted.
• Before you submit, confirm an active SAM.gov registration, a DSIP account, completed Volume 6 Fraud, Waste, and Abuse training, and the Volume 7 foreign affiliation disclosure webform.

Is This Topic a Fit for Your Company?

Thermal battery makers, reserve battery developers, and advanced electrochemistry startups with storage-stable, high-power designs are the right audience. Companies focused on rechargeable lithium for commercial markets should look hard at the no-venting requirement before committing.

BW&CO has helped deep tech founders secure $350M+ in non-dilutive funding. If you want a second opinion on fit, feasibility documentation, or a proposal plan before the deadline, book a call with our team below.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is DAF SBIR topic DAF27BZ01-DV013?

It is a Department of the Air Force SBIR Direct to Phase II topic in DoW SBIR 2027 BAA Release 1 for advanced reserve power sources for weapons with high specific energy and power, 20+ year storage, and inherent safety.

What are the key performance targets?

Full voltage within 600 ms, 5+ minutes of activated life, at least 40 Wh/kg with a goal above 100 Wh/kg, and pulse power of at least 2.5 kW/kg over 60 seconds.

Can lithium chemistries compete?

Yes, but lithium battery technologies must demonstrate no venting under NAVSEA S9310-AQ-SAF-010 test conditions to support NOSSA certification.

How much funding is available?

Up to $2,000,000 over up to 24 months, plus up to $50,000 in TABA per Phase II award if requested.

When is the deadline?

The topic opens October 28, 2026 and closes November 25, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET in DSIP.