DON26BZ05-DV081 — Intelligent Data Analysis of Post-Mission Reporting Artifacts & Data
Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).
Quick Answer
DON26BZ05-DV081 is a Navy Direct to Phase II (DP2) SBIR topic sponsored by Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR). It funds a conversational, natural-language analytics platform that lets non-data-scientist Navy personnel connect to, clean, analyze, and visualize large heterogeneous datasets from post-mission reporting. This is DP2, meaning there is no separate Phase I award. Companies must already have completed Phase I-type R&D on their own and submit feasibility documentation proving it. Maximum award across Base and Option is $1,400,000. Proposals are due September 23, 2026.
Executive Summary
The Navy collects enormous volumes of high-quality operational and training data, but turning that data into decisions is a persistent bottleneck because most of the people who need insights are not data scientists. NAVAIR wants a platform that closes that gap by letting Fleet personnel ask questions in plain language and get back relevant visualizations, without needing to write queries or understand the underlying data structure.
The solution needs to connect to a wide range of data sources, including spreadsheets, SQL databases, cloud services, and on-premises resources, and it needs to clean and prepare that raw data automatically. Beyond ingestion, it must give users an intuitive interface for building relationships between data tables, defining measures, and constructing calculations, all without requiring technical expertise. The conversational layer is central to the ask: users should be able to propose analyses in natural language and receive interactive charts, graphs, tables, and maps in response.
Trust and transparency carry real weight in this topic. NAVAIR is explicit that outputs must be explainable, that personnel need to understand and trust the rationale behind any data-driven recommendation, and that users must have access to manual methods to verify results. The solution also has to align with the Department of War's ethical AI principles (Responsible, Equitable, Traceable, Reliable, Governable), current automated technology policy, and Risk Management Framework guidance. This is not a topic where a black-box model will clear the bar.
Because this is a DP2 topic, companies do not submit a traditional Phase I proposal. Instead, they submit a Phase I Feasibility Proposal proving they have already built and validated a relevant capability, independently of prior SBIR/STTR funding, including evidence that a previous version of the technology is feasible in a relevant domain, the ability to ingest data and produce initial visualizations, and a description of existing prototypes or modules that would be extended in Phase II. NAVAIR is explicit that feasibility cannot rest solely on work performed under a prior or ongoing federal SBIR/STTR award, so companies whose only track record is government-funded R&D on this exact capability will not qualify.
This topic is ITAR-restricted, and work is expected to become classified in Phase II, which means the selected contractor must be able to obtain and maintain a secret facility clearance and personnel clearances. Companies without a clear path to that clearance should weigh this carefully.
Phase III applications are broad. NAVAIR points to finance, healthcare, logistics, and manufacturing as industries facing the same challenge of large, complex datasets and non-technical users, and calls out business intelligence, market trend analysis, supply chain optimization, and predictive maintenance as natural commercial extensions.
Funding
Phase II Base: up to $1,000,000, period of performance up to 30 months
Phase II Option: up to $400,000, period of performance up to 12 months
Maximum total (Base plus Option): $1,400,000
No separate Phase I award is issued under DP2
Award types considered: Cost Plus Fixed Fee, Firm Fixed Price, Basic Ordering Agreement, or Prototype Other Transaction
Discretionary TABA available: up to $25,000 per award, included in the Phase II award amount
Timeline
Step one: submit a Phase I Feasibility Proposal through DSIP
Step two: if selected, the SYSCOM contacts the company directly with instructions to submit a Full DP2 Proposal
Proposal deadline: September 23, 2026 (verify against the official BAA close date for this release)
Notifications sent approximately one week after BAA close, based on the Cover Sheet email address
Key Requirements
Must demonstrate completed Phase I-type R&D independently, not solely from prior federal SBIR/STTR funding
Technical Volume limited to 30 pages total: 20 pages for Phase I feasibility, 10 pages for the Phase II snapshot
Minimum 50 percent of Phase II work performed by the proposing small business, in both Base and Option
CMMC Level 2 (Self) projected requirement
ITAR-restricted, with mandatory foreign national disclosures
Must be able to obtain a secret facility clearance and personnel clearances for classified Phase II work
Point of Contact
Kristi DePriest, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR)
navair-sbir@us.navy.mil
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes this a Direct to Phase II topic?
DP2 means there is no funded Phase I. Companies must have already completed Phase I-type research and development on their own and prove it with feasibility documentation before being considered for a Phase II award.
Can I use work from a prior SBIR or STTR award as my feasibility evidence?
No, not solely. NAVAIR requires that feasibility be demonstrated through work that was not solely performed under prior or ongoing federally funded SBIR/STTR effort.
What is the core capability NAVAIR wants?
A platform that lets non-data-scientist Navy personnel connect to multiple data sources and use natural language to get interactive visualizations and analysis, with fully explainable and verifiable outputs.
Does this require a security clearance?
Yes. Work is expected to become classified in Phase II, and the contractor must be able to obtain and maintain a secret facility clearance and personnel security clearances.
How much can a Phase II award be worth?
Up to $1,000,000 for the Base and up to $400,000 for the Option, for a maximum of $1,400,000.
What is the minimum percentage of work the small business must perform?
At least 50 percent of the work, measured across direct and indirect costs, in both the Base and Option.
What is the proposal deadline?
September 23, 2026, pending confirmation against the official BAA posting, submitted through DSIP.
