Part of the DoW SBIR/STTR FY27 Release 2 topic list. Browse all 83 topics by industry or service.
Topic DON27BZ02-NV009 from the DoW SBIR 2027 BAA, Release 2. Pre-release now; proposals due January 6, 2027, 12:00 PM ET.
Quick answer
DON27BZ02-NV009 is a Department of the Navy SBIR topic, sponsored by the Aegis Program Office, seeking distributed multispectral event-driven sensing and communications (MINSC) based on neuromorphic computing. It follows a standard Phase I then Phase II path, ending with two delivered prototypes. Proposals are due January 6, 2027, 12:00 PM ET.
Solicitation at a glance
- Topic number: DON27BZ02-NV009
- Official title: Distributed Multispectral Event-Driven Integrated Sensing and Communications
- Agency: Department of the Navy
- Program: SBIR (DoW SBIR 2027 BAA, Release 2)
- Award type: Phase I (see topic text for Phase II)
- Award amount: Phase I base up to $200,000 plus an option up to $115,000. Source: Navy Release 2 instructions in DSIP.
- CMMC level: Level 2 (Self)
- ITAR: Yes. Export-controlled (ITAR/EAR); see topic text
- Technology areas: None
- 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 DON27BZ02-NV009)
BW&CO's take
What the Department of the Navy wants
Remote passive sensors today use frame-based processing that produces large data volumes, drains power on battery-limited hardware, and strains dynamic communication links. The Navy wants MINSC: event-driven neuromorphic sensing that processes locally, transmits only necessary information over low-probability-of-intercept links, and fuses with existing onboard sensors to improve tracking, detection, classification, and identification. Solutions can be software, neuromorphic hardware, or an end-to-end system. The target is the Aegis Combat System, with track visualization through existing ACS console GUIs and testing on the AEGIS Test Bed. Phase II delivers two prototypes with firmware and interface specifications for Government lab evaluation.
Who is a good fit
- Neuromorphic or event-based sensor hardware, or spiking neural network software, with measured energy and bandwidth advantages over frame-based processing
- Edge inference and event-driven or semantic communications work, especially low-probability-of-intercept data transmission
- Multi-sensor fusion for tracking, detection, classification, and identification in cluttered or noisy environments
- Experience delivering hardware with firmware and interface documentation for Government lab test, ideally with Design for Manufacturing practice
Watch-outs
- The topic is ITAR-restricted. Plan for export-control compliance, including limits on foreign national participation.
- Phase II work will probably be classified. The contractor must be U.S. owned and operated with no foreign influence and able to acquire and maintain a Secret facility clearance and personnel clearances.
- The solution must ultimately integrate with the Aegis Combat System, ACS console GUIs, and the AEGIS Test Bed, so the proposal should show a credible path to that integration.
- The topic requires CMMC Level 2 (Self).
Think your company fits DON27BZ02-NV009? Talk with BW&CO before the January 6 deadline.
Plan Your DON27BZ02-NV009 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
Distributed Multispectral Event-Driven Integrated Sensing and Communications
Objective
Develop a distributed multispectral event-driven integrated sensing and communications capability that can timely provide robust detection of a wide range of objects and integrate into existing onboard sensors to expand operational battlespace.
Description
The Navy Aegis Program Office is interested in expanding battlespace awareness to support cross-domain operations through the integration of remote passive sensors. Currently, these sensors rely on real-time frame-based processing that generates large volumes of data, requiring significant processing power and energy and creating constraints for resource-limited hardware platforms with finite battery life, processing capabilities, and memory. In addition, transmitting large volumes of data over dynamic communication links can introduce delays and encounter bandwidth limitations that cannot meet time-critical operational needs. The complexity of the battlespace and electromagnetic environment further presents challenges for robust detection, classification, and identification. Advanced remote passive-sensor technologies that enable efficient and distributed sensing and processing will support multidomain operations by providing timely and resilient battlespace awareness. Successful technologies will be transitioned to the Aegis Combat System (ACS) to enhance distributed sensing, accelerate decision-making, and enable cross-domain operations.
The Navy is seeking to develop Multispectral Integrated Neuromorphic Sensing and Communications (MINSC) technology to support endurant remote sensing capability. MINSC is an event-driven sensor featuring low-probability-of-intercept (LPI) data transmission that can timely identify a wide range of objects and transmit the information to remote platforms to integrate into the existing decision-making process. Neuromorphic computing can provide energy efficient, parallel processing, and low-latency framework for passive sensing, edge computing, and remote inference.
Neuromorphic sensors deliver high temporal resolution, asynchronous, energy and bandwidth efficient data inspired by biological vision. The Navy seeks to build an Event-Driven Energy-Efficient Ecosystem to support Endurant Long-Range Sensing and Communications capability. Solutions can be software, neuromorphic hardware, and/or end-to-end neuromorphic system that can deliver robust information and fuse with existing sensors to provide improved tracking, detection, classification, and identification. The Navy is open to innovative ideas of novel system design that can make decisions locally and communicate sparingly or timely send out the event-driven information for remote inference. The intended capability is an integrated remote passive-sensing capability that performs event-driven local sensing and processing, communicating only the information necessary to enhance remote awareness, and fuses with existing sensors to improve tracking, detection, classification and identification.
Distributed MINSC will provide advantages in dynamic environment and resilience to noise and debris associated with military applications. Incorporating event-based multispectral remote sensors with onboard sensors will expand operational battlespace, contribute to robust Common Operational Picture (COP) and enhance situational awareness. It will integrate with the Aegis and permit realistic testing of all threat types and configurations in a dynamic testing environment. Track visualization will be delivered through the existing ACS console Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs). The solution will support current operator track management and decision-making and integrate with the AEGIS Test Bed (ATB) to facilitate system evaluation against more advanced threats. The solution will provide an enhanced capability to address targets in all configurations and optimal engagement options to the sailors, which will increase mission capability and effectiveness against the latest threats.
Work produced in Phase II may become classified. Note: The prospective contractor(s) must be U.S. owned and operated with no foreign influence as defined by 32 U.S.C. § 2004.20 et seq., National Industrial Security Program Executive Agent and Operating Manual, unless acceptable mitigating procedures can and have been implemented and approved by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) formerly Defense Security Service (DSS). The selected contractor and/or subcontractor must be able to acquire and maintain a secret level facility and Personnel Security Clearances. This will allow contractor personnel to perform on advanced phases of this project as set forth by DCSA and PAE MS in order to gain access to classified information pertaining to the national defense of the United States and its allies; this will be an inherent requirement. The selected company will be required to safeguard classified material during the advanced phases of this contract IAW the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM), which can be found at Title 32, Part 2004.20 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
Phase I
Develop a design concept for MINSC technology for remote, instant, and robust reporting of objects of interest. Demonstrate the feasibility in meeting the requirements in the Description to support the tests and operational environments. Establish feasibility through analysis and modeling. Consider Design for Manufacturing (DFM) framework in the hardware design to simplify production processes throughout the design phase, ensuring design aligns with manufacturing standards. The Phase I Option, if exercised, will include the initial design specifications and capabilities description to build a prototype solution in Phase II.
Phase II
Develop and deliver a MINSC prototype based on the results of Phase I. Ensure that the hardware prototype includes firmware and detailed interface specifications to support tests and evaluation in a Government Lab. Support evaluation of the prototype through lab testing, analytical methods, modeling, and simulation (if a simulation model is provided). For software prototype provide an emulator or hardware to demonstrate the technology to be evaluated by Government subject matter experts for validation. Deliver two prototypes at the end of Phase II. Provide a Phase III commercialization/transition plan.
It is probable that the work under this effort will be classified under Phase II (see the Description for details).
Phase III Dual Use Applications
Support the Navy in transitioning the prototype to allow for further experimentation and refinement for Navy uses. Incorporate the prototype into the AEGIS baseline testing modernization process and/or incorporated into Electronic Support Measures (ESM) in the SEWIP program to include integration into a baseline definition and incorporation of the baselines existing and new threat capabilities, validation, and combat system certification.
Integrated Neuromorphic Sensing and Communications will have applications in FutureG, Autonomous Vehicles, IoT, Surveillance, Robotics and Automation, Wearable Electronics, and Healthcare.
References
López-Randulfe, Javier, et.al. “Spiking Neural Network for Fourier Transform and Object Detection for Automotive Radar.” Frontiers in Neurorobotics, Volume 15, June 2021: Article 688344. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurorobotics/articles/10.3389/fnbot.2021.688344/full
Lee, Jihun, et.al. “An asynchronous wireless network for capturing event-driven data from large populations of autonomous sensors.” Nature Electronics, Volume 7, May 2024: pp. 313-324. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41928-024-01134-y
Skatchkovsky, Nicolas; Jang, Hyeryung and Simeone, Osvaldo. “End-to-End Learning of Neuromorphic Wireless Systems for Low-Power Edge Artificial Intelligence.” The 54th Asilomar Conference on Signals, Systems, and Computers, November 2020. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9443351
Chen, Jiechen; Skatchkovsky, Nicolas and Simeone, Osvaldo. “Neuromorphic Wireless Cognition: Event-Driven Semantic Communications for Remote Inference.” IEEE Transactions on Cognitive Communications and Networking, Volume 9, Issue 2, April 2023: pp. 252-265. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10016643
Chen, Jiechen, et.al. “Neuromorphic Split Computing With Wake-Up Radios: Architecture and Design via Digital Twinning.” IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing, Volume 72, October 2024: pp. 4635-4650. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10682971
“National Industrial Security Program Executive Agent and Operating Manual (NISP), 32 U.S.C. § 2004.20 et seq. 1993.” https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-32/subtitle-B/chapter-XX/part-2004
Keywords
Neuromorphic Sensors; Neuromorphic Computing; Passive Sensors; Distributed Sensing; Edge Computing; Remote Inference; Remote Sensing
Frequently asked questions
What is DON27BZ02-NV009?
It is a Department of the Navy SBIR topic to develop Multispectral Integrated Neuromorphic Sensing and Communications (MINSC): event-driven remote passive sensing that detects a wide range of objects, sends only necessary information over low-probability-of-intercept links, and fuses with Aegis onboard sensors.
When is DON27BZ02-NV009 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. After that, questions go through DSIP Topic Q&A.
Is this a Phase I or Direct-to-Phase II topic?
It is a standard Phase I topic. Phase I develops a design concept and establishes feasibility through analysis and modeling, with a Phase I Option covering initial design specifications. Phase II develops and delivers two MINSC prototypes.
Does the solution have to be hardware?
No. The topic states that solutions can be software, neuromorphic hardware, and/or an end-to-end neuromorphic system. A hardware prototype must include firmware and detailed interface specifications, and a software prototype must come with an emulator or hardware to demonstrate it for Government evaluation.