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Topic DON27TZ02-NV005 from the DoW STTR 2027 BAA, Release 2. Pre-release now; proposals due January 6, 2027, 12:00 PM ET.
Quick answer
DON27TZ02-NV005 is a Department of the Navy STTR topic from ONR seeking a human-portable wave energy capture device that deploys autonomously and generates enough power to recharge unmanned surface and undersea vehicles, plus a device to deploy it from an autonomous surface vessel. It is a Phase I STTR topic with a research-institution partner. Proposals are due January 6, 2027, 12:00 PM ET.
Solicitation at a glance
- Topic number: DON27TZ02-NV005
- Official title: Self-Sustaining Wave Energy Capture for Persistent Autonomous Ocean-Going Systems
- Agency: Department of the Navy
- Program: STTR (DoW STTR 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: No
- 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 DON27TZ02-NV005)
BW&CO's take
What the Department of the Navy wants
ONR wants a wave energy capture device built from components one or two people can carry and assemble, with no seafloor anchoring, working in water from 100 meters deep to full ocean depth. It should produce at least 20 kWh per day, charge a 2 kWh battery in 6 hours even in calm seas, operate while tethered to a loitering vehicle, work through Sea State 6, and survive Sea State 8. It must be hard to see and hear, last at least a month deployed, and keep cost low, since ONR expects some units may not be recoverable and wants multiple units per million dollars at full-rate production. A deployment device that launches it from an autonomous surface vessel at Sea State 4 is also a deliverable.
Who is a good fit
- Wave energy converter design with hydrodynamic modeling and tank test experience
- Lightweight, modular marine hardware designed for hand assembly and low unit cost
- Floating or tethered systems engineered for high sea state survivability and low visual, radar, and acoustic signature
- Launch and recovery or deck-handling mechanisms for autonomous surface vessels
Watch-outs
- This is an STTR topic, so a research-institution partner is required.
- Weight and size limits are strict: one-person components no more than 14 kg and 1.9 m, two-person components no more than 45.4 kg and 2.3 m.
- You must deliver both the WECD and a deployment device, and Phase II M&S must be validated by in-water tests including at least one end-to-end sea test.
- The topic requires CMMC Level 2 (Self). It is not marked as ITAR-restricted in the topic metadata.
Think your company fits DON27TZ02-NV005? Talk with BW&CO before the January 6 deadline.
Plan Your DON27TZ02-NV005 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
Self-Sustaining Wave Energy Capture for Persistent Autonomous Ocean-Going Systems
Objective
Develop a human-portable wave energy capture device able to deploy autonomously and generate sufficient power to effectively recharge autonomous vehicles.
Description
Unmanned surface and undersea vehicles need regular recharging, and since they often operate far from human contact, their charging systems require a reliable, self-sustaining power source. The Office of Naval Research (ONR) believes the ideal power source will be a wave energy capture device (WECD). WECDs capture kinetic and potential energy generated by the movement of ocean waves on or near the surface of open water.
The desired WECD must be portable, specifically, designed as a set of components that can each be carried by one or two people who must be able to quickly assemble and disassemble those components. Components designed for one-person carry should weigh no more than 14 kg with largest dimension no greater than 1.9 m, while components designed for two-person carry should weigh no more than 45.4 kg with largest dimension no greater than 2.3 m. The WECD must be able to be relocated to areas of very different depths, including full ocean depth so the WECD’s design cannot require placement or anchoring on the sea floor. And since the WECD may need to deploy near the shore, its design must allow it to function in waters as shallow as 100 meters.
Ocean weather conditions can be challenging. The WECD should function reliably at Sea State 6 or less (very rough seas, with wave heights of 4 to 6 meters), and it should be able to survive conditions up to Sea State 8 (very high seas, with wave heights of 9 to 14 meters).
ONR assumes the WECD will be tethered to some device at or near the surface of the water. That tethered system may be an autonomous vehicle in loiter mode, and since loitering involves continuous vehicle movement, the WECD should operate reliably while in motion, and its design should leverage such motion to increase energy capture.
The WECD should produce a minimum of 20 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day, but more is highly desirable. ONR believes 100+ kWh per day is achievable. Even in calm seas, the ideal WECD should produce sufficient electricity to charge a 2-kWh battery in 6 hours or less. Vehicle movement may be considered when ensuring this minimum level of power generation.
The desired WECD may be needed in areas where human assembly is impractical. Thus, the deliverables must include a prototype device capable of deploying the assembled WECD from the deck of a medium or large autonomous surface vessel. Like the WECD itself, the deployment device (DD) should function reliably in challenging weather conditions: Sea State 4 or less (moderate seas with wave heights of 1.25 to 2.5 meters).
Once deployed, very little of the WECD itself should be visible at the surface of the water. The WECD should minimize any increase in the visibility of the vehicle it is tethered to. This includes surface and airborne observation, both optically and by radar. Acoustic noise generated by the WECD should either be minimized or disguised to seem environmental or biological.
Cost for the WECD and associated DD should be minimized. ONR expects that under certain environmental conditions or mission requirements, WECDs may not be recoverable. At full-rate production, the ideal price will allow for multiple units per million dollars.
Under normal operating conditions, including Sea States of 6 or less, the expected operational duration of the deployed WECD should be at least one month, with three months or more expected if Sea State 4 or less is maintained.
Phase I
Develop a concept for a WECD and DD capable of satisfying the listed requirements. Evaluate feasibility of the conceptual design by performing modeling and simulation, supplemented by component-level laboratory tests and water tank tests as appropriate. Provide required Phase I deliverables to include design plans and schematics for the WECD and DD, along with test and evaluation reports that are sufficiently detailed to enable ONR to assess the feasibility of the contractor’s proposed approach; and a Phase II plan.
Phase II
Complete design and perform fabrication, verification, and testing of a prototype WECD and prototype DD based on the designs completed in Phase I. Perform testing that can include modeling and simulation (M&S); any such M&S must be validated and supplemented by in-water tests and must include at least one end-to-end sea test. Evaluate the performance of the WECD and DD during tests against the objectives expressed in the Description. Provide deliverables that include the prototype WECD and DD, along with an evaluation report that is sufficiently detailed to enable ONR to assess the performance of the contractor’s prototypes with respect to all objectives. Develop a plan for production of WECD and DD devices, making whatever improvements are appropriate based on the results of testing and evaluation in Phase II.
Phase III Dual Use Applications
Validate the production plan with low-rate initial production (LRIP) of WECD and DD devices, and tests of those devices using a combination of M&S and in-water tests, including sea tests. Deliver at least one set of WECD and DD from LRIP to Navy operators for extended testing. (Note: All test data generated by the Navy will be shared with the contractor.) Evaluate the LRIP units for consistent performance and reliability based on the objectives expressed in the Description. Deliver LRIP WECD and DD units and evaluation reports that are sufficiently detailed to enable ONR to assess the units’ performance with respect to all objectives.
References
Drew, B., Plummer, A. R. and Sahinkaya, M. N. “A review of wave energy converter technology.” Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part A: Journal of Power and Energy, 223(8), 2009, pp. 887-902. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/245392816_A_review_of_wave_energy_converter_technology
Mwasilu, F. and Jung, J. W. “Potential for power generation from ocean wave renewable energy source: a comprehensive review on state of the art technology and future prospects.” IET Renewable Power Generation, 13(3), 2019, pp. 363-375. https://ietresearch.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1049/iet-rpg.2018.5456
Salter, S. H. “Wave power.” Nature, 249(5459), 1974, pp. 720-724. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Stephen-Salter/publication/232778016_Wave_power/links/544b83cc0cf2d6347f432d10/Wave-power.pdf
Veerabhadrappa, K., Suhas, B., Mangrulkar, C., Kumar, R., Mudakappanavar, V. and Narahari, Seetharamu, K. “Power Generation Using Ocean Waves: A Review. Global Transitions Proceedings, 3(2), 2022, pp. 359-370. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666285X22000632
Keywords
Energy Density; Hydrodynamics; Ocean Energy; Oscillating Water Column; Sea State; Self-Sustaining; Survivability; Wave Energy; Wave Energy Capture; Wave Power; WECD
Frequently asked questions
What is DON27TZ02-NV005?
It is a Department of the Navy STTR topic to develop a human-portable wave energy capture device that can deploy autonomously and generate enough power to recharge unmanned surface and undersea vehicles operating far from human contact.
When is DON27TZ02-NV005 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 Phase I STTR topic. Phase I develops concepts for the WECD and deployment device and evaluates feasibility through modeling, simulation, and component and tank tests. Phase II fabricates and sea-tests prototypes. A research-institution partner is required.
How much power does the device need to produce?
At least 20 kWh per day, with more highly desirable and 100+ kWh per day considered achievable by ONR. Even in calm seas, it should charge a 2 kWh battery in 6 hours or less, and vehicle movement may be counted toward that minimum.