Part of the DoW SBIR/STTR FY27 Release 2 topic list. Browse all 83 topics by industry or service.
Topic DON27TZ02-NV006 from the DoW STTR 2027 BAA, Release 2. Pre-release now; proposals due January 6, 2027, 12:00 PM ET.
Quick answer
DON27TZ02-NV006 is a Department of the Navy STTR topic seeking an inexpensive, compact, NDAA-compliant unmanned aerial system and payload optimized for high-resolution photogrammetry of marine mammals from small boats. 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-NV006
- Official title: Compact Unmanned Aerial System for Marine Species Monitoring
- 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-NV006)
BW&CO's take
What the Department of the Navy wants
Researchers use drones to measure marine mammal behavior, health, and body condition, but current NDAA-compliant options are expensive and only offer the needed features piecemeal. The Navy wants one affordable system with a gimbaled high-resolution flat zoom camera, an accurate integrated LiDAR altimeter and range finder that measures distances up to 50 m or more, batteries under 100 Wh, 40+ minute flights, a sunlight-readable display that works with polarized sunglasses, IP45 weather resistance, -20 to +40 C operation, dynamic home point, low noise, and hand launch and catch from small boats. It must fit airline luggage limits, with a target market price of $10,000 to $15,000.
Who is a good fit
- An existing NDAA-compliant small UAS platform or supply chain
- Photogrammetry payload integration, including camera, gimbal, and LiDAR altimeter calibration
- Experience flying from small boats, including hand launch, hand catch, and moving home points
- Low-cost hardware design and manufacturing aimed at research customers
Watch-outs
- This is an STTR topic, so a research-institution partner is required.
- The system must be NDAA-compliant, and the topic notes existing NDAA-compliant drones offer the needed capabilities only piecemeal and at high cost.
- The $10,000 to $15,000 target market price is a central requirement. A design that meets the specifications but cannot reach that price will not meet what the topic calls a critical requirement.
- The topic requires CMMC Level 2 (Self). It is not marked as ITAR-restricted in the topic metadata.
Think your company fits DON27TZ02-NV006? Talk with BW&CO before the January 6 deadline.
Plan Your DON27TZ02-NV006 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
Compact Unmanned Aerial System for Marine Species Monitoring
Objective
Develop an inexpensive, compact, and National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)-compliant Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) – optimized for marine mammal monitoring.
Description
A major remaining hurdle with marine species management is to know if, and when, measurable short-term behavioral and/or physiological responses of marine species to sound exposure results in biologically significant or meaningful effects on individuals and/or their populations. Advances in UAS methods and technology present unprecedented opportunities to improve the capacity to collect this robust data with minimal disturbance to marine species. However, while UAS methods have led to significant advances in our understanding of marine species’ behavior, health, and body condition, thus far many obstacles remain including cost, flight duration, size, and image resolution.
This STTR topic seeks to develop a compact, inexpensive, and NDAA-compliant UAS and payloads designed to collect high-resolution photogrammetry imagery to improve marine mammal monitoring, health measurements, and behavioral sequencing. In particular, the prototype device should contain the following technical parameters: high resolution flat zoom lens camera integrated with a gimbal system; highly maneuverable and flexible payload system; lightweight batteries less than 100 Watt hours; an accurate Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) altimeter and range finder integrated with the camera and capable of measuring distances up to 50m or more; and a monitor that is operational in direct sunlight and with polarized sunglasses;. It should be designed for flight times as much as or greater than 40 minutes; be compact and portable in both size and weight such that the UAS and case can fit airline luggage restrictions; have the ability to be quickly calibrated, launched, and caught by hand during small boat-based operations and to tolerate temperature range of -20 degrees to +40 degrees Celsius; and have a minimum weather resistant rating of IP45 to allow for operations in wet conditions; be capable of dynamic home point positioning; and produces minimal noise.
While there are several existing NDAA-compliant drones available in the marketplace, the desired components and capabilities only exist in piecemeal and further, these UAS are prohibitively expensive for the field. The DON seeks to develop a prototype device to be designed and optimized for marine species monitoring, encompassing all the above technical parameters. Critically, this device must be affordable for the marine research community with the target market price between $10,000 - $15,000.
Phase I
Develop concepts for and determine the feasibility of UAS technologies suitable for marine species-focused photogrammetry in a compact, efficient, and cost-effective design, including the identification of components to increase imagery resolution, increase flight time, and decrease size and weight of the prototype device. Develop key component technology milestones and conceptual designs for hardware. Prepare a Phase II plan.
Phase II
Develop prototype hardware based on the Phase I effort. Establish hardware performance and develop a conceptual plan for integration into a compact system. Deliver the prototype ready for integration and testing by the Government at the end of Phase II. Prepare a Phase III commercialization/transition plan.
Phase III Dual Use Applications
Continue refinement and iterative field testing of the prototype. Provide documentation and support to the Navy and Government user community to ensure best practice use. Clearly identify and describe the expected transition of the product/process/service within the government under a Phase III effort.
Successful development of an improved UAS suitable for marine species research will open tremendous opportunities for small businesses to provide monitoring capabilities to a wide range of government agencies having equities in marine life issues. For example, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries, National Ocean Service, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, U.S. Geological Survey, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, among others would benefit from this capability. Additionally, any commercial entity with a need or support mission to monitor and assess a small area from an aerial perspective with high-resolution imagery would benefit from this technology.
A key goal of this phase will be making the technology available to the broader research and Navy communities.
References
Álvarez-González, M., Suarez-Bregua, P., Pierce, G.J. and Saavedra, C. “Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in marine mammal research: A review of current applications and challenges.” Drones, 7(11), 667. https://doi.org/10.3390/drones7110667
Bernier-Graveline, A. et al. “Drone-based photogrammetry provides estimates of the energetic cost of migration for humpback whales between Antarctica and Colombia.” Marine Mammal Science, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.70048
Christiansen, F. et al “Estimating body mass of free-living whales using aerial photogrammetry and 3D volumetrics.” Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 10(12), 2019, pp. 2034-2044. https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.13277
Durban, J. W., Fearnbach, H., Barrett-Lennard, L. G., Perryman, W. L. and Leroi, D. J. “Photogrammetry of killer whales using a small hexacopter launched at sea.” Journal of Unmanned Vehicle Systems, 3(3), 2015, pp. 131-135. https://doi.org/10.1139/juvs-2015-0020
Keywords
Unmanned; aerial; system; vehicles; drone; NDAA-compliant; photogrammetry
Frequently asked questions
What is DON27TZ02-NV006?
It is a Department of the Navy STTR topic to develop an inexpensive, compact, NDAA-compliant UAS and payloads that collect high-resolution photogrammetry imagery for marine mammal monitoring, health measurements, and behavioral sequencing.
When is DON27TZ02-NV006 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 and determines feasibility, identifying components to improve imagery resolution and flight time and reduce size and weight. Phase II builds prototype hardware for Government testing. A research-institution partner is required.
What flight time and battery limits apply?
The system should be designed for flight times of 40 minutes or more while using lightweight batteries of less than 100 watt-hours, and the UAS and its case must fit airline luggage restrictions.