DIU CLASS ACT Maritime Counter-Unmanned Systems Opportunity: Executive Summary for Startups
Executive Summary
The Bridge Program at the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is seeking Top Secret cleared nontraditional defense contractors that provide sensors and effectors to defeat adversarial unmanned systems in and around maritime environments. The topic falls under the Classified Access to Address Critical Technology (CLASS ACT) Solicitation HQ084526SC002, and responses are due by 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time on October 13, 2026.
This opportunity is built for mature, commercially backed companies that have never held a facility clearance. CLASS ACT is designed to bring those companies into the cleared vendor base so they can support classified operational needs. Selected companies can move into a Prototype Other Transaction (OT) agreement with a potential noncompetitive follow-on production contract.
Solicitation at a Glance
- Agency: Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), Department of War, Bridge Program
- Solicitation: CLASS ACT, HQ084526SC002
- Project ID: PROJ00718
- Award Vehicle: Prototype Other Transaction (OT) agreement, with potential follow-on production
- Technology Maturity: TRL 7 or higher
- Responses Due: October 13, 2026, 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time
Think your company qualifies? Talk with BW&CO before the October 13 deadline.
What Is CLASS ACT?
CLASS ACT is a pilot effort run by the Bridge Program at DIU. It is not a traditional DIU Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO). Its purpose is to increase the number of cleared nontraditional defense contractors that can support the Department of War, which raises the odds that proven commercial technology actually gets adopted for missions that require a clearance.
Offerors should review the full Bridge Program CLASS ACT Solicitation HQ084526SC002 on SAM.gov before submitting. DIU specifically instructs applicants not to rely on the standard DIU Commercial Solutions Opening for this topic.
What Problem Is DIU Trying to Solve?
Adversaries are using unmanned systems underwater, on the surface, and in the air to threaten ports, harbors, naval forces, and other critical maritime infrastructure. These systems may be tethered, pre-programmed, or hardened to resist detection and interference.
DIU wants to expand its pool of Top Secret cleared nontraditional contractors that provide passive and active sensors, as well as effectors, to defeat adversarial unmanned systems (UxV) in and around maritime environments.
Priority Capability Areas: What DIU Is Looking For
- Long-range passive detection: Detection at 60 km or more, across domains and UxV sizes.
- Swarm detection and tracking: Assured active detection and tracking of swarms of hundreds of UxVs at distances greater than 5 km, across domains and sizes, with emphasis on Group 3 systems.
- Lower cost per kill: Effectors that reduce cost per kill compared to currently available systems.
Eligibility Requirements
DIU notes this list is not exhaustive. Applicants must meet all of the following:
- No current or previously held facility clearance
- Qualifies as a nontraditional defense contractor
- Offers a sensor or an effector
- Solution is at TRL 7 or higher (prototype demonstrated in an operational environment)
- Has raised at least $10 million in equity financing
- Has booked annual revenue of $2 million or more, not backed by adversarial capital
- Key management personnel, as defined by DCSA, are U.S. citizens
These thresholds make CLASS ACT a fit for growth-stage companies, not early-stage startups. If you are pre-revenue or still at the lab prototype stage, an SBIR or STTR pathway is likely a better starting point.
How to Apply
- Submit a solution brief through the DIU submission form on the project page. The brief must be a single PDF of 10 MB or smaller.
- Keep it unclassified. Submissions may not contain data designated higher than Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). CUI and FOUO material may be accepted.
- Confirm Section 889 compliance. Any resulting agreement will require compliance with Section 889 of the FY2019 NDAA, which restricts certain telecommunications and video surveillance equipment.
- Have company details ready, including SAM.gov registration and CAGE code status, ownership and subsidiary information, and whether the company or product is in stealth mode.
What Happens After You Submit?
- Initial review: DIU aims to respond within 30 days if it wants to hear a pitch.
- Pitch and proposal: If there is a strong match with a DoD partner, DIU invites a full proposal and begins negotiating terms for a prototype agreement.
- Prototype OT award: Successful offerors enter a Prototype Other Transaction agreement.
- Follow-on production: Under 10 U.S.C. § 4022(f), a successfully completed prototype may lead to a follow-on production contract or transaction without further competition. That contract can be used by multiple DoD organizations, so it may be significantly larger than the prototype award.
Is This Opportunity a Good Fit for Your Company?
For many commercial defense tech companies, the lack of a facility clearance is the single biggest barrier to working on the Department's most pressing missions. CLASS ACT addresses that barrier directly while also offering a production pathway through the OT structure. For companies building counter-UxV technology for ports, harbors, and naval forces, this is a rare chance to move from commercial traction to cleared, program-level work.
How BW&CO Can Help
BW&CO has helped deep-tech and dual-use founders secure more than $350M in non-dilutive funding. For DIU opportunities like CLASS ACT, we help you:
- Confirm eligibility against the TRL, financing, revenue, and ownership requirements
- Position your technology against DIU's stated priorities for detection range, swarm tracking, and cost per kill
- Write a sharp, unclassified solution brief that stands out to DIU reviewers
- Prepare for the pitch, proposal, and OT negotiation stages
- Map adjacent pathways such as DoD SBIR/STTR and other OT consortia if CLASS ACT is not the right fit
Plan Your CLASS ACT Submission
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DIU CLASS ACT solicitation?
CLASS ACT (Classified Access to Address Critical Technology) is a DIU Bridge Program pilot, Solicitation HQ084526SC002, that aims to increase the number of cleared nontraditional defense contractors supporting the Department of War.
When are submissions due for the maritime counter-unmanned systems topic?
Responses are due by October 13, 2026, at 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time.
Can a company that already has a facility clearance apply?
No. Applicants must not have a current or previously held facility clearance.
What are the financial requirements to apply?
Companies must have raised at least $10 million in equity financing and booked annual revenue of at least $2 million, not backed by adversarial capital.
What technology maturity is required?
Solutions must be at TRL 7 or higher, meaning a prototype has been demonstrated in an operational environment.
What capabilities is DIU most interested in?
Long-range passive detection at 60 km or more, active detection and tracking of swarms of hundreds of UxVs beyond 5 km with emphasis on Group 3 systems, and effectors that lower cost per kill.
What type of award will DIU make?
DIU awards Prototype Other Transaction agreements, which may lead to a noncompetitive follow-on production contract after successful prototype completion.
What should be included in the submission?
A solution brief saved as a single PDF of 10 MB or smaller, containing no information designated higher than CUI, along with company and submitter information entered in the DIU form.
How long does DIU take to respond?
DIU aims to respond within 30 days if it is interested in learning more through a pitch.
Can BW&CO help with a DIU CLASS ACT submission?
Yes. BW&CO helps companies confirm eligibility, craft the solution brief, and prepare for the pitch and OT negotiation. Book a call with our team.