DON26BZ05-NV073 — Portable Digital Metrology System for Measurement of Defects on Optically Transparent Canopies and Windscreens
Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).
Quick Answer
DON26BZ05-NV073 is a Navy Phase I SBIR topic sponsored by NAVAIR. It funds a portable digital metrology tool that lets squadron-level maintenance personnel accurately measure scratches, pits, and cracks on aircraft canopies and windscreens directly on the aircraft, replacing a difficult-to-use optical micrometer. Maximum Phase I award across Base and Option is $315,000. Proposals are due September 23, 2026.
Executive Summary
Scratches and pits on aircraft canopy and windscreen acrylic cause both optical distortion and structural weakness, and whether a damaged transparency can be repaired or must be scrapped depends entirely on accurate measurement of the defect's dimensions. The problem is that the only current portable measurement method, an optical micrometer, is user-dependent, not ergonomic, requires extensive training, and is genuinely difficult to use on a transparent surface, especially on-aircraft or outdoors, often forcing removal of the canopy or windshield just to measure it.
This is a comparatively narrow, well-scoped engineering problem relative to other topics in this release. NAVAIR gives a concrete example of the kind of defect the tool needs to characterize: a scratch with roughly 1 inch length, under 0.125 inch width, and about 0.1 inch depth. The tool needs to work directly on the aircraft, in the field, in the hands of squadron maintainers who are not measurement specialists.
Phase I is a concept and demonstration effort: define a measurement concept and portable tool, then perform analysis or testing showing it can meet the description's requirements. Phase II moves into a real facility, with prototype testing and demonstration performed at the canopy shop at Fleet Readiness Center Southwest, North Island.
Notably, this topic carries no ITAR restriction notice and no classification or security clearance requirement in the description, unlike most of the other topics in this release, which may make it more accessible to companies without an existing cleared facility.
Phase III testing will evaluate practical adoption factors: total training time to reach full competency, precision and accuracy compared to existing tools, clarity of the measurement documentation given to the end user, and how well the tool works across multiple aircraft platforms and transparency materials. The commercial angle is direct and specific: commercial airline MRO and automotive glass inspection are both called out as dual-use markets facing the same optical transparency measurement problem.
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
Phase II demonstration must occur at Fleet Readiness Center Southwest, North Island
No security clearance requirement stated in the topic description
Point of Contact
Kristi DePriest, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR)
navair-sbir@us.navy.mil
Frequently Asked Questions
What problem does the current optical micrometer have?
It is user-dependent, not ergonomic, requires extensive training, and is difficult to use on transparent materials on-aircraft or outdoors, often requiring canopy or windshield removal just to take a measurement.
What size defect does the tool need to measure?
NAVAIR gives an example scratch of about 1 inch length, under 0.125 inch width, and roughly 0.1 inch depth, on optically transparent materials.
Where does the Phase II demonstration happen?
At the canopy shop at Fleet Readiness Center Southwest, North Island.
Does this topic require a security clearance?
No. Unlike most other topics in this release, this description does not include an ITAR restriction or classification requirement.
What will Phase III testing evaluate?
Training time to reach full competency, measurement precision and accuracy versus existing tools, clarity of output documentation, and applicability across multiple aircraft platforms and transparency materials.
Is there a commercial market for this technology?
Yes. NAVAIR specifically points to commercial airline MRO and automotive glass inspection as dual-use applications.
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).
