Part of the DoW SBIR/STTR FY27 Release 2 topic list. Browse all 83 topics by industry or service.
Topic DAF27BZ02-DV026 from the DoW SBIR 2027 BAA, Release 2. Pre-release now; proposals due January 6, 2027, 12:00 PM ET.
Quick answer
The Department of the Air Force wants a small business to design, procure, and commission a U.S. liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) facility that grows device-grade yttrium iron garnet (YIG) films for microwave filters, a supply chain that currently depends entirely on foreign sources. This is a Direct-to-Phase II SBIR topic, and no Phase I award will be made. Proposals are due January 6, 2027, 12:00 PM ET.
Solicitation at a glance
- Topic number: DAF27BZ02-DV026
- Official title: Domestic Liquid Phase Epitaxy of Yttrium Iron Garnet Films for Resilient Microwave Filter Supply Chains
- 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: Yes. Export-controlled (ITAR/EAR); see topic text
- Technology areas: Electronics, Sensors
- 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-DV026)
BW&CO's take
What the Department of the Air Force wants
YIG microwave filters in Air Force radar, EW, and communications systems need LPE-grown YIG films 10 to 150 µm thick, and there is no domestic source. Phase II must build and commission an LPE growth system on GGG substrates, use a systematic method such as design of experiments to set flux composition, growth temperature, rotation rate, and cooling profile, and qualify films with XRD, profilometry, VSM, and FMR spectroscopy. Films must reach ±5% thickness uniformity across 1-inch wafers, under 5 nm RMS roughness, and 4πMs within ±50 Gauss of specification. Qualified samples go to government-designated filter makers and labs.
Who is a good fit
- Prior LPE or comparable epitaxial growth of YIG or related magnetic garnet films on GGG substrates.
- Characterization data on prior films covering crystalline quality, thickness, surface roughness, saturation magnetization, and FMR linewidth.
- Design-of-experiments process development for flux composition, growth temperature, rotation rate, and cooling profile.
- Working command of XRD, profilometry, VSM, and FMR spectroscopy for qualifying films for device insertion.
Watch-outs
- Direct-to-Phase II: the proposal must show past success growing and characterizing magnetic garnet or comparable single-crystal oxide films. A team without film growth history is unlikely to qualify.
- Phase II includes designing, procuring, and commissioning the LPE system and supporting infrastructure, so the plan must cover building the facility, not only process development, and must show repeatability across multiple growth runs.
- The topic metadata marks this topic as ITAR-restricted, so plan for export-control handling.
- The topic lists CMMC Level 2 (Self).
Think your company fits DAF27BZ02-DV026? Talk with BW&CO before the January 6 deadline.
Plan Your DAF27BZ02-DV026 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
Domestic Liquid Phase Epitaxy of Yttrium Iron Garnet Films for Resilient Microwave Filter Supply Chains
Objective
The United States Air Force relies on yttrium iron garnet (YIG)-based microwave filters for critical radar, electronic warfare, and communications systems. These components require high-quality YIG epitaxial films in the 10–150 µm thickness range grown by liquid phase epitaxy (LPE). Domestic production capability for LPE-grown YIG films does not currently exist, and the entirety of this supply chain depends on foreign sources — representing a significant vulnerability to Air Force readiness, modernization programs, and long-term system sustainment.
Description
This topics seeks proposals to design, procure, and commission a fully domestic LPE growth facility capable of producing device-grade YIG films on gadolinium gallium garnet (GGG) substrates across the 10–150 µm thickness range. Efforts shall demonstrate system integration, process optimization, and material qualification sufficient for insertion into operational microwave filter architectures. Required technical performance thresholds include film thickness uniformity of ±5% across 1-inch wafers, surface roughness below 5 nm RMS, and saturation magnetization (4πMs) values within ±50 Gauss of specification. Offerors shall employ a systematic process characterization approach — such as design-of-experiments (DOE) methodology — to establish repeatable, production-ready growth processes governing flux composition, growth temperature, rotation rate, and cooling profile.Proposed solutions shall include a structured material qualification program incorporating X-ray diffraction (XRD), profilometry, vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), and FMR spectroscopy. Qualified films shall be suitable for delivery to government-designated filter manufacturers and laboratories for device-level insertion and performance verification.Successful Phase II performance shall result in a domestic LPE production capability with documented process controls, material qualification data packages, and a clear transition roadmap to Phase III commercialization and direct supply to DoW prime contractors. This topic directly supports the AFRL strategic priority of eliminating foreign single-source dependencies for critical electronic materials and establishing a sovereign U.S. industrial base for high-performance garnet magnetic films.
Phase I
This topic is intended for a technology proven ready to move directly into a Phase II program. A Phase I SBIR award will not be made. The offeror is required to provide details and documentation in the Direct to Phase II (D2P2) proposal which demonstrates accomplishments of a 'Phase I-like' effort, including demonstrating the expertise needed to grow, characterize, and qualify device-grade magnetic garnet epitaxial films. The offeror should have demonstrated experience with liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) or a comparable epitaxial growth method for yttrium iron garnet (YIG) or related magnetic garnet films on gadolinium gallium garnet (GGG) substrates, and should be able to show prior films characterized for crystalline quality, thickness, surface roughness, saturation magnetization, and ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) linewidth. Demonstration of prior films approaching device-grade quality - low FMR linewidth, good thickness uniformity, and low surface roughness - is desired, as is evidence of a systematic process characterization approach (such as design-of-experiments methodology) governing flux composition, growth temperature, rotation rate, and cooling profile. The offeror should also demonstrate an understanding of the material qualification tools required for device insertion, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), profilometry, vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), and FMR spectroscopy. The proposal should illustrate past success at the aforementioned activities with magnetic garnet or comparable single-crystal oxide film technologies fitting the above descriptions, sufficient to substantiate that the small business is positioned to design, commission, and operate a domestic LPE production capability without a preceding Phase I effort.
Phase II
The desired outcome of this topic is a domestic liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) production capability for device-grade yttrium iron garnet (YIG) films grown on gadolinium gallium garnet (GGG) substrates across the 10-150 um thickness range. During Phase II, the offeror shall design, procure, and commission the LPE growth system and supporting infrastructure, and shall demonstrate system integration, process optimization, and material qualification sufficient for insertion into operational microwave filter architectures. The effort shall establish repeatable, production-ready growth processes using a systematic process characterization approach, such as design-of-experiments (DOE) methodology, governing flux composition, growth temperature, rotation rate, and cooling profile. Required technical performance thresholds for qualified films include film thickness uniformity of +/-5% across 1-inch wafers, surface roughness below 5 nm RMS, and saturation magnetization (4-pi-Ms) values within +/-50 Gauss of specification. The offeror shall implement a structured material qualification program incorporating X-ray diffraction (XRD), profilometry, vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), and FMR spectroscopy, and shall produce documented process controls and material qualification data packages. Qualified films shall be suitable for delivery to government-designated filter manufacturers and laboratories for device-level insertion and performance verification. Successful Phase II performance shall result in a domestic LPE production capability with documented process controls, material qualification data packages, demonstrated repeatability across multiple growth runs, and a clear transition roadmap to Phase III commercialization and direct supply to DoW prime contractors. The minimum acceptable deliverables are: a commissioned and operational LPE growth capability; a documented, repeatable growth process; a material qualification data package demonstrating films meeting the threshold metrics above; and delivery of qualified sample films to government-designated recipients. This effort is expected to advance the domestic-production capability from approximately TRL 3-4 at project start to TRL 5/6 at the end of Phase II.
Phase III Dual Use Applications
Phase III is accomplished when the DoD/DoW and/or commercial applications of this SBIR-funded R&D are developed using non-SBIR/STTR funds. The most direct military application is the supply of domestically produced, device-grade LPE-grown YIG films to manufacturers of YIG-based microwave filters, oscillators, resonators, and related ferrite components used in Air Force and DoW radar, electronic warfare (EW), signals intelligence (SigInt), and communications systems. These films are an enabling material for tunable and fixed microwave filter architectures - including the wide pass bandwidth, high selectivity, continuously tunable notch filters needed to protect wideband receivers from large interferers - and a sovereign supply directly reduces a critical single-source foreign dependency. Additional DAF and DoW transition opportunities include YIG-tuned oscillators for spectrum analyzers and frequency-agile sources, magnetically tunable preselectors and delay lines for wideband receivers, and non-reciprocal devices such as circulators and isolators used across airborne, ground, and space-based RF systems. Potential commercial applications include test and measurement instrumentation (spectrum analyzers and signal generators), commercial communications and SATCOM hardware, spectrum-monitoring equipment, and emerging magnonic and spintronic device research, all of which depend on low-loss single-crystal garnet films. The expected Phase III effort would advance the domestic production capability from its Phase II exit point of TRL 5/6 toward TRL 7 and beyond by scaling the LPE process to sustained production quantities, qualifying the films and process to applicable industry and military quality standards, establishing screening and lot-acceptance procedures, and integrating qualified films into fielded microwave component product lines. Transition planning anticipates direct supply agreements with DoW prime contractors and established YIG component manufacturers, with the small business operating as a qualified domestic material source. Known government activities that may be required prior to broad adoption include security and export-control (ITAR) determination, material and process qualification by government-designated filter manufacturers and laboratories, and any platform- or program-specific component qualification associated with the receiving systems. Early engagement with AFRL, DAF program offices, and DoW prime contractors during Phase II is recommended to identify committed transition partners and to align film specifications with the requirements of targeted filter and component architectures.
References
Y. Zhang, Q. Xue, F. Wang, H. Li, Z. Li, S. Yang, Y. Liu, A. Hu, L. Jin, Q. Wen, H. Zhang, and Q. Yang, "Nanoscale Ga/Al substituted yttrium iron garnet films by liquid phase epitaxy," AIP Advances, vol. 14, no. 11, 115012, Nov. 2024. doi: 10.1063/5.0233442.Y. Sun and M. Wu, "Yttrium iron garnet nano films: epitaxial growth, spin-pumping efficiency, and Pt-capping-caused damping," in Solid State Physics, vol. 64, Academic Press, 2013, pp. 157-191.
P. Goeroeg, et al., "Liquid phase epitaxy magnetic garnet films and their applications," Chinese Physics B, vol. 27, no. 8, 086701, 2018. doi: 10.1088/1674-1056/27/8/086701.
H. L. Glass, "Ferrite films for microwave and millimeter-wave devices," Proceedings of the IEEE, vol. 76, no. 2, pp. 151-158, Feb. 1988.
J. D. Adam, L. E. Davis, G. F. Dionne, E. F. Schloemann, and S. N. Stitzer, "Ferrite devices and materials," IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, vol. 50, no. 3, pp. 721-737, Mar. 2002.
J. Roessler, E. Lever, A. Egbert, C. Baylis, R. Marks, B. Kirk, and A. Bouvy, "Overview of Tunable Notch Filters for Radar Systems," 2024 IEEE Texas Symposium on Wireless and Microwave Circuits and Systems (WMCS); available via IEEE Xplore (document 10619014).
Keywords
Yttrium Iron Garnet; YIG; Liquid Phase Epitaxy; LPE
Frequently asked questions
What is DAF27BZ02-DV026?
A Department of the Air Force topic in the DoW SBIR 2027 BAA seeking a domestic liquid phase epitaxy production capability for device-grade yttrium iron garnet films on gadolinium gallium garnet substrates, 10 to 150 µm thick, for microwave filters.
When is DAF27BZ02-DV026 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 (TPOCs) is allowed only until the topic opens on December 2, 2026, 8:00 AM ET.
Is DAF27BZ02-DV026 Phase I or Direct-to-Phase II?
Direct-to-Phase II. A Phase I SBIR award will not be made. The proposal must document a Phase I-like effort showing the expertise to grow, characterize, and qualify device-grade magnetic garnet epitaxial films.
What film specifications must be met?
Qualified films must show thickness uniformity of ±5% across 1-inch wafers, surface roughness below 5 nm RMS, and saturation magnetization (4πMs) within ±50 Gauss of specification. Minimum deliverables are an operational LPE capability, a documented repeatable growth process, a material qualification data package, and qualified sample films delivered to government-designated recipients.