DON26BZ05-NV072 — Digitally Enhanced Weapon System Technical Data
Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).
Quick Answer
DON26BZ05-NV072 is a Navy Phase I SBIR topic sponsored by NAVAIR. It funds a solution that can produce and deploy digitally enhanced, interactive weapon system technical data, including video and animations, within 24 hours of an emergent fleet issue being identified. Maximum Phase I award across Base and Option is $315,000. Proposals are due September 23, 2026.
Executive Summary
When a critical fleet issue emerges, current practice can take weeks or months to get clear, actionable maintenance instructions into the hands of operators, largely because technical data is still captured as static text and images that don't convey the complexity of the systems being repaired. NAVAIR wants a rapid, "just in time" alternative: a solution that turns SME knowledge into visual and interactive animations, and delivers that enhanced content within 24 hours of capture, for both unclassified and classified content.
This isn't a slow, polished production pipeline. It's built for speed under pressure, with a "Red Flag" capability specifically for completing and delivering digital media applications within 24 hours. Output has to integrate with the Navy's existing All Weapon Information System (AWIS) Repository and be accessible on laptops and tablets already used by fleet maintainers, so this needs to slot into existing infrastructure rather than requiring new hardware.
Phase II adds real technical rigor: the interactive animations and videos must align with MIL-STD-3001 Parts 1 through 4, covering general digital data preparation, principles of operation content, testing and troubleshooting procedures, and maintenance information with illustrated parts breakdown. This is a meaningful compliance lift, since it means the rapid content pipeline still has to produce output that maps cleanly onto a formal military technical documentation standard, not just a video that looks good.
This topic is not marked ITAR-restricted in the description, but work is expected to become classified in Phase II, and the contractor needs a secret facility clearance, personnel clearances, and CAC-enabled access to work with classified technical data. Phase I also requires demonstrating CMMC 2.0 certification capability and CUI handling protocols.
Phase III and commercial potential lean on the same digital engineering and technical data management trends already reshaping commercial aviation MRO, industrial equipment servicing, and logistics, where reduced downtime and improved data accessibility carry direct cost benefits.
Funding
Phase I Base: up to $200,000
Phase I Option: up to $115,000
Maximum Phase I total (Base plus Option): $315,000
Award types: Firm Fixed Price, Basic Ordering Agreement, or Prototype Other Transaction
Phase I period: exactly 6 months Base, exactly 6 months Option
Phase II maximum: up to $2,000,000
Discretionary TABA available: up to $6,500 in Phase I, in addition to the award amount
Timeline
Proposal deadline: September 23, 2026
Submission portal: DoW SBIR/STTR Innovation Portal (DSIP)
Notifications sent approximately one week after BAA close
Phase I payments: 50% at 15 days, 35% at 90 days, 15% at 180 days, for both Base and Option
Key Requirements
Technical Volume limited to 10 pages
Minimum two-thirds of Phase I work performed by the proposing small business, in both Base and Option
No cost sharing accepted
CMMC Level 2 (Self) projected requirement, with CMMC 2.0 certification capability demonstrated in Phase I
Phase II output must comply with MIL-STD-3001 Parts 1 through 4
Must be able to obtain a secret facility clearance, personnel clearances, and CAC access for classified Phase II work
Point of Contact
Kristi DePriest, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR)
navair-sbir@us.navy.mil
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast does the solution need to deliver enhanced technical data?
Within 24 hours from the time of capture, for both unclassified and classified emergent critical discrepancies.
What repository must the output integrate with?
The Navy's All Weapon Information System (AWIS) Repository, accessible on laptops and tablets already used by fleet maintainers.
What standard must Phase II output comply with?
MIL-STD-3001 Parts 1 through 4, covering general data preparation, principles of operation, testing and troubleshooting procedures, and maintenance information with illustrated parts breakdown.
Does this topic require a security clearance?
Yes. Work is expected to become classified in Phase II, requiring a secret facility clearance, personnel security clearances, and CAC-enabled access.
Is this topic ITAR-restricted?
The topic description does not include the standard ITAR restriction notice found in several other topics in this release, but classified work is still expected in Phase II.
Is there a commercial application for this technology?
Yes. NAVAIR points to commercial aviation maintenance, industrial equipment servicing, and logistics as sectors that could adopt the same rapid digital technical data approach.
How much funding is available in Phase I?
Up to $200,000 for the Base and up to $115,000 for the Option, for a combined maximum of $315,000.
What is the proposal deadline?
September 23, 2026, submitted through the DoW SBIR/STTR Innovation Portal (DSIP).
