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Topic DON27TZ02-NV007 from the DoW STTR 2027 BAA, Release 2. Pre-release now; proposals due January 6, 2027, 12:00 PM ET.
Quick answer
DON27TZ02-NV007 is a Department of the Navy STTR topic seeking an integrated luminescent paint system (pressure-, temperature-, and mechano-luminescent) that maps wall pressure, shear stress, and temperature fluctuations at the same time on curved models in water. It is an STTR topic that starts at Phase I; as an STTR, it requires a research-institution partner. Proposals are due January 6, 2027, 12:00 PM ET.
Solicitation at a glance
- Topic number: DON27TZ02-NV007
- Official title: Multi-Modal Luminescent Paint Systems for Underwater Surface Diagnostics
- 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-NV007)
BW&CO's take
What the Department of the Navy wants
Luminescent paints work well in wind tunnels but break down in water: oxygen-quenching PSP loses sensitivity, TSP analysis relies on Taylor's frozen-flow hypothesis, and mechano-luminescent paints for shear are immature. Coatings are also hard to apply evenly on large curved surfaces. The Navy wants a combined material, application, and optical processing suite that decouples cross-sensitivities. Phase I targets pressure from 10 Pa to 100 kPa, shear from 0.1 to 100 Pa, temperature variations from 0.05 to 20°C, and unsteadiness up to 50 kHz. Phase II demonstrates the paint on a curved model larger than a square meter in a test facility.
Who is a good fit
- Formulation experience with pressure-sensitive, temperature-sensitive, or mechano-luminescent paints, including dye and binder chemistry
- Experimental fluid mechanics or hydrodynamic test facility work with optical diagnostics and high-speed imaging
- Spray or deposition process expertise that can hold coating thickness uniform on curved, non-flat surfaces
- Image processing and calibration methods for separating coupled pressure, shear, and temperature signals
Watch-outs
- This is an STTR topic, so you need a formal research-institution partner performing a meaningful share of the work.
- The measurement targets are demanding: resolving unsteadiness up to 50 kHz without relying on Taylor's hypothesis, across wide pressure, shear, and temperature ranges.
- Phase II requires less than 5% thickness variation across complex curves and durability testing at flow velocities up to 15 m/s over continuous 8-hour test windows.
- The topic requires CMMC Level 2 (Self). It is not marked as ITAR-restricted in the topic metadata.
Think your company fits DON27TZ02-NV007? Talk with BW&CO before the January 6 deadline.
Plan Your DON27TZ02-NV007 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
Multi-Modal Luminescent Paint Systems for Underwater Surface Diagnostics
Objective
Develop an integrated, multi-modal luminescent paint system optimized for simultaneous, non-intrusive, large-scale, high-resolution global measurement of wall pressure, shear stress, and temperature fluctuations on complex, curved geometries in underwater environments.
Description
Quantifying coupled boundary layer interactions along hydrodynamic surfaces require non-intrusive, full-field imaging of surface pressure, temperature, and skin friction (shear stress). While optical diagnostics have revolutionized aerodynamic testing, adapting luminescent paints to hydrodynamic testing in water introduces fundamental physical and application constraints that current state-of-the-art systems cannot overcome:
• Pressure-Sensitive Paint (PSP): Conventional PSP relies on oxygen-quenching physics. When submerged, oxygen diffusion into the polymer binder is severely inhibited by the liquid boundary layer and low oxygen solubility, rendering standard PSPs insensitive or plagued by extremely slow response times. Furthermore, severe temperature cross-sensitivity corrupts the pressure signal.
• Temperature-Sensitive Paint (TSP): Accurate dynamic temperature measurements are crippled by the standard utilization of Taylor’s frozen-flow hypothesis, which inaccurately assumes turbulent structures remain unchanged as they advect. In water, non-equilibrium flow, high thermal mass and rapid localized diffusion cause this hypothesis to break down, failing to capture true high-frequency temperature fluctuations.
• Mechano-Luminescent Paint (MLP): MLPs offer a direct optical pathway to map shear stress via mechanical deformation. However, current MLP formulations are in their technological infancy, suffering from poor dynamic range, low luminous efficiency, and signal degradation from material fatigue and hydrostatic pressure cross-talk.
In addition to the above challenges, current formulations are difficult to apply uniformly over large areas. Existing techniques fail to maintain a consistent, repeatable coating thickness on complex, curved, or non-flat surfaces. This inconsistency skews calibration and compromises measurement reliability across large-field hydrodynamic models. Innovative material architectures, such as utilizing distinct, multi-color mechano-luminescent particles or multi-core/shell dye structures, may enable simultaneous, uncoupled optical separation of pressure, shear, and temperature in all flow environments, i.e. gas, liquid, and multiphase flows.
This STTR topic seeks an integrated material, application, and optical processing suite. The system must decouple cross-sensitivities and deliver simultaneous, high dynamic range, full-field quantitative maps of the wall pressure, shear, and temperature fluctuations.
Phase I
Develop a concept for advanced formulations for water-compatible PSP, TSP, and MLP systems capable of measuring pressure fluctuations from 10 Pa to 100 kPa, shear stress from 0.1 to 100 Pa, and temperature variations from 0.05 to 20°C, as well as providing uniform spatial sampling capable of resolving unsteadiness up to 50 kHz without relying on Taylor’s hypothesis. Evaluate the conceptual system’s ability to decouple cross-sensitivities in simultaneous mapping of wall pressure, shear stress, and temperature through analytic modeling and laboratory testing. Identify potential application methodologies (e.g., specialized spray or deposition techniques) that ensure uniform, repeatable adhesion to curved, non-flat structures. Perform an initial cost estimate and identify technical risks to be addressed in Phase II.
Phase II
Demonstrate a fully functional, multi-modal prototype paint system on a large-scale (greater than a square meter), curved hydrodynamic model in a test facility. Evaluate the dynamic range, resolution, and frequency response of the system. Validate analytic models of the cross-sensitivities developed in Phase I. Demonstrate a highly repeatable application process achieving less than 5% thickness variation across complex curves, ensuring consistent calibration. Evaluate paint degradation, peeling, or leaching under flow velocities up to 15 m/s over continuous 8-hour test windows. Conduct a detailed cost and manufacturing analysis. Prepare a Phase III commercialization/transition plan.
Phase III Dual Use Applications
Develop an improved formulation and manufacturing plans using the knowledge gained during Phases I and II in order to support transition of the technology for Navy use and use in hydrodynamics, aerospace, automotive, energy system, and electronics packaging applications.
References
Gregory, James W.; Sakaue, Hirotaka.; Liu, Tianshu and Sullivan, John P. “Fast Pressure-Sensitive Paint for Flow and Acoustic Diagnostics.” Annual Review Fluid Mechanics 2014, 46, pp. 303-330. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-fluid-010313-141304
Running, C.L. and Juliano, T.J. “Global measurements of hypersonic shock-wave/boundary-layer interactions with pressure-sensitive paint.” Exp Fluids 62, 91, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-021-03194-8
Miozzi, M. et al. “Skin-friction from temperature and velocity data around a wall-mounted cube.” Exp Fluids 65, 156, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-024-03881-2
Keywords
Naval Hydrodynamics; Hydro-Acoustics; Advanced Diagnostics; Pressure Sensitive Paint
Frequently asked questions
What is DON27TZ02-NV007?
It is a Department of the Navy STTR topic to develop an integrated, multi-modal luminescent paint system for simultaneous, non-intrusive, full-field measurement of wall pressure, shear stress, and temperature fluctuations on complex, curved geometries underwater.
When is DON27TZ02-NV007 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 a formulation concept, evaluates cross-sensitivity decoupling through analytic modeling and laboratory testing, and identifies application methods. Phase II demonstrates a functional prototype on a large curved model. As an STTR, it requires a research-institution partner.
Why doesn't conventional pressure-sensitive paint work underwater?
Conventional PSP relies on oxygen quenching. Submerged, oxygen diffusion into the binder is inhibited by the liquid boundary layer and low oxygen solubility, making standard PSPs insensitive or very slow, and temperature cross-sensitivity corrupts the pressure signal. The topic suggests architectures such as multi-color mechano-luminescent particles or multi-core/shell dye structures as possible paths.