Part of the DoW SBIR/STTR FY27 Release 2 topic list. Browse all 83 topics by industry or service.
Topic DON27TZ02-NV011 from the DoW STTR 2027 BAA, Release 2. Pre-release now; proposals due January 6, 2027, 12:00 PM ET.
Quick answer
DON27TZ02-NV011 is a Department of the Navy STTR topic seeking agentic Super Intelligence (SI) software, built on approaches like Model Context Protocol and LLMs, to control heterogeneous swarms of low-cost COTS Group 1 UAVs or small UGVs through natural language. 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-NV011
- Official title: Heterogenous Swarm Control through Super Intelligence-embodied Architecture
- 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-NV011)
BW&CO's take
What the Department of the Navy wants
Heterogeneous swarms today suffer from incompatible messaging protocols and fragmented decision-making. The Navy wants software running on low-cost edge compute attached to expendable COTS platforms so a human or another agent can task vehicles in natural language and get answers back. Phase I demonstrates at least one Group 1 UAV or small UGV doing 3 of 5 listed tasks, with a GNSS-optional architecture. Phase II delivers 10-20 prototype UxSs in at least 3 hardware configurations that one user commands from a single device, with the swarm deciding which assets to use, and operation without internet or GNSS by the end of Phase II.
Who is a good fit
- Agentic LLM or Model Context Protocol software deployed on edge compute such as NDAA-compliant single board computers
- Autonomy and multi-vehicle coordination experience with small UAVs or UGVs
- Onboard perception for scene reporting and object confirmation from vehicle sensors
- GNSS-denied navigation and offline operation without internet connectivity
Watch-outs
- This is an STTR topic, so you need a formal research-institution partner performing a meaningful share of the work.
- Phase I hardware must be NDAA compliant or have NDAA compliant analogs listed for Phase II, and submissions should use DoW compliant hardware deployments.
- Phase II is hardware-heavy: 10-20 prototype UxSs, at least 3 hardware configurations, all five listed tasks including interception and GNSS-denied security alerts, and operation without internet or GNSS by the end of Phase II (reduced GNSS-denied capability is acceptable).
- Submissions should identify what is unique about their agentic SI capability. The topic requires CMMC Level 2 (Self) and is not marked as ITAR-restricted in the topic metadata.
Think your company fits DON27TZ02-NV011? Talk with BW&CO before the January 6 deadline.
Plan Your DON27TZ02-NV011 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
Heterogenous Swarm Control through Super Intelligence-embodied Architecture
Objective
Develop Agentic Super Intelligence (SI) architecture and associated applications for control of low-cost Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) uncrewed systems (Group 1 unmanned aerial vehicle [UAV] or small unmanned ground vehicle [UGV]) for use in adaptable heterogenous swarming applications.
Description
Current methods of heterogeneous swarming control often involve individual entities with incompatible messaging protocols, ridged data interpretation, and lack of broader situational awareness, generating a protocol/perception problem that results in fragmented decision-making. Model Context Protocol (MCP), Large Language Models (LLMs), and related Agentic SI architectures, can enable a Universal Serial Bus Type C (USB-C) solution to this fragmentation problem by allowing individual entities to communicate with human operators or other entities through natural language.
The Department of the Navy is seeking development of Agentic SI-enabled COTS small UAVs or small UGVs USB-C capabilities for demonstration of applicability in Naval and Marine Corps tasks. The goal is to deliver a small heterogenous swarm of low-cost uncrewed systems capable of receiving tasks through a natural language interface and performing complex tasks such as inspection of a facility for damage, evaluating road conditions, conducting security operations, and/or intercepting of other platforms. Performers should focus on software development to run on low cost and edge compute devices attached to highly expendable COTS platforms. Submissions will leverage preexisting DoW compliant hardware deployments using either compute resources organic to the UAV/UGV platform or flight-ready modules (e.g., Single Board Computer NVIDIA JETSON NDAA) with favorable Size, Weight, and Power (SWAP). Submissions should identify the unique nature of their Agentic-SI capability in accomplishing the objective.
Phase I
Document and demonstrate an approach for Agentic SI control of small UAV or UGV. Required deliverables for Phase I include a demonstration and design approach for validation. GNSS may be used at this stage, but overall architecture must be GNSS optional. Hardware used in Phase I needs to be either NDAA complaint or have NDAA compliant analogs listed for Phase II. Individual unmanned systems must be tasked by human or other agent through natural language and respond similarly.
Demonstrate at least one Group 1 UAV or small UGV (such as an RC Car) performing 3 of the following 5 tasks. No priority is given to this list.
o Go to user defined location with a maximum flight distance of 2km
o Report scene observations from on-board sensors (e.g., individual vehicles including class and color, people in the area, structures including temporary)
o Report on user specified object in scene (e.g., confirm presence of user specified “Red Van”, or “Fishing Boat”
o Follow internal reference frame “left, right, up, down, turn left, move right 10 meters” commands and/or global reference
o Follow a leader vehicle or person
Phase II
Using approach and results developed in Phase I, build and deliver 10-20 prototype UxSs and software that can demonstrate all of the following tasks.
Tasks
o Inspection of buildings, airfields, or roadways after weather events for debris or damage
o Go to location and report on activities in the area
o Interception of UxS
o Logistics resupply
o Security Alerts under GNSS Denied Conditions
Prepare a Phase III commercialization/transition plan.
The swarm must be composed of at least 3 different hardware configurations and require minimal user configuration. This can be accomplished by adding different sensor packages to the same base platform or altering base platform to demonstrate different capabilities. A single user must be able to command and control the entire swarm from single device using bidirectional natural language. The swarm must decide how many and of which entities are needed to complete the task. By the end of Phase II, the entire swarm must be capable of operating without internet connectivity or GNSS. Reduced capabilities in GNSS-denied environments are acceptable.
Phase III Dual Use Applications
Successful completion of Phase II results in products immediately useful to Heterogenous Swarming efforts for the Department of the Navy. Additional support would include field support, continued technical refinement, technical documentation, and integration into naval systems.
Additional commercial and government applications exist across several commercial sectors such as disaster relief, agriculture, and security applications in remote areas. SI enabled UAVs to aid post-disaster search-and-rescue teams by detecting hazards on roadways, locating survivors, delivery lifesaving supplies, and automatically coordinating with other SI agents to ensure area coverage. Agricultural applications include remote crop inspections and dynamic spraying based on real-time feedback. Lastly, SI enabled UAVs can be used as part of a security or building inspection posture for remote or hard to surveil areas by responding to remote sensors and confirming presence of absence of threats.
References
Cardenas, I. S., Arnett, M. A., Yeo, N. C., Sah, L. and Kim, J.-H. "(2026, March 27). “osClaw: An OpenClaw ROS 2 Framework for Agentic Robot Control and Interaction, March 27, 2026.” doi:https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2603.26997
Chhetri, G. et al. “Model Context Protocols in Adaptive Transport Systems: A Survey.” ACM Comput Surv, 1(1), August 2025. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2508.19239
Li, H., Cao, X., Zeng, Z., Wu, Y., Zhang, Y. and Xia, Y. “OpenGo: An OpenClaw-Based Robotic Dog with Real-Time Skill Switching.” arXiv, April 3, 2026. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2604.01708
Ramos-Silva, J. N. and Burke, P. J. “A Universal Large Language Model -- Drone Command and Control Interface.” arXiv, May 6, 2026. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2601.15486
Keywords
<p>Generative SI; Large Language Models; LLM; Model Context Protocol; MCP; Modularity; Unmanned Aerial System; UAS; Unmanned Ground Vehicle; UGV; Unmanned Aerial Vehicle; UAV</p>
Frequently asked questions
What is DON27TZ02-NV011?
It is a Department of the Navy STTR topic to develop an agentic Super Intelligence architecture and applications for controlling low-cost COTS Group 1 UAVs or small UGVs in adaptable heterogeneous swarming applications.
When is DON27TZ02-NV011 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 requires a demonstration and a design approach for validation. Phase II builds and delivers 10-20 prototype uncrewed systems with software. As an STTR, it requires a research-institution partner.
What must the Phase I demonstration show?
At least one Group 1 UAV or small UGV, such as an RC car, must perform 3 of 5 tasks: go to a user-defined location within 2 km, report scene observations, report on a user-specified object, follow relative or global movement commands, or follow a leader vehicle or person. Tasking and responses must be in natural language, and GNSS may be used in Phase I as long as the architecture is GNSS optional.