Part of the DoW SBIR/STTR FY27 Release 2 topic list. Browse all 83 topics by industry or service.
Topic DON27BZ02-NV013 from the DoW SBIR 2027 BAA, Release 2. Pre-release now; proposals due January 6, 2027, 12:00 PM ET.
Quick answer
DON27BZ02-NV013 is a Department of the Navy SBIR topic seeking an Electro-Optical/Infrared Tactical Decision Aid (TDA) that predicts surface and air sensor performance in maritime, littoral, and inland environments, as an alternative or improvement to TAWS. It follows a standard Phase I then Phase II path. Proposals are due January 6, 2027, 12:00 PM ET.
Solicitation at a glance
- Topic number: DON27BZ02-NV013
- Official title: Electro-Optical/Infrared Tactical Decision Aid
- 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-NV013)
BW&CO's take
What the Department of the Navy wants
Navy commanders need to predict how EO/IR sensors (0.4 to 12 micron) will perform under forecast weather, for example maximum detection range for a given sensor, platform, target, and background. The Navy wants a new EO/IR TDA built from interdependent background, target signature, radiative transfer, and sensor performance models, with particular focus on how each model is verified and validated. Phase I defines the architecture, verifies the radiative transfer model against analytic thermal transport solutions, and builds a land/sea background model, a CUBI thermal target model, and a generic band-selectable imager model. Phase II expands targets and sensors, adds clutter, and validates against field and laboratory data.
Who is a good fit
- Existing radiative transfer, thermal signature, or atmospheric propagation codes with documented verification and validation history
- Experience with target acquisition tools such as TAWS, EOTDA, or MuSES, or comparable sensor performance models
- Land and sea background and clutter modeling validated against field data collections
- Laboratory thermal experiments, such as CUBI target testing, and access to meteorological data including three-dimensional inputs
Watch-outs
- The proposal must list prior V&V efforts on the proposed submodels and the methods for V&V in Phase II and Phase III. The topic calls V&V the primary challenge, so thin V&V evidence will weaken a proposal.
- The topic is ITAR-restricted. Plan for export-control compliance, including limits on foreign national participation.
- Phase II work may become classified, and some Government-provided target and sensor models might be classified. The contractor must be U.S. owned with no foreign influence and able to hold a Secret facility clearance and personnel clearances.
- The topic requires CMMC Level 2 (Self).
Think your company fits DON27BZ02-NV013? Talk with BW&CO before the January 6 deadline.
Plan Your DON27BZ02-NV013 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
Electro-Optical/Infrared Tactical Decision Aid
Objective
Develop an Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) Tactical Decision Aid (TDA) for surface and air sensors in maritime, littoral, and inland environments.
Description
The United States Navy (USN) requires the capability to rapidly predict the performance of sensors that depend on the propagation of electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) radiation (i.e., wavelengths from 0.4 to 12 micron) in air. Sensor performance is subject to environmental/meteorologic conditions, as well as sensor, platform, background/clutter, and target characteristics. For a given sensor on a platform and a target in background/clutter, a forecaster should be able to determine key performance metrics; for example, maximum detection range based on the forecasted meteorological conditions. In this way, USN commanders can make tactical decisions based on the predicted sensor performance given ambient/forecast weather conditions. Key modeling components within a TDA include the land/maritime surface background, target signature, radiative transfer, and sensor performance models. These models are often interdependent, requiring feedback between them (e.g., radiative transfer between target and background models is needed to compute the contrast of the target in the background, which then feeds into a sensor performance model).
Target Acquisition Weapons Software (TAWS), a successor to Electro-Optic Tactical Decision Aid (EOTDA), was originally developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and released in 1998. Later a target scene model improvement for selected high-resolution targets was implemented with Multi-Service Electro-optics Signature (MuSES). The USN is looking for an innovative and accurate EO/IR TDA, which would be an alternative/improvement to TAWS. Improvements could include support for three dimensional meteorological inputs. The primary challenge for implementing an EO/IR TDA is the methodical verification and validation (V&V) of the constituent models and submodels being developed. This SBIR topic seeks innovative solutions to the development of an EO/IR TDA with particular focus on the methods proposed to verify and validate developed models. A list of prior V&V efforts on proposed submodels should be made clear in the responses to this solicitation, as well as the proposed means/methods to conduct V&V under a Phase II and/or Phase III.
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 ONR 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 concept for an EO/IR TDA model architecture and verify the radiative transfer model can solve basic thermal transport problems (e.g., conduction, convection, radiation) with analytic solutions. Ensure facets/grid points can be individually sampled to provide their temperature and spectral radiance. Create a land/sea background model where spatiotemporally varying clutter can be added in Phase II. Create a CUBI thermal target model and a generic, band-selectable imaging sensor (e.g., 3-5 micron midwave IR (MWIR) imager) model.
Phase II
Implement the EO/IR TDA model into a working prototype and ensure support for a wide range of generic representative targets (e.g., car, truck, ship, boat, plane, unmanned aerial system (UAS)) and a wide range of generic representative sensors (e.g., 0.4-0.7 micron visual band imager, 1.06 micron laser designator, 0.9-1.7 micron shortwave IR (SWIR) imager, 3-5 micron MWIR imager, 8-12 micron longwave IR (LWIR) imager). Develop and add specific target and sensor models, some of which will be provided by the government and might be classified. Add representative spatiotemporally varying clutter in the scene and validate the background/clutter model against prior field data collections. Validate the radiative transfer model with a complex thermal transport experiment using a CUBI target in the laboratory. Prepare a Phase III commercialization/transition plan.
Work in Phase II may become classified. Please see note in the Description.
Phase III Dual Use Applications
Develop and add other specific target and sensor models, some of which will be provided by the government and might be classified. Validate the EO/IR TDA using previously collected field data. Design and execute an experimental validation of the EO/IR TDA using state-of-the art meteorological sensors and scientific grade (or better) thermal imagers, as well as a representative target and sensor to test the capability to determine sensor performance (e.g., maximum detection range).
References
Koch, C.A. “Operational Evaluation of the Electro-Optic Tactical Decision Aid, Version 3.1.” DTIC ADA335052, 01 Feb 1997. https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/ADA335052
Hernandez, J.H. “Operational Assessment of Target Acquisition Weapons Software (TAWS) Prediction Performance at Nellis AFB, NV.” DTIC ADA445423, 01 Feb 2006. https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/ADA445423
Thelen, J.C. “Sensitivities and uncertainties in predicting thermal contrast between a target and a background.” Proc. SPIE 12109, Thermosense: Thermal Infrared Applications XLIV, 121090M, 27 May 2022. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2618772
“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
Electro-Optical; Infrared; Modeling; Simulation; Propagation; Sensor; Target; Weather; Verification; Validation
Frequently asked questions
What is DON27BZ02-NV013?
It is a Department of the Navy SBIR topic to develop an EO/IR Tactical Decision Aid that predicts the performance of surface and air sensors from environmental and meteorological conditions plus sensor, platform, background, and target characteristics, as an alternative or improvement to TAWS.
When is DON27BZ02-NV013 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 delivers the TDA model architecture concept and initial verified models. Phase II implements a working prototype across a wide range of generic targets and sensors and validates the background and radiative transfer models.
Which sensors and targets must the Phase II prototype support?
Generic targets such as car, truck, ship, boat, plane, and UAS, and generic sensors including a 0.4-0.7 micron visual imager, 1.06 micron laser designator, 0.9-1.7 micron SWIR imager, 3-5 micron MWIR imager, and 8-12 micron LWIR imager, plus specific models the Government provides.