DON26BZ05-NV080 — Submarine Cabinet Sound Dampening Alternative
Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).
Quick Answer
DON26BZ05-NV080 is a Navy Phase I SBIR topic sponsored by Strategic Systems Programs (SSP). It funds development of a structureborne noise mitigation material to replace lead septum foam in electronic cabinets aboard COLUMBIA/Dreadnought-class submarines, targeting a service life exceeding forty years and faster replacement than the current material. Maximum Phase I award across Base and Option is $315,000. Proposals are due September 23, 2026.
Executive Summary
Electronic cabinets and consoles on submarines rely on lead septum foam for structureborne noise mitigation, applied to inner enclosure walls before electronics and cabling go in. The problem is practical and costly: on complex electronics assemblies, this foam is difficult or impossible to remove and replace without pulling the entire electronics and cabling package first, and reassembling cable harnesses risks electrical faults, which then requires complete system retesting. For a platform like COLUMBIA/Dreadnought designed to serve for decades, that maintenance burden compounds badly over the ship's life.
SSP wants a replacement material with performance equal to or better than the current lead septum foam, but critically, with a service life exceeding forty years to match the COLUMBIA/Dreadnought platform's own end-of-life horizon, and a meaningfully faster attachment and replacement method than the current baseline. The material also has to pass the Structureborne Noise MIL-SPEC testing criteria under MIL-STD-740-2, and be reproducible in sheet sizes matching the existing baseline product to support Navy production needs.
This will be installed specifically in Strategic Systems Programs Fire Control, NAV, and TEMPALT equipment cabinets aboard COLUMBIA/Dreadnought SSBNs, so companies should understand this is a submarine-specific, SSP-owned program rather than a general surface fleet effort, which is also reflected in the different point of contact for this topic compared to the rest of this release.
Phase I is a comparative concept study: identify or develop candidate materials, evaluate them against the baseline across noise mitigation, sound absorption, shelf life, density, interface requirements, removal and replacement time, low-smoke properties, and size, and deliver a trade study comparing multiple design options directly against the baseline 53711-3203197 lead septum product, working with SP23 to understand the government's actual performance priorities.
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 clearances. Phase III and dual-use potential extend to Virginia-class and other underwater platforms using similar structureborne noise mitigation materials, plus SSP's own NAV and TEMPALT common cabinets across other programs.
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
Material must exceed 40-year service life and pass MIL-STD-740-2 testing
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
Scott Steward, Strategic Systems Programs (SSP)
ssp.sbir@ssp.navy.mil
Frequently Asked Questions
What material is this trying to replace?
Lead septum foam, the current baseline structureborne noise mitigation material, referenced in the topic as part number 53711-3203197.
Why is a 40-year service life required?
To match the expected end-of-life horizon of the COLUMBIA/Dreadnought submarine platforms these cabinets will be installed on.
What testing standard must the material meet?
MIL-STD-740-2, the Structureborne Noise MIL-SPEC criteria.
Which specific systems will use this material?
Strategic Systems Programs Fire Control, NAV, and TEMPALT equipment cabinets aboard COLUMBIA/Dreadnought SSBNs.
Who is the point of contact for this topic?
Scott Steward at Strategic Systems Programs, a different SYSCOM point of contact than the NAVAIR topics elsewhere in this release.
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.
Is there an application for this beyond COLUMBIA/Dreadnought?
Yes. SSP notes potential use on Virginia-class and other underwater platforms, plus other SSP NAV and TEMPALT common cabinet programs.
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).
