OSW SBIR OSW27BZ01-NV001: Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems Rapid Maturation

Quick Answer

OSW27BZ01-NV001 is an Office of the Secretary of War SBIR Phase I topic in DoW SBIR 2027 BAA Release 1 for counter-UAS technology that detects, tracks, identifies, or defeats small, low-flying Group 1 and Group 2 drones in hostile or contested areas. Phase I awards are up to $300,000 over 6 months with no priced option, closing November 25, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET.

The technical volume is only 2 pages on a required template, and cost is not an evaluation criterion. The same scope is offered as a Direct to Phase II under OSW27BZ01-DV002.

Topic at a Glance

• Topic number: OSW27BZ01-NV001
• Title: Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems Rapid Maturation
• Component: Office of the Secretary of War (OSW)
• Solicitation: DoW SBIR 2027 BAA, Release 1
• Program and phase: SBIR Phase I
• Award ceiling: $300,000
• Period of performance: 6 months
• Technical volume limit: 2 pages
• Projected CMMC level: Level 2 (Self)
• Export control: Restricted under ITAR (22 CFR 120-130) or EAR (15 CFR 730-774). Foreign national participation must be disclosed and may be restricted.
• Focus areas: Advanced Manufacturing; Integrated Network Systems-of-Systems; Integrated Sensing and Cyber; Trusted AI and Autonomy
• Keywords: counter-UAS, C-sUAS, Group 1 UAS, Group 2 UAS, autonomous threat detection, edge AI, multi-sensor fusion, denied environment
• Pre-release: October 7, 2026
• Opens: October 28, 2026
• Closes: November 25, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET
• Submission portal: DSIP at dodsbirsttr.mil

What OSW Is Looking For

Cheap, maneuverable commercial drones threaten tactical forces, critical infrastructure, and installations, and current defenses are limited by cost, operator attention, and vulnerability to countermeasures. OSW wants mature or maturing technology anywhere in the counter-UAS kill chain against Group 1 and Group 2 UAS.

Three example areas are listed, and a proposal can address one, several, or a gap not listed. Detection and tracking: hold track on agile targets in cluttered low-altitude airspace with a modality you choose, preferably when the target is not emitting; fixed-site or mains-powered solutions are out of scope, since the system must move with the force. Identification and decision support: classify and identify unauthorized platforms on tactical computing carried or emplaced with the force, with a pathway to existing command and control. Mitigation and defeat: kinetic, non-kinetic, or cyber defeat in remote theaters and dense urban areas, with collateral effects addressed.

Four operating preferences every proposal must address

• (a) The system does not require the target to emit RF. Passive RF can be part of a solution, but track should hold when the target is silent.
• (b) The system does not radiate. Kinetic and cyber defeat are favored. Jamming, active illumination, and transmitting into a target's links are in scope but must be declared with their operational effect.
• (c) The system does not require cloud services or reachback and keeps working with all external network interfaces disabled.
• (d) The system does not require a dedicated operator whose only task is attending it. Human judgment over use of force is still expected.
• Out of scope: work requiring classified access or a facility clearance at award, and approaches that depend on cooperative identification such as Remote ID.

How the Phases Are Structured

Phase I determines technical, scientific, and commercial feasibility. Work may include a concept architecture, modeling critical software, or bench testing key hardware. Deliverables are a feasibility study, a technical report, and an initial system design package showing the path to a prototype. The report must state test conditions, dates, target or surrogate, and measured results, and where the approach stands on each operating preference.

Phase II follow-on depends on future-year funds and will be considered among Phase I awardees. It is scoped to 12 months to reach TRL 6 and a transition decision, and a Government showcase may be held about six months after award.

Phase III commercial markets are deploy-with-a-team uses: temporary airspace security for events, venues, construction, and energy sites; convoy and executive protection; wildfire, disaster, and infrastructure response; and mobile detection kits for law enforcement and allies. Defeat authority in the United States is limited by statute to covered federal entities, so defeat-focused proposals are not expected to show a near-term domestic market for that function. Military uses include point defense for tactical units, forward operating bases, and naval vessels.

Funding and Proposal Limits

• Phase I award maximum: $300,000, with no priced option.
• Maximum Phase I period of performance: 6 months.
• Cost is not an evaluation criterion under this topic.
• Technical Volume (Volume 2) limit: 2 pages, prepared on the required OSW Phase I Technical Volume Template. Anything past two pages is not evaluated.
• TABA: Phase I awardees may request up to $6,500, in addition to the Phase I ceiling.
• Phase II follow-on depends on future-year funds and will be considered among Phase I awardees.

Who Is Eligible

• You must be a U.S. small business concern that meets SBIR ownership and size rules at the time of award.
• The feasibility you rely on may not rest solely on prior or ongoing federally funded SBIR or STTR work, must have been substantially performed by your firm or principal investigator, and you must own or license the related IP before submission.
• Work requiring classified access or a facility clearance at the time of award is out of scope.
• DoW now limits proposals on a per-topic basis, so plan on one strong proposal for this topic.

Key Dates and How to Apply

• Now through October 28, 2026: pre-release. Topic authors are listed on the DSIP Topics and Topic Q&A page and you can call or email them directly with technical questions. This is the only window for direct contact.
• October 28, 2026: the topic opens for proposals in the Defense SBIR/STTR Innovation Portal (DSIP). After this date, questions go through DSIP Topic Q&A only.
• November 25, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET: complete proposals must be certified and submitted in DSIP. A proposal still marked In Progress or Ready to Certify is not considered submitted.
• Before you submit, confirm an active SAM.gov registration, a DSIP account, completed Volume 6 Fraud, Waste, and Abuse training, and the Volume 7 foreign affiliation disclosure webform.

Is This Topic a Fit for Your Company?

This is a good entry point for early counter-UAS teams with a credible approach and some bench or field data, particularly passive sensing, edge AI classification, or low-collateral defeat concepts. Writing a compelling 2 page volume takes discipline, so plan your argument around the evaluation rubric.

BW&CO has helped deep tech founders secure $350M+ in non-dilutive funding. If you want a second opinion on fit, feasibility documentation, or a proposal plan before the deadline, book a call with our team below.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is OSW SBIR topic OSW27BZ01-NV001?

It is an Office of the Secretary of War SBIR Phase I topic in DoW SBIR 2027 BAA Release 1 for counter-UAS technologies that detect, track, identify, or defeat Group 1 and Group 2 drones in contested areas.

How much funding is available?

Up to $300,000 for Phase I with a maximum 6 month period of performance and no priced option. Up to $6,500 in TABA may be requested.

How long is the technical volume?

Two pages, prepared on the required OSW Phase I Technical Volume Template. Pages beyond two are not evaluated.

Is cost evaluated?

No. Cost is not an evaluation criterion under this topic.

Is there a Direct to Phase II option?

Yes. OSW27BZ01-DV002 offers the same scope as a Direct to Phase II of up to $2,000,000 over 12 months for firms with documented test evidence.

When is the deadline?

The topic opens October 28, 2026 and closes November 25, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET in DSIP.