SpEC GPS Gen4 Ground Prototype (Project 26-18)

Executive Summary

Space Systems Command is preparing a SpEC prototype project to design and prototype components, software and hardware for a resilient, MOSA-based GPS ground command and control segment for future GPS satellites. Additional program documents were released October 5, 2026. No submission deadline is set yet. NSTXL membership is required.

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The Government has already held a Project TALX and a teaming event and released CUI program documents. Teams that request the documents and settle their role now will have the most time to prepare.

Solicitation at a Glance

• Agency: U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command (SSC)
• Opportunity: GPS Gen4 Ground
• Project Number: SpEC Project 26-18
• Consortium: Space Enterprise Consortium (SpEC), managed by NSTXL
• Funding: not yet published
• Technology Maturity: Prototype components, functions, software and hardware
• Due Date: Not yet released. Additional program documents posted October 5, 2026; Project TALX held September 22, 2026.

Think your company qualifies? Talk with BW&CO before the prototype project is released.

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What Is GPS Gen4 Ground?

GPS Gen4 Ground is a coming soon prototype project through the Space Enterprise Consortium. It covers designing, developing and prototyping critical components, functions, software and hardware for a new GPS ground command and control segment.

What Problem Is Space Systems Command Trying to Solve?

Space Systems Command needs a resilient ground command and control segment to launch and operate future Government GPS satellites, built on a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) so parts can be upgraded and replaced over time.

Priority Capability Areas: What Space Systems Command Is Looking For

• Command and control software: software for a resilient GPS ground command and control segment
• Hardware: prototype ground segment hardware
• Critical functions: components and functions needed to launch and operate future GPS satellites
• Open architecture: solutions built on a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA)

Funding and Award Terms

• Instrument: prototype project through SpEC; terms will be set in the solicitation
• Amounts: not yet published
• Documents: additional program documents are notional and subject to change

Eligibility Requirements and Participation

• NSTXL membership: All respondents must have an active NSTXL membership to submit a solution to any SpEC opportunity. NSTXL asks applicants to allow one business day for a new application (membership@nstxl.org).
• CUI documents: the additional program documents are CUI and must be requested through the CUI Documents Request Form; allow 24 to 48 hours

How to Apply

• Confirm NSTXL membership: apply or check status through membership@nstxl.org
• Request the coming soon notice: use the key document request form on the GPS Gen4 Ground page
• Request the CUI program documents: use the CUI Documents Request Form and allow 24 to 48 hours
• Decide prime or partner: ground segment work at this scale often suits teaming
• Watch for the solicitation: the submission format and deadline will come with the release

What Happens After You Submit?

• Release: SSC will release the prototype project solicitation through SpEC
• Award: selected performers receive prototype awards under SpEC
• Operations: the segment supports the launch and operation of future GPS satellites

Is This Opportunity a Good Fit for Your Company?

It fits space ground systems and mission software companies, satellite command and control and cybersecurity teams, and MOSA and open architecture specialists. Smaller firms may fit best as subcontractors on a larger team.

How BW&CO Can Help

BW&CO has helped deep-tech and dual-use founders secure more than $350M in non-dilutive funding. For SpEC prototype projects like GPS Gen4 Ground, we help you:

• Check the fit: match your software or hardware to the ground segment scope
• Get set up on NSTXL: membership and CUI document requests done early
• Decide prime or partner: find the right team position
• Write the solution: a clear MOSA-based technical approach and prototype plan
• Prepare for release: be ready to respond quickly when SSC posts the solicitation

Plan Your GPS Gen4 Ground Submission

Frequently Asked Questions

Is GPS Gen4 Ground open now?

Not yet. The coming soon notice was posted September 4, 2026, and additional program documents were posted October 5, 2026.

Who is the customer?

U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command (SSC).

What is it for?

A resilient GPS ground command and control segment to support the launch and operation of future Government GPS satellites.

What is MOSA?

The Modular Open Systems Approach, an open architecture that lets components be upgraded or replaced over time.

How much funding is available?

The public notice does not list funding amounts.

Do I need to be an NSTXL member?

Yes. All respondents must have an active NSTXL membership to submit a solution to any SpEC opportunity.

How do I get the program documents?

They are CUI. Request them through the CUI Documents Request Form on the NSTXL page and allow 24 to 48 hours.

Were there any industry events?

Yes. A Project TALX on September 22, 2026 and an Innovator NETWORX teaming event on September 23, 2026.

Can BW&CO help with a GPS Gen4 Ground submission?

Yes. We help teams confirm fit, decide prime or partner, and prepare a strong submission. Book a call with our team.

Source: GPS Gen4 Ground, Project 26-18, on NSTXL

S²MARTS Sirena Payload Adapter and Demo (26-06)

Executive Summary

NSWC Crane is preparing an OTA prototype opportunity to redesign and deliver a flight-ready payload adapter that integrates the Sirena Payload Delivery Vehicle with a government-furnished tactical boost vehicle. The Request for Solutions has not been released, so no deadline is set yet. NSTXL membership is required.

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The work runs from integration design through a flight-ready prototype and demonstration, so teams that combine mechanical, electrical and avionics integration with flight hardware manufacturing are the natural fit.

Solicitation at a Glance

• Agency: Department of War, with Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane
• Opportunity: Sirena Payload Adapter and Demonstration
• Project Number: S²MARTS Project No. 26-06
• Award Vehicle: Other Transaction Authority (OTA) prototype awards through S²MARTS, managed by NSTXL
• Funding: not yet published
• Technology Maturity: Flight-ready prototype and tactical demonstration
• Due Date: Request for Solutions not yet released (coming soon notice posted May 28, 2026)

Think your company qualifies? Talk with BW&CO before the Request for Solutions is released.

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What Is Project 26-06?

Project 26-06 is a coming soon S²MARTS prototype opportunity focused on payload integration. It asks for innovative approaches to redesign and deliver a flight-ready payload adapter that joins the Sirena Payload Delivery Vehicle (PDV) to a government-furnished tactical boost vehicle.

What Problem Is NSWC Crane Trying to Solve?

The Department of War needs the Sirena PDV integrated with a tactical boost vehicle. That takes a flight-ready adapter and a demonstration that proves the integration, supporting payload integration and tactical demonstration capabilities.

Priority Capability Areas: What NSWC Crane Is Looking For

• Payload integration: payload integration and interface technologies
• Subsystem integration: advanced mechanical, electrical and subsystem integration approaches
• Hardware design: modular and scalable hardware design concepts
• Flight hardware: flight-ready prototype development and manufacturing
• Avionics: avionics, controls and mission systems integration
• Transition: approaches that support demonstration, transition and production readiness

Funding and Award Terms

• Instrument: Other Transaction Authority (OTA) prototype awards through S²MARTS
• Period of performance: finalized after the Request for Solutions, based on the proposed technical approach and performer timelines
• Amounts: not yet published

Eligibility Requirements and Participation

• NSTXL membership: All respondents must have an active NSTXL membership to submit a solution to any S²MARTS opportunity. NSTXL asks applicants to allow one business day for a new application (membership@nstxl.org).
• Documents: the full coming soon notice is released through the key document request form on the NSTXL page

How to Apply

• Confirm NSTXL membership: apply or check status through membership@nstxl.org
• Request the full notice: use the key document request form on the Project 26-06 page
• Build the team: combine integration design, avionics and flight hardware manufacturing
• Watch for the RFS: the submission format and deadline will be in the Request for Solutions

What Happens After You Submit?

• Request for Solutions: NSWC Crane will release the RFS with submission details
• Award: selected performers receive OTA prototype agreements
• Demonstration: the effort ends in a flight-ready adapter and tactical demonstration

Is This Opportunity a Good Fit for Your Company?

It fits aerospace structures and integration firms, missile and launch vehicle hardware suppliers, avionics and flight controls companies, and small teams that have delivered flight-qualified hardware on tight schedules.

How BW&CO Can Help

BW&CO has helped deep-tech and dual-use founders secure more than $350M in non-dilutive funding. For S²MARTS prototype projects like Project 26-06, we help you:

• Check the fit: match your integration and flight hardware experience to the focus areas
• Get set up on NSTXL: membership and documents ready before the RFS
• Build the team: cover design, avionics and manufacturing
• Write the solution: a credible adapter design, test and demonstration plan
• Frame the OTA: scope, milestones and price for a prototype agreement

Plan Your Project 26-06 Submission

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Project 26-06 open now?

Not yet. The coming soon notice was posted May 28, 2026. The Request for Solutions will set the deadline.

What is the Sirena PDV?

The Sirena Payload Delivery Vehicle. The adapter must integrate it with a government-furnished tactical boost vehicle.

Who is running it?

The Department of War with NSWC Crane, through the S²MARTS OTA that NSTXL manages.

What award type is planned?

Other Transaction Authority (OTA) prototype awards.

How much funding is available?

The public notice does not list funding amounts.

Do I need to be an NSTXL member?

Yes. All respondents must have an active NSTXL membership to submit.

What does the prototype need to be?

A flight-ready payload adapter, carried through demonstration, with attention to transition and production readiness.

Where do I get the full notice?

Fill out the key document request form on the Project 26-06 page on nstxl.org.

Can BW&CO help with a Project 26-06 submission?

Yes. We help teams confirm fit, get set up on NSTXL, and write the solution. Book a call with our team.

Source: Project No. 26-06 on NSTXL

S²MARTS Aircraft Countermeasure Dispenser (26-11)

Executive Summary

The Navy and NSWC Crane are preparing an OTA prototype opportunity to build domestic manufacturing for an aircraft countermeasure dispenser that carries 1x1x8-inch and 2x1x8-inch expendables, plus critical survivability components. The Request for Solutions has not been released, so no deadline is set yet. NSTXL membership is required.

Book a Free Fit Call

The goal is a resilient, multi-source domestic industrial base. That makes manufacturing capacity, process maturity and domestic material sourcing as important as the design itself.

Solicitation at a Glance

• Agency: Department of the Navy, with Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane
• Opportunity: Aircraft Expendable Countermeasure Dispenser Prototyping and Manufacturing
• Project Number: S²MARTS Project No. 26-11
• Award Vehicle: Other Transaction Authority (OTA) prototype awards through S²MARTS, managed by NSTXL
• Funding: not yet published
• Technology Maturity: Prototype development and manufacturing scale-up
• Due Date: Request for Solutions not yet released (coming soon revision posted July 7, 2026)

Think your company qualifies? Talk with BW&CO before the Request for Solutions is released.

Book a Free Fit Call

What Is Project 26-11?

Project 26-11 is a coming soon S²MARTS prototype opportunity focused on domestic manufacturing and sustainment for a dispenser or magazine that carries a hybrid of 1x1x8-inch and 2x1x8-inch countermeasure expendables, with a possible future variant for 1x1x8-inch expendables only, plus other critical aircraft survivability components.

What Problem Is the Navy Trying to Solve?

The Navy wants to strengthen the domestic industrial base for aircraft survivability. It is looking for resilient, scalable manufacturing that reduces supply chain vulnerabilities and establishes a multi-source domestic industrial base.

Priority Capability Areas: What the Navy Is Looking For

• Aircraft survivability: countermeasure dispenser and survivability capabilities
• Manufacturing process: process development and transition to production
• Advanced manufacturing: industrialization, precision manufacturing and assembly
• Supply chain: resiliency, sustainment and domestic material sourcing
• Speed: rapid prototyping and scaling

Funding and Award Terms

• Instrument: Other Transaction Authority (OTA) prototype awards through S²MARTS
• Period of performance: determined after the Request for Solutions, based on selected performers' proposed timelines
• Amounts: not yet published

Eligibility Requirements and Participation

• NSTXL membership: All respondents must have an active NSTXL membership to submit a solution to any S²MARTS opportunity. NSTXL asks applicants to allow one business day for a new application (membership@nstxl.org).
• Documents: the full revised coming soon notice is released through the key document request form on the NSTXL page

How to Apply

• Confirm NSTXL membership: apply or check status through membership@nstxl.org
• Request the full notice: use the key document request form on the Project 26-11 page
• Line up manufacturing partners: the effort values multi-source, domestic capacity
• Watch for the RFS: the submission format and deadline will be in the Request for Solutions

What Happens After You Submit?

• Request for Solutions: NSWC Crane will release the RFS with submission details
• Award: selected performers receive OTA prototype agreements
• Scale-up: the aim is a resilient, multi-source domestic industrial base for these components

Is This Opportunity a Good Fit for Your Company?

It fits precision manufacturers, aerospace machining and assembly shops, defense electronics and pyrotechnic hardware suppliers, and companies with countermeasure or aircraft survivability experience.

How BW&CO Can Help

BW&CO has helped deep-tech and dual-use founders secure more than $350M in non-dilutive funding. For S²MARTS prototype projects like Project 26-11, we help you:

• Check the fit: match your manufacturing capability to the focus areas
• Get set up on NSTXL: membership and documents ready before the RFS
• Build the team: find partners to cover design, components and capacity
• Write the solution: a credible prototype and manufacturing scale-up plan
• Frame the OTA: scope, milestones and price for a prototype agreement

Plan Your Project 26-11 Submission

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Project 26-11 open now?

Not yet. The coming soon revision was posted July 7, 2026. The Request for Solutions will set the deadline.

What changed in the July revision?

The name and description changed. The earlier notice focused on the Active Expendable Decoy (AED) system; the revision focuses on a dispenser or magazine for 1x1x8-inch and 2x1x8-inch expendables.

Who is running it?

The Department of the Navy with NSWC Crane, through the S²MARTS OTA that NSTXL manages.

What award type is planned?

Other Transaction Authority (OTA) prototype awards.

How much funding is available?

The public notice does not list funding amounts.

Do I need to be an NSTXL member?

Yes. All respondents must have an active NSTXL membership to submit.

Is manufacturing capacity important?

Yes. The stated goal is resilient, scalable, multi-source domestic manufacturing and reduced supply chain risk.

Where do I get the full notice?

Fill out the key document request form on the Project 26-11 page on nstxl.org.

Can BW&CO help with a Project 26-11 submission?

Yes. We help teams confirm fit, get set up on NSTXL, and write the solution. Book a call with our team.

Source: Project No. 26-11 on NSTXL

AFRL STAR-FISH Call 017: Secure by Design Space Vehicle

Executive Summary

AFRL's Space Vehicles Directorate wants white papers for a Secure by Design Space Vehicle: a flat-sat and cyber range, cyber-hardened flight software testing, ground demonstrations and an on-orbit demo. Estimated funding is $14 million in total. White papers are due November 13, 2026, 4:00 PM MST.

Book a Free Fit Call

The deciding factor is readiness to perform classified, cost-type work. AFRL plans Cost Plus Fixed Fee contracts, requires an approved accounting system, and expects work from CUI up to Secret. Space vehicle builders and integrators with cleared staff and flat-sat experience are the natural fit.

Solicitation at a Glance

• Agency: Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Space Vehicles Directorate, Phillips Research Site, Kirtland AFB, NM
• Opportunity: STAR-FISH (Space Technology Advanced Research - Fast-tracking Innovative Software and Hardware) Call 017, Secure by Design Space Vehicle
• Number: Advanced Research Announcement FA9453-21-S-0001, Call 017 (SAM.gov notice FA945326XA001)
• Authority and Award Vehicle: 10 U.S.C. 4023, Procurement for Experimental Purposes; Cost Plus Fixed Fee contracts with a base period and two options
• Funding: About $14 million estimated for the whole Call (FY2027 $5M, FY2028 $2M, FY2029 $2M, FY2030 $5M), not per award
• Technology Maturity: Ground demonstration through on-orbit demonstration
• Due Date: White papers due November 13, 2026, 4:00 PM MST

Think your company qualifies? Talk with BW&CO before the November 13, 2026 deadline.

Book a Free Fit Call

What Is STAR-FISH?

STAR-FISH is AFRL's standing Advanced Research Announcement for experimentation with spaceflight and space-related signal, energy, and transportation technologies. AFRL posts specific Calls under it. Call 017 asks for a full Secure by Design Space Vehicle effort, run as a two-step process: white paper first, then a proposal for selected offerors.

What Problem Is AFRL Trying to Solve?

Cyber threats put national critical space missions at risk, including Position, Navigation, and Timing; Missile Warning and Missile Tracking; Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance; and Satellite Communications. AFRL wants a space vehicle designed, tested and demonstrated with cyber protection built in from the start.

Priority Capability Areas: What AFRL Is Looking For

• Design and build: a space vehicle flat-sat and a matching space vehicle cyber range, integrated and verified.
• Cyber-hardened flight software: integrate the Government's Cyber-Hardened Satellite Software (CHSS); MIT Lincoln Laboratory performs the hardening and the Government provides interfaces and drivers.
• Test and evaluation: functional, performance and cyber-effectiveness testing against a non-hardened baseline, including cyber-attack scenarios.
• Operations: CONOPs and courses of action for cyber detection, protection and recovery, plus a user interface.
• Demonstration: ground experimentation, then on-orbit experimentation and a live demonstration.

Funding and Award Terms

• Total estimate: about $14 million for the Call across FY2027 to FY2030. Funding is an estimate and depends on future budgets.
• Contract type: Cost Plus Fixed Fee with a base period and two options, though AFRL may use another instrument.
• Number of awards: multiple awards are anticipated, but AFRL may make one or none.
• Cost share: not required.
• Data rights: the Government seeks unlimited rights and may accept Government Purpose Rights.

Eligibility Requirements and Participation

• Size standard: NAICS 541715, 1,000 employees.
• Approved accounting system: required for cost-type awards, along with other approved business systems.
• Security: work is expected from unclassified and CUI up to Secret. Staff must be U.S. citizens with the needed clearance; a DD Form 254 applies and your facility clearance must be current with DCSA.
• Foreign ownership: foreign-owned offerors cannot propose as prime. The technology is ITAR or EAR controlled, and any foreign nationals must be disclosed.

How to Apply

• Attend the Q&A: an online question and answer session is set for 9:00 AM on October 22, 2026.
• Download the current template: use the STAR-FISH White Paper Template (Attachment 2) from valideval.com/star_documents. Old versions are rejected.
• Request a DoD SAFE drop-off: email the Contracting Officer at least three workdays before the deadline. Drop-off links last 14 days.
• Submit the white paper and ROM cost: unclassified PDF with your UEI, uploaded through DoD SAFE by November 13, 2026, 4:00 PM MST. You cannot receive an award without a white paper.

What Happens After You Submit?

• White paper review: rated Highly Recommended, Selectable, or Not Selectable. AFRL aims to notify offerors within 30 days.
• Request for Proposal: selected offerors receive an RFP letter with the proposal due date.
• Evaluation: relevance to AFRL needs, scientific and engineering viability, and the project plan rank first; problem definition and benefit versus funding rank second; proposal quality ranks last.
• Feedback: unsuccessful offerors are notified in writing and can request feedback.

Is This Opportunity a Good Fit for Your Company?

It fits small satellite and space vehicle builders, flight software and avionics teams, and space cyber companies that can carry cleared, cost-type work through an on-orbit demonstration. If you lack an approved accounting system or cleared facility, consider joining a prime's team instead of bidding alone.

How BW&CO Can Help

BW&CO has helped deep-tech and dual-use founders secure more than $350M in non-dilutive funding. For AFRL announcements like STAR-FISH, we help you:

• Decide prime or partner: check accounting, clearance and teaming readiness before you invest in a bid.
• Map to the objectives: align your approach with each phase of the Statement of Objectives.
• Write the white paper: use the required template and keep it tight on problem, product and plan.
• Build the ROM cost: a realistic Cost Plus Fixed Fee estimate across the base and options.
• Prepare for the RFP: be ready to turn a selected white paper into a full proposal quickly.

Plan Your STAR-FISH White Paper

Frequently Asked Questions

When are white papers due?

November 13, 2026, 4:00 PM Mountain Standard Time, through DoD SAFE. One section of the notice lists an earlier date, so confirm with the Contracting Officer.

How much funding is available?

About $14 million is estimated for the whole Call from FY2027 to FY2030. That total covers all awards, not each one.

What kind of contract will be awarded?

AFRL anticipates Cost Plus Fixed Fee contracts with a base period and two options, but may choose another instrument.

Do I need a security clearance?

Work is expected up to the Secret level. Staff must be U.S. citizens with the right clearance, and a DD Form 254 applies.

Is cost share required?

No. Cost share is not required for this Call.

Do I have to build the cyber-hardened software?

No. MIT Lincoln Laboratory performs the hardening. The Government provides the CHSS interfaces, drivers and flat-sat requirements, and you integrate them.

Can a small business apply?

Yes, under the 1,000-employee size standard for NAICS 541715, but you need an approved accounting system for a cost-type contract.

Can foreign-owned companies participate?

Foreign-owned offerors cannot propose as prime. The technology is export controlled.

Can BW&CO help with a STAR-FISH white paper?

Yes. We help teams decide prime or partner, write the white paper and ROM cost, and prepare for the RFP. Book a call with our team.

Source: STAR-FISH Call 017, Secure by Design, on SAM.gov

NIWC Atlantic Airborne Laser Comms Turret (AOI 27-A001)

Executive Summary

NIWC Atlantic wants a flight-certified laser communications and optical timing turret for NASA's PC-12 research aircraft, plus a compact C-band transceiver telescope that fits inside it. Best fit: teams with TRL 6/7 airborne optics. Solution briefs are due October 15, 2026, 11:59 p.m. EDT on Vulcan.

Book a Free Fit Call

This is Area of Interest 27-A001 under the NIWC Atlantic Rapid Capabilities Cell Commercial Solutions Opening (N65236-26-S-0001). Awards are prototype other transaction agreements for a 16-month, single-phase effort, and a winning prototype may lead directly to a follow-on production agreement without further competition. Every brief must show how the CSO's nontraditional participation requirement is met.

Solicitation at a Glance

• Agency: Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic, Rapid Capabilities Cell, with NASA Glenn Research Center as a partner
• Solicitation: Commercial Solutions Opening N65236-26-S-0001
• Area of Interest: 27-A001, Resilient Airborne Free-Space Optical Communications Turret
• Command Focus Area: Battlespace Connectivity
• Award Vehicle: Prototype other transaction (OT) agreement, with possible follow-on production without further competition
• Funding: Not published in the AOI
• Period of Performance: 16 months, single phase; prototype deliverables at month 12, flight-test support months 12 to 16
• Technology Maturity: Preference may be given to TRL 6/7
• Security: Must be able to receive and store CUI; no facility clearance required
• Due Date: October 15, 2026, 11:59 p.m. EDT (solution brief on Vulcan)

Think your company qualifies? Talk with BW&CO before the October 15 deadline.

Book a Free Fit Call

What Is AOI 27-A001?

AOI 27-A001 is a prototype call from NIWC Atlantic's Rapid Capabilities Cell. It asks industry for a flight-certified, aero-optically resilient, dual-turret system that carries both free-space optical communications (FSOC) and optical time transfer. The system must work across ground, littoral and multi-altitude airborne conditions. NIWC Atlantic will run the work with NASA Glenn Research Center and a nontraditional defense contractor, using iterative sprints and bi-weekly syncs with government partners.

What Problem Is NIWC Atlantic Trying to Solve?

Electronic warfare and GPS-denied or RF-denied environments put Navy, Marine Corps and joint air and maritime operations at risk. Concepts such as Distributed Maritime Operations and JADC2 need very high-bandwidth links and precise timing between moving nodes without relying on RF or satellite navigation. Optical links and optical clock synchronization can provide that, but they have mostly worked in calm ground labs. In flight, boundary layers, transonic shocks, aero-optical aberrations, airframe vibration and tight size, weight, power and drag limits break beam coherence and tracking. The AOI notes that commercial optical gimbals also lack the airworthiness certification, shock resilience and fine pointing, acquisition and tracking (PAT) performance needed for aircraft integration.

Priority Capability Areas: What NIWC Atlantic Is Looking For

You can propose to one line of effort or both. The brief must say clearly which.

• Line of Effort 1, Airborne Optical Terminal and Gimbal System: an FAA-certified, ruggedized turret gimbal designed, machined and assembled for NASA Glenn's Pilatus PC-12 research aircraft.
• PAT control and jitter suppression: transition and implement government-off-the-shelf PAT software, embedded sensors and closed-loop motor drivers that reject vibration, angular base motion and high-frequency aero-optical jitter.
• Aero-optical modeling: CFD (RANS/LES), boundary layer wake evaluations and flat versus conformal window trade studies, validated by wind tunnel testing up to transonic speeds.
• Airworthiness: structural FEA under static and dynamic limit loads, drag, lift and moment at never-exceed airspeed (V_NE), window destructive pressure evaluations, and documentation that meets NASA Airworthiness Review Board standards.
• Validation: link acquisition and optical time transfer on 650 m to 2 km laser test range baselines, ground-to-vehicle links at 0 to 30 mph in GPS/RF-denied conditions, 1.6 km over-water links, and multi-altitude flights.
• Adaptive optics: multi-spectral adaptive optics for simultaneous multi-wavelength propagation in turbulence, with hardware plus modeling and simulation for air-to-air and ground-to-air profiles.
• Line of Effort 2, Air-qualified optical transceiver telescope: a self-contained monostatic transceiver that drops into the Line 1 turret. Optical C-band, 5 W maximum transmit power, single-mode fiber interface, 80 to 125 mm clear aperture sized for links up to 30 km, and a volume of 145 mm x 145 mm x 254 mm.
• Fine tracking: a multi-axis fast steering mirror with a 1 kHz threshold and 10 kHz objective bandwidth, a feedback loop for alignment in turbulence, and well-defined interfaces to the Line 1 coarse tracking system and government command and control software.
• Environment: survive commercial PC-12 flight inside a sealed turret whose internal air sees thermal and pressure changes; show MIL-STD certifications where applicable.

Highly desired attributes include flight-proven aero-optic testing, wind tunnel capability in a 3 ft x 3 ft cross-section up to transonic speeds, direct NASA or DoD airworthiness flight release experience, a turret that supports both classical high-bandwidth data and precision optical time transfer, and stable link acquisition without GPS or RF positioning. Secondary attributes are conformal window readiness, low SWaP-C power and battery backup, and 6-DOF maritime motion testing for sea states 1 through 6.

Funding and Award Terms

• Funding: The AOI does not publish a dollar amount.
• Agreement type: Prototype other transaction agreement under the CSO.
• Schedule: One 16-month phase. Prototypes are due at month 12, with flight-test support from month 12 to month 16.
• Follow-on: Any prototype OT awarded under this AOI may result in a direct follow-on production agreement without further competitive procedures.

Eligibility and Participation

• Nontraditional participation: The brief must explain how the nontraditional business participation requirement in CSO paragraph 6.2 is met. If a teaming partner meets it, name that partner and give its CAGE code. If you meet it through cost share, say so explicitly.
• Maturity: Preference may be given to mature optical tracking, gimbal control and aero-optical mitigation at TRL 6/7.
• Experience to highlight: airborne instrumentation design, finite element flight load analysis, high-speed optical beam steering and outdoor laser range testing.
• Security: You must be able to receive and store CUI. No facility clearance is required.

How to Apply

• Register on Vulcan (vulcan-sof.com) and open the AOI 27-A001 call. Briefs emailed to the contracting officer are not accepted.
• Write a solution brief of up to 15 PowerPoint slides or 5 pages that meets CSO N65236-26-S-0001 paragraph 7.2.
• Name your line of effort, Line 1, Line 2 or both, and articulate each clearly.
• Show nontraditional participation per CSO paragraph 6.2, including any teaming partner's name and CAGE code or an explicit cost-share statement.
• Keep CUI out of the brief.
• Submit by October 15, 2026, 11:59 p.m. EDT. Late submissions will not be considered.
• Send questions to Jessie Rehwoldt at jessie.m.rehwoldt.civ@us.navy.mil.

What Happens After You Submit?

• Down-select: The Government may limit how many companies it invites to pitch, based on the evaluation considerations in CSO paragraph 7.2.2. Selected companies are notified in writing.
• Virtual pitches, tentatively October 29 and 30, 2026: open with a bottom-line-up-front solution overview, the collaborative division of labor and a top-level cost breakdown.
• Technical briefing: show your hardware and software running a representative tracking, PAT stabilization or aero-optic data scenario, including real-time telemetry, line-of-sight stabilization under simulated disturbance and physical proof of core capabilities.
• Execution roadmap: present a complete solution and a credible path to full flight demonstration.
• Quiet period: no press releases or public announcements about AOI 27-A001 before the Government's down-select notice for pitches, or you risk exclusion.

Is This Opportunity a Good Fit for Your Company?

It fits companies that already fly or flight-test optical terminals, gimbals, fast steering mirrors or adaptive optics, and that can show TRL 6/7 hardware. Laser communications, optical time transfer and aero-optics teams that can work with NASA and DoD airworthiness boards are the core audience. A Line 2 brief suits a company with a compact C-band transceiver that meets the size, aperture and steering bandwidth limits.

It fits less well if your technology is still at lab scale, if you cannot hold CUI, or if you cannot pull together a pitch-ready demonstration by late October. Those teams can partner with a turret or terminal provider on one line of effort, or look for SBIR topics in laser communications and PNT.

How BW&CO Can Help

BW&CO has helped deep-tech and dual-use founders secure more than $350M in non-dilutive funding. For CSO prototype calls like AOI 27-A001, we help you:

• Decide quickly whether to bid Line 1, Line 2 or both.
• Build a 15-slide or 5-page solution brief around the AOI's stated attributes.
• Structure nontraditional participation, teaming and cost share to meet the CSO.
• Prepare the pitch overview, technical demonstration and flight roadmap.
• Plan the path from prototype OT to follow-on production.

Plan Your AOI 27-A001 Submission

Frequently Asked Questions

What is AOI 27-A001?

A NIWC Atlantic Rapid Capabilities Cell area of interest seeking a flight-certified airborne free-space optical communications and optical time-transfer turret, plus a matching transceiver telescope, under CSO N65236-26-S-0001.

When is the deadline?

Solution briefs are due on Vulcan by 11:59 p.m. EDT on October 15, 2026. Late submissions will not be considered.

How much funding is available?

The AOI does not publish a dollar amount. Pitches must include a top-level cost breakdown.

What kind of award is it?

A prototype other transaction agreement for a 16-month, single-phase effort. It may lead to a follow-on production agreement without further competition.

Can I propose to only one line of effort?

Yes. You can propose to Line 1, Line 2 or both, as long as the brief clearly states which.

Do I need to be a nontraditional defense contractor?

The brief must show how the CSO's nontraditional business participation requirement (paragraph 6.2) is met. You can meet it yourself, through a named teaming partner with a CAGE code, or through an explicitly stated cost share.

Do I need a security clearance?

No facility clearance is required, but you must be able to receive and store CUI. The brief itself must not contain CUI.

What aircraft will the system fly on?

NASA Glenn Research Center's Pilatus PC-12 research aircraft.

When are the pitches?

The Government anticipates virtual pitches, tentatively on October 29 and 30, 2026.

Can BW&CO help with an AOI 27-A001 submission?

Yes. We help teams decide fit, write the solution brief, structure nontraditional participation and prepare the pitch. Book a call with our team.

Source: AOI 27-A001 Resilient Airborne Free-Space Optical Communications Turret (SAM.gov)

DAF STTR DAF27TZ01-DV001: AI-Enabled Computed Vision Air-to-Air Refueling Performance Assessment and Automated Pilot Debrief System

Quick Answer

DAF27TZ01-DV001 is a Department of the Air Force STTR Direct to Phase II topic in DoW STTR 2027 BAA Release 1 for an AI computer vision system that analyzes tanker camera video (especially KC-46) after aerial refueling and produces objective pilot performance scores and automated debrief products. Awards are up to $2,000,000 over up to 24 months, closing November 25, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET.

Targets include debrief products within 15 minutes of video ingestion and at least 95 percent agreement with experienced instructors. As an STTR, you need a research institution partner performing at least 30 percent of the work.

Topic at a Glance

• Topic number: DAF27TZ01-DV001
• Title: AI-Enabled Computed Vision Air-to-Air Refueling Performance Assessment and Automated Pilot Debrief System
• Component: Department of the Air Force
• Solicitation: DoW STTR 2027 BAA, Release 1
• Program and phase: STTR Direct to Phase II
• Award ceiling: $2,000,000
• Period of performance: 24 months
• Technical volume limit: 35 pages or slides
• Projected CMMC level: Level 2 (Self)
• Export control: Not marked as ITAR restricted on DSIP
• Focus areas: Human-Machine Interfaces; Trusted AI and Autonomy
• Keywords: AI, machine learning, computer vision, aerial refueling, pilot training, flight analytics, human machine interface, VR, AR, aviation safety, KC-46, KC-135
• 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 the Air Force Is Looking For

Aerial refueling is one of the most demanding and safety-critical tasks aircrews perform, yet assessment still relies on instructor observation, self-assessment, and manual video review. The Air Force wants to turn each refueling sortie into objective, data-driven feedback that improves proficiency, reduces mishaps and equipment damage, and raises readiness.

The system should detect and track the boom or hose and the receiver, measure relative position, closure rate, approach vector, stability, and envelope adherence, correlate with available aircraft data, score performance and trends, and generate visual debriefs such as overlays, heat maps, timelines, and VR or AR replays. It must also automatically protect sensitive video, including masking unauthorized aircraft and sensitive geography. The vendor may choose the first 3 to 5 receiver platforms with Government concurrence.

Phase II tasks

• Task 1: system architecture, data acquisition, and secure CUI processing.
• Task 2: computer vision model adaptation and performance analytics, demonstrated at TRL 6+.
• Task 3: automated performance assessment, pilot feedback, and an instructor or master debriefer review interface (stretch goal: detect bent or broken boom, probe, or hose and FOD).
• Task 4: automated data protection and video processing.
• Task 5: pilot debrief visualization and training integration, including a VR/AR trade study.
• Task 6: operational demonstration with at least one aerial refueling training organization and a Phase III transition plan.

How the Phases Are Structured

Phase I is skipped. No Phase I proposals will be accepted. You must show Phase I type feasibility from prior research, lab validation, commercial development, or operational demonstrations performed outside the SBIR/STTR program. Offerors must show experience in at least half of the listed technical areas (computer vision on dynamic objects, high-speed motion imagery, tracking, aviation analytics, VR/AR and HMI, sensor and telemetry integration, controlled aviation data handling, automated video masking, and secure government software) and TRL 4 or greater at award.

Phase II executes the six tasks above and delivers an operational prototype.

Phase III transitions the capability to KC-46, KC-135, C-17, fighter, Navy, and Marine Corps refueling communities and autonomous refueling programs, with commercial aviation training as a dual-use market.

Funding and Proposal Limits

• Direct to Phase II award maximum: $2,000,000. Proposals above this amount will not be considered for evaluation or award.
• Award maximum duration: 24 months.
• Technical Volume (Volume 2) limit: 35 pages or slides.
• No Phase I proposals will be accepted and no Phase I awards will be made under this topic.
• TABA: DAF will provide up to $50,000 per Phase II award in addition to the topic amount. The detailed request must be in Volume 5.

Who Is Eligible

• You must be a U.S. small business concern that meets SBIR/STTR ownership and size rules at the time of award.
• This is an STTR topic, so you need a formal partner research institution (a university, FFRDC, or qualifying nonprofit). At least 40 percent of the work must be done by your firm and at least 30 percent by a single research institution, measured by direct and indirect costs. Deviations are not allowed.
• You must document Phase I type feasibility completed outside the SBIR/STTR program, substantially performed by your firm or principal investigator.
• 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?

Computer vision and aviation analytics companies with tracking experience on fast-moving objects are the core fit, especially those with flight training or simulation products. Line up the university or research institution partner early, since the STTR 30 percent minimum cannot be waived.

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 DAF STTR topic DAF27TZ01-DV001?

It is a Department of the Air Force STTR Direct to Phase II topic in DoW STTR 2027 BAA Release 1 for an AI computer vision system that assesses aerial refueling performance from tanker video and produces automated pilot debriefs.

How much funding is available?

Up to $2,000,000 over up to 24 months, plus up to $50,000 in TABA per Phase II award if requested in Volume 5.

Do I need a research institution partner?

Yes. As an STTR, at least 40 percent of the work must be performed by your small business and at least 30 percent by a single research institution.

What performance does the Air Force want?

Debrief products within 15 minutes of video ingestion, accurate tracking of position and refueling geometry, and at least 95 percent agreement with experienced instructors during validation.

Can I submit a Phase I proposal?

No. No Phase I proposals will be accepted. You must show Phase I type feasibility from work outside the SBIR/STTR program and TRL 4 or greater at award.

When is the deadline?

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

DAF SBIR DAF27BZ01-NV006: High Speed, Low Temperature Hyperspectral Imager for High Enthalpy Ground Testing

Quick Answer

DAF27BZ01-NV006 is a Department of the Air Force SBIR Phase I topic in DoW SBIR 2027 BAA Release 1 for a hyperspectral imager that resolves surface temperature and emissivity of test articles at high speed and low temperature in AEDC high enthalpy ground test facilities. Phase I awards are up to $300,000 over 6 months, closing November 25, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET.

Threshold specs are 0 to 1500 F (2000 F objective), 4000 Hz (5000 Hz objective), a pixel footprint of 0.1 inch or less (0.05 inch objective), and accuracy of plus or minus 10 F (5 F objective).

Topic at a Glance

• Topic number: DAF27BZ01-NV006
• Title: High Speed, Low Temperature Hyperspectral Imager for High Enthalpy Ground Testing
• Component: Department of the Air Force
• 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: 20 pages or slides
• 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 Materials; Hypersonics; Nuclear
• Keywords: temperature measurement, emissivity, hyperspectral imager, high enthalpy ground testing, hypersonics, materials
• 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 the Air Force Is Looking For

AEDC needs a high-speed, low-temperature measurement capability that overlaps with its existing higher-temperature instruments, so material response can be tracked across the full test range.

Threshold and objective requirements

• Temperature range: 0 to 1500 F threshold, 2000 F objective.
• Sampling rate: 4000 Hz threshold, 5000 Hz objective.
• Pixel footprint: 0.1 inch or less threshold, 0.05 inch objective.
• Accuracy: plus or minus 10 F threshold, plus or minus 5 F objective.

How the Phases Are Structured

Phase I compiles feasibility research on a low-temperature, high sampling rate hyperspectral imager against the threshold requirements and delivers a feasibility report describing a benchtop proof of concept that will guide Phase II fabrication.

Phase II fabricates a well-defined prototype that meets the objectives and can become operationally viable.

Phase III deploys the hyperspectral imager.

Funding and Proposal Limits

• Phase I award maximum: $300,000. Proposals above this amount will not be considered for evaluation or award.
• Phase I award maximum duration: 6 months.
• Technical Volume (Volume 2) limit: 20 pages or slides.
• Technical and Business Assistance (TABA): DAF will provide up to $6,500 per Phase I award, in addition to the topic award amount. The detailed TABA request must be in Volume 5.

Who Is Eligible

• You must be a U.S. small business concern that meets SBIR ownership and size rules at the time of award.
• Your firm must perform at least two-thirds of the Phase I research or analytical work.
• Firms majority owned by multiple venture capital operating companies, hedge funds, or private equity funds are eligible to propose to DAF topics.
• DoW now limits proposals on a per-topic basis, so plan on one strong proposal for this topic rather than several variations.

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?

Infrared and hyperspectral camera developers, thermography specialists, and photonics firms with fast detector readout experience are the best fit. Note the ITAR restriction when planning your team.

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 DAF SBIR topic DAF27BZ01-NV006?

DAF27BZ01-NV006 is a Department of the Air Force SBIR Phase I topic in DoW SBIR 2027 BAA Release 1 for a high-speed, low-temperature hyperspectral imager to measure surface temperature and emissivity in high enthalpy ground testing.

How much funding is available?

Phase I awards are up to $300,000 over up to 6 months. The DAF also provides up to $6,500 in Technical and Business Assistance per Phase I award, in addition to the topic amount.

When is the deadline?

The topic pre-released October 7, 2026, opens October 28, 2026, and closes November 25, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET. Proposals must be certified and submitted in DSIP.

How long can the technical volume be?

Volume 2 is limited to 20 pages or slides for this topic. Pages beyond the limit are not considered.

Is this topic export controlled?

Yes. It is restricted under ITAR or EAR. You must disclose any proposed foreign nationals, and their participation may be restricted.

Can I talk to the topic author?

Yes, during pre-release only, from October 7 until the topic opens on October 28, 2026. After that, technical questions must go through DSIP Topic Q&A.

DAF SBIR DAF27BZ01-NV005: Luminescence-Based Surface Measurement Technique for Simultaneous Pressure and Temperature Measurements within Non-Oxygen Based Hypersonic Ground Test Facilities

Quick Answer

DAF27BZ01-NV005 is a Department of the Air Force SBIR Phase I topic in DoW SBIR 2027 BAA Release 1 for a non-intrusive, luminescence-based surface technique that measures pressure and temperature simultaneously in hypersonic wind tunnels that use nitrogen instead of air, such as AEDC Tunnel 9. Phase I awards are up to $300,000 over 6 months, closing November 25, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET.

Conventional pressure sensitive paint relies on oxygen quenching, so it does not work in oxygen-free flows. That leaves these facilities limited to discrete measurements.

Topic at a Glance

• Topic number: DAF27BZ01-NV005
• Title: Luminescence-Based Surface Measurement Technique for Simultaneous Pressure and Temperature Measurements within Non-Oxygen Based Hypersonic Ground Test Facilities
• Component: Department of the Air Force
• 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: 20 pages or slides
• Projected CMMC level: Level 2 (Self)
• Export control: Not marked as ITAR restricted on DSIP
• Focus areas: Hypersonics
• Keywords: hypersonic, instrumentation, non-intrusive, wind tunnel
• 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 the Air Force Is Looking For

Pressure sensitive paint (PSP) gives global surface pressure data used to calculate aerodynamic loads and spot small-scale flow features. Its luminophores fluoresce inversely with local oxygen concentration, which rules it out in nitrogen blowdown facilities.

The Air Force wants a new technique, paint or luminophore system plus data reduction, that captures simultaneous global pressure and temperature in non-oxygen hypersonic tunnels.

How the Phases Are Structured

Phase I develops the technique or paint and establishes feasibility through thorough characterization of paint properties, sensitivities, and the data reduction process, using benchtop tests and small-scale educational supersonic or hypersonic facilities.

Phase II demonstrates the full-scale prototype in a hypersonic test facility using test probes or a well-known standard test article, and delivers the completed technique and refined data reduction process.

Phase III markets the technique for non-intrusive simultaneous pressure and temperature measurement in non-oxygen high-speed tunnels.

Funding and Proposal Limits

• Phase I award maximum: $300,000. Proposals above this amount will not be considered for evaluation or award.
• Phase I award maximum duration: 6 months.
• Technical Volume (Volume 2) limit: 20 pages or slides.
• Technical and Business Assistance (TABA): DAF will provide up to $6,500 per Phase I award, in addition to the topic award amount. The detailed TABA request must be in Volume 5.

Who Is Eligible

• You must be a U.S. small business concern that meets SBIR ownership and size rules at the time of award.
• Your firm must perform at least two-thirds of the Phase I research or analytical work.
• Firms majority owned by multiple venture capital operating companies, hedge funds, or private equity funds are eligible to propose to DAF topics.
• DoW now limits proposals on a per-topic basis, so plan on one strong proposal for this topic rather than several variations.

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?

Optical diagnostics firms, luminescent materials chemists, and university aerospace labs with PSP or TSP experience are the right fit. A university co-investigator with access to a small hypersonic facility helps Phase I credibility.

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 DAF SBIR topic DAF27BZ01-NV005?

DAF27BZ01-NV005 is a Department of the Air Force SBIR Phase I topic in DoW SBIR 2027 BAA Release 1 to develop a luminescence-based technique for simultaneous global surface pressure and temperature measurement in non-oxygen hypersonic ground test facilities.

How much funding is available?

Phase I awards are up to $300,000 over up to 6 months. The DAF also provides up to $6,500 in Technical and Business Assistance per Phase I award, in addition to the topic amount.

When is the deadline?

The topic pre-released October 7, 2026, opens October 28, 2026, and closes November 25, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET. Proposals must be certified and submitted in DSIP.

How long can the technical volume be?

Volume 2 is limited to 20 pages or slides for this topic. Pages beyond the limit are not considered.

Why doesn't standard pressure sensitive paint work here?

Standard PSP depends on oxygen quenching of luminophores. Facilities such as AEDC Tunnel 9 use nitrogen as the working fluid, so there is no oxygen signal to measure.

Can I talk to the topic author?

Yes, during pre-release only, from October 7 until the topic opens on October 28, 2026. After that, technical questions must go through DSIP Topic Q&A.

DAF SBIR DAF27BZ01-NV004: Long Rod Delivery System

Quick Answer

DAF27BZ01-NV004 is a Department of the Air Force SBIR Phase I topic in DoW SBIR 2027 BAA Release 1 for a launching system that fires high length-to-diameter (long rod) projectiles at 1,400 m/s to more than 2,300 m/s with controlled orientation and no structural damage, to improve Live Fire Test and Evaluation (LFT&E) data. Phase I awards are up to $300,000 over 6 months, closing November 25, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET.

Phase I is a feasibility study comparing launch technologies such as advanced light-gas, hybrid electromagnetic, and pneumatic approaches.

Topic at a Glance

• Topic number: DAF27BZ01-NV004
• Title: Long Rod Delivery System
• Component: Department of the Air Force
• 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: 20 pages or slides
• Projected CMMC level: Level 2 (Self)
• Export control: Not marked as ITAR restricted on DSIP
• Focus areas: Advanced Materials; Sustainment and Logistics
• Keywords: missile fragments, projectile, LFT&E, survivability
• 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 the Air Force Is Looking For

There is currently no reliable way to control the flight of a long rod projectile so it consistently reaches a target location at a specific orientation. That gap degrades LFT&E fidelity, compromises survivability assessments of aircraft, and adds acquisition risk and cost.

The Air Force wants a non-destructive, high-precision launcher that delivers long rods at controlled angle of attack to support vulnerability assessments and engineering designs for current and next generation combat aircraft.

How the Phases Are Structured

Phase I evaluates alternative launch technologies against the requirement to launch high L/D projectiles from 1,400 m/s to above 2,300 m/s without structural degradation, develops a conceptual design, models internal ballistics, acceleration, and exit velocity, and identifies risks and mitigations.

Phase II builds and tests a sub-scale or full-scale prototype, runs live-fire demonstrations with inert long rods, and uses diagnostics such as flash X-ray and high-speed imaging to verify integrity, pitch, and yaw at muzzle exit, then validates the system for LFT&E use such as ballistic limit testing.

Phase III transitions the launcher to Army, Navy, and Air Force LFT&E ranges and pursues dual-use markets including materials science, spacecraft micrometeoroid shielding, and hypervelocity impact research.

Funding and Proposal Limits

• Phase I award maximum: $300,000. Proposals above this amount will not be considered for evaluation or award.
• Phase I award maximum duration: 6 months.
• Technical Volume (Volume 2) limit: 20 pages or slides.
• Technical and Business Assistance (TABA): DAF will provide up to $6,500 per Phase I award, in addition to the topic award amount. The detailed TABA request must be in Volume 5.

Who Is Eligible

• You must be a U.S. small business concern that meets SBIR ownership and size rules at the time of award.
• Your firm must perform at least two-thirds of the Phase I research or analytical work.
• Firms majority owned by multiple venture capital operating companies, hedge funds, or private equity funds are eligible to propose to DAF topics.
• DoW now limits proposals on a per-topic basis, so plan on one strong proposal for this topic rather than several variations.

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?

Ballistics, light-gas gun, and electromagnetic launcher specialists are the core audience, along with test range engineering firms. University hypervelocity labs can be strong partners even on an SBIR.

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 DAF SBIR topic DAF27BZ01-NV004?

DAF27BZ01-NV004, Long Rod Delivery System, is a Department of the Air Force SBIR Phase I topic in DoW SBIR 2027 BAA Release 1 for a precise, non-destructive launcher for high length-to-diameter projectiles used in live fire test and evaluation.

How much funding is available?

Phase I awards are up to $300,000 over up to 6 months. The DAF also provides up to $6,500 in Technical and Business Assistance per Phase I award, in addition to the topic amount.

When is the deadline?

The topic pre-released October 7, 2026, opens October 28, 2026, and closes November 25, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET. Proposals must be certified and submitted in DSIP.

How long can the technical volume be?

Volume 2 is limited to 20 pages or slides for this topic. Pages beyond the limit are not considered.

What velocity range must the launcher reach?

The Phase I study evaluates launching high L/D projectiles from 1,400 m/s to more than 2,300 m/s without structural degradation.

Can I talk to the topic author?

Yes, during pre-release only, from October 7 until the topic opens on October 28, 2026. After that, technical questions must go through DSIP Topic Q&A.

DAF SBIR DAF27BZ01-NV003: Multiple Telemetry Site Signal Source Synchronization

Quick Answer

DAF27BZ01-NV003 is a Department of the Air Force SBIR Phase I topic in DoW SBIR 2027 BAA Release 1 for a networked system that synchronizes telemetry signal simulators across geographically separated ground stations, so test ranges can check the full telemetry chain, including best source selection, before a live flight. Phase I awards are up to $300,000 over 6 months, closing November 25, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET.

The end goal is a product standardized in IRIG-106 and adopted at major Air Force, Army, and Navy test ranges.

Topic at a Glance

• Topic number: DAF27BZ01-NV003
• Title: Multiple Telemetry Site Signal Source Synchronization
• Component: Department of the Air Force
• 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: 20 pages or slides
• Projected CMMC level: Level 2 (Self)
• Export control: Not marked as ITAR restricted on DSIP
• Focus areas: Integrated Network Systems-of-Systems; Integrated Sensing and Cyber; Space Technology
• Keywords: signal synchronization, best source selection, test and training ranges, flight test, data quality metrics, hypersonic vehicles, telemetry infrastructure
• 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 the Air Force Is Looking For

Flight tests that cross multiple ranges, such as hypersonic, cruise missile, and long-range weapon tests, rely on telemetry receive stations along the flight path relaying data to a control room. Best source selectors (BSS) now time-align these streams and pick the best data bit by bit using data quality metrics.

The problem: pre-flight checks still test each site individually with an uncorrelated boresight simulator, so the BSS cannot correlate the streams and its configuration is unknown until the mission. The Air Force wants signal sources at multiple sites to simulate the test article as if every station could see it at once, enabling an end-to-end checkout of antennas, networks, BSS, and control room displays.

How the Phases Are Structured

Phase I describes the shortfall with all components, interfaces, standards, and use cases; proposes an architecture with spatially diverse signal sources synchronized to a precise common time and frequency reference; derives a master-client network with a central command and control GUI; and develops a protocol that aligns the pseudo-random bit sequences (PRBS) from every simulator.

Phase II delivers a prototype with time-aligned signal generation, a web GUI for central control, multi-site BER testing through a BSS including simulated latency and jitter, lab verification, and field validation with at least three signal sources at three geographically diverse locations (for example Edwards AFB, China Lake, and Point Mugu).

Phase III matures the system from TRL 6 to TRL 8 with the ranges and the Range Commanders Council Telemetry Group. Named customers include the 412th Test Wing, 96th Test Wing, NAWCAD, and White Sands Missile Range, with commercial markets at primes and launch providers.

Funding and Proposal Limits

• Phase I award maximum: $300,000. Proposals above this amount will not be considered for evaluation or award.
• Phase I award maximum duration: 6 months.
• Technical Volume (Volume 2) limit: 20 pages or slides.
• Technical and Business Assistance (TABA): DAF will provide up to $6,500 per Phase I award, in addition to the topic award amount. The detailed TABA request must be in Volume 5.

Who Is Eligible

• You must be a U.S. small business concern that meets SBIR ownership and size rules at the time of award.
• Your firm must perform at least two-thirds of the Phase I research or analytical work.
• Firms majority owned by multiple venture capital operating companies, hedge funds, or private equity funds are eligible to propose to DAF topics.
• DoW now limits proposals on a per-topic basis, so plan on one strong proposal for this topic rather than several variations.

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?

Telemetry, RF test equipment, and precision timing companies are the natural fit, especially those familiar with IRIG-106, data quality encapsulation, and range operations. A team that pairs RF signal generation with network timing expertise will read well.

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 DAF SBIR topic DAF27BZ01-NV003?

DAF27BZ01-NV003 is a Department of the Air Force SBIR Phase I topic in DoW SBIR 2027 BAA Release 1 to synchronize telemetry signal simulators across multiple range sites so the full receive chain, including best source selection, can be verified before a flight test.

How much funding is available?

Phase I awards are up to $300,000 over up to 6 months. The DAF also provides up to $6,500 in Technical and Business Assistance per Phase I award, in addition to the topic amount.

When is the deadline?

The topic pre-released October 7, 2026, opens October 28, 2026, and closes November 25, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET. Proposals must be certified and submitted in DSIP.

How long can the technical volume be?

Volume 2 is limited to 20 pages or slides for this topic. Pages beyond the limit are not considered.

What does the Phase II field test require?

A prototype of at least three signal sources controlled by a central hub, installed and tested at three geographically diverse locations, with PRBS synchronization, remote GUI control, and passing multi-site BER testing at the BSS output.

Can I talk to the topic author?

Yes, during pre-release only, from October 7 until the topic opens on October 28, 2026. After that, technical questions must go through DSIP Topic Q&A.

DAF SBIR DAF27BZ01-NV002: Optimally Packaged Assembly for Laser Systems (OPALS)

Quick Answer

DAF27BZ01-NV002 (OPALS) is a Department of the Air Force SBIR Phase I topic in DoW SBIR 2027 BAA Release 1 for a ruggedized, compactly packaged optical beam control system for airborne high energy lasers, replacing the flat optical bench approach. Phase I awards are up to $300,000 over 6 months, closing November 25, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET.

The Phase II prototype targets a government-furnished laser up to about 20 kW, while the concept must scale to an operational system of at least 300 kW.

Topic at a Glance

• Topic number: DAF27BZ01-NV002
• Title: Optimally Packaged Assembly for Laser Systems (OPALS)
• Component: Department of the Air Force
• 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: 20 pages or slides
• Projected CMMC level: Level 2 (Self)
• Export control: Not marked as ITAR restricted on DSIP
• Focus areas: Directed Energy
• Keywords: beam control, high energy laser, opto-mechanical packaging
• 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 the Air Force Is Looking For

Airborne laser systems face vibration, shock, temperature, and pressure swings that degrade conventional optics. A beam control system must sense and correct platform disturbances, acquire and track targets, and compensate for atmospheric and aero-optical effects, all with demanding pointing and line-of-sight stabilization.

This topic is about the internal optical system, not new turrets or outer moldlines. The Government expects designs to perform all functions in its canonical beam control layout (Reference 1 on DSIP) or to justify any deviations, and to prioritize ease of alignment, line replaceable units, beam path conditioning, and non-shedding materials that avoid foreign object damage.

Areas the Government anticipates include ruggedized optical design and materials, robust packaging and assembly, novel vibration-tolerant architectures, advanced thermo-mechanical materials, additive manufacturing and precision micro-assembly, and passive and active athermalization.

How the Phases Are Structured

Phase I develops the basic concept for the beam control mounting structure, models initial performance, and estimates size and weight. Expect numerous trade studies and design excursions. Concepts should be as platform agnostic as feasible, and the Government will provide representative vibration spectra.

Phase II develops, integrates, and tests the packaged beam control prototype with a government-furnished laser up to 20 kW in ground and airborne laboratory tests, working with AFRL on interfaces and requirements. AFRL's Airborne Laser System Integration Laboratory may host a demonstration.

Phase III scales the design to a beam control subsystem for a large, operationally relevant aircraft with a transition partner and a laser of at least 300 kW.

Funding and Proposal Limits

• Phase I award maximum: $300,000. Proposals above this amount will not be considered for evaluation or award.
• Phase I award maximum duration: 6 months.
• Technical Volume (Volume 2) limit: 20 pages or slides.
• Technical and Business Assistance (TABA): DAF will provide up to $6,500 per Phase I award, in addition to the topic award amount. The detailed TABA request must be in Volume 5.

Who Is Eligible

• You must be a U.S. small business concern that meets SBIR ownership and size rules at the time of award.
• Your firm must perform at least two-thirds of the Phase I research or analytical work.
• Firms majority owned by multiple venture capital operating companies, hedge funds, or private equity funds are eligible to propose to DAF topics.
• DoW now limits proposals on a per-topic basis, so plan on one strong proposal for this topic rather than several variations.

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?

Opto-mechanical engineering firms with space, airborne ISR, or precision instrument packaging experience are the strongest fit. Directed energy component suppliers looking to move up to subsystem level should also take a look.

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 DAF SBIR topic DAF27BZ01-NV002?

DAF27BZ01-NV002, Optimally Packaged Assembly for Laser Systems (OPALS), is a Department of the Air Force SBIR Phase I topic in DoW SBIR 2027 BAA Release 1 for a ruggedized, compact beam control optical system for airborne high energy lasers.

How much funding is available?

Phase I awards are up to $300,000 over up to 6 months. The DAF also provides up to $6,500 in Technical and Business Assistance per Phase I award, in addition to the topic amount.

When is the deadline?

The topic pre-released October 7, 2026, opens October 28, 2026, and closes November 25, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET. Proposals must be certified and submitted in DSIP.

How long can the technical volume be?

Volume 2 is limited to 20 pages or slides for this topic. Pages beyond the limit are not considered.

Does this topic fund new turret designs?

No. The topic focuses on optimizing the packaging and performance of the internal beam control optics, not new outer moldlines or turrets.

Can I talk to the topic author?

Yes, during pre-release only, from October 7 until the topic opens on October 28, 2026. After that, technical questions must go through DSIP Topic Q&A.

DAF SBIR DAF27BZ01-DV007: Reusable Illumination System

Quick Answer

DAF27BZ01-DV007 is a Department of the Air Force SBIR Direct to Phase II topic in DoW SBIR 2027 BAA Release 1. The Air Force needs a modern, reusable replacement for the PF300 flash bulb, which provides high-intensity illumination for high-speed video on the Holloman High Speed Test Track and other sled tracks and is no longer in production. Awards are up to $2,000,000 over up to 24 months. The topic pre-released October 7, 2026, opens October 28, 2026, and closes November 25, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET in DSIP.

No Phase I awards will be made. The ideal solution leverages commercial off-the-shelf or near-COTS lighting technology that must be adapted to the unique test track environment, so firms with proven high-intensity illumination products and ruggedization experience are best positioned.

Topic at a Glance

• Topic number: DAF27BZ01-DV007
• Title: Reusable Illumination System
• Component: Department of the Air Force
• Solicitation: DoW SBIR 2027 BAA, Release 1
• Program and phase: SBIR Direct to Phase II
• Award ceiling: $2,000,000
• Period of performance: 24 months
• Technical volume limit: 35 pages or slides
• 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 Materials; Hypersonics
• Keywords: illumination, photo-optic, hypersonic, sled test
• 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 the Air Force Is Looking For

The 846th Test Squadron relies on PF300 flash bulbs for the light needed to capture high-speed photo-optic data during sled tests. With the bulbs out of production, the Air Force faces an obsolescence problem and a recurring consumable cost. It wants a small business to engineer, design, and manufacture a robust, reusable system that meets or surpasses the illumination and performance of the original bulbs and integrates with existing high-speed video systems.

The topic notes that prior Phase I type work by other companies has produced similar illumination methods, but not to the requirements of the test track environment. The technology exists; what does not exist is a product built for that operating environment. The Test Track is ready to define requirements including illumination levels, illumination duration, connectivity, and ruggedness.

Upside capabilities the Air Force calls out include adjustable light intensity and longer duration illumination for better high-speed video data quality.

How the Phases Are Structured

Phase I is skipped. Because this is Direct to Phase II, your proposal must prove feasibility already exists. The DAF will not consider a proposal that fails to show technical merit and feasibility, or whose feasibility was not substantially performed by your firm or principal investigator. Your feasibility package should show a working illumination approach and the engineering judgment to adapt it to sled test conditions.

Phase II develops a detailed design and operational procedures for a prototype reusable illumination system that meets requirements set by 846 TS customers. Component level prototypes are built and tested first to retire risk, and the effort culminates in a demonstration of an operational reusable illumination sled on the test track that shows both performance and reusability.

Phase III refines the design from Phase II lessons learned so the system is ready for operational use at HHSTT and other DoW test tracks, through non-SBIR funded R&D or production contracts.

Funding and Proposal Limits

• Direct to Phase II award maximum: $2,000,000. Proposals above this amount will not be considered for evaluation or award.
• Award maximum duration: 24 months.
• Technical Volume (Volume 2) limit: 35 pages or slides.
• No Phase I awards will be made under this topic.
• TABA: DAF will provide up to $50,000 per Phase II award in addition to the topic amount, and you may split it 50/50 across a first and a sequential Phase II. The detailed request must be in Volume 5.

Who Is Eligible

• You must be a U.S. small business concern that meets SBIR ownership and size rules at the time of award.
• You must document that you already completed Phase I type feasibility work. That work must have been substantially performed by your firm or your principal investigator, and it cannot be based on or logically extend from any prior or ongoing federally funded SBIR or STTR work.
• Firms majority owned by multiple venture capital operating companies, hedge funds, or private equity funds are eligible to propose to DAF topics.
• 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 topic suits lighting, strobe, and high-speed imaging companies with a COTS or near-COTS high-intensity source that can be ruggedized for shock, vibration, and sled test conditions. If your strength is optics research without a product baseline, a Direct to Phase II topic is a hard place to start.

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 DAF SBIR topic DAF27BZ01-DV007?

DAF27BZ01-DV007, Reusable Illumination System, is a Department of the Air Force SBIR Direct to Phase II topic in DoW SBIR 2027 BAA Release 1. It seeks a reusable replacement for the out-of-production PF300 flash bulb used for high-speed video on the Holloman High Speed Test Track and other sled tracks.

How much funding is available?

Up to $2,000,000 over up to 24 months. The DAF may also provide up to $50,000 in Technical and Business Assistance per Phase II award, in addition to the topic amount.

When is the deadline?

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

Can I submit a Phase I proposal?

No. This is a Direct to Phase II topic and no Phase I awards will be made. You must document completed Phase I type feasibility that is not based on prior or ongoing federally funded SBIR or STTR work.

Is this topic export controlled?

Yes. It is restricted under ITAR or EAR. You must disclose any proposed foreign nationals, their countries of origin, visa type, and assigned tasks, and their participation may be restricted.

Can I talk to the topic author?

Yes, during pre-release only, from October 7 until the topic opens on October 28, 2026. After that, questions must go through DSIP Topic Q&A.

DAF SBIR DAF27BZ01-DV009: US Production of Ultra-High Temperature Ceramic-Yielding Preceramic Polymers

Quick Answer

DAF27BZ01-DV009 is a Department of the Air Force SBIR Direct to Phase II topic in DoW SBIR 2027 BAA Release 1 to establish domestic production of an AFRL-patented ultra-high temperature ceramic (UHTC) yielding preceramic polymer. UHTCs are used in propulsion and aeroshell components, and scaled C/C-UHTC composite production needs precursor supply at volume and an affordable price. Awards are up to $2,000,000 over up to 24 months, closing November 25, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET.

This is a chemical manufacturing scale-up topic. The Air Force wants a dedicated production capability of at least 50 kg per month and 75 kg of qualified polymer delivered by the end of Phase II.

Topic at a Glance

• Topic number: DAF27BZ01-DV009
• Title: US Production of Ultra-High Temperature Ceramic-Yielding Preceramic Polymers
• Component: Department of the Air Force
• Solicitation: DoW SBIR 2027 BAA, Release 1
• Program and phase: SBIR Direct to Phase II
• Award ceiling: $2,000,000
• Period of performance: 24 months
• Technical volume limit: 35 pages or slides
• Projected CMMC level: Level 2 (Self)
• Export control: Not marked as ITAR restricted on DSIP
• Focus areas: Hypersonics
• Keywords: preceramic polymer, ultra-high temperature ceramics, UHTC, precursors, ceramic matrix composites, CMC, scaled production
• 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 the Air Force Is Looking For

Acquisition programs that rely on UHTC matrix composites need precursor material in quantities and at prices the high-temperature composite community can actually buy. The Air Force wants a U.S. small business to take an AFRL-patented chemistry and turn it into a safe, robust, scalable production process.

The topic sets cost context: offerors can assume $6,300 per kg in raw material cost if reagents are bought from commercial suppliers, and the target business case is more than 1,000 kg per year at a retail price under $5,000 per kg, preferably under $4,000 per kg.

Phase II deliverables named in the topic

• A documented, safe, robust, scalable manufacturing process that meets purity and production volume targets.
• A safety and handling analysis for all reagents, intermediates, and waste, with facilities that meet safety and environmental requirements.
• Five 1 kg samples to AFRL with NMR, elemental analysis, rheology, and ICP/MS on the polymer and XRD, TEM/EDS, and SEM on the polymer-derived ceramic for each lot.
• A dedicated production capability of at least 50 kg per month (more than 600 kg per year).
• 75 kg of qualified, packaged UHTC preceramic polymer delivered by the end of Phase II.
• A cost analysis and business plan for more than 1,000 kg per year at under $5,000 per kg.

How the Phases Are Structured

Phase I is skipped. Because this is Direct to Phase II, your proposal must prove feasibility already exists. The DAF will not consider a proposal that fails to show technical merit and feasibility, or whose feasibility was not substantially performed by your firm or principal investigator. The topic asks for a feasibility study showing expertise in synthesizing and handling air and water sensitive compounds, demonstrated experience scaling chemical synthesis from lab to pilot scale (for example 5 to 50 kg batches), past success producing high-purity materials, and a working command of safety protocols for the relevant precursors and reagents.

Phase II executes the production scale-up and deliveries listed above.

Phase III turns the production line into a commercial business unit supplying certified polymer to primes and Tier 1 and Tier 2 composite manufacturers, potentially with further scaling, broader vendor qualification for high-speed aeroshells, and long-term supply agreements.

Funding and Proposal Limits

• Direct to Phase II award maximum: $2,000,000. Proposals above this amount will not be considered for evaluation or award.
• Award maximum duration: 24 months.
• Technical Volume (Volume 2) limit: 35 pages or slides.
• No Phase I awards will be made under this topic.
• TABA: DAF will provide up to $50,000 per Phase II award in addition to the topic amount, and you may split it 50/50 across a first and a sequential Phase II. The detailed request must be in Volume 5.

Who Is Eligible

• You must be a U.S. small business concern that meets SBIR ownership and size rules at the time of award.
• You must document that you already completed Phase I type feasibility work. That work must have been substantially performed by your firm or your principal investigator, and it cannot be based on or logically extend from any prior or ongoing federally funded SBIR or STTR work.
• Firms majority owned by multiple venture capital operating companies, hedge funds, or private equity funds are eligible to propose to DAF topics.
• 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 strong fit for specialty chemical and precursor manufacturers with air-sensitive synthesis experience and pilot-scale equipment, or for ceramic composite suppliers ready to backward-integrate. Firms without existing scale-up data will struggle to clear the feasibility bar.

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 DAF SBIR topic DAF27BZ01-DV009?

It is a Department of the Air Force SBIR Direct to Phase II topic in DoW SBIR 2027 BAA Release 1 to establish U.S. production of an AFRL-patented ultra-high temperature ceramic yielding preceramic polymer for hypersonic and aerospace composites.

How much funding is available?

Up to $2,000,000 over up to 24 months, plus up to $50,000 in TABA per Phase II award if requested.

What production rate is required?

A dedicated capability yielding at least 50 kg per month, more than 600 kg per year, plus delivery of 75 kg of qualified polymer by the end of Phase II.

What feasibility evidence does the Air Force want?

Expertise synthesizing and handling air and water sensitive compounds, demonstrated lab to pilot scale-up such as 5 to 50 kg batches, past high-purity production, and knowledge of the needed safety protocols.

When is the deadline?

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

NASA NIAC Phase I FY2027: Up to $225K for Visionary Aerospace Concepts

Status: Open. Step A due October 28, 2026, 5:00 p.m. ET through NSPIRES (solicitation amended October 15, 2026).

Book a Free Fit Call

NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) funds early-stage feasibility studies of visionary aerospace concepts that could change what NASA, other government agencies, and the commercial space sector are able to do. NIAC is run by NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD). The FY2027 Phase I solicitation (NNH26ZTR001N-27NIAC_A1) offers awards of up to $225,000 for feasibility studies of about nine months, and NASA expects to make 12 to 16 awards.

Deadline: Step A proposals are due October 28, 2026 at 5:00 PM Eastern through NSPIRES. Invited Step B proposals are due January 13, 2027.

Why This Opportunity Matters

Most federal R&D money goes to ideas that already have data behind them. NIAC deliberately funds the opposite: concepts at TRL 2 or lower that are unexplored, highly innovative, and credible enough to study. For startups and small companies, it is one of the few federal programs that pays to test a far-out aerospace idea before a prototype exists. The Step A proposal is short, all categories of U.S. organizations can lead, and a NIAC award builds a NASA track record that supports NIAC Phase II and later NASA SBIR/STTR proposals.

Key Facts at a Glance

• Sponsor: NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD)
• Solicitation: NNH26ZTR001N-27NIAC_A1, NIAC Phase I for FY2027
• Award size: Up to $225,000 per award
• Duration: About 9 months
• Expected awards: 12 to 16
• Who can lead: All categories of U.S. organizations, including small businesses, larger companies, universities, nonprofits, and government labs
• Foreign participation: Non-U.S. organizations may join on a no-exchange-of-funds basis
• Step A due: October 28, 2026, 5:00 PM Eastern, through NSPIRES
• Step B due: January 13, 2027, by invitation only (invitations issued December 8, 2026)
• Awards: Targeted for July 2027
• Contact: hq-niac@mail.nasa.gov

What NIAC Funds

NIAC looks for visionary, yet credible, concepts that address national, government, and commercial aerospace goals. Strong concepts sit at TRL 2 or lower, are framed in a mission or architecture context, and take a radically different approach rather than an incremental one. Concepts can come from any discipline, including:

• Advanced propulsion and power
• In-space manufacturing, assembly, and large structures
• Robotics and autonomous exploration systems
• Human exploration, habitation, and life support
• New approaches to sensing, communications, and science instruments
• Novel mission architectures for the Moon, Mars, and deep space

Is Your Company a Fit?

NIAC Phase I is a strong fit if your company:

• Has a bold aerospace concept that is still early, at TRL 2 or lower
• Can describe the concept as a system, architecture, or mission, not only a single component
• Has a credible technical basis and a team that can run a nine-month feasibility study
• Can lead the proposal through a U.S. organization
• Wants a NASA relationship that can grow into NIAC Phase II, NASA SBIR/STTR, or other STMD funding

NIAC is usually not the right fit for near-term product development, incremental upgrades, or technologies that already have working prototypes. Those projects often fit NASA SBIR/STTR better.

How to Apply

1. Attend the proposers' forum. NASA is hosting a virtual NIAC Phase I forum on October 7, 2026.
2. Submit a Step A proposal. Submit a short concept proposal through NSPIRES by October 28, 2026, at 5:00 PM Eastern. Step A is a 1-page overview chart and a 3-page technical section, with no budget or team. Per Amendment 1 (October 15, 2026), it must also include a top-level list of your Phase I objectives. Step A screens for innovation, potential impact, and credibility.
3. Prepare a Step B proposal if invited. NASA issues Step B invitations on December 8, 2026, and full proposals are due January 13, 2027.
4. Selection and award. NASA targets awards in July 2027.

How BW&CO Helps

BW&CO has helped deep-tech, aerospace, and space tech founders secure $350M+ in non-dilutive funding, including NASA awards. We help you frame a visionary concept so reviewers see it as credible, write a sharp Step A, and connect a NIAC study to NIAC Phase II, NASA SBIR/STTR, and other federal funding.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is NASA NIAC?

NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) is a program in NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate that funds early-stage feasibility studies of visionary aerospace concepts that could transform future NASA, government, and commercial missions.

How much funding does NIAC Phase I provide?

NIAC Phase I awards are up to $225,000 each for a feasibility study of about nine months. NASA expects to make 12 to 16 awards in the FY2027 cycle.

What is the NIAC Phase I deadline?

Step A proposals are due October 28, 2026, at 5:00 PM Eastern through NSPIRES. Proposers invited to Step B must submit full proposals by January 13, 2027.

Can companies apply for NIAC?

Yes. All categories of U.S. organizations may lead a NIAC proposal, including small businesses, larger companies, universities, nonprofits, and government labs. Non-U.S. organizations may participate on a no-exchange-of-funds basis.

What technology readiness level does NIAC require?

NIAC funds concepts at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 2 or lower. Projects that already have working prototypes or are close to product development usually fit NASA SBIR/STTR better.

How does the NIAC two-step process work?

Proposers first submit a short Step A concept proposal. NASA reviews Step A submissions and invites the strongest concepts to submit a full Step B proposal, which is the basis for selection.

What comes after a NIAC Phase I award?

Phase I awardees can compete for NIAC Phase II funding to mature their concepts further, and the results often support later NASA SBIR/STTR and other NASA proposals.

AFRL Rocket Lab HERMES Broad Agency Announcement (HERMES BAA) FA9300-20-S-0001: Executive Summary for Startups

Executive Summary

The HERMES BAA (FA9300-20-S-0001) is the Air Force Research Laboratory Rocket Propulsion Division's open, two-step broad agency announcement. It has a 20-year open period, and white papers "may be submitted anytime during the open period." AFRL also issues specific calls under it with their own due dates. The current call, for a Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine-Combined Cycle flight demonstration, closes for white papers on November 16, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. Pacific.

The BAA is written for propulsion, but its topics go well beyond engine builders. They explicitly include advanced materials and manufacturing processes, modeling and simulation tools, embedded sensors and diagnostics, thermal management, engine health management, test and manufacturing facilities, and launch ground equipment. A five-page white paper is reviewed on three questions: does it fit a listed topic, is the research of interest to the Government, and is funding available.

Think your company qualifies? Talk with BW&CO before you submit your first white paper.

Book a Free Fit Call

Solicitation at a Glance

• Agency: Air Force Research Laboratory, Aerospace Systems Directorate, Rocket Propulsion Division (Edwards AFB, CA); contracting through Air Force Test Center
• Opportunity: AFRL Rocket Lab HERMES BAA, open two-step BAA
• Solicitation Number: FA9300-20-S-0001
• Award Vehicle: Contracts, purchase orders, grants, cooperative agreements or other transactions, depending on the work
• Funding: No program total published. Individual awards "are not anticipated to exceed $250M per contract," and anticipated funding includes future-year funding not yet appropriated
• Period of Performance: 6 to 60 months, tailored to each award
• Technology Maturity: Study efforts on novel concepts through maturation "to appropriate technology readiness levels"
• Due date: Rolling. Calls set their own due dates (RDRE-CC call: November 16, 2026, 4:00 p.m. PST)

What Is the HERMES BAA?

HERMES is how AFRL's Rocket Lab buys propulsion research. It works in two ways. Under the open white paper process, a company can send a white paper at any time against a listed technology topic. If AFRL is interested and has funding, it sends a letter request for proposal. Under the call process, AFRL publishes a specific requirement with a common due date, evaluation criteria and its own instructions.

The latest posted version of the BAA is dated May 22, 2025, and AFRL says it may republish the BAA "at a minimum of yearly intervals." Check SAM.gov for the current version and any amendments before you submit.

What Problem Is AFRL Trying to Solve?

AFRL wants propulsion that costs less to build, launches faster and performs better for missiles, space access and aircraft. The turbine section states the goal directly: technologies that "reduce development, production, and maintenance costs; increase fuel efficiency; increase propulsive capability; and integrate propulsion, power, and thermal management." The liquid engine section focuses on resiliency and rapid launch. The solid rocket motor section emphasizes transition to users and system-level verification.

Priority Capability Areas: What AFRL Is Looking For

• Solid rocket motors (AFRL/RQRM): Advanced components and manufacturing processes for motor cases, insulation, nozzles, thrust vector control, igniters and other energetic components, and automated assembly; modeling and simulation of manufacturing and motor physics; development and testing of motors for air-launched missiles and boosters.
• Liquid rocket engines (AFRL/RQRE): Disruptive engine cycles and components (combustion chambers, injectors, nozzles, turbomachinery, valves, fluid delivery), plume phenomenology, embedded sensors, data recording and modeling tools.
• Modularity: Modular engines and propulsion systems that improve scalability, testability and life-cycle cost.
• Advanced materials and manufacturing: Materials and processes for liquid engines and components that reduce complexity, unpredictability and mass.
• Rapid launch and austere locations: Responsive launch concepts, reusability and launch-to-space-vehicle integration.
• Vehicle technologies: Stages, feed systems, flight controls and telemetry, health monitoring, payload adapters, cargo processing facilities and ground service equipment, supported by digital engineering.
• Rotating detonation engines and combustors: Thrust chambers, injectors, combustor and nozzle materials, gas generators, and compact high-speed sensor diagnostics.
• Air-breathing turbine propulsion (AFRL/RQT): Engine components, shared engine and aircraft thermal management, inlets and exhausts, open-architecture electronic controls, engine health management, and digital engineering.

Funding and Award Information

AFRL anticipates multiple awards of varying size and duration. The BAA states that individual awards "are not anticipated to exceed $250M per contract." That is a ceiling on a single award, not money set aside for this BAA. No award is made until funds are available, and calls may state their own number of anticipated awards.

AFRL's stated data rights preference is unlimited rights for technical data and noncommercial software developed under the BAA. Companies bringing privately funded technology should explain in the white paper what was developed at private expense and how it is segregable.

Eligibility Requirements

• Open competition: The BAA is unrestricted, and small businesses are encouraged to propose. The size standard for NAICS 541715 is listed as 1,250 employees in the solicitation text (the capability statement form cites 1,000).
• U.S. firms only: "Foreign persons or foreign-owned firms are precluded from proposing and participating on subsequent awards."
• DD Form 2345 required: All offerors must register with DLA's Joint Certification Program and submit a copy of the approved DD Form 2345 with the white paper. JCP requires SAM registration and a CAGE code, and DLA also requires a NIST SP 800-171 assessment posted to SPRS.
• Security: Some areas and calls may require access to classified information, and a DD Form 254 is considered before any award. The RDRE-CC call requires CUI and Secret-level safeguarding.
• FFRDCs: Allowed only after sponsor and AFRL determinations described in the BAA.

How to Apply

• Pick one topic. The title page must name the technology area from the BAA's list. Fit to that topic is the first review question.
• Write five pages. The white paper is limited to five double-spaced pages (title page excluded) and must cover: Period of Performance and Task Objectives; Technical Summary and Proposed Deliverables; and Estimated Cost (a time-phased rough order of magnitude for the major tasks).
• Attach the DD 2345. Include the approved DD Form 2345 with the submission. It does not count toward the page limit.
• Email it. Send it to the White Paper Focal Point, AFTC.PZRA.BAAs@us.af.mil, and copy the contracting officer listed on the current SAM.gov notice.
• Consider the Capability Repository. You can submit a one-page, non-proprietary capability statement that AFRL posts with the BAA to encourage teaming and subcontracting. It is public and does not affect award decisions.
• Talk to the program first. The BAA encourages dialogue with Government points of contact until full proposals are submitted. Technical questions go to the TPOC listed in the BAA.

What Happens After You Submit?

• Receipt: The contracting office confirms receipt of each white paper.
• Review: AFRL asks whether the approach fits the cited topic, whether the research is of interest, and whether funding is available.
• Letter RFP: If selected, you receive a letter request for proposal describing the technical, cost and other content required, including a non-proprietary Statement of Work.
• Retention: White papers not selected are kept for up to two years.
• Calls: Proposals under a call are rated Highly Recommended, Selectable or Not Selectable, and the Government may fund a Selectable proposal ahead of a Highly Recommended one if its approach is unique.

Is This Opportunity a Good Fit for Your Company?

HERMES fits U.S. companies whose technology improves how rocket motors, rocket engines or turbine engines are designed, built, tested or controlled. That includes engine developers, and it also includes companies in additive manufacturing, high-temperature materials and composites, metallurgy, modeling and simulation, sensors and diagnostics, thermal management, controls and health monitoring, and launch ground systems. The current Capability Repository already lists companies in several of those categories.

It is a weaker fit if your technology has no link to propulsion or launch, if you are foreign-owned, or if you cannot accept AFRL's data rights expectations for Government-funded work. If you lack a DD Form 2345, start that first. If a specific call requires safeguarding you do not have, the better route is usually as a subcontractor to a team that does, or through a DoD SBIR or STTR topic from the same office.

How BW&CO Can Help

BW&CO has helped deep-tech and dual-use founders secure more than $350M in non-dilutive funding. For open BAAs like HERMES, we help you:

• Map your technology to the right HERMES topic and AFRL branch
• Prepare for technical conversations with the program before you write
• Write a five-page white paper that answers AFRL's three review questions
• Build the rough order of magnitude cost and data rights position
• Get DD Form 2345 and other registrations in place, and find teaming partners for calls with security requirements

Plan Your HERMES White Paper

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the HERMES BAA open right now?

Yes. It is an open BAA with a 20-year open period, and white papers can be submitted anytime. AFRL republishes it periodically, so check SAM.gov for the current version.

Do I need to wait for a call?

No. The open white paper process runs alongside calls. Calls cover specific requirements and have their own deadlines, like the RDRE-CC flight demonstration call due November 16, 2026.

How much funding is available?

The BAA does not publish a total. Individual awards are not anticipated to exceed $250M per contract, and awards depend on available funds.

What award types can AFRL use?

Contracts, purchase orders, grants, cooperative agreements or other transactions, depending on the work proposed.

Do I need a DD Form 2345?

Yes. All offerors must certify through DLA's Joint Certification Program and submit the approved DD Form 2345 with their white paper.

Can a non-U.S. company apply?

No. Foreign persons and foreign-owned firms are precluded from proposing and from participating on resulting awards.

My company does not build engines. Can we still apply?

Yes, if your work fits a listed topic. The BAA names materials and manufacturing processes, modeling and simulation tools, embedded sensors, diagnostics, thermal management, controls, health management and ground equipment.

How long is the white paper?

Five double-spaced pages plus a title page. Calls can set different limits; the RDRE-CC call allows 10 pages plus a 5-page technical appendix.

What data rights does AFRL expect?

Unlimited rights are the stated preference for technical data and noncommercial software developed with Government funds. Explain any privately developed technology clearly in your white paper.

Can BW&CO help with a HERMES submission?

Yes. We help founders choose the right topic, prepare for program conversations and write white papers that fit AFRL's review criteria. Book a call with our team.

Source: AFRL Rocket Lab HERMES BAA, FA9300-20-S-0001 (SAM.gov)

DIU Low Cost ISR (LC-ISR) Prize Challenge: Executive Summary for Startups

Executive Summary

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has opened the Low Cost ISR (LC-ISR) prize challenge for mature unmanned aircraft that deliver intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) at low total lifecycle cost. DIU wants medium-endurance and long-endurance systems carrying EO/IR, SAR or SIGINT payloads that can launch and recover from expeditionary or austere sites. Submissions are due by 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time on October 14, 2026.

The challenge rewards affordable scale. DIU states that it may favor lower-cost solutions that provide sufficient mission capability at greater scale over higher-performing solutions whose cost limits the quantity that can be fielded. Companies that succeed in the fly-offs receive cash prizes and become eligible for prototype agreements and follow-on work.

Solicitation at a Glance

• Agency: Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), Department of War
• Opportunity: Low Cost ISR (LC-ISR) Prize Challenge
• Project ID: PROJ00711
• Authority: 10 U.S.C. § 4025 (prize competitions), with potential follow-on under 10 U.S.C. §§ 4022 and 4023
• Funding: $100M total prize and initial follow-on pool; up to $250M additionally budgeted for development, production and theater integration
• Technology Maturity: Mature, flying systems (DIU: "mature solutions, not concepts")
• Submissions Due: October 14, 2026, 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time

Think your company or platform team qualifies? Talk with BW&CO before the October 14 deadline.

Book a Free Fit Call

What Is the LC-ISR Prize Challenge?

LC-ISR is a DIU prize competition. Companies submit a pitch deck, DIU selects participants for pitches, and selected companies fly their systems in government fly-offs. The challenge is designed to find ISR aircraft the joint force can buy in quantity, so cost, sustainment and production readiness are evaluated alongside sensor and flight performance.

Because the challenge runs under 10 U.S.C. § 4025, DIU states that submissions constitute a competitive procedure for purposes of potential follow-on actions. That means DIU may use the results to award prototype agreements or other follow-on actions without running a separate competition. Other Department of War components may also use the results.

What Problem Is DIU Trying to Solve?

The joint force needs persistent ISR in places where large, expensive aircraft and long runways are not practical. DIU is looking for systems that can deploy by expeditionary means, set up quickly, operate with small crews and keep collecting in contested conditions, at a cost low enough to field in meaningful numbers.

Priority Capability Areas: What DIU Is Looking For

• Two endurance classes: Medium endurance (3 to 12+ hours) and long endurance (12 to 24+ hours).
• Multi-intelligence payloads: EO/IR, SAR and SIGINT.
• Expeditionary operations: Launch and recovery from austere sites, transport by truck, military helicopter, ISO or MIL containers or pallets, and launch within three hours of offload.
• Low lifecycle cost: Platform, sensors, personnel, operations and sustainment.
• Open, integrable architecture: A third-party C2 integration technical data package (interface documentation and SDK/API), a Modular Open Systems Approach supporting future integration with Project AVO (Autonomous Vehicle Orchestrator), and the ability to pass sensor data over government-directed radios and waveforms.
• Contested operations: Beyond-line-of-sight operation (SATCOM and RF-contested considerations are viewed favorably) and reliable navigation in GNSS-degraded or denied environments.
• Minimal manpower: Small crews for launch, recovery, maintenance, logistics and operations, plus autonomy that reduces operator workload.

DIU's evaluation areas include sensor performance, flight performance, expeditionary capability, cost, payload modularity, architecture design, autonomy, command and control in contested environments, reliability and maintainability, environmental suitability, manufacturing readiness and future business models. DIU also wants to explore ISR as a Service and contractor-owned/contractor-operated (COCO) or government-owned/contractor-operated (GOCO) models.

Prize Structure and Funding

• Fly-Off 1 (early Q2 FY27): $250,000 cash prize to each participant who demonstrates successfully.
• Fly-Off 2 (Q3 FY27): $50,000 cash prize to each participant who demonstrates successfully.
• Follow-on eligibility: Successful participants become eligible for further prizes or agreements.
• $100M pool: The $100M figure is a combined prize and initial follow-on pool. DIU has not published how it splits between prizes and follow-on work.
• Additional budget: The government has budgeted up to $250M more for further development, system improvement, scaled production and sustained theater integration, based on government needs and program execution.
• Subject to change: Prize amounts, structure, continuation criteria and the number of awards remain subject to government refinement.

Eligibility and Participation

• Companies may submit independently or as part of a team, partnership or joint venture.
• DIU is interested in both U.S. and non-U.S. capabilities. Participants are subject to a security screening before the fly-off.
• Participants provide the aircraft, payloads and operational teams, and are responsible for travel, transportation and logistics costs identified in later guidance.
• SAM.gov registration and a CAGE code are required to receive a prototype agreement. Start early if you do not have them.
• Section 889 compliance is required. Non-compliance may prevent an award.
• Small businesses and nontraditional defense contractors are encouraged to participate.

How to Apply

• Submit a pitch deck through the DIU submission form on the project page: a horizontal 16:9 PDF, 15 slides maximum, 10 MB maximum.
• Propose one platform per submission, for either endurance category and either fly-off, or one platform addressing multiple categories and fly-offs. Multiple submissions are allowed.
• Separate demonstrated capability from developmental capability, with supporting evidence.
• Make the cost case. Include a rough order of magnitude (ROM) cost, indicative pricing for individual systems, expected unit-cost reductions at higher production quantities and evidence that you can reach low-rate production quickly.
• Keep it CUI or below. Submissions may include Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) but nothing higher.

What Happens After You Submit?

• November 2026: DIU notifies companies selected to pitch.
• November to December 2026: Pitches.
• By December 17, 2026: Fly-off selection notifications.
• Early Q2 FY27 and Q3 FY27: Fly-Off 1 and Fly-Off 2. Location to be announced.
• After the fly-offs: DIU may award prototype agreements or other follow-on actions without further competition, based on the results.

All dates after the submission deadline are tentative.

Is This Opportunity a Good Fit for Your Company?

LC-ISR is a strong fit for companies that already fly a medium- or long-endurance aircraft and can price it for volume production. It also creates a real route for companies that do not build airframes. Sensor makers (EO/IR, SAR, SIGINT), autonomy and C2 software companies, communications and navigation providers, and launch and recovery suppliers can join a platform team, because DIU explicitly evaluates payload modularity, third-party C2 integration, open architecture and contested navigation.

If you are still at the concept or lab-prototype stage, this challenge is likely too early. DoD SBIR/STTR or a DIU Commercial Solutions Opening may be a better first step, with LC-ISR follow-on iterations as a later target.

How BW&CO Can Help

BW&CO has helped deep-tech and dual-use founders secure more than $350M in non-dilutive funding. For DIU prize challenges like LC-ISR, we help you:

• Confirm fit against DIU's maturity, cost and expeditionary requirements
• Build a 15-slide pitch deck that separates demonstrated and developmental capability and makes the pricing and production case
• Identify platform or subsystem teaming partners and structure the team's submission
• Prepare for the pitch, the fly-off and prototype agreement negotiation
• Map adjacent pathways such as DoD SBIR/STTR, DIU CSOs and other OT routes if LC-ISR is not the right fit

Plan Your LC-ISR Submission

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DIU LC-ISR prize challenge?

LC-ISR (Low Cost ISR) is a DIU prize competition, Project PROJ00711, seeking mature medium- and long-endurance unmanned aircraft that deliver multi-intelligence ISR at low lifecycle cost for expeditionary operations.

When are submissions due?

Submissions are due by October 14, 2026, at 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time.

How much funding is available?

DIU describes a total prize and initial follow-on pool of $100 million, plus up to $250 million budgeted for further development, production and theater integration. Cash prizes are $250,000 per successful participant at Fly-Off 1 and $50,000 at Fly-Off 2, subject to government refinement.

Does my company need to own an aircraft?

Every submission must include a mature, flying platform, and participants provide the aircraft, payloads and operational teams. Companies that make payloads, autonomy, C2 or communications can participate as part of a team, partnership or joint venture.

What should the submission include?

A 16:9 PDF pitch deck of up to 15 slides and 10 MB, separating demonstrated from developmental capability, with a ROM cost, indicative unit pricing, unit-cost reductions at volume and evidence of low-rate production readiness.

Can non-U.S. companies participate?

Yes. DIU is interested in U.S. and non-U.S. capabilities, subject to a security screening before the fly-off.

What happens after the fly-offs?

DIU may use the results to award prototype agreements or other follow-on actions without further competition, under 10 U.S.C. § 4025.

Who pays for the fly-off?

Participants are responsible for their own aircraft, crews, travel, transportation and logistics costs identified in later guidance.

Can BW&CO help with an LC-ISR submission?

Yes. BW&CO helps companies confirm fit, build the pitch deck and pricing case, structure teams and prepare for the pitch and fly-off. Book a call with our team.

Source: DIU, Low Cost ISR (LC-ISR), PROJ00711, released September 29, 2026

TRISH Catalyst Grants Program: NASA-Funded Space Health Awards for Companies and Researchers

The Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH) funds disruptive, high-impact technologies and studies that protect astronaut health. TRISH is led by Baylor College of Medicine's Center for Space Medicine and funded through a NASA cooperative agreement with the NASA Human Research Program (HRP). The Catalyst Grants Program supports proof-of-concept projects and directed technology development. Tier 1 awards reach up to $150,000 over 12 months, and Tier 2 awards are $150,000 or more for larger projects.

Deadline: Rolling. Preliminary proposals are reviewed quarterly, and TRISH is accepting submissions through December 2026.

Why This Opportunity Matters

Many medtech problems in spaceflight mirror problems on Earth: remote monitoring, point-of-care diagnostics, blood clot prevention, behavioral health, and care with no specialist nearby. TRISH lets medtech and healthtech companies fund that work with NASA money, without the SBIR calendar. The two-page first step is light, U.S. companies are eligible, and a TRISH award builds a NASA track record that supports later NASA SBIR/STTR and HRP proposals.

Key Facts at a Glance

• Sponsor: TRISH at Baylor College of Medicine, funded by NASA's Human Research Program
• Tier 1: Under $150,000 total, up to 12 months
• Tier 2: $150,000 or more total, up to 18 months
• Budget rules: All direct and indirect costs count toward the total; minimum 10% cost share (cash or in-kind)
• Who can apply: U.S. institutions and companies with a documented base of ongoing R&D
• Submission: Rolling, with quarterly Step-1 reviews, through December 2026
• Notification: About 3 to 4 months after a Step-2 full proposal
• Contact: spacehealth-info@bcm.edu

What TRISH Funds

Catalyst projects must address critical human system risks on the NASA HRP roadmap, represent a unique, high-impact idea, and fall outside other open TRISH solicitations. Recent example topics include:

Ground-Based Research

• Countermeasures for internal jugular venous flow reversal
• Decompression sickness prevention
• Managing behavioral emergencies in remote environments
• Early detection of behavioral health decline

Flight Research

• Continuous characterization of venous flow during spaceflight
• Comparing venous thromboembolism countermeasures
• Evaluating post-flight motor control recovery

Is Your Company a Fit?

TRISH Catalyst is a strong fit if your company:

• Builds wearables, remote monitoring, point-of-care diagnostics, vascular, neuro, or behavioral health technology
• Can show how the technology reduces a specific spaceflight health risk
• Has ongoing R&D and preliminary data
• Can commit at least 10% cost share
• Wants a NASA relationship that extends into Earth-based clinical markets

How to Apply

1. Map to an HRP risk. Tie your technology to a named human system risk on the NASA Human Research Roadmap.
2. Submit a Step-1 preliminary proposal. Two pages maximum covering specific aims, deliverables, an implementation roadmap, TRISH alignment, and spaceflight health benefits. No institutional sign-off is required.
3. Prepare a Step-2 full proposal if invited. Tier 1 allows an 8-page project description and Tier 2 allows 15 pages, plus NASA SciENcv biosketches, Current and Pending Support, budget justification, a 2-page data management plan, and research security training certification.
4. Merit review. Reviewers score innovation, significance to NASA risk reduction, approach, and team, then assess budget, timeline, and data management.
5. Award. Decisions come about 3 to 4 months after Step-2, and start dates may shift with NASA budget availability.

How BW&CO Helps

BW&CO has helped deep-tech, medtech, and aerospace founders secure $350M+ in non-dilutive funding, including NASA awards. We help you frame your technology around NASA HRP risks, write a sharp two-page Step-1, and connect a TRISH award to NASA SBIR/STTR and Earth-based commercialization.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TRISH Catalyst Grants Program?

It is a NASA-funded program run by the Translational Research Institute for Space Health at Baylor College of Medicine that funds proof-of-concept projects and technology development addressing astronaut health risks.

Can companies apply for TRISH Catalyst grants?

Yes. U.S. institutions and companies are eligible if they have a documented base of ongoing research and development in science, healthcare, or technology.

How much funding does TRISH Catalyst provide?

Tier 1 awards are under $150,000 for up to 12 months. Tier 2 awards are $150,000 or more for up to 18 months. All direct and indirect costs count toward the total.

Is cost share required?

Yes. TRISH requires a minimum 10% cost share, which can be cash or in-kind.

What is the TRISH Catalyst deadline?

Submissions are rolling with quarterly Step-1 reviews, and TRISH is accepting applications through December 2026.

What does the Step-1 preliminary proposal require?

A two-page document covering specific aims, deliverables, an implementation roadmap, alignment with TRISH, and spaceflight health benefits. No institutional sign-off is needed.

How long does a TRISH award decision take?

Award notification is expected about 3 to 4 months after the Step-2 full proposal is submitted.

FAA Aviation Research BAA 692M15-25-R-00004: Executive Summary for Startups

Executive Summary

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aviation Research Broad Agency Announcement, solicitation number 692M15-25-R-00004, is a long-running open call for applied and basic research that advances aviation safety. It is sponsored by the Aviation Research Division at the William J. Hughes Technical Center for Advanced Aerospace in Atlantic City, New Jersey. White papers are accepted on a rolling basis, and the BAA remains open through December 4, 2034 unless it is terminated sooner or a topic is removed. Amendment 012, issued September 29, 2026, adds four new topics covering cybersecurity for autonomous airport ground vehicles, pilot decision-making training, nationwide pilot training data, and a pilot operational decision-making aid. There are now 15 active topics, with published project budgets ranging from about $100,000 per year to as much as $1.2 million per project.

Solicitation at a Glance

Solicitation number: 692M15-25-R-00004 (Amendment 012)

Full title: Broad Agency Announcement, Aviation Research 2025

Agency: Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, William J. Hughes Technical Center for Advanced Aerospace (Atlantic City, New Jersey)

Opportunity type: Broad Agency Announcement issued under the FAA Acquisition Management System (49 USC 106(l) and (m))

Latest amendment: Amendment 012, September 29, 2026

White papers due: Rolling, through December 4, 2034 or until a topic is removed

Response time: The FAA aims to respond within 60 calendar days of receiving a white paper

Funding: Roughly $100,000 to $1.2 million per project depending on topic; several topics set the budget based on the work proposed

Period of performance: Typically 12 to 36 months; no topic accepts efforts longer than 3 years

Award types: Purchase orders, contracts, agreements, or Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs); Firm Fixed-Price awards are preferred for initial phases

Set-aside: None. Open to industry, small businesses, universities, HBCUs, minority-serving institutions, and research organizations

NAICS code: 5417, Scientific Research and Development Services

Submission method: Email to the topic's Technical Point of Contact, with 9-ACT-AAQ-600-BAA@faa.gov copied

What Is the FAA Aviation Research Division?

The Aviation Research Division at the William J. Hughes Technical Center conducts applied research and development with industry, academia, and government to solve current and future air transportation challenges. It runs five program branches: Fire Safety, Airport Technology R&D, Software and Systems, Structures and Propulsion, and Separation Standards Analysis. Research results feed directly into FAA Advisory Circulars, certification guidance, design and evaluation software such as FAARFIELD and BAKFAA, and training material for the FAA workforce.

This BAA is the standing channel for outside organizations to bring research ideas to the FAA. It is open for ten years from December 5, 2024, and the FAA adds and removes topics through amendments. The FAA may also issue "Calls" on SAM.gov when it has a more urgent need in a specific topic area.

How This BAA Differs From SBIR and STTR

Many startups first encounter federal R&D through SBIR and STTR. This BAA works differently, and understanding the differences helps you plan.

• It is not a small business program. There is no set-aside, so startups are evaluated alongside universities, large companies, and research institutions.
• There are no phases. There is no Phase I or Phase II structure. Each topic publishes its own estimated budget and period of performance.
• It is a two-step process. You submit a white paper first. If the FAA is interested and funding is available, it requests a full proposal.
• Proposals are judged on their own merits. The FAA does not rank proposals against others in the same research area.
• Awards are often Other Transaction Agreements. The FAA has historically used OTAs for this BAA, which can offer more flexible terms than traditional contracts.

The 15 Topics of Interest: What the FAA Is Looking For

Every white paper must name the specific topic number and title it responds to. Topics marked as new were added in Amendment 012.

Airport Pavements (ARAP)

ARAP0010: Rational Overload Criteria for Airport Pavements in the ACR/PCR Method. Develop engineering-based criteria for occasional overloads on flexible and rigid pavements, drawing on full-scale test data from the National Airport Pavement Test Facility, suitable for the PCR module of FAARFIELD. Up to 3 years; ROM not to exceed $200,000 per project, per fiscal year.

ARAP0012: Engineering Analysis of Field Monitoring and Instrumentation Data. Improve pavement design, construction, and management using data from instrumented operational airports, including AI/ML, pavement instrumentation, signal processing, materials characterization, and remote data collection. Budget and duration set by proposal; multiple white papers welcome.

ARAP0013: Enhancement of Airport Pavement Layer Backcalculation Software (BAKFAA). Build faster, more accurate models for characterizing asphalt and concrete from Heavy and Falling Weight Deflectometer data, including machine learning or advanced search methods that run in real time or near real time. Up to 3 years; ROM not to exceed $200,000 per project, per fiscal year.

ARAP0014: Advancing Pavement Condition Assessment Practices for Airport Pavements. Compare emerging inspection methods with the ASTM D5340 standard on coverage, accuracy, repeatability, resource needs, and compatibility with pavement management programs. Non-proprietary approaches only. About $250,000 per project, per fiscal year; 12 to 36 months.

ARAP0015: Advancing Concrete Strength Evaluation for Airport Pavement Design and Construction. Explore alternatives or supplements to flexural beam testing, methods for estimating cracking-related properties, and continuous strength measurement for decisions such as early opening. Non-proprietary approaches only. $100,000 to $300,000 per project, per fiscal year; 12 to 36 months.

Airport Safety (ARAS)

ARAS0014: Cybersecurity Concerns with Autonomous Ground Vehicle Systems (AGVS) in the Airport Environment. (New) Applied research on identifying vulnerable system components, validating operational AGVS, preventing and detecting cyberattacks, and safely recovering from a successful attack. Covers self-driving tugs, jet bridges, baggage carts, shuttles, mowers, and perimeter inspection vehicles, plus their command and control systems and field devices. Up to 12 months.

Structures and Materials (ARSM)

ARSM0001: Structural Integrity of Metallic Components. Identify data sources, capabilities, and methods that support FAA risk assessment for metallic structures on transport category airplanes under the Monitor Safety/Analyze Data (MSAD) process in FAA Order 8110.107B. Budget and duration set by proposal.

Structures and Propulsion (ARSP)

ARSP0001: Nickel Anomaly Fatigue Testing. Low-cycle fatigue testing of premium wrought nickel alloy specimens containing subsurface melt anomalies such as "dirty white spots," with baseline testing, fractography, metallography, and a teaming plan with engine manufacturer experts. About 24 months; ROM approximately $350,000.

ARSP0002: Hydrogen Aviation Safety Research. Four research areas: hydrogen leak detection, hydrogen dispersion modeling and simulation, hydrogen risk assessment and mitigation, and integration of hydrogen-powered aircraft into the National Airspace System. Interdisciplinary teams are encouraged. Up to 36 months; ROM not to exceed $650,000 per award.

Software and Systems (ARSS)

ARSS0003: Integrated Flight and Propulsion Control for Rotorcraft. Data to support airworthiness criteria for multi-rotor, powered-lift, and eVTOL vehicles, covering stability, control bandwidth, performance, failure modes, system integration, and automation that backs up the pilot. Up to 3 years; budget set by proposal.

ARSS0008: Complex Digital Systems. Assurance and verification methods for AI/ML and autonomy in safety-critical airborne systems, including formal methods, assurance cases, explainability, diverse specifications, and large language models for classifying latent risk. Up to 3 years; ROM not to exceed $400,000 per project, per fiscal year.

ARSS0009: Future of Oversight. New concepts for performance-based and Safety Management System (SMS) based oversight, future oversight workforce needs, measures of oversight effectiveness, and lessons from other regulated industries. Up to 3 years; budget set by proposal.

ARSS0010: A Training Framework for Reducing Pilot Decision-Making Errors. (New) Academic and simulator-based training modules that expose pilots to realistic decision-making errors and teach mitigations, built for Part 121 carriers and extendable to Parts 135, 91K, and 61. About 24 months; ROM up to $910,000.

ARSS0011: Improving Airline Safety Using Nationwide Pilot Training Data. (New) A voluntary, privacy-conscious framework for collecting de-identified flight simulator training data, with standardized data structures, governance, objective performance metrics, and cross-airline benchmarking. About 36 months.

ARSS0012: Pilot Operational Decision Making Aid. (New) Research and test a structured tool that gathers information scattered across flight manuals and handbooks to support pilot decisions in complex situations, with testing on B-737 and A330 simulators. Responses that rely heavily on AI will be viewed less favorably. About 24 months; ROM up to $1.2 million.

Funding Allowance: What Startups Should Expect

Funding is set topic by topic. Some topics publish a firm ceiling, some publish an approximate figure, and some leave the budget entirely to the proposal. In practice:

• Your ROM must match the topic. The white paper's Rough Order of Magnitude cost should be consistent with any dollar value the topic lists and with the scope you propose.
• Many topics are funded annually. Several pavement and software topics cap funding per fiscal year, and continuation after each milestone is at the FAA's discretion.
• Partial awards are possible. The FAA may negotiate an award for only part of a proposal if funding is limited.
• Firm Fixed-Price is preferred for initial phases, and the FAA may change the award type during negotiation.
• Cost sharing is allowed on a cost reimbursement basis with no fee, if your accounting system can support it.

Timeline and Key Dates

December 5, 2024: BAA opened for white papers.

September 29, 2026: Amendment 012 added ARAS0014, ARSS0010, ARSS0011, and ARSS0012.

Anytime: White papers may be submitted on a rolling basis, or in response to a specific Call posted on SAM.gov.

Within about 60 days of submission: The FAA aims to respond, and may request a technical and cost proposal.

December 4, 2034: The BAA expires unless terminated sooner. Awards may still be made after expiration if the white paper was received before that date.

Because topics can be removed by amendment at any time, earlier submissions carry less risk.

How to Apply

Step 1: Contact the Contracting Officer

The FAA strongly encourages applicants to email 9-ACT-AAQ-600-BAA@faa.gov with "Question for the CO" in the subject line before writing, to confirm interest in the proposed effort and whether funding is available. Technical questions go to the topic's Technical Point of Contact (TPOC), and discussions with the TPOC about your white paper are permitted.

Step 2: Submit a White Paper

A white paper is required before any proposal. Offerors who submit a proposal without first submitting a white paper may not be eligible for award.

• Maximum of 5 pages, single sided, single spaced, Times New Roman 12 point, in Word or PDF
• The ROM cost estimate does not count toward the 5 pages
• State the topic number and title in the document and in the email subject line
• Email to the topic TPOC with 9-ACT-AAQ-600-BAA@faa.gov on the cc line

Each white paper must cover the purpose of the research, the research method and how its validity will be demonstrated, the expertise of each team member and any aviation industry partners or endorsements, the current state of development, a proposed timeline, testing and evaluation procedures, and a good faith ROM cost including any fee.

Step 3: Submit a Full Proposal (By Invitation)

If invited, you will receive a Request for Proposal with specific instructions. Proposals are submitted as three separate files, sent only to 9-ACT-AAQ-600-BAA@faa.gov without copying the TPOC:

• Cover letter on company letterhead with the topic, UEI, business type, place and period of performance, estimated cost, proposed award type, and an authorized signature
• Volume I, Technical: up to 25 pages covering background, objectives, feasibility, methodology, technical uncertainties, program management, key personnel resumes (up to 3 pages each, not counted), conflicts of interest, subcontracting, past performance, and intellectual property
• Volume II, Price/Cost: up to 10 pages with costs broken down by task and cost element, plus a funding profile

Proposals should remain valid for at least 180 days.

How Proposals Are Evaluated

Proposals go through peer review and technical feasibility assessment. They are judged on their own merit and relevance, not ranked against other proposals in the same area. The FAA considers:

• Scientific and technical merit: The overall quality and soundness of the proposed research.
• Mission relevance: Potential contribution to the FAA Aviation Research mission.
• Team competency: The experience and capability of the people doing the work.
• Project plan: An effective plan for completing the project.
• Risk: Technical and implementation risk.

Cost is not scored, but the FAA analyzes it for completeness, reasonableness, realism, magnitude, and affordability, including the cost impact of any intellectual property restrictions you assert.

Registration Requirements

Offerors cannot receive an award without an active SAM.gov registration, and Certifications and Representations must be completed there. The cover letter also requires your SAM Unique Entity ID. Registration can take several weeks, so startups without an active registration should begin now. Foreign-owned companies must submit disclosure information for an eligibility review.

A Note on Intellectual Property

Proposals must include a representation of ownership or licensing rights for all intellectual property used, and a list of any technical data or software to be delivered with restricted rights. If you do not submit that list, the FAA assumes it has unlimited rights. Awardees must deliver all technical data and software developed under the award, including source code. Startups should decide early what they will protect and mark it correctly.

Is This BAA a Good Fit for Your Startup?

This BAA tends to fit startups and research teams with a clear technical approach to a real FAA safety or certification problem. Strong candidates include companies working on:

• Airport pavement engineering, sensors, instrumentation, and materials testing
• Cybersecurity for autonomous vehicles and connected ground systems
• Hydrogen sensors, fuel systems, dispersion modeling, and hydrogen infrastructure
• Advanced air mobility, eVTOL, and powered-lift flight controls
• AI/ML assurance, formal methods, and safety-critical software
• Aviation human factors, pilot training, flight simulation, and safety data analytics
• Aerospace metallurgy, fatigue testing, and structural integrity

It is a weaker fit for companies whose main goal is validating a proprietary product, since several topics exclude that, and for companies that need a large, guaranteed award on a fixed timeline.

Strategic Tips for Startup Applicants

• Ask the Contracting Officer first. A short inquiry about interest and funding can save weeks of effort on a topic with no budget.
• Mirror the topic language. Use the topic's terminology and connect your work to the specific FAA guidance, software, or standard it is meant to improve.
• Lead with quality, not length. The FAA states that quality matters far more than quantity, and weak white papers may be declined without further review.
• Show industry support. White papers must describe aviation industry interest, endorsements, or partners, so line up letters or teaming partners early.
• Keep the ROM realistic. Match the topic's published range and tie costs to tasks and milestones.
• Watch for new Calls and amendments. Topics are added and removed regularly, and Calls can signal urgent FAA priorities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the FAA Aviation Research BAA 2025?

It is the FAA's Broad Agency Announcement 692M15-25-R-00004, an open call from the William J. Hughes Technical Center for applied and basic research that advances aviation safety across airport pavements, airport safety, structures and materials, propulsion, hydrogen safety, and software and systems.

What is the deadline for the FAA Aviation Research BAA?

White papers are accepted on a rolling basis. The BAA is open through December 4, 2034, unless it is terminated sooner or a specific topic is removed by amendment.

How much funding is available?

Funding varies by topic. Published estimates range from about $100,000 per project per fiscal year for pavement topics to as much as $1.2 million per project for the Pilot Operational Decision Making Aid topic. Several topics set the budget based on the work proposed.

What topics were added in Amendment 012?

Amendment 012, issued September 29, 2026, added ARAS0014 Cybersecurity Concerns with Autonomous Ground Vehicle Systems in the Airport Environment, ARSS0010 A Training Framework for Reducing Pilot Decision-Making Errors, ARSS0011 Improving Airline Safety Using Nationwide Pilot Training Data, and ARSS0012 Pilot Operational Decision Making Aid.

Can startups and small businesses apply?

Yes. The BAA has no set-aside and is open to industry, small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses, universities, HBCUs, minority-serving institutions, and research organizations. Teaming arrangements are welcome.

Is the FAA Aviation Research BAA an SBIR or STTR program?

No. It is a Broad Agency Announcement issued under the FAA Acquisition Management System. It has no phase structure and no small business eligibility requirement, and awards are often made as Other Transaction Agreements.

How long can a white paper be?

White papers may not exceed 5 pages, single sided, single spaced, in Times New Roman 12 point font. The Rough Order of Magnitude cost estimate does not count toward the page limit.

How do I submit a white paper?

Email the white paper to the Technical Point of Contact listed for your topic and copy 9-ACT-AAQ-600-BAA@faa.gov, with the topic number and title in the subject line. The FAA recommends first emailing the same mailbox with "Question for the CO" in the subject line to confirm interest and funding.

How long does it take to hear back?

The FAA aims to respond within 60 calendar days of receiving a white paper, but may take longer. It may respond by requesting a technical and cost proposal.

How are proposals evaluated?

Proposals are peer reviewed on scientific and technical merit, relevance to the FAA Aviation Research mission, team competency and experience, the project completion plan, and technical and implementation risk. Cost is analyzed for reasonableness and affordability rather than scored.

What type of award will the FAA make?

Awards may be purchase orders, contracts, agreements, or Other Transaction Agreements. The FAA has historically used Other Transaction Agreements for this BAA and prefers Firm Fixed-Price awards for initial research phases.

What registrations are required?

You must have an active SAM.gov registration with completed Certifications and Representations to receive an award, and your SAM Unique Entity ID is required in the proposal cover letter.

Get Help With Your FAA White Paper

BW&CO helps deep-tech, aerospace, and dual-use startups pick the right FAA topic, frame the Contracting Officer inquiry, write focused five-page white papers, and build compliant technical and cost proposals, including intellectual property assertions and OTA terms. With more than $350M in non-dilutive funding secured for our clients, we make innovation funding simple.

With rolling submissions and topics that can be removed at any time, the best time to start is now. Book a free strategy call to see if your technology fits.

ERDC Broad Agency Announcement (W912HZ26S0001): The Complete Guide for Startups and Small Businesses

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Quick Answer

The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) Broad Agency Announcement, solicitation number W912HZ26S0001, is a continuously open funding pathway that lets startups, small businesses, universities, and nonprofits propose basic and applied research across seven ERDC laboratories. It covers a wide range of technical areas including AI and machine learning, cybersecurity, high performance computing, advanced manufacturing, sensing and instrumentation, autonomous systems, materials and structures, infrastructure, environmental technologies, and geospatial technologies. There is no fixed submission deadline and no set per-award dollar ceiling. You start with a short five-page pre-proposal, and ERDC responds within 60 days on whether to invite a full proposal. Awards can take the form of a procurement contract, a grant, or a cooperative agreement.

What is the ERDC Broad Agency Announcement?

The ERDC Broad Agency Announcement is a standing solicitation issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Engineer Research and Development Center under the authority of FAR 35.016. A Broad Agency Announcement, or BAA, is a mechanism the government uses to solicit proposals for basic and applied research, and for that part of development not tied to a specific system or hardware procurement. In plain terms, ERDC is inviting outside organizations to bring forward research ideas that advance the state of the art or increase scientific and technical knowledge in the areas ERDC cares about.

To be eligible for award, your proposed work needs to fall into one of these categories: basic research, applied research, advanced technology development not tied to a specific system or hardware, or demonstration and validation. Work aimed at building a specific product or piece of hardware for direct government use generally does not fit the BAA and would belong on a different acquisition pathway.

This is a science and research vehicle, not a services or product procurement, and understanding that distinction is the single most important thing to get right before you invest time in a submission.

Who is the ERDC BAA for?

ERDC explicitly encourages small business participation. The solicitation specifically invites small business concerns, women-owned small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses, HUBZone small businesses, firms in the SBA 8(a) program, and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses to submit research proposals. It also encourages proposals from Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Institutions.

In practice the applicant pool skews roughly half universities and half small businesses. Some research areas lean toward earlier-stage work that naturally draws academic teams, but there is substantial room for commercial small businesses, especially those with genuine research and development depth and a technology that maps cleanly to an ERDC mission area.

Federal facilities and organizations cannot compete. Federally Funded Research and Development Centers and other government entities face direct competition limitations and must clear a high bar to be eligible, with the burden of proving eligibility resting entirely on them.

If your company is doing real R&D in a field ERDC works in, you are very likely in the intended audience.

What research areas does the ERDC BAA cover?

ERDC organizes its research interests across seven laboratories, each with its own set of numbered topic areas. When you submit, you reference the specific topic number, for example CHL-1, CRREL-10, or CERL-15.

Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory (CHL) covers coastal and inland hydraulics, hydrodynamics, sediment transport, dredging, navigation channels, groundwater, hydrology, coastal structures, nature-based coastal resilience, and marine transportation technologies.

Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory (GSL) covers soil and rock mechanics, pavements, vehicle mobility, earthquake engineering, geophysics, protective and survivable structures, concrete and construction materials, projectile penetration, bridge and railroad technology, computational structural mechanics, and advanced maneuver technologies.

Environmental Laboratory (EL) covers environmental sensing, hazardous waste characterization and treatment, water quality and contaminant modeling, emerging contaminants, dredged material management, wetlands and ecological restoration, invasive and endangered species management, systems biology and bioinformatics, ecological modeling, and decision analysis.

Information Technology Laboratory (ITL) covers computational science and engineering, software engineering and informatics, high performance computing, cybersecurity, high performance data analytics, additive manufacturing enabled by HPC, artificial intelligence and machine learning for materials discovery, and edge computing.

Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL) covers additive construction, critical infrastructure protection, innovative construction materials, energy efficiency and energy security, water resilience, autonomous robotic solutions for engineer operations, geopolymers, fiber reinforced polymers, structural health monitoring, and installation infrastructure management.

Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) covers signature physics, terrestrial and cryospheric science, biogeochemical processes, environmental fate and transport, force projection and sustainment, cold regions infrastructure, geospatial water resources applications, and hydrology and hydraulics.

Geospatial Research Laboratory (GRL) covers photon-counting LIDAR, photogrammetry, intelligent spatiotemporal analytics, assured position, navigation and timing in GPS-denied environments, advanced terrain analytics, and cyber geospatial science.

Across all seven labs there are well over one hundred specific topic areas, so the practical first step is identifying which single topic your technology best fits.

How much funding can you get through the ERDC BAA?

The ERDC BAA does not publish a fixed per-award dollar ceiling. This is a meaningful difference from SBIR and STTR, which cap awards at set phase amounts. Under the BAA, the size of an award is scoped to the proposed effort and is constrained by the funding ERDC has available for that research area at the time.

There are two dollar thresholds worth knowing. First, for proposed awards exceeding $900,000, large businesses and nonprofits (including educational institutions) must submit a formal small business subcontracting plan. Small businesses are exempt from that requirement. Second, when the proposed value exceeds $100,000, an SF-LLL disclosure of lobbying activities is required.

The type of award affects fee. Procurement contracts can include a proposed fee or profit. Grants and cooperative agreements do not allow any fee or profit. Cost realism and the availability of funds are part of how proposals are evaluated, so your budget needs to be detailed, defensible, and proportionate to the work.

What is the ERDC BAA timeline and deadline?

There is no single deadline. This BAA is open on a rolling basis and remains in effect until it is superseded by a newer edition. The current edition is dated April 2026 and supersedes all previous editions. You can submit a pre-proposal at any time.

After you submit a pre-proposal, ERDC will respond within 60 days of receipt. The response either encourages you to submit a full proposal or advises you that the pre-proposal did not receive a favorable review. Pre-proposals that lack sufficient scientific merit, that are not relevant to Army needs, or that fall in areas where funds are not expected to be available may be declined.

If you are proposing support for a conference or symposium rather than research, that proposal should be submitted at least six months before the event.

The rolling nature is an advantage. You are not racing a fixed clock, and you can time your submission around your own readiness and around informal conversations with ERDC about fit.

How do you apply to the ERDC BAA?

The process has two stages: a pre-proposal first, then a full proposal by invitation only.

Before you submit anything, your organization must be registered and active in the System for Award Management at sam.gov. This is a prerequisite, and it can take time, so start it early if you are not already registered.

Stage one is the pre-proposal, which ERDC treats as a white paper. Every initial submission under this BAA is considered a pre-proposal. You submit it electronically through the ERDCWERX portal at erdcwerx.org. ERDC reviews it and, if the concept is promising, invites a full proposal.

Stage two is the full proposal, which you only prepare after receiving an invitation directly from the ERDC Contracting Office. Full proposals are submitted by email to the specific laboratory your topic falls under, using the contact and address provided in your invitation. Proposals should never be sent directly to technical or lab personnel.

What goes in an ERDC BAA pre-proposal?

The pre-proposal has a firm five-page limit, and it may only be submitted under one specific topic area. It must reference the topic number for that research area. The pre-proposal should include a descriptive title, the submitting organization's name and address including email, the principal investigator's name and phone number, the project duration, a statement of objectives or the working hypothesis, one or more paragraphs on the technical approach, one or more paragraphs on the potential military or civil payoffs to the Corps of Engineers, and a one-page curriculum vitae for the principal investigator.

Separately, you include a one-page executive summary that describes the background, scope of work, deliverables, and total proposed price. No cost breakdown is required in this summary, and the summary must not contain any sensitive or proprietary data. Importantly, this one-page executive summary does not count against the five-page limit.

If you intend to seek a grant or cooperative agreement rather than a contract, you also describe how the research supports or stimulates a public purpose.

What goes in an ERDC BAA full proposal?

A full proposal has a technical portion and a cost portion.

The technical portion covers the background and objectives, the technical approach, the proposed level of effort, and the anticipated results and deliverables. It includes a recommended Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan, biographical information and recent publications for key personnel, the names of any other agencies you have submitted the same proposal to, a description of your organization, and past performance information for at least three customers you have performed similar work for in the last three years. You also include a revised one-page executive summary. If you are pursuing a grant or cooperative agreement, you add a data management plan.

The cost portion is a detailed cost estimate broken out by element of cost and by task. It covers direct labor by discipline, fringe benefits, itemized equipment, expendable supplies, travel, subcontracts, other direct costs, and indirect cost rates and bases. Proposals should also address expected use of DoD High Performance Computing Center systems where relevant.

How are ERDC BAA proposals evaluated?

Pre-proposals get an initial technical review against three factors: the overall scientific and technical merit, the potential contribution to the ERDC mission, and available funding.

Full proposals go through scientific peer review against a broader set of criteria. Scientific and technical merit is the most important factor. The remaining factors are of equal importance to one another and, when combined, are significantly more important than cost. Those factors are the contribution to the ERDC and DoD mission, the offeror's capabilities and facilities, the qualifications of the principal investigator and key personnel, the reasonableness and realism of proposed costs along with the availability of funds, past performance, and a subcontracting plan where one is required.

A useful takeaway: this is a merit-driven, science-first evaluation, not a lowest-price competition. A strong technical concept from a credible team carries the most weight.

What types of awards can result from the ERDC BAA?

The BAA lets you propose one of three instruments, though the final instrument can change through negotiation based on the nature of the work.

A procurement contract is used when the principal purpose is to acquire research services for the direct benefit of the government. Contracts can be cost-reimbursable, which suits research where direction may shift as results come in, or fixed-price, which suits well-defined efforts with predictable costs. Contracts can include a fee.

A grant is used when the principal purpose is to transfer value to support or stimulate a public purpose, with no substantial government involvement expected and no fee or profit allowed.

A cooperative agreement is similar to a grant but anticipates substantial involvement between the government and the recipient, and it also allows no fee or profit.

How is the ERDC BAA different from SBIR and STTR?

If you have looked at SBIR or STTR, the ERDC BAA will feel both familiar and different. Both are non-dilutive federal funding, but the BAA is continuously open rather than tied to solicitation cycles, it has no phase-based dollar caps, and it is evaluated as basic and applied research rather than as a commercialization-staged program. It rewards genuine research depth and a clear tie to an ERDC mission area. For many deep-tech companies, the two pathways are complementary, and the right move is to map your technology against both.

How BW&CO helps you pursue the ERDC BAA

BW&CO works with deep-tech, defense, and dual-use founders to identify the right non-dilutive funding pathways and to build competitive submissions. For the ERDC BAA that means pinpointing the single best-fit topic area across the seven laboratories, pressure-testing whether your work reads as fundable research rather than product development, shaping the pre-proposal and executive summary, and preparing you for the full proposal stage if you are invited. If the ERDC BAA looks like a potential fit for your technology, contact BW&CO to talk through it.

FAQ SECTION WITH SCHEMA

Is the ERDC BAA open to small businesses and startups?
Yes. ERDC explicitly encourages small businesses, women-owned small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses, HUBZone firms, 8(a) participants, and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses to submit research proposals. The applicant pool is roughly half small businesses and half universities.

Is there a deadline for the ERDC BAA?
No. The BAA is continuously open and remains in effect until superseded. The current edition is dated April 2026. You can submit a pre-proposal at any time, and ERDC responds within 60 days.

How much money can you receive through the ERDC BAA?
There is no published per-award dollar ceiling. Award size is scoped to the proposed research effort and depends on available funding. Awards above $900,000 require a subcontracting plan from large businesses and nonprofits, while small businesses are exempt.

What is the ERDC BAA solicitation number?
The solicitation number is W912HZ26S0001.

How do you apply to the ERDC BAA?
You must be registered and active in SAM at sam.gov, then submit a five-page pre-proposal electronically through erdcwerx.org under one specific topic area. If ERDC invites you, you submit a full proposal to the relevant laboratory by email.

How long can an ERDC BAA pre-proposal be?
The pre-proposal is limited to five pages under a single topic area, plus a separate one-page executive summary that does not count against the five-page limit.

What types of awards can the ERDC BAA result in?
A procurement contract, a grant, or a cooperative agreement. Grants and cooperative agreements do not allow fee or profit, while procurement contracts can include a fee.

How are ERDC BAA proposals scored?
Scientific and technical merit is the most important factor, followed by mission contribution, offeror capabilities, personnel qualifications, cost realism and fund availability, and past performance. All non-cost factors combined outweigh cost.

ERDC BOTAA 25-01: The Army's Continuously Open Prototype Funding Path for Deep-Tech Startups

Status: Open (updated October 18, 2026). On October 15, 2026, SAM.gov set a December 31, 2026 response date for W912HZ25BOTAA. The BOTAA and ERDCWERX still say the announcement is continuously open. Plan for December 31.

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Quick Answer

ERDC BOTAA 25-01 is a Broad Other Transaction Authority Announcement issued in October 2024 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC). It uses Other Transaction (OT) authority under 10 U.S.C. 4022 to fund prototype projects in two broad domains: Military Engineering and Engineered Resilient Systems. It is continuously open, meaning there is no fixed deadline. Companies submit a short white paper (three pages or less) against any focus area through ERDCWERX, and the government typically responds with a selection decision within 60 to 90 days. Selected companies may be invited to pitch, demonstrate, or submit a full proposal through a Request for Prototype Proposal. There is no published dollar ceiling, and successful prototypes can lead directly to a noncompetitive follow-on production award. This mechanism is especially attractive to nontraditional defense contractors and small businesses, because it sits outside the Federal Acquisition Regulation and moves faster than a traditional contract.

What Is ERDC BOTAA 25-01?

ERDC BOTAA 25-01 is the current Broad Other Transaction Authority Announcement from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Engineer Research and Development Center. ERDC is the Army's premier engineering and environmental sciences research organization and is an integral component of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. The BOTAA is the standing vehicle ERDC uses to solicit prototype concept white papers from industry and academia, review them, and fund the ones that address a real government capability gap.

Unlike a traditional grant or contract solicitation with a hard due date, this announcement is open on a rolling basis. A company can submit whenever it has a concept that fits, and the government evaluates each white paper on its own merit against the criteria in the announcement, not against other submissions. All white papers are submitted electronically through ERDCWERX, the innovation hub that administers the announcement, at the ERDC BOTAA page on erdcwerx.org.

What Is a BOTAA and Why Does It Matter for Startups?

A BOTAA is a Broad Other Transaction Authority Announcement. It relies on Other Transaction authority, a flexible acquisition tool Congress gave the Department of Defense under 10 U.S.C. 4022 specifically to fund prototype projects. The key thing for a startup to understand is that Other Transactions are generally not subject to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) or its supplements. That means the terms are negotiated between the company and the government rather than dictated by the full weight of federal procurement law, which usually translates into a faster and more collaborative path than a standard contract.

Other Transactions were designed to bring in companies that do not normally work with the Department of Defense. The technology can be a proof of concept, a model or process, a novel application of commercial technology for defense purposes, an agile development effort, or a demonstration of operational utility. If your company is building something with a plausible defense application in engineering, computing, sensing, materials, or infrastructure, a BOTAA is often the lowest-friction way to get in front of a government customer.

What Is ERDC Looking For? The Two Focus Areas in Detail

ERDC BOTAA 25-01 solicits prototype concepts across two business areas. Each contains several focus areas, and a company may submit against any of them.

Military Engineering (ME)

The Military Engineering business area is about giving the warfighter technologies and capabilities that enable force protection and maneuver. It contains ten focus areas:

Protective Structures and Systems. Technologies, materials, and processes that reduce manpower, logistics, or equipment hours while improving the survivability of individuals, small units, fighting positions, semi-fixed assets, outposts, and contingency bases. This includes planning tools and tactics that speed up force protection setup, reuse, and retrograde, as well as capabilities for overwatch, perimeter, port, and border security, surveillance, and warning.

Protection and Survivability. Unit-level and system-level technologies that detect, disable, survive, or defeat enemy weapon systems and characterize the threat they pose. This covers infrastructure hardening and retrofit, camouflage, reducing detectability and vulnerability, recoverability, and protection of personnel, critical assets, and facilities against conventional, unconventional, and advanced threats.

Geophysical Sensors and Data Fusion. Sensors, sensor systems, and unmanned systems that detect, assess, and persistently monitor threats and critical infrastructure across urban, subterranean, and complex terrain. The goal is automated fusion that builds an in-depth Common Operating Picture for surface and subsurface movement, maneuver, and force protection planning.

Vulnerability Assessment, Detection, and Analytics. Technology and processes that support strategic, operational, and tactical analysis of anti-terrorism and force protection posture, and of population and infrastructure disruption from combat, humanitarian, and disaster situations. Prototypes support assessment of mission assurance, population vulnerability, and resilience.

Geoscience, Environmental, Geospatial, and Material Modeling and Simulation. Computational methods and materials-by-design capabilities that predict system performance, environmental impact on sensors, structural response to weapons effects, and level of protection. This includes simulating detection of above-ground, below-ground, and maritime avenues of approach.

Enhance and Assess Mobility of Manned and Unmanned Systems. Technologies that accelerate platform development, integrate autonomous systems, and improve mobility across complex terrain. This covers obstacle and gap crossing, vehicle and soil interaction, mobility hazard detection, and modeling and simulation tools that predict ground vehicle and watercraft performance in varied weather and terrain.

Engineering and Engineering Enabling Technologies. A broad category covering combat engineering, mobility and counter-mobility, explosive effects, breaching, materials, manufacturing and process technologies, modeling and simulation, virtual prototyping, operational energy, autonomous systems, prime power, and engineer-related environmental technologies.

Global Access Engineering. Technologies, materials, and planning tools for technical reconnaissance, construction, maintenance, repair, and upgrade of infrastructure critical to force projection and theater access. This includes remote sensing and field methods for assessing soils, ice and snow, pavements, matting, terrain, bathymetry, river currents, port depths, airfields, roads, rail, and bridges.

Infrastructure Maintenance, Repair, and Reconstruction Technologies. Materials and equipment that rapidly assess, repair, and reconstruct pavements, bridges, railways, ports, and airfields. Prototypes include physics-based tools for measuring layer thickness and strength, rail and pier capacity, and bridge structural capacity, plus new repair equipment and field kits.

Engineering Analysis Tools and Decision Aid Prototype Software. Software that integrates advanced engineering algorithms for evaluating, designing, repairing, and operating critical infrastructure in support of force projection and maneuver planning.

Engineered Resilient Systems (ERS)

The Engineered Resilient Systems business area combines advanced engineering with high-performance computing to amplify the design options examined early in the acquisition process. It contains seven focus areas:

Cybersecurity. Techniques, software, hardware, and tools that protect critical infrastructure and advanced manufacturing control systems, including industrial control systems, SCADA systems, programmable logic controllers, and networks, against adaptive cyber adversaries. ERDC is interested in networked, host-based, and behavior-based approaches that deliver holistic defense and cyber situational awareness.

High Performance Computing Enabled Advanced Manufacturing. Tools and systems that support advanced manufacturing, including 3-D printing, and that bring HPC resources to the point of manufacture. Areas of interest include multi-physics and multi-scale approaches, optimization, trade-space analytics, uncertainty quantification, data-driven and machine learning methods, virtual testing, AI-enabled certification, and the ability to design, fabricate, and test large-scale components more than a meter in length for uses such as armor, aerospace and marine substructures, blast and ballistic protection, and rotorcraft components.

High Performance Data Analytics. Techniques and tools that examine data sets too large or complex for traditional processing to uncover hidden patterns, correlations, and multidimensional trends, using HPC, heterogeneous computing, and next-generation algorithms.

System Engineering Techniques. Advanced system engineering methods that address acquisition and readiness challenges through design trade-space development, analysis of many candidate designs, and condition-based maintenance driven by sensor and maintenance data, often using artificial intelligence and machine learning at massive data volume.

HPC Enabled Development of Surrogate Models and Data Analytics. Computationally efficient and accurate surrogate models for full-order systems, with application areas including blast effects, flight envelope simulation, turbulent rotor dynamics, fluid-structure-thermal interaction, and physics-informed machine learning.

Leveraging HPC Capabilities for On-the-Edge Computing. Tools that deliver high-performance computing at the point of need to improve soldier situational awareness, including electro-optical, thermal, radar, and acoustic sensor data processing, terrain characterization and mapping, sensor fusion, anomaly detection, and local maneuver planning.

Computational Material Testing and Validation. Computational processes for testing and validating components produced through advanced manufacturing, connecting standard manufacturing procedures to engineering mechanics simulation and reducing uncertainty in additively manufactured parts.

Who Is Eligible to Apply?

ERDC awards Other Transactions to nontraditional defense contractors, traditional defense contractors, and nonprofit research institutions. To actually receive an award, at least one of the following conditions must be met:

There is at least one nontraditional defense contractor or nonprofit research institution participating to a significant extent in the prototype project, or

All significant participants in the transaction other than the federal government are small businesses or nontraditional defense contractors, or

At least one-third of the total cost of the prototype project is paid out of funds provided by parties other than the federal government.

A nontraditional defense contractor is an entity that has not performed, for at least the one-year period preceding the announcement, any DoD contract or subcontract subject to full coverage under the Cost Accounting Standards. Most commercial technology companies and venture-backed startups qualify as nontraditional, which is exactly why this vehicle fits them so well. A nontraditional partner can sit at the prime level, as a team member, as a subcontractor, or as a lower-tier vendor, as long as it is a key participant supplying a meaningful technology, doing a significant share of the work, or materially improving cost, schedule, or performance.

Prospective awardees must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) before award, so companies that are not yet registered should start that process early. Work under any resulting agreement is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), and each offeror is responsible for compliance.

How Much Funding Is Available?

This is one of the most important differences between a BOTAA and a program like SBIR. There is no published dollar ceiling for ERDC BOTAA 25-01. Funding is scoped to the prototype concept itself.

At the white paper stage, a company provides a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) price, which is an estimate of what the prototype would cost, along with any anticipated cost share. The government evaluates whether that ROM is commensurate with the proposed solution. If the concept advances to a full proposal, pricing is submitted on a firm fixed price basis and structured as a milestone payment schedule, where each milestone has a description, a price, and a target completion date. Payments are tied to completed events rather than reimbursed as incurred costs.

Cost share is directly connected to eligibility. If your project qualifies through significant nontraditional or small business participation, cost share is generally not required. If you instead rely on the third eligibility path, at least one-third of total project cost must come from non-federal sources. Cost share can be cash or in-kind, where in-kind means non-financial resources such as wear and tear on capital equipment, the prorated value of facility space, or the fair market value of materials used on the project.

The government does not reimburse the cost of preparing white papers or proposals, and no costs incurred before the effective date of an agreement are recoverable.

What Is the Timeline and How Does the Process Work?

Because the announcement is continuously open, the timeline is driven by review cycles rather than a due date. The process runs as follows:

First, the company submits a white paper against any focus area through ERDCWERX. The white paper is the technical concept and rough pricing, limited to three pages plus a cover page.

Second, the government reviews the white paper against the evaluation criteria in the announcement. White papers judged advantageous are selected for further consideration.

Third, the company is notified of selection or non-selection, typically within 60 to 90 days of submission.

Fourth, if a white paper is selected and funding is available, the government may request a solution pitch or technical demonstration and may issue a Request for Prototype Proposal (RFPP). If a white paper is selected but funding is not currently available, the government may keep it in an electronic library for consideration and possible funding for up to three years after submission.

Fifth, once an RFPP is issued, the company collaborates with the government to develop the Statement of Work, then submits a full proposal within the time stated in the RFPP.

Sixth, the government evaluates the proposal, negotiates as needed, and makes an award once terms and conditions are agreed upon.

A significant advantage sits at the end of this path. Under 10 U.S.C. 4022(f), a company that successfully completes a prototype Other Transaction can receive a follow-on production award on a noncompetitive basis. In other words, a well-executed prototype can open the door to production work without having to re-compete.

What Does the White Paper Require?

The white paper is short and focused. It runs no more than three pages, not counting the cover page, and includes the following.

A cover page, generated from the submission form, capturing the point of contact, the submitting business and its Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code, business status (nontraditional, traditional, or nonprofit research institution), the focus areas addressed, a project title, a prototype description, the DoD purpose, and the ROM price.

Technical requirements, covering the background and benefits of the proposed solution, the technical approach with a clearly defined prototype, and anticipated data rights assertions if applicable.

A Rough Order of Magnitude price, including anticipated cost share if applicable and any supporting documentation.

Formatting requirements are specific. Pages are 8.5 by 11 inches, numbered X of Y. Margins are at least one inch on all sides. The font is 12 point Times New Roman, single spaced. All acronyms are spelled out on first use. The language is English. The file must be a PDF compatible with Adobe Acrobat Reader 11.0 and under 20 MB. Classified information must not be included, and generic capability brochures are not accepted in place of a white paper.

How Are White Papers Evaluated?

White papers are assessed on an integrated basis against four considerations: the degree to which the solution meets a government problem, need, or capability gap within an identified focus area; whether the ROM price is commensurate with the proposed solution; government funding availability; and whether the submission sufficiently demonstrates one of the eligibility conditions, meaning significant nontraditional participation, significant nonprofit research institution participation, an all small business or nontraditional participant pool, or at least one-third non-federal cost share.

If the project advances to a full proposal, evaluation broadens to scientific and technical merit, the qualifications of the program manager and key personnel, the significance of any nontraditional or nonprofit participation, and whether the budget is realistic, reasonable, and fully justified.

Why This Opportunity Deserves Attention

The BOTAA is one of the most accessible defense funding mechanisms available to a company that is not already embedded in the defense industrial base, and it is not widely tracked by commercially focused firms. Recent activity suggests the odds are reasonable for a well-targeted concept. Based on figures reflecting the current fiscal year, an estimated 20 to 25 of roughly 200 submissions advanced to the proposal stage or received funding, which points to an advancement rate above 10 percent. That is broadly comparable to what strong applicants see in competitive SBIR programs, and it is achieved with a much shorter initial submission.

The breadth of the focus areas is the other reason to pay attention. Companies working in cybersecurity, high-performance computing and data analytics, advanced and additive manufacturing, edge computing, modeling and simulation, autonomous systems, sensors, advanced materials, and infrastructure technologies all have a natural home under Military Engineering or Engineered Resilient Systems. If your technology has any of those characteristics and a plausible defense application, the three-page white paper is a low-cost way to test government interest.

How BW&CO Helps

BW&CO Consulting helps deep-tech, biotech, medtech, and defense-adjacent founders win non-dilutive federal funding, including Other Transaction opportunities like ERDC BOTAA 25-01. We help you determine whether your technology fits a Military Engineering or Engineered Resilient Systems focus area, position the concept against a specific government capability gap, structure eligibility and any cost share, and build a white paper that survives evaluation. If you want to know whether this vehicle is a fit for your company, reach out and we will assess it with you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ERDC BOTAA 25-01?

ERDC BOTAA 25-01 is a Broad Other Transaction Authority Announcement issued in October 2024 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Engineer Research and Development Center. It uses Other Transaction authority under 10 U.S.C. 4022 to fund prototype projects in Military Engineering and Engineered Resilient Systems, and it is continuously open with no fixed deadline.

Who can apply to the ERDC BOTAA?

Nontraditional defense contractors, traditional defense contractors, and nonprofit research institutions can apply. To receive an award, the project must include significant nontraditional or nonprofit participation, consist of only small business and nontraditional participants, or include at least one-third non-federal cost share.

What is the deadline for the ERDC BOTAA?

There is no deadline. The announcement is continuously open, so white papers can be submitted at any time and are evaluated as they arrive.

How much funding can I receive through the BOTAA?

There is no published dollar ceiling. Funding is scoped to the prototype concept. Companies provide a Rough Order of Magnitude price at the white paper stage, and full proposals are priced on a firm fixed price basis with milestone payments.

Is cost share required?

Cost share is not automatically required. If your project qualifies through significant nontraditional or small business participation, you generally do not need cost share. If you qualify through the third eligibility path, at least one-third of total project cost must come from non-federal sources, and that share can be cash or in-kind.

What are the focus areas of ERDC BOTAA 25-01?

There are two business areas. Military Engineering covers protective structures, protection and survivability, geophysical sensors and data fusion, vulnerability analytics, geoscience and material modeling, mobility of manned and unmanned systems, engineering enabling technologies, global access engineering, infrastructure repair, and decision-aid software. Engineered Resilient Systems covers cybersecurity, HPC-enabled advanced manufacturing, high performance data analytics, system engineering techniques, surrogate model development, edge computing, and computational material testing.

What is a nontraditional defense contractor?

A nontraditional defense contractor is an entity that has not performed a DoD contract or subcontract subject to full Cost Accounting Standards coverage for at least the one-year period preceding the announcement. Most commercial and venture-backed technology companies qualify.

What is an Other Transaction?

An Other Transaction is a flexible award instrument authorized under 10 U.S.C. 4022 for prototype projects. Other Transactions are generally not subject to the Federal Acquisition Regulation, which allows terms to be negotiated and typically enables a faster, more collaborative process than a traditional contract.

How long is the white paper?

The white paper is three pages or fewer, not counting the cover page. It must be a PDF under 20 MB, formatted in 12 point Times New Roman, single spaced, with one-inch margins and numbered pages.

How long does the review take?

Companies are typically notified of selection or non-selection within 60 to 90 days of submitting a white paper.

Can a prototype lead to a production contract?

Yes. Under 10 U.S.C. 4022(f), a company that successfully completes a prototype Other Transaction can receive a follow-on production award on a noncompetitive basis.

How do I submit a white paper?

White papers are submitted electronically through ERDCWERX at the Broad Other Transaction Authority Announcement page on erdcwerx.org. Do not include classified information, and do not submit generic capability brochures in place of a white paper.

How is a BOTAA different from SBIR?

A BOTAA has no fixed deadline, no published funding ceiling, and a much shorter initial submission (a three-page white paper rather than a full proposal). It uses Other Transaction authority outside the Federal Acquisition Regulation and can lead directly to noncompetitive production, whereas SBIR follows fixed phases, set award amounts, and periodic solicitation windows.