Part of the DoW SBIR/STTR FY27 Release 2 topic list. Browse all 83 topics by industry or service.
Topic DAF27BZ02-DV022 from the DoW SBIR 2027 BAA, Release 2. Pre-release now; proposals due January 6, 2027, 12:00 PM ET.
Quick answer
DAF27BZ02-DV022 is a Department of the Air Force Direct-to-Phase II SBIR topic seeking MFP-RAM, a rapidly reconfigurable hybrid communications system built as a SOSA Small Form Factor Line Replaceable Unit supporting multiple waveforms, frequency bands, and Multi-Level Security, through to flight demonstration. No Phase I awards will be made. Proposals are due January 6, 2027, 12:00 PM ET.
Solicitation at a glance
- Topic number: DAF27BZ02-DV022
- Official title: Multi-Function Processor, Rapid Architecture, Miniaturized (MFP-RAM)
- Agency: Department of the Air Force
- Program: SBIR (DoW SBIR 2027 BAA, Release 2)
- Award type: Direct to Phase II (no Phase I awards)
- Award amount: Up to $2,000,000. Source: Department of the Air Force Release 2 instructions in DSIP.
- CMMC level: Level 2 (Self)
- ITAR: No
- Technology areas: Air Platform, Electronics, Information Systems
- Pre-release (direct TPOC contact allowed): November 4 to December 2, 2026, 8:00 AM ET
- Opens in DSIP: December 2, 2026, 8:00 AM ET
- Proposals due: January 6, 2027, 12:00 PM ET
- Official source: DSIP Topics app (search DAF27BZ02-DV022)
BW&CO's take
What the Department of the Air Force wants
Current tactical communications hardware is tightly coupled, proprietary, and single-purpose, which limits rapid technology insertion and the coexistence of multiple security domains. The Air Force wants a COTS-first, modular LRU that combines multi-band software-defined radios, power amplification, secure switching, cryptographic modules, RED/BLACK separation, and a containerized software environment in the Government Reference Architecture Open Compute Environment. It must support Cross Domain Solutions, Zero Trust authentication, and over-the-network keying. Phase II advances an existing prototype or mature subsystems to a minimum viable product, begins laboratory, thermal, vibration, EMC, cybersecurity, and environmental testing, and integrates it on a Government-designated tactical or surrogate aircraft for captive-carry and live-fly testing.
Who is a good fit
- An existing prototype or mature subsystems for multi-band software-defined radio in a SOSA-aligned small form factor
- Demonstrated secure RED/BLACK separation and experience with cryptographic modules, Cross Domain Solutions, and Multi-Level Security
- Containerized embedded software environments and Zero Trust authentication on rugged airborne hardware
- Experience producing airworthiness and cybersecurity artifacts for captive-carry or flight testing
Watch-outs
- This is Direct-to-Phase II: required evidence includes validated data, prototype performance metrics, subsystem-integration results, and evidence of compliance with applicable SOSA standards.
- Applicants must already demonstrate multi-band waveform operation, modularity, and secure RED/BLACK separation, so early-stage concepts are unlikely to qualify.
- Performance thresholds and interface limits will be Government-defined; where they are unavailable, you must state assumptions and propose verification methods.
- The topic metadata lists CMMC Level 2 (Self). It is not marked as ITAR-restricted in the topic metadata.
Think your company fits DAF27BZ02-DV022? Talk with BW&CO before the January 6 deadline.
Plan Your DAF27BZ02-DV022 Submission
Official topic text (verbatim from DSIP)
The text in this section is copied word for word from the official DSIP topic as published on November 4, 2026. DSIP is the official source and topics can be amended. Always confirm the current version at dodsbirsttr.mil before you submit. Our commentary above is BW&CO's interpretation, not Government guidance.
Title
Multi-Function Processor, Rapid Architecture, Miniaturized (MFP-RAM)
Objective
Develop and flight-demonstrate a standards-compliant, rapidly reconfigurable hybrid communications system using a SOSA Small Form Factor Line Replaceable Unit capable of supporting multiple waveforms, frequency bands, and Multi-Level Security.
Description
Tactical communications systems must operate in RF-dense and contested environments while adapting to changing mission requirements. Current tightly coupled, proprietary, single-purpose hardware limits rapid technology insertion and the coexistence of multiple security domains. The Government seeks a COTS-first, modular, reconfigurable hybrid communications Line Replaceable Unit that integrates multi-band Software Defined Radios, modular open-system interfaces, secure RED/BLACK separation, and a containerized software environment. The capability must support integration into representative air platforms while reducing host-aircraft modification burden and enabling future waveform or payload changes with minimal redesign. Proposals must address the remaining system-level research and development required to integrate, validate, qualify, and flight-demonstrate the hybrid communications capability. Proposals do not have to result in a production-ready capability, but must be sufficient to facilitate a minimum viable product (MVP) which can be used in a surrogate flight demonstration.
Phase I
As this is a Direct-to-Phase-II (D2P2) topic, no Phase I awards will be made. Applicants must demonstrate readiness for Phase II through prior Phase I-type efforts. Required evidence shall include validated data, prototype performance metrics, subsystem-integration results, and evidence of compliance with applicable SOSA standards. Applicants must demonstrate successful multi-band waveform operation, modularity, and secure RED/BLACK separation. The submitted evidence must identify the remaining system-level architecture, integration, qualification, validation, and flight-demonstration work proposed for Phase II.
Phase II
Offerors may propose the system architecture, implementation approach, and integration strategy needed to meet the Government’s required operational, interoperability, security, and platform-integration objectives. Offerors may propose equivalent technical approaches that satisfy the Government’s operational, interoperability, security, platform-integration, and verification objectives. The proposed approach shall advance an existing prototype or set of mature subsystem technologies into a surrogate flight-demonstrable MFP-RAM hybrid communications capability.
The effort shall advance the physical, mechanical, electrical, thermal, software, and logical architectures required to integrate a SOSA Small Form Factor Line Replaceable Unit within representative tactical-aircraft constraints. The system shall integrate and demonstrate multi-waveform Software Defined Radios, associated power amplification, secure switching, cryptographic modules, and supporting compute, power, and chassis-management elements. The architecture shall support modular waveform and payload changes with minimal redesign and reduced host-aircraft modification burden.
The effort shall implement a containerized software environment in the Government Reference Architecture Open Compute Environment and demonstrate mission-critical and network processes. The system shall incorporate applicable Cross Domain Solutions and cryptographic capabilities supporting Multi-Level Security, RED/BLACK separation, Zero Trust authentication, and over-the-network keying and rekeying.
The effort shall begin appropriate software-in-the-loop, hardware-in-the-loop, laboratory, electrical-interface, power, thermal-management, vibration, electromagnetic compatibility, cybersecurity, environmental, and system-level testing under representative surrogate aircraft conditions. The contractor shall generate engineering data, interface documentation, cybersecurity artifacts, flight-safety documentation, and test evidence needed to support applicable initial airworthiness and cybersecurity approval processes. A minimum viable product (MVP) MFP-RAM LRU shall be integrated on a Government-designated tactical or surrogate air platform for captive-carry and live-fly testing.
Deliverables shall include flight-representative MFP-RAM hybrid communications LRUs; a containerized baseline software suite; interface documentation; cybersecurity validation results; applicable compliance documentation; thermal and environmental test results; supporting engineering data; and a transition and scaling plan for adaptation to operational Air Force command systems and the Joint Fires Network. Performance thresholds, interface limits, and configuration-specific constraints will be Government-defined. Where these constraints are unavailable, offerors shall identify assumptions for subsequent Government validation and describe proposed verification methods.
Phase III Dual Use Applications
Following successful laboratory demonstration, PAE Weapons, C3BM anticipates pursuing exploratory follow-on funding through PAEs to support flight demonstration on typical small air vehicles, including weapons and ACPs. Transition activities may include operational assessment and integration into Air Force command systems, joint command-and-control experimentation, crewed-uncrewed teaming platforms, and the Joint Fires Network. The intended operational outcome is a rapidly deployable, secure, reconfigurable tactical communications capability supporting Agile Combat Employment and electromagnetic spectrum operations.
References
Technical Standard for SOSA Reference Architecture, Edition 2.0.
Air Force Doctrine Publication 3-85, Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations,2023.
Keywords
Multi-Function Processor-Radio Architecture (MFP-RA); Sensors Open Systems Architecture; SOSA; Raise The Bar; Cross Domain Solution; Software Defined Radio; Hybrid Communications; Line Replaceable Unit; Zero Trust; Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations
Frequently asked questions
What is DAF27BZ02-DV022?
It is a Department of the Air Force SBIR topic to develop and flight-demonstrate MFP-RAM, a standards-compliant, rapidly reconfigurable hybrid communications system in a SOSA Small Form Factor Line Replaceable Unit that supports multiple waveforms, frequency bands, and Multi-Level Security.
When is DAF27BZ02-DV022 due?
Proposals are due January 6, 2027, 12:00 PM ET. DSIP pre-release began November 4, 2026, and direct contact with the topic authors is allowed only until the topic opens on December 2, 2026, 8:00 AM ET.
Is this a Phase I or Direct-to-Phase II topic?
It is Direct-to-Phase II. No Phase I awards will be made, and applicants must demonstrate readiness for Phase II through prior Phase I-type efforts.
Does the result need to be production-ready?
No. Proposals do not have to result in a production-ready capability, but must be sufficient to produce a minimum viable product that can be used in a surrogate flight demonstration.