Autonomous Closed Loop Control Mechanical Ventilation (ACLCMV) | MTEC-26-02-Ventilator

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

Executive Summary:

The Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC), in support of the Defense Health Agency (DHA), is seeking one company to develop and demonstrate the core technologies for an Autonomous Closed Loop Control Mechanical Ventilation (ACLCMV) system. This one-year prototype project focuses on reducing technical risk by developing physiological closed-loop control (PCLC) algorithms, defining the system hardware architecture, and preparing for FDA regulatory activities before a future Engineering & Manufacturing Development (EMD) effort.

This opportunity is intended for FDA Registered Medical Device Companies with in-house ventilator manufacturing capabilities that can rapidly mature an autonomous military ventilator for use in austere and prolonged-care environments.

Enhanced White Paper Deadline: July 15, 2026, Noon Eastern Time.

How much funding would I receive?

The U.S. Government anticipates providing:

• Up to $1.9 million total for this effort.

• One Firm Fixed Price (FFP) award is expected.

• Initial Period of Performance not to exceed 12 months.

The Government may provide additional funding and/or additional time through award modifications for scope increases or follow-on efforts, depending on project results.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding supports research, design, development, and testing activities necessary to mature the ACLCMV concept during a 12-month technical risk reduction effort.

Required work includes:

• Development and demonstration of a Physiological Closed-Loop Control (PCLC) software algorithm.

• Definition of system hardware architecture and component selection.

• Preparation and submission of an FDA Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) application.

• Benchtop testing.

• System demonstration at Fort Detrick, Maryland.

• Program management and technical reporting.

The contractor is expected to deliver:

• System architecture

• PCLC algorithm

• Test and Evaluation Master Plan

• Benchtop validation

• Final technical report

• Monthly technical and financial reports

• Prototype demonstration

• Draft operations and user manuals

• Cybersecurity documentation

• FDA submission package

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Potential benefits include:

• Opportunity for non-competitive follow-on work under the OTA if the prototype effort is successful.

• Potential future production contract or transaction under 10 U.S.C. § 4022(f) following successful prototype completion.

• Potential additional funding or extended scope through award modification.

• Strategic oversight from the Joint Science and Technology Office.

The solicitation also states that competition is satisfied at the prototype stage, meaning additional competition may not be required for later development or production phases.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Milestone Timeline

Solicitation issued June 24, 2026

Proposers Conference July 2, 2026 at 11:00 AM EST

Enhanced White Paper deadline July 15, 2026, Noon Eastern Time

Selection notification Not specified

Expected project start September 2026 (subject to change)

Initial Period of Performance Up to 12 months

The solicitation states Offerors should plan for the project period to begin September 2026 (subject to change).

Where does this funding come from?

This Request for Project Proposals is issued by the Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC) in support of the Defense Health Agency (DHA).

The project is funded through the MTEC Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) for prototype projects with the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC) under 10 U.S.C. § 4022.

Strategic oversight will be provided by the Joint Science and Technology Office.

Who is eligible to apply?

Offerors must:

• Be MTEC Members in good standing.

• Become an MTEC member at least 3 days prior to Enhanced White Paper submission.

• Possess a UEI and CAGE Code.

• Be an FDA Registered Medical Device Company.

• Have in-house ventilator manufacturing capabilities.

Subcontractors are not required to be MTEC members.

Who is not eligible to apply?

The following are not eligible:

• Organizations that are not MTEC Members in good standing.

• Prime Offerors that do not become MTEC members at least three days before submission.

• Organizations that are not FDA Registered Medical Device Companies.

• Organizations without in-house ventilator manufacturing capabilities.

• Proposals that fail to satisfy mandatory Other Transaction Authority statutory requirements described in the Proposal Preparation Guide.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

The Government will evaluate proposals primarily on:

1. Technical Feasibility

2. Experience and Expertise

Competitive proposals will clearly demonstrate:

• Strong alignment with the solicitation objectives.

• Supporting preliminary data.

• A technically feasible approach.

• Ability to execute the work efficiently.

• Commercialization strategy beyond DoD.

• Manufacturing development plan.

• Experienced technical and management teams.

• Realistic project schedule.

• Appropriate budget.

Offerors are expected to explain how they meet or exceed the requirements rather than simply restating them.

How competitive will this solicitation be?

The solicitation is expected to be highly competitive because:

• The Government anticipates making one award.

• Awards will be based on a best value determination.

• Technical merit and organizational experience are evaluated before price.

• Only qualified MTEC members meeting the mandatory eligibility requirements may compete.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Key restrictions include:

• Enhanced White Papers are limited to 10 pages (excluding required appendices).

• Submission must follow the mandatory format.

• Submission must be made through the BIDS portal.

• Only Stage 1 Enhanced White Papers are submitted initially; full Price Proposals are requested only from Offerors recommended for funding.

• The MTEC Assessment Fee is 2% of the funded award value and cannot be charged to the Government award.

• Cost sharing above statutory minimums is not required, but statutory OTA conditions must be satisfied.

• Proposals that fail mandatory requirements may be eliminated during preliminary screening.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

The solicitation uses an accelerated Enhanced White Paper process designed for rapid submissions.

Applicants must prepare:

• A 10-page Enhanced White Paper.

• Warranties and Representations.

• Statement of Work / Milestone Payment Schedule.

• Current and Pending Support.

• Intellectual Property and Data Rights Assertions.

The solicitation does not specify how long applicants should expect to spend preparing an application.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can help your team:

• Determine whether your technology aligns with the solicitation.

• Develop a competitive Enhanced White Paper that addresses the stated evaluation criteria.

• Build a compliant Statement of Work and Milestone Payment Schedule.

• Prepare required submission documents.

• Develop commercialization and transition strategies aligned with Government expectations.

• Position your proposal to clearly demonstrate technical feasibility, execution capability, manufacturing readiness, and commercialization planning.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.

PRimer and prObe Manufacturing PlaTform (PROMPT) MTEC-26-03-PROMPT

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

Executive Summary:

The Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC), in support of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), is seeking proposals to develop a fully automated, man-portable, and ruggedized prototype platform capable of manufacturing clinical-quality nucleic acid primers and probes on demand in expeditionary environments. The goal is to eliminate reliance on centralized manufacturing and cold-chain logistics by enabling military personnel to rapidly produce high-quality PCR reagents in austere settings.

Applications are due by July 24, 2026, Noon Eastern Time. Companies interested in this opportunity should begin preparing immediately because the solicitation uses a competitive three-stage evaluation process beginning with a concise Solution Brief that must demonstrate both strong military relevance and technical merit.

The government is looking for prototype technologies that integrate nucleic acid synthesis, purification, and quality control into a compact system that can safely operate in forward environments with minimal operator training. Proposed solutions should also demonstrate a credible pathway toward military transition and future production.

How much funding would I receive?

Instead, the U.S. Government encourages Offerors to propose budgets that are appropriate for the scope, complexity, and duration of the proposed work. Budgets should include all direct and indirect costs across the full project period and should align with major project deliverables.

MTEC expects to make one or more awards. If no single proposal addresses the complete technical scope, multiple Offerors may be asked to collaborate.

The solicitation also states that, depending on project results, the Government may non-competitively provide additional funding, extend the period of performance, increase project scope, or pursue follow-on efforts through award modifications.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding is intended to support the development of a prototype platform capable of manufacturing clinical-quality nucleic acid primers and probes in forward operational environments. Specifically, proposed projects may include work to:

• Develop a fully automated, man-portable, ruggedized manufacturing platform.

• Integrate PCR primer and probe synthesis with automated purification and first-line quality control.

• Replace traditional hazardous synthesis chemistry with field-stable alternatives.

• Design compact instrumentation optimized for reduced size, weight, and power.

• Develop systems operable by minimally trained personnel.

• Design equipment capable of meeting MIL-STD-810 environmental requirements.

• Improve oligonucleotide production speed, yield, and throughput.

• Develop purification and verification methods comparable to laboratory gold standards such as HPLC and LCMS.

• Demonstrate end-to-end manufacturing workflows that replicate commercial PCR assays.

• Produce prototypes for independent government evaluation.

The government is specifically seeking technologies capable of producing sequence-verified, high-purity oligonucleotides from a digital sequence file within hours while operating without reliance on traditional laboratory infrastructure or cold-chain logistics.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

The solicitation identifies several potential advantages beyond the initial award.

If project performance is successful, the Government may:

• Provide additional funding.

• Increase project scope.

• Extend the period of performance.

• Award one or more non-competitive follow-on efforts.

• Potentially issue a non-competitive follow-on production contract or transaction pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 4022(f).

The solicitation also identifies potential follow-on work that may include:

• Nonclinical studies supporting regulatory applications.

• Quality system development.

• Manufacturing process improvements.

• Manufacturing scale-up.

• Regulatory clearance or approval activities.

• Military environmental and operational assessments.

• Additional ruggedization.

• Advanced technical testing in relevant or simulated operational environments.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

The solicitation follows a three-stage evaluation process.

Request Issue Date
June 24, 2026.

Application Deadline
July 24, 2026, Noon Eastern Time. Solution Briefs must be received by this deadline to be considered. Late submissions may not be accepted.

Stage 1 – Solution Brief
Applicants submit a Solution Brief using the required template. The Government evaluates submissions based on:

• Programmatic and technical relevance

• Personnel and team expertise

Successful Offerors are invited to the next stage.

Stage 2 – Solution Brief Pitch

Selected Offerors present a virtual pitch to Government evaluators. The pitch expands on the proposed technology, development strategy, commercialization or transition approach, partnerships, military relevance, and competitive advantages. Stage 2 proposals are evaluated based on:

• Technical feasibility

• Potential for commercialization and transition (identified elsewhere in the solicitation as scalability and sustainment in the stage summary)

Stage 3 – Selection for Award

Offerors selected for award are invited to submit a detailed Cost Proposal before final award negotiations.

Expected Project Start

The solicitation states that Offerors should plan for the Period of Performance to begin December 2026 (subject to change).

Period of Performance

The Period of Performance may not exceed 24 months.

Where does this funding come from?

This Request for Project Proposals (RPP) is issued by the Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC) in support of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). Strategic oversight will be provided by the Joint Science and Technology Office.

Awards will be made through MTEC's Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) for prototype projects (Number W81XWH-15-9-0001) with the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC). Successful Offerors will receive funding through a Research Project Award (RPA) issued under the member's MTEC Base Agreement.

Who is eligible to apply?

To be eligible, the prime Offeror must:

• Be an MTEC Member in good standing.

• Be an MTEC Member in good standing at least three (3) days prior to proposal submission.

• Submit a proposal in accordance with the solicitation requirements.

The solicitation also states:

• Subcontractors and lower-tier subawardees do not have to be MTEC members.

• Organizations that are not currently members may join MTEC before applying.

Who is not eligible to apply?

The solicitation identifies several situations that make an Offeror ineligible.

These include:

• Prime Offerors that are not MTEC Members in good standing at least three days before proposal submission.

• Proposals that fail to satisfy the statutory requirements governing the use of Other Transaction Authority described in the Proposal Preparation Guide.

• Proposals that fail to comply with mandatory submission requirements or required formatting and are eliminated during preliminary screening.

In addition, organizations represented by certain MTEC Officers and Directors are not eligible to submit proposals because those organizations are not MTEC members.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

The solicitation indicates that successful proposals will clearly demonstrate both military relevance and technical merit. It also outlines the characteristics evaluators will consider throughout the selection process.

Projects are likely to be competitive if they:

• Directly address the unmet military medical need described in the solicitation.

• Present a technically sound and well-supported approach.

• Demonstrate strong preliminary data and technical feasibility.

• Integrate synthesis, purification, and quality control into a compact field-deployable platform.

• Show a clear advantage over existing or emerging solutions.

• Include an experienced technical team with relevant facilities and resources.

• Present a realistic development strategy and military transition pathway.

• Include an effective risk mitigation plan.

• Demonstrate the potential to advance technical maturity during the project period.

• Show a viable commercialization or Government transition strategy where applicable.

The solicitation also states that merely restating requirements is insufficient. Offerors are expected to clearly explain how their proposed solution satisfies the program objectives and technical requirements.

How competitive will this solicitation be?

This solicitation is expected to be competitive because it uses a three-stage evaluation process that progressively narrows the field of applicants. Only Offerors that perform well during the initial Solution Brief evaluation will be invited to present a Solution Brief Pitch, and only selected Offerors will be invited to submit a full Cost Proposal.

The Government will evaluate proposals using multiple technical and programmatic factors throughout the process. During Stage 1, proposals are evaluated equally on:

• Programmatic and Technical Relevance

• Personnel and Team Expertise

During Stage 2, proposals are evaluated equally on:

• Technical Feasibility

• Potential for Commercialization and Transition (identified elsewhere in the solicitation summary as scalability and sustainment)

The solicitation also states that proposals must do more than restate the Government's requirements. Offerors are expected to clearly demonstrate how they will satisfy the technical objectives and reduce performance risk.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Yes. Applicants should be aware of several important administrative and program requirements.

MTEC Membership

Prime Offerors must be MTEC Members in good standing at least three days before proposal submission.

Proposal Format

Solution Briefs must follow the mandatory template and formatting requirements provided in the solicitation. Proposals that fail to meet mandatory formatting requirements may be eliminated during preliminary screening.

Submission Requirements

Solution Briefs must be submitted through the BIDS submission portal before July 24, 2026, Noon Eastern Time. It is the Offeror's responsibility to ensure a complete and timely submission.

Period of Performance

Projects may not exceed 24 months.

Cost Sharing

Cost sharing above the statutory minimum is not required for eligibility. However, proposals must satisfy at least one of the statutory conditions governing the use of Other Transaction Authority as described in the Proposal Preparation Guide. Cost sharing is strongly encouraged.

MTEC Assessment Fee

Recipients of a Research Project Award must pay MTEC an assessment fee equal to 2% of the total funded value of the research project. This fee:

• Must be paid within 90 days after execution of the Research Project Award.

• May not be charged as a direct project cost.

Intellectual Property

The solicitation states that deliverables are anticipated to be provided to the Government with Government Purpose Rights or unlimited data rights unless different rights are asserted in the proposal and accepted by the Government.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

The solicitation does not specify how long applicants should expect to spend preparing a proposal.

However, applicants should plan sufficient time to:

• Confirm or obtain MTEC membership if necessary.

• Prepare the required Solution Brief using the mandatory template.

• Develop a complete project approach and Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) cost estimate.

• Assemble all required supporting documents, including warranties and representations, current and pending support, intellectual property and data rights assertions, and any applicable letters of support.

• Submit all required materials through the BIDS portal before July 24, 2026, Noon Eastern Time.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can help your team develop a competitive application by supporting every stage of the proposal process, including:

• Determining whether your technology aligns with the solicitation objectives.

• Developing a compliant proposal strategy.

• Preparing the required Solution Brief.

• Strengthening the technical narrative, military relevance, commercialization strategy, and transition plan.

• Developing a defensible project budget and Rough Order of Magnitude cost estimate.

• Coordinating teaming partners where appropriate.

• Managing proposal production, compliance reviews, and submission.

Early preparation is especially important because this solicitation uses a multi-stage evaluation process beginning with a concise Solution Brief and has a firm application deadline of July 24, 2026, Noon Eastern Time.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.

DIBC - Defense Manufacturing Readiness Exercise Request for Solutions (RFS) DIBC-RFS-26-02

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

Executive Summary:

The Defense Manufacturing Readiness Exercise (DMRE) is a phased prototype opportunity issued under the Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC) Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) to identify manufacturers and design organizations that could strengthen future U.S. defense production capacity. Rather than asking companies to build complete defense systems, the Government is looking for organizations that can fill specific production roles, demonstrate manufacturing readiness, and provide evidence that they could become qualified, contractable, and usable suppliers for future defense needs.

The exercise focuses on two manufacturing areas:

• Group 3 Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS/UAV)

• Munitions wiring harnesses, connectors, and electrical interconnect assemblies

The Government is encouraging participation from both traditional and nontraditional defense companies, including businesses with little or no previous defense contracting experience. Companies may participate as manufacturers, contract manufacturers, OEMs, suppliers, design owners, system integrators, testing providers, tooling providers, or other organizations that contribute to defense manufacturing readiness.

Unlike a traditional grant program, this opportunity uses a phased evaluation process. Companies first submit high-level capability information. Selected participants may then move into prototype activities, readiness assessments, and potential prototype awards.

Application Deadline: July 20, 2026 23:59 ET

If your company has manufacturing capacity, production expertise, engineering capabilities, or facilities that could support future defense production—even if you have never worked with the Department before—this is an opportunity to get on the Government's radar before future production requirements emerge.

How much funding would I receive?

Instead, it states:

• Initial aggregate funding is approximately $15,000,000 across multiple potential awards and activities.

• Subject to funding availability and Government determination, additional funding up to $100,000,000 may be considered.

• Funding may support:

  • Stage 1 Small Business Readiness Awards

  • Discovery and technical exchanges

  • Prototype awards

  • Teaming and production approach activities

  • Conversion planning

  • Validation activities

  • Milestone-based prototype activities

  • Qualification and acceptance support

  • CRMN-related analysis and readiness assessments

Funding allocations, timing, and the number of awards are not specified and may change throughout the exercise.

Topics of focus:

Topic 1: Group 3 UAS/UAV Design and Manufacturing Production Roles (DIBC-26-02-001)

The Government is seeking companies that can help strengthen the manufacturing ecosystem for Group 3 unmanned aerial systems (UAS/UAVs). Rather than requiring a single company to build an entire aircraft, the focus is on organizations that can perform specific production or design functions within a larger supply chain.

Examples of eligible capabilities include:

• Component manufacturing

• Subsystem manufacturing

• Assembly and contract assembly

• Integration support

• Contract manufacturing

• Distributed manufacturing

• Supplier support and supplier network coordination

• Ground support equipment

• Testing and inspection

• Quality assurance

• Tooling, fixtures, and test equipment

• Producer-to-incumbent teaming

• OEM participation

• System integration

• Air vehicle or subsystem design

• Configuration management

• Manufacturing and producibility engineering

• Technical data ownership or stewardship

The Government wants to understand:

• Which companies and facilities are credible candidates for these production roles.

• What work can realistically be performed in-house versus outsourced.

• What technical, manufacturing, quality, cybersecurity, supplier, and business constraints could affect production.

• What teaming arrangements are realistic.

• What Government support could reduce barriers.

• What it would take to move from existing capability to qualified, contractable, and usable defense production.

• How manufacturing readiness could be maintained after the exercise.

• How the results could support Civil Reserve Manufacturing Network (CRMN) planning.

Topic 2: Munitions Wiring Harness and Connector Production Roles (DIBC-26-02-002)

The Government is also seeking companies that can support the production of munitions wiring harnesses, connectors, electrical interconnect assemblies, and related manufacturing activities.

Companies are not expected to produce an entire munition. Instead, the Government is interested in organizations that can perform specific manufacturing or supplier functions within the production process.

Examples of eligible capabilities include:

• Wiring harness fabrication

• Connector assembly

• Electrical interconnect assembly

• Cable and wire processing

• Inspection and testing

• Quality assurance

• Tooling, fixtures, and test equipment

• Source approval support

• Supplier support

• Contract manufacturing

• Contract assembly

• Distributed manufacturing

• Producer-to-incumbent teaming

• Supplier network coordination

The Government wants to understand:

• Which companies and facilities are capable of supporting wiring harness and connector production.

• What manufacturing activities can be performed internally versus outsourced.

• What technical specifications, qualification requirements, supplier dependencies, cybersecurity requirements, and business conditions could affect production.

• What teaming opportunities are feasible.

• What Government assistance could reduce manufacturing barriers.

• What would be required to become qualified, contractable, and production-ready.

• How manufacturing readiness could be sustained after the exercise.

• How the information could support future Civil Reserve Manufacturing Network (CRMN) planning.

What could I use the funding for?

The Government intends to fund prototype activities that improve defense manufacturing readiness rather than traditional research projects.

Depending on your role in the exercise, funding may support activities such as:

• Manufacturing readiness planning

• Production role development

• Conversion planning

• Teaming development

• Validation activities

• Execution activities

• Readiness assessments

• Qualification and acceptance activities

• Supplier network development

• Manufacturing engineering

• Production approach development

The Statement of Need explains that the Government is seeking evidence that companies can move from potential manufacturing capability to qualified, contractable, and usable defense production capacity.

For the Group 3 UAS/UAV topic, potential production roles include:

• Component production

• Subsystem production

• Assembly

• Integration support

• Contract manufacturing

• Distributed production

• Testing

• Inspection

• Quality support

• Tooling

• Manufacturing engineering

• System integration

• Design ownership

• Technical data stewardship

• Producer-to-incumbent teaming

For the Munitions Wiring Harness topic, examples include:

• Wiring harness fabrication

• Connector assembly

• Electrical interconnect assembly

• Cable processing

• Inspection

• Testing

• Tooling

• Quality support

• Contract manufacturing

• Distributed production

• Supplier-network support

Companies are not expected to manufacture complete end items. The Government specifically states that it is interested in realistic, bounded production roles within larger defense production ecosystems.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond potential prototype funding, the DMRE is designed to help companies establish relationships with the defense industrial base and demonstrate their manufacturing capabilities.

Potential benefits identified in the solicitation include:

• New market opportunities and growth positioning

• Development of new business connections

• Assessment of operational resilience and agility

• Potential access to streamlined funding from the Department

• Participation in capability discovery activities

• Identification of future production role opportunities

• Inclusion in Government planning for manufacturing readiness and the Civil Reserve Manufacturing Network (CRMN)

Companies may also be placed into a Manufacturing Readiness Candidate Pool, allowing the Government to retain visibility into their capabilities for future consideration even if they are not immediately selected for prototype activities.

Placement in the Candidate Pool does not guarantee an award, future funding, or advancement to Stage 2.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

The solicitation provides the following schedule:

Milestone Date

RFS Issue Date June 25, 2026

Questions Due Date July 1, 2026

Submission Due Date July 20, 2026 23:59 ET

After submission:

1. Companies submit the Stage 1 questionnaire.

2. The Government conducts screening.

3. Selected companies may participate in discovery activities.

4. The Government determines whether companies:

   • Advance to Stage 2 Prototype Activities;

   • Receive Small Business Readiness Award consideration;

   • Enter the Manufacturing Readiness Candidate Pool; or

   • Receive No Further Action.

5. Stage 2 participants complete milestone-based prototype activities that may include:

   • Teaming and production approach

   • Conversion planning

   • Validation

   • Execution

   • Readiness assessment

The solicitation states that the Government's goal is to complete the Defense Manufacturing Readiness Exercise within 9 months from RFS issuance, although it reserves the right to extend or cancel the exercise.

The solicitation does not specify when individual award decisions or funding payments will occur. Payment schedules will be established through applicable Project Sub Agreements.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding comes through the Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC) under the authority of 10 U.S.C. § 4022 using an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA).

According to the solicitation, the DMRE supports broader Industrial Base Policy (IBP) objectives by:

• Improving manufacturing readiness

• Strengthening domestic production capability

• Increasing industrial-base resilience

• Expanding awareness of available manufacturing capacity

• Generating decision-grade evidence for future industrial-base planning

• Supporting development of the Civil Readiness Manufacturing Network (CRMN)

The Government states that the exercise is intended to improve understanding of manufacturing capabilities, production constraints, surge capacity, and readiness preservation opportunities that may support future defense production requirements.

Who is eligible to apply?

The Defense Manufacturing Readiness Exercise is open to both traditional and nontraditional performers (as defined by 10 U.S.C. § 3014), including companies with little or no prior defense contracting experience.

The Government is seeking participation from both manufacturing-side and design-side organizations.

Examples of eligible participants include:

Manufacturing-side organizations

• Manufacturers

• Contract manufacturers

• Component suppliers

• Assemblers

• Tooling providers

• Testing and inspection providers

• Manufacturing engineering providers

• Logistics and production-support providers

Design-side organizations

• Design owners

• Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs)

• Current producers

• Technical-data holders

• System integrators

• Organizations possessing production knowledge, supplier relationships, qualification expertise, manufacturing constraints, or production opportunities relevant to the exercise

Companies may submit information for:

• Topic 1 – Group 3 UAS/UAV Design and Bounded Manufacturing Production Roles

• Topic 2 – Munitions Wiring Harness / Connector Bounded Production Roles

• Or both topic areas.

For Stage 1, respondents are not required to be DIBC members, unless otherwise specified.

However, only DIBC members may receive a prototype Project Sub Agreement award under the DIBC OTA. Companies selected for prototype award consideration must complete all applicable DIBC membership, eligibility, representation, certification, and award-readiness requirements before award execution.

Who is not eligible to apply?

However, it does specify several important limitations:

• Companies that do not complete required DIBC membership and award-readiness requirements cannot receive a prototype award.

• Organizations that submit late Stage 1 responses will not be considered.

• Stage 1 responses must be submitted exclusively through the ATI Acquisition Management Platform.

• Respondents may not submit classified information, export-controlled information, trade secrets, proprietary manufacturing data, customer-specific information, or Controlled Unclassified Information (unless submitted through approved means).

• White papers, capability statements, presentations, marketing materials, and other supplemental documentation are not permitted during Stage 1 unless expressly requested by the Government.

The solicitation does not identify any business size restrictions, geographic restrictions, nonprofit restrictions, university restrictions, or ownership restrictions beyond those explicitly stated.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

The Government is looking for companies that can provide credible evidence they could contribute to future defense manufacturing—not necessarily companies that already manufacture complete defense systems.

During Stage 1, the Government may evaluate factors such as:

• Manufacturing relevance

• Facility relevance

• Production capability relevance

• Manufacturing-readiness potential

• Available manufacturing capacity

• Quality systems

• Manufacturing adaptability

• Industrial-base value

• Discovery value

• Production opportunity relevance

• Technical-data relevance

• Manufacturing-capacity matching value

For Stage 2, evaluation may consider:

• Teaming viability

• Production approach viability

• Manufacturing feasibility

• Planning credibility

• Tooling readiness

• Workforce readiness

• Supplier readiness

• Execution performance

• Readiness outcomes

• Industrial-base value

• Government value

The Government also states it may consider:

• Portfolio balance

• Manufacturing-sector diversity

• Geographic diversity

• Small-business participation

• Nontraditional participation

• Industrial-base resilience

• Overall exercise value

Rather than selecting only companies capable of producing complete systems, the Government is explicitly interested in organizations that can fill bounded production roles within broader defense manufacturing ecosystems. This includes manufacturers, suppliers, integrators, testing providers, design organizations, tooling companies, and other specialized contributors.

How competitive will this solicitation be?

This opportunity is expected to be highly competitive.

Several factors contribute to the competition:

• The Government may select one or more solutions, partial solutions, role-specific solutions, phase-limited efforts, or no solution.

• Advancement through the exercise occurs in multiple stages.

• Participation in Stage 1 does not guarantee advancement to Stage 2.

• Participation in one milestone does not guarantee continuation to subsequent milestones.

• The Government reserves broad discretion to modify, expand, reduce, suspend, or discontinue participant activities throughout the exercise.

At the same time, the solicitation is intentionally broad.

Unlike many Department of Defense solicitations, the Government specifically encourages participation from:

• Traditional performers

• Nontraditional performers

• Companies with little or no prior defense contracting experience

• Manufacturers

• Design organizations

• Suppliers

• Contract manufacturers

• System integrators

Companies that can clearly demonstrate manufacturing capability, readiness potential, and realistic production roles are likely to be more competitive than those providing generic capability statements.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Some of the most important restrictions include:

• Submission Deadline: Responses must be received by July 20, 2026 23:59 ET.

• Submission Method: Stage 1 responses must be submitted exclusively through the ATI Acquisition Management Platform.

• Question Deadline: Questions are due July 1, 2026.

• Stage 1 responses must consist only of the electronic questionnaire.

• Additional documents may not be submitted unless requested.

• Respondents should provide high-level, non-proprietary information during Stage 1.

• Classified information should not be submitted.

• Export-controlled information should not be submitted.

• Trade secrets and proprietary manufacturing data should not be submitted during Stage 1.

• Communication with Government personnel regarding the RFS is prohibited unless specifically authorized through ATI or another official Government communication.

The solicitation also makes clear that participation:

• Does not guarantee funding.

• Does not guarantee placement in the Candidate Pool.

• Does not guarantee prototype award.

• Does not guarantee follow-on production.

• Does not guarantee future Government work.

The Government reserves the right to:

• Make no award.

• Make multiple awards.

• Make partial awards.

• Modify milestones.

• Pause or discontinue activities.

• Restructure teams.

• Modify participant roles.

• Cancel the effort at any time.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

The solicitation is designed to minimize the burden of the initial submission.

For Stage 1, companies submit only a high-level electronic questionnaire describing topics such as:

• Company profile

• Facility profile

• Manufacturing capabilities

• Production environment

• Product areas

• Capacity indicators

• Manufacturing-readiness indicators

• Potential production roles

• Production constraints

• Technical-data availability

• Supplier dependencies

Because no technical proposal, white paper, capability statement, cost proposal, or other supplemental documentation is required during Stage 1, most qualified companies should expect a relatively modest preparation effort compared to a traditional federal proposal.

The solicitation does not specify an expected preparation time.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can help you determine whether your manufacturing capabilities align with the Defense Manufacturing Readiness Exercise and position your company for the strongest possible Stage 1 submission.

Our team can assist with:

• Evaluating your eligibility and fit for the opportunity.

• Identifying the most competitive production roles to emphasize.

• Translating commercial manufacturing capabilities into defense-ready language.

• Preparing clear, compliant responses to the Stage 1 questionnaire.

• Developing a strategy for potential Stage 2 prototype activities.

• Advising on DIBC membership requirements if prototype award consideration becomes available.

• Positioning your company for future Department of Defense manufacturing opportunities beyond this exercise.

Even if your company has never worked with the Department of Defense before, this solicitation is specifically intended to identify manufacturers and design organizations that can strengthen future domestic defense production capacity.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.

Request for Information (RFI) Special Notice DARPA-SN-26-96 Advancing Autonomous Science for Biological Applications DARPA BTO

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

Executive Summary:

Application deadline: July 22, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET). This is a Request for Information (RFI) issued by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Biological Technology Office (BTO)—not a funding opportunity or solicitation for proposals. DARPA is seeking input from the scientific and technical community on the current state of autonomous science for biological applications, key technical challenges, and future investment opportunities that could inform future DARPA programs. Organizations with expertise in autonomous science, AI, robotics, laboratory automation, and related technologies should consider submitting a response before July 22, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) to help shape potential future research initiatives.

How much funding would I receive?

This RFI does not provide funding. Award amounts, contract values, or grant funding are not specified because this is an information-gathering request rather than a solicitation for proposals. This information can be used to apply to the DARPA BTO Broad Agency Announcement for awards under $2 million.

REQUESTED INFORMATION:

Responses should address Informatics Technologies, Physical Technologies, or Both Informatics and Physical Technologies for autonomous science. In each case, a response must address at least one of the following research areas:

1. Current state of the art of autonomous science and transformational enabling technologies to advance that state of the art

• Key existing enabling technologies broadly transferrable across scientific workflows.

• Technologies in development that will be transformational in enabling autonomous science.

• Metrics of success for judging the current state of the art and emerging technologies to surpass it (e.g., throughput, reproducibility, power usage, continuous runtime, cost per assay, etc.).

2. Key technical, organizational, or operational bottlenecks in deploying autonomous science at scale or in new domains

• Challenges to enabling rapid development and exchange of new autonomous workflows, including equipment or assays that provide unique challenges to automation.

• Challenges to interoperability between laboratories and the exchange of data and protocols.

• Measures of success in promoting more efficient, effective, and portable workflow development.

3. Application areas in which new investments could have the greatest impact and best demonstrate the unique advantages of autonomous science to solve problems not amenable to conventional approaches

• Problems of national interest where autonomous science can achieve results infeasible via conventional science, including specific applications for national security.

• Enabling technologies available or emerging to achieve those results.

• Metrics for establishing improvement over conventional approaches.

• Current commercialization strategies and business cases for future development of autonomous science.

4. Safety and security considerations in the operation of highly automated laboratories and ways these might be addressed, for example through simulation, AI digital twins, or formal verification

• Risks to safety and security in the operation of autonomous laboratories.

• Current safeguards, system-level security, traceability, and other approaches to biosecurity.

• Enabling technologies to resolve these risks.

• Measures of success for safe operation.

5. New technologies, opportunities, and challenges for maximizing productive interaction between human operators and autonomous agents in hybrid human-AI workflows

• Applications of national interest that can be achieved only by humans augmented by autonomous scientific facilities.

• Key barriers to productive interaction between human scientists and autonomous laboratories or their AI agents.

• Enabling technologies to overcome these barriers.

• Metrics of success demonstrating the advancement of human-machine partnering over unassisted human or purely autonomous systems.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Submitting a response gives organizations an opportunity to:

• Provide input that may influence future DARPA program development.

• Share perspectives on the current state of autonomous science in biological domains.

• Highlight emerging technologies, technical challenges, commercialization strategies, and national security applications.

Entities that have not previously worked with DARPA are also encouraged to engage with DARPAConnect, which offers educational resources, one-on-one guidance, and outreach to help organizations understand how to engage with DARPA.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Response deadline: July 22, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET).

Responses must be submitted electronically in PDF format to AutoSci-RFI@darpa.mil.

There is no funding timeline because this is an RFI rather than a funding opportunity. DARPA states that responses may be used to inform future program development, but no subsequent solicitation schedule is provided.

Where does this funding come from?

This RFI was issued by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Biological Technology Office (BTO).

Because this is an RFI, no funding source or funding program is specified.

Who is eligible to apply?

DARPA welcomes responses from all capable sources, including but not limited to:

• Private companies

• Public companies

• Individuals

• Universities

• University-affiliated research centers

• Not-for-profit research institutions

• U.S. Government-sponsored laboratories

Who is not eligible to apply?

The RFI does not specify any excluded applicant categories.

However:

• Classified information must not be submitted.

• DARPA encourages submission of non-proprietary information, and proprietary information must be clearly marked if included.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

This is not a competitive funding opportunity, so there are no awards or winners.

DARPA is seeking responses addressing one or more research areas related to autonomous science, including:

• State-of-the-art autonomous science technologies

• Technical, organizational, and operational bottlenecks

• High-impact application areas

• Safety and security for autonomous laboratories

• Human-autonomous system collaboration

Responses may focus on:

• Informatics Technologies

• Physical Technologies

• Both Informatics and Physical Technologies

How competitive will this solicitation be?

DARPA states that this RFI is issued solely for information and program planning purposes and does not constitute a formal solicitation for proposals or proposal abstracts. Responses are voluntary and will not result in a contract or funding.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Key submission requirements include:

• Responses are limited to 7 pages maximum using 12-point font, 1-inch margins, and standard letter-sized pages.

• Responses must be submitted as an unprotected Microsoft Word document or PDF.

• Classified information must not be included.

• Proprietary information must be clearly labeled.

• DARPA will not reimburse response preparation costs.

• Responses are voluntary.

• Proposal abstracts or formal proposals submitted in response to this RFI will be disregarded.

• DARPA is under no obligation to acknowledge or provide feedback on submissions.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

Responses must include:

• A one-page cover page

• Up to three pages describing the technical approach

• One page of references

• Optional summary slides

Organizations should also identify which technology category and research area(s) their response addresses.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can help organizations prepare a concise, DARPA-ready RFI response by:

• Aligning your response with DARPA's requested research areas.

• Clearly articulating technical capabilities, challenges, and proposed solutions.

• Developing commercialization and national security narratives where supported by your technical work.

• Ensuring compliance with formatting, page limits, and submission requirements.

• Producing a polished submission designed to communicate your organization's expertise effectively.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.

CDMRP: FY26 Reconstructive Transplant Research Program (RTRP)

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

Executive Summary:

The FY26 Reconstructive Transplant Research Program (RTRP) Concept Award supports highly innovative, high-risk research that could open new directions in reconstructive transplantation. The program is designed to fund new concepts and untested theories rather than incremental advances to existing work. Projects must address at least one FY26 RTRP Focus Area and be relevant to improving outcomes for catastrophically injured Service Members, Veterans, their families, caregivers, clinicians, and the American public. Clinical trials are not allowed.

This is a relatively small, early-stage funding opportunity intended to help researchers generate foundational insights that could lead to future development and larger follow-on efforts. The Defense Health Agency expects to fund approximately three awards. The application deadline is 11:59 p.m. ET, September 16, 2026. Organizations interested in applying should begin preparing immediately because a required Letter of Intent must be submitted first by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), September 2, 2026.

How much funding would I receive?

Applicants may request up to $200,000 in total costs for the entire project period. The maximum period of performance is 18 months.

The FY26 RTRP expects to allocate approximately $0.6 million to fund approximately three Concept Award applications.

Cost sharing is not required.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding is intended to support highly innovative research addressing important problems in reconstructive transplantation and vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA). The award specifically supports exploration of new concepts and untested theories rather than continuation of established research programs.

Projects must address at least one of the following FY26 RTRP Focus Areas:

• Improve or optimize VCA immunosuppression.

• Identify and/or validate prognostic or diagnostic biomarkers, methods, or tools for monitoring VCA graft rejection and immunosuppression.

• Advance VCA preservation strategies.

• Develop tools for measuring VCA outcomes, including performance-based, patient-reported, and neurocognitive outcomes.

Allowable costs may include:

• Research activities supporting the proposed project.

• Travel supporting multi-institutional collaborations.

• Travel for one investigator to present project findings at one scientific or technical meeting per year.

• Required travel for the Principal Investigator to present results at one Department of War-sponsored meeting during the award period.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

In addition to funding, awardees gain the opportunity to conduct research within a Department of Defense-funded program focused on advancing reconstructive transplantation and improving outcomes for catastrophically injured Service Members and Veterans.

Award recipients may also be invited to present project progress at annual RTRP In-Progress Review meetings.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Key dates include:

• Letter of Intent deadline: 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), September 2, 2026

• Full application deadline: 11:59 p.m. ET, September 16, 2026

• End of application verification period: 5:00 p.m. ET, September 21, 2026

• Peer review: November 2026

• Programmatic review: January 2027

Awards supported with FY26 funds will be made no later than September 30, 2027.

Where does this funding come from?

This funding opportunity is offered through the Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity (DHACA) and managed by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) as part of the Reconstructive Transplant Research Program (RTRP).

Congress initiated the RTRP in 2012 to support research that refines reconstructive transplantation approaches and expands access to reconstructive transplants and immunotherapy. The FY26 appropriation for the RTRP is $12 million.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicant organizations include:

• Extramural and intramural U.S. Department of War organizations.

• Foreign organizations.

• Domestic organizations.

• For-profit organizations.

• Nonprofit organizations.

• Public entities.

• Private entities.

Eligible Principal Investigators include:

• Investigators at or above the level of postdoctoral fellow.

• Investigators affiliated with an eligible organization.

• Investigators regardless of ethnicity, nationality, or citizenship status.

• Investigators from academic or non-academic organizations.

An investigator may serve as PI on no more than two FY26 RTRP Concept Award applications.

Who is not eligible to apply?

The solicitation states that:

• Individuals cannot receive awards directly because awards are made to organizations.

• Investigators below the level of postdoctoral fellow are not eligible to serve as PI.

• Investigators serving as PI on more than two FY26 RTRP Concept Award applications are not eligible beyond the first two submissions received.

Applications may also be administratively withdrawn if:

• A clinical trial is proposed.

• Human subjects or specimen studies do not qualify for exempt or expedited review.

• The PI does not meet eligibility requirements.

• Required pre-application materials are not submitted.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

The program is seeking projects that are:

• Highly innovative.

• High-risk with the potential to reveal new avenues of investigation.

• Focused on at least one FY26 RTRP Focus Area.

• Relevant to military health and catastrophic injury recovery.

• Supported by a strong scientific rationale despite the absence of preliminary data.

• Designed with rigorous and reproducible research methods.

Applications leveraging findings from solid organ transplantation for testing in VCA may be competitive when the rationale and potential benefits are clearly justified.

The review criteria place the greatest emphasis on:

1. Innovation

2. Relevance

3. Research Strategy and Feasibility

4. Personnel

5. Transition Plan

6. Research Sharing Plan

7. Budget

8. Environment

9. Application Presentation

How competitive will this solicitation be?

This appears to be a highly competitive opportunity.

The program expects to fund approximately three awards from a total funding pool of approximately $0.6 million.

The solicitation also notes that since FY15, the RTRP Concept Award mechanism has received 196 applications, with 26 recommended for funding.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Key restrictions include:

• Clinical trials are not allowed.

• Preliminary data cannot be included.

• Research involving human subjects or specimens must qualify for exempt status or expedited review.

• Projects involving painful research using domestic cats or dogs are not supported except for studies relating to military or service animals.

• Classified research data or research likely to generate classified outcomes may result in withdrawal.

• Duplicate submissions of the same research project within the RTRP during the same fiscal year are prohibited.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

The application process includes both:

1. A required Letter of Intent submission.

2. A full application package.

The solicitation does not specify how long preparation will take. However, applicants must prepare multiple application components, including a Project Narrative, Statement of Work, Innovation Statement, Post-Award Transition Plan, budget materials, supporting documentation, and other required forms.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can help your team:

• Evaluate whether your concept aligns with one or more FY26 RTRP Focus Areas.

• Position your project around the program’s primary review criteria, particularly innovation and military relevance.

• Develop a compliant Letter of Intent and full application package.

• Build a compelling research strategy and transition plan.

• Prepare budgets, supporting documentation, and submission materials.

• Manage the application process through submission and compliance review.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.

CDMRP: FY26 Rare Cancers Research Program (RCRP)

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

Executive Summary:

The FY26 Rare Cancers Research Program (RCRP) is a Department of Defense-funded grant program that supports research on cancers affecting six or fewer persons per 100,000 people per year in the United States. The program aims to improve outcomes for people with rare cancers through discovery, community building, and expansion of knowledge across the cancer landscape. Research must be relevant to Service Members, Veterans, military beneficiaries, and the American public.
RCRP offers three separate funding opportunities in FY26:

• Concept Award – supports highly innovative, untested, potentially groundbreaking ideas.
• Idea Development Award – supports promising research ideas that are ready for further development and could generate high-impact findings.
• Resource and Community Development Award – supports development of research resources, datasets, infrastructure, and community-building platforms for rare cancers research.

Applicants interested in the Idea Development Award or Resource and Community Development Award must submit a required preproposal by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), August 19, 2026. Applicants interested in the Concept Award must submit a required Letter of Intent by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), September 16, 2026, and a full application by 11:59 p.m. ET, September 30, 2026.

How much funding would I receive?

Funding depends on the award mechanism selected:

Concept Award

• Up to $140,000 total costs

• Maximum period of performance: 2 years

• Approximately 18 awards expected

Idea Development Award

• Up to $490,000 total costs

• Maximum period of performance: 3 years

• Approximately 15 awards expected

Resource and Community Development Award

• Up to $1.12 million total costs

• Maximum period of performance: 4 years

• Approximately 5 awards expected

What could I use the funding for?

Projects must address rare cancers and align with one or more FY26 RCRP focus areas.

Concept Award and Idea Development Award focus areas

• Biology

• Preclinical Research Models

• Therapy, including drug repurposing

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) Models
  Resource and Community Development Award focus areas

• Platform Development

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) Models

Examples of activities supported under the Resource and Community Development Award include:

• Biospecimen repositories

• Patient registries

• Databases and centralized data-sharing platforms

• Omics resources

• Longitudinal natural history studies

• Resource-sharing infrastructure

• AI/ML-enabled discovery platforms

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

In addition to funding, successful applicants gain access to a nationally recognized Department of Defense cancer research program focused on advancing rare cancers research and improving outcomes for patients, Service Members, Veterans, and their families.

The Resource and Community Development Award specifically supports the creation of lasting research resources, stakeholder networks, and community infrastructure intended to continue benefiting the field beyond the award period.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Concept Award

• Letter of Intent Deadline: 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), September 16, 2026

• Full Application Deadline: 11:59 p.m. ET, September 30, 2026

• Peer Review: December 2026

• Programmatic Review: March/April 2027

• Awards supported with FY26 funds will be made no later than September 30, 2027.

Idea Development Award

• Preproposal Deadline: 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), August 19, 2026

• Invitation to Submit Full Application: September 30, 2026

• Full Application Deadline: 11:59 p.m. ET, November 18, 2026

• Peer Review: February 2027

• Programmatic Review: March/April 2027

• Awards supported with FY26 funds will be made no later than September 30, 2027.

Resource and Community Development Award

• Preproposal Deadline: 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), August 19, 2026

• Invitation to Submit Full Application: September 30, 2026

• Full Application Deadline: 11:59 p.m. ET, November 18, 2026

• Peer Review: February 2027

• Programmatic Review: March/April 2027

• Awards supported with FY26 funds will be made no later than September 30, 2027.

Where does this funding come from?

The Rare Cancers Research Program is managed by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) within the Defense Health Agency Research and Development organization. Congress established the program in 2020 to support research of exceptional scientific merit in rare cancers. The FY26 appropriation is $17.5 million.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include:

• Foreign and domestic organizations

• For-profit organizations

• Nonprofit organizations

• Public entities

• Private entities

• Extramural and intramural organizations
  Principal Investigator eligibility varies by mechanism:

Concept Award

• Independent investigators at or above the level of postdoctoral fellow (or equivalent)

Idea Development Award

• Independent investigators at all career levels

Resource and Community Development Award

• Independent investigators at all career levels

Who is not eligible to apply?

The solicitation does not provide additional eligibility exclusions beyond the stated organizational and investigator requirements.

However:

• Awards are made to organizations, not individuals. - An investigator may only serve as Principal Investigator on one application within each FY26 RCRP award mechanism.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

The strongest applications will closely align with the intent of the selected mechanism.

Concept Award

• Highly innovative, untested, potentially groundbreaking concepts

• High-risk ideas that open entirely new avenues of investigation

• Novel approaches that challenge existing paradigms in rare cancers research

Idea Development Award

• Research supported by preliminary data

• Projects with strong scientific rationale

• Ideas capable of generating high-impact findings and major advancements in rare cancers research

Resource and Community Development Award

• Platforms, datasets, repositories, and infrastructure that fill major gaps in rare cancers research

• Projects with strong plans for community engagement, dissemination, sustainability, and resource sharing

• Efforts that can benefit multiple rare cancer types or subtypes

How competitive will this solicitation be?

The program is expected to be highly competitive.

Historical data provided in the solicitations show:

Concept Award

• 979 applications received

• 90 recommended for funding

Idea Development Award

• 862 applications received

• 85 recommended for funding

Resource and Community Development Award

• 103 applications received

• 23 recommended for funding

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Across all three mechanisms:

• Clinical trials are not allowed. - Projects must focus on cancers affecting six or fewer persons per 100,000 people per year in the United States. - Research must be relevant to Service Members, Veterans, military beneficiaries, and the American public.
  Additional Resource and Community Development Award requirements include:

• At least two rare cancer Patient Advocates must participate as integral members of the research team.

• Community building, dissemination, and sustainability plans are required.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

Preparation effort depends on the mechanism selected.

Concept Award

• Requires a Letter of Intent and a short blinded application package.

• Generally expected to require the least preparation effort of the three mechanisms.

Idea Development Award

• Requires a preproposal followed by an invited full application.

• Preliminary data with disease-specific rationale are required.
  Resource and Community Development Award

• Requires a preproposal followed by an invited full application.

• Requires extensive planning around community engagement, patient advocacy, dissemination, sustainment, and resource-sharing infrastructure.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can support applicants with:

• Opportunity assessment and mechanism selection

• Eligibility and project fit review

• Preproposal and Letter of Intent development

• Full proposal writing and editing

• Scientific and commercialization positioning

• Reviewer-focused narrative development

• Patient advocate engagement strategy

• Budget development and compliance review

• Final submission support

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.

CDMRP: FY26 Kidney Cancer Research Program (KCRP)

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

Executive Summary:

The Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) has released three Fiscal Year 2026 Kidney Cancer Research Program (KCRP) funding opportunities designed to support innovative kidney cancer research, develop future leaders in the field, and accelerate new discoveries that improve outcomes for patients. Collectively, these opportunities represent approximately $10.2 million in anticipated funding across three award mechanisms.

The FY26 KCRP continues to focus on advancing the biology of kidney cancer, developing new therapeutic approaches, improving patient care and survivorship, addressing health disparities, and expanding research capacity through investigator development and collaboration.

Researchers can apply through one of three mechanisms:

Concept Award
Supports highly innovative, untested, and potentially groundbreaking ideas in kidney cancer research. This mechanism is intended for high-risk concepts that could open entirely new avenues of investigation. Preliminary data are not allowed. Awards provide up to $120,000 in total costs over one year.

Idea Development Award
Supports hypothesis-driven research projects backed by preliminary data and a well-developed scientific rationale. Projects must address important questions in kidney cancer research or clinical care and demonstrate potential for significant impact. Awards provide up to $900,000 for a single Principal Investigator or up to $1.2 million through the Partnering Principal Investigator option over three years.

Academy of Kidney Cancer Investigators – Early-Career Scholar Award
Supports promising early-career investigators pursuing independent careers in kidney cancer research. In addition to funding a research project, awardees join a national mentoring and networking academy that provides intensive mentorship, scientific collaboration opportunities, leadership development, and career support. Awards provide up to $1.2 million over four years.

All three mechanisms require submission of a Letter of Intent prior to full application submission and do not allow clinical trials. Applicants should begin preparing immediately to ensure sufficient time for project development, institutional approvals, collaborator coordination, and application assembly.

The earliest deadline is the Concept Award Letter of Intent due July 28, 2026, 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The Idea Development Award and Academy of Kidney Cancer Investigators – Early-Career Scholar Award both require Letters of Intent by September 14, 2026, 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

How much funding would I receive?

Funding depends on the mechanism selected.

Concept Award

• Up to $120,000 total costs

• Maximum period of performance: 1 year

• Approximately 7 awards anticipated

Idea Development Award

• Single PI Option: Up to $900,000 total costs

• Partnering PI Option: Up to $1.2 million total costs

• Maximum period of performance: 3 years

• Approximately 8 awards anticipated

Academy of Kidney Cancer Investigators – Early-Career Scholar Award

• Up to $1.2 million total costs

• Maximum period of performance: 4 years

• Approximately 2 awards anticipated

What could I use the funding for?

All three mechanisms support research addressing at least one FY26 KCRP focus area, including:

• Understanding kidney cancer biology, progression, metastasis, and prevention

• Developing new screening, diagnostic, prognostic, and imaging approaches

• Advancing treatments for rare kidney cancers

• Creating novel therapeutic strategies

• Improving quality of life and survivorship

• Addressing outcomes in high-risk and underserved populations

• Expanding research capacity and developing future kidney cancer researchers

The Concept Award is intended for exploratory, high-risk concepts.

The Idea Development Award supports mature research projects with preliminary data and a clearly defined hypothesis.

The Early-Career Scholar Award supports both a research project and a structured career-development program designed to establish long-term independence in kidney cancer research.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

The Idea Development Award includes a Partnering Principal Investigator option that supports formal collaborations between two investigators contributing distinct expertise to a single project.

The Academy of Kidney Cancer Investigators – Early-Career Scholar Award provides:

• Intensive mentorship from established kidney cancer investigators

• National networking opportunities

• Scientific collaborations

• Monthly academy programming

• Annual and biennial workshops

• Leadership and career development training

• Access to a national peer network of kidney cancer researchers

All three mechanisms encourage multidisciplinary collaborations involving academia, industry, the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and other federal agencies.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Concept Award

• Letter of Intent Deadline: July 28, 2026, 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time

• Application Deadline: August 11, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time

• Peer Review: October 2026

• Programmatic Review: December 2026

Idea Development Award

• Letter of Intent Deadline: September 14, 2026, 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time

• Application Deadline: September 28, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time

• Peer Review: December 2026

• Programmatic Review: March 2027

Academy of Kidney Cancer Investigators – Early-Career Scholar Award

• Letter of Intent Deadline: September 14, 2026, 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time

• Application Deadline: September 28, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time

• Peer Review: December 2026

• Programmatic Review: March 2027

Awards funded through FY26 appropriations are expected to be made no later than September 30, 2027.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding comes from the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs through the Kidney Cancer Research Program.

Congress established the KCRP in 2017 to support research with exceptional scientific merit and high potential impact. The program received $15 million in FY26 appropriations.

The program's mission is to promote rigorous, innovative, high-impact kidney cancer research for the benefit of Service Members, Veterans, their families, and the American public.

Who is eligible to apply?

Concept Award

• Investigators at all career levels, including postdoctoral fellows or equivalent

• Foreign and domestic organizations

• For-profit and nonprofit organizations

• Public and private entities

Idea Development Award

• Investigators at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent)

• Foreign and domestic organizations

• For-profit and nonprofit organizations

• Public and private entities

Academy of Kidney Cancer Investigators – Early-Career Scholar Award

• Investigators within seven years of their most recent postdoctoral research position, clinical fellowship, or equivalent

• Must meet Early-Career Scholar eligibility requirements

• Must identify a qualified Designated Mentor

• Foreign and domestic organizations

• For-profit and nonprofit organizations

• Public and private entities

Who is not eligible to apply?

Concept Award

• Investigators below the postdoctoral fellow level (or equivalent)

Idea Development Award

• Investigators below the Assistant Professor level (or equivalent)

Academy of Kidney Cancer Investigators – Early-Career Scholar Award

• Individuals currently in postdoctoral positions, clinical fellowships, or equivalent training positions at the application deadline

• Investigators more than seven years removed from their last postdoctoral position, fellowship, or equivalent training experience

Additional eligibility restrictions apply to mentors participating in the Academy mechanism.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Competitive applications will closely align with KCRP priorities and demonstrate clear potential to advance the field.

For the Concept Award, reviewers are looking for:

• Highly innovative ideas

• Novel concepts

• New research paradigms

• Research that goes beyond incremental advances

For the Idea Development Award, reviewers are looking for:

• Strong preliminary data

• Well-developed hypotheses

• Rigorous research strategies

• Significant potential impact on kidney cancer research or patient care

For the Early-Career Scholar Award, reviewers are evaluating:

• The investigator's potential to become an independent leader in kidney cancer research

• Quality of the mentoring plan

• Strength of the career-development strategy

• Scientific merit of the proposed research

Across all mechanisms, projects that directly address FY26 KCRP focus areas and demonstrate strong scientific rationale are likely to be most competitive.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Across all three mechanisms:

• Clinical trials are not allowed.

• Applications must address at least one FY26 KCRP focus area.

• Applications must address at least one eligible kidney cancer disease type.

• Cost sharing is not required.

• Awards are made to organizations rather than individuals.

Additional mechanism-specific restrictions include:

Concept Award

• Preliminary data are not allowed.

• Applications undergo blinded review.

• Applications may not contain identifying information about investigators or institutions.

Idea Development Award

• Preliminary data are required.

Academy of Kidney Cancer Investigators – Early-Career Scholar Award

• Preliminary data are required.

• Applicants must meet specific career-stage requirements.

• Applicants must identify an eligible Designated Mentor.

How competitive will this solicitation be?

The FY26 KCRP funding opportunities are expected to be highly competitive.

Historical funding data demonstrates significant demand:

Concept Award

• 587 applications received since FY17

• 73 recommended for funding

Idea Development Award

• 610 applications received since FY17

• 124 recommended for funding

Academy of Kidney Cancer Investigators – Early-Career Scholar Award

• 40 applications received since FY19

• 14 recommended for funding

Applicants should expect strong competition and should clearly demonstrate alignment with program priorities, innovation, feasibility, and potential impact.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

Preparation effort varies significantly by mechanism.

Concept Award
Typically requires the least preparation because preliminary data are prohibited and the narrative is intentionally brief. However, applicants must carefully comply with blinded-review requirements.

Idea Development Award
Requires substantial preparation due to the need for preliminary data, a comprehensive research strategy, detailed supporting documentation, impact statements, and progression planning.

Academy of Kidney Cancer Investigators – Early-Career Scholar Award
Typically requires the greatest preparation effort because applicants must develop both a research plan and a comprehensive career-development strategy while coordinating mentor participation and institutional commitments.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can help applicants determine which KCRP mechanism best aligns with their technology, scientific maturity, and career stage.

Our team can support:

• Opportunity assessment and go/no-go decisions

• Mechanism selection

• Research strategy development

• Hypothesis refinement

• Innovation positioning

• Impact narrative development

• Mentor and collaborator coordination

• Compliance review

• Proposal writing and editing

• Grants.gov and submission support

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.

Domestic Production for Military-Critical Cylindrical Cells Request for Project Proposals | DIBC | RPP-BES-26-01

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

Executive Summary:

Companies developing domestic battery manufacturing capabilities should strongly consider this opportunity. The Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC), on behalf of the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment (OUSW(A&S)) Industrial Base Policy (IBP) office, is seeking prototype projects that strengthen U.S. battery supply chains in two critical areas:

1. Domestic production of military-critical 18650 and 21700 lithium-ion cells.

2. Modernization and automation of U.S.-based Silver-Zinc battery production facilities.

The Government is specifically seeking projects that reduce dependence on Foreign Entities of Concern (FEOC), establish resilient domestic manufacturing capabilities, and support national security requirements. Phase I submissions are due no later than July 17, 2026 12:00 PM ET.

How much funding would I receive?

Awards typically range from $500,000 to $5 million. Proposers are required to submit pricing information and propose a total price for their project solution. The Government anticipates fixed-price agreements but may negotiate other award structures.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding is intended to support prototype projects aligned with one of two Areas of Interest (AOIs).

AOI 1: Domestic Production of 18650/21700 Lithium-Ion Cells

(Requirement ID: BES-RPP-BES-26-01-001)

This AOI seeks to establish an initial domestic prototype manufacturing line for 18650 and 21700 format Li-ion cells. The objective is to create a sustainable, commercially viable production capability that meets DoD performance requirements while minimizing reliance on Foreign Entities of Concern (FEOC). Successful solutions will demonstrate a credible plan to produce cells that meet the technical specifications outlined below utilizing secure domestic supply chains.

Requirements for AOI 1 Lithium-Ion Cells

Solutions for AOI 1 must address a plan to produce 18650 and/or 21700 cells that meet the following requirements:

• Technical Specifications
• Production Line and Commercial Viability
• Safety and Certification
• Supply Chain

Technical Specifications

Energy Density (Wh/kg)

• 21700 Threshold: 270 Wh/kg
• 21700 Objective: 340 Wh/kg
• 18650 Threshold: 260 Wh/kg
• 18650 Objective: 330 Wh/kg

Notes: At standard conditions, room temperature, ½ C rate.

Energy Density (Wh/L)

• 21700 Threshold: 700 Wh/L
• 21700 Objective: 850 Wh/L
• 18650 Threshold: 680 Wh/L
• 18650 Objective: 780 Wh/L

Discharge Rate Capability (continuous/pulse)

• 21700 Threshold: 3C / 5C
• 21700 Objective: 5C / 10C
• 18650 Threshold: 1.5C / 5C
• 18650 Objective: 3C / 10C

Notes: Objective values measured at 20°C.

Cycle Life

• Threshold: 300 cycles
• Objective: 1000 cycles

Notes: ½ C charge, 1 C discharge for energy design to 80% BOL.

Storage Temperature

• Threshold: -30°C to 55°C
• Objective: -40°C to 70°C

Notes: At 100% SOC.

Operating Temperature

Threshold:

• Charge: 0°C to 55°C
• Discharge: -20°C to 55°C

Objective:

• Charge: -20°C to 60°C
• Discharge: -30°C to 60°C

Notes: Charge rate below 0°C may be reduced.

Capacity Delivered at -20°C

• Threshold: 50%
• Objective: 80%

Notes: At 1 C.

Annual Self-Discharge Rate

• Threshold: 5%
• Objective: Less than 3%

Notes: At 20°C.

Zero Volt Capability

• Threshold: No capability
• Objective: Some capability

Notes: Refers to ability for 0V storage with limited or no lifetime/performance impacts.

Cell Internal Resistance

• Threshold: 35 mΩ
• Objective: Less than 25 mΩ

Notes: At 20°C and 100% SOC.

Production Line & Commercial Viability Requirements

• Production Capacity: Demonstrate a path to achieve a minimum annual production capacity of 50 MWh for 18650 or 21700 cells within two years after award, with an objective target of scaling to 3 GWh.

• Flexibility: Describe the line's ability to cross produce both 18650 and 21700 formats.

• Commercial Viability: Include a viable business plan demonstrating the commercial marketability of the battery cells to ensure long-term sustainability of the production line.

• Cell Price: Demonstrate a clear path to achieve cost parity with high-energy Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) cells by 2030.

Safety & Certification Requirements

• Cell Level: Cells must be designed to be compliant with UL 1642 and comparable to modern COTS cells, incorporating safety features such as a cell vent and Current Interrupt Device (CID). The objective is to achieve safety performance better than high-energy COTS cells.

• Pack Level: Describe how cells will support integration into battery packs that meet UL 2054 requirements.

• Transportation: Cells must be designed to pass UN/DOT 38.3 transportation testing.

• MIL-STD-810 environmental testing for UAS batteries.

• Demonstrated fail-safe features and thermal runaway prevention for battery packs.

Supply Chain Security Requirements

Manufacturing Equipment

• Threshold: A minimum of 50% of manufacturing equipment (by value) must be secured from non-FEOC sources.

• Objective: 100% of equipment to be from non-FEOC sources.

Cell Components

Detail a plan to meet the following domestic content thresholds for electrode active materials:

• Threshold: Meet domestic content requirements as defined by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

• Objective: Achieve greater than 95% of electrode active material within each cell, by value, from sources compliant with FEOC restrictions as defined in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), Section 40207(a)(5).

AOI 2: Modernization of Silver-Zinc (Ag-Zn) Battery Production

(Requirement ID: BES-RPP-BES-26-01-002)

This AOI seeks to modernize and automate a U.S.-based Silver-Zinc battery prototype production facility. The objective is to create a reliable, efficient, and high-yield production source capable of meeting the stringent quality and volume demands for batteries used in critical strategic systems (such as the TRIDENT II and Minuteman III).

Requirements for AOI 2 Silver-Zinc Modernization

Solutions for AOI 2 must detail a credible, economically viable plan to modernize and automate a U.S.-based Silver-Zinc battery production facility.

Technical and Modernization Requirements

• Throughput & Efficiency: The proposed solution must demonstrate how automation and process controls will reduce battery activation and testing cycle times by at least 30% compared to current industry performance levels.

• Process Yield: The proposal must detail improvements to the zinc plate deposition and positive formation processes to increase the first-pass yield of defect-free plates to over 99%.

• Advanced Manufacturing: The proposal must include a plan to prototype and test an additively manufactured (3D-printed) battery case or internal support structure that achieves one of the following:

• Reduces component weight by at least 15%, or

• Increases internal volume for active materials by 10%.

The new component must not compromise structural integrity under relevant shock and vibration standards.

• Infrastructure & Workforce: The proposal must outline a plan to modernize critical manufacturing infrastructure and establish a robust training program to cultivate a skilled workforce.

Special Considerations

• Anticipated Security Level: Unclassified; however, Controlled Technical Information and/or Controlled Unclassified Information may be required.

• Environmental Questionnaire: All respondents will complete and submit an Environmental Questionnaire.

• Disclose any/all Foreign Investment or Control.

• Resource sharing for any proposed project.

• Anticipated Data Rights: Data rights may be negotiated on a case-by-case basis. The Government seeks to protect commercial IP while ensuring DoW’s ability to maintain supply chain visibility.

• Supply chain information for suppliers and subcontractors that includes supply chain data of components relevant to the completion of this prototype.

Consortium Members shall:

• Collect, document, and report supply chain data including data from subcontractors.

Data shall include the following:

1. Vendor name

2. Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) and/or Unique Entity Identification (UEID) code(s), if applicable

3. Part/product and descriptions to include as applicable:

a. Purchaser part number

b. Vendor part number

c. Description of if the part/product is connected to a higher or lower-level part

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Potential benefits include:

• Access to a DIBC Other Transaction (OT) award structure rather than a traditional FAR-based contract.

• Eligibility for follow-on production opportunities if the prototype project is successfully completed.

• Potential consideration for additional Government financial tools and incentives, including equity investments, SAFE agreements, convertible notes, revenue-sharing agreements, offtake agreements, loans, loan guarantees, and purchase commitments.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Key dates:

• RPP Release Date: June 22, 2026

• Questions Due Date: June 29, 2026 12:00 PM ET

• Phase I Submission Due Date: July 17, 2026 12:00 PM ET

The solicitation uses a two-phase competitive down-select process:

Phase 1:

• Quad Chart submission.

Phase 2:

• Selected applicants may be invited to submit a full proposal package.

The solicitation does not specify award announcement dates, negotiation timelines, project start dates, or expected funding disbursement dates.

The Phase I submission deadline is July 17, 2026 12:00 PM ET.

Where does this funding come from?

This opportunity originates from the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment (OUSW(A&S)) Industrial Base Policy (IBP) office. The project is being executed through the Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC) and administered through Washington Headquarters Services Acquisition Directorate (WHS/AD).

Projects are expected to align with:

• Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) authorities.

• Defense Production Act Title III authorities.

Who is eligible to apply?

The solicitation is open to DIBC Consortium Members.

Additional eligibility-related requirements include:

• Registration in the System for Award Management (SAM).

• Responsibility determination by the Agreements Officer.

• Disclosure of any foreign investment or control.

• Compliance with applicable prototype OT authority requirements.

For prototype authority eligibility, proposed projects must satisfy at least one of the following:

• Significant participation by at least one Nontraditional Defense Contractor (NDC).

• Significant participation by at least one Nonprofit Research Institution (NRI).

• Complete participation by a small business.

• Resource contribution of at least one-third by consortium members other than those categories.

Who is not eligible to apply?

Applicants may be ineligible if they:

• Are suspended or debarred by the Federal Government.

• Are prohibited by Presidential Executive Order or law from receiving an award.

• Fail to meet DIBC Consortium membership requirements.

• Fail to satisfy statutory requirements for prototype OT authority.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Based on the stated evaluation criteria, competitive projects will likely:

For AOI 1:

• Demonstrate a credible path to domestic 18650 and/or 21700 cell production.

• Meet or exceed technical performance requirements.

• Establish secure domestic supply chains.

• Reduce reliance on FEOCs.

• Present a viable commercial business case.

• Demonstrate scalability toward meaningful production capacity.

For AOI 2:

• Deliver measurable automation and modernization improvements.

• Improve throughput and yield.

• Modernize critical manufacturing infrastructure.

• Develop workforce training capabilities.

• Demonstrate economically viable modernization plans.

Across both AOIs, the Government will evaluate:

• Relevance to the AOI.

• Technical merit and feasibility.

• Schedule realism.

• Cost reasonableness.

• Data rights considerations.

• Compliance with the definition of a prototype project.

How competitive will this solicitation be?

The solicitation appears likely to be highly competitive.

Reasons include:

• A two-phase down-select process.

• Evaluation focused on technical feasibility, schedule, cost, and prototype merit.

• Government discretion to decline proposals that fail any evaluation criterion.

• No guarantee of award even for technically acceptable submissions.

The solicitation does not specify the anticipated number of awards, expected applicant volume, or success rates.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Key restrictions and requirements include:

• Submissions must be made electronically through the ATI Acquisition Management Portal.

• Classified information may not be submitted.

• Any CUI must comply with NIST SP 800-171 requirements.

• Environmental questionnaires are mandatory.

• Foreign investment and control disclosures are required.

• Certain DIBC agreement terms and conditions are non-negotiable.

• Supply chain reporting requirements apply to suppliers and subcontractors.

• Applicants must use mandatory templates provided by the Government.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

The solicitation does not estimate proposal preparation effort.

Applicants should plan for a two-phase process:

Phase 1:

• Quad Chart submission.

Phase 2 (invitation only):

• Cover Page.

• Project Execution Plan.

• Pricing Package.

• Affirmation of Business Status Certification.

• Environmental Assessment Questionnaire.

• End User License Agreement (if applicable).

• Conflict of Interest Disclosure.

Given the technical, manufacturing, pricing, supply chain, environmental, and compliance requirements, applicants should expect a substantial preparation effort. The solicitation does not specify a recommended preparation timeline.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can help your team:

• Assess fit against AOI 1 or AOI 2 requirements.

• Develop a winning Quad Chart for Phase 1.

• Build a compliant Project Execution Plan.

• Strengthen commercialization and manufacturing scale-up narratives.

• Develop pricing justification and milestone structures.

• Prepare environmental and supply-chain documentation.

• Manage proposal strategy, reviews, and submission coordination.

Review the solicitation here.

Farseer: Quantum Sensing for ISR - HQ0034-20-9-DIU

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

Executive Summary:

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is seeking mature quantum sensing and timing technologies through its Farseer program to rapidly transition commercial quantum capabilities into operational Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) applications for the Department of War (DoW). The program focuses on four Lines of Effort (LoEs): magnetometers, gravimeters, portable clocks, and enabling component technologies. Solutions must demonstrate prototype readiness, a clear transition path to operational deployment, and a minimum Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 4. Vendors may submit one solution brief per LoE and may apply to multiple LoEs. Responses are due by 2026-07-10 23:59:59 US/Eastern Time. Companies with mature quantum technologies that can be demonstrated in operational environments within three to nine months of award should strongly consider applying.

How much funding would I receive?

The solicitation does not specify award amounts but typically awards from DIU range from $500,000 to about $5 million.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding may support prototype projects related to:

• Quantum magnetometers for ISR applications.

• Scalar absolute gravimeters and single-component gravity gradiometers.

• Portable quantum clocks for Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT), resilient communications, and coherent sensor networks.

• Component technologies that reduce Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) or improve manufacturability of quantum sensing and timing systems.

• Prototyping, manufacturing, integration, field testing, ruggedization, and operational demonstrations of qualifying technologies.

• Agile development activities and iterative technology insertions throughout the program lifecycle.

Lines of Efforts (LoE):

LoE 1: Magnetometers

The DoW seeks commercial solutions to prototype magnetometers for strategic ISR needs. Magnetometers detecting signals above 100 Hz are of potential interest, with solutions expected to operate in specific frequency ranges that are relevant to targeted DoW and commercial applications.

LoE 2: Gravimeters

The DoW seeks commercial solutions to prototype scalar absolute gravimeters and single-component gravity gradiometers for warfighter needs suitable for static, low-dynamics (e.g., maritime), or high-dynamics (e.g., airborne) contexts. Representative operational metrics are provided in Tables 2-4 based on potential applications in each context. Submissions should specify expected sensor performance in targeted DoW and commercial applications. Example commercial applications include mineral surveying, oil & gas field monitoring, and detection of sink holes or underground voids.

LoE 3: Portable Clocks

The DoW seeks commercial solutions that progress prototyping, manufacturing, integration, and field testing of portable clocks for warfighter needs that achieve the operational metrics given in Table 3. Submissions may propose solutions focused on (a) scaling clock manufacturing, or (b) integration of existing prototypes into new and legacy platforms. Platforms of relevance include Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) capabilities, resilient communications, as well as coherent sensor network applications. For the latter category of submissions, solutions may optionally focus on ruggedization of existing prototypes to military specifications and hardware/software interfaces that enable fusion of portable clock outputs with existing timing infrastructure on DoW platforms. System integration submitters can assume tactical clock RF outputs of 10 MHz, 100 MHz and 1 PPS, with the SWaP metrics indicated in Table 5.

LoE 4: Component Technologies

The DoW seeks commercial solutions to reduce the SWaP and improve the manufacturability of the current generation of quantum platforms described in LoEs 1-3 or less mature but relevant quantum sensors for ISR applications such as Rydberg electric field sensors. Maturation of components such as chip-scale lasers, micro-optics, photonic integrated circuits, cryogenics, and vapor cells that are necessary to enable operational utility of quantum sensors and clocks.

Compelling solutions will have one or more of the following characteristics:

• Clear insertion pathway to quantum sensor or clock technical solutions, which may occur in mid-course development spirals. 

• Modular and broad applicability to multiple types of quantum platforms.

• Production that can scale to mature manufacturing/microfabrication processes involving trusted manufacturers/foundries, if they are not already mature.

• Contributes to quantum supply chain robustness.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Potential benefits include:

• Opportunity to demonstrate technology in operational military environments.

• Participation in a multi-phase program that includes functional and operational demonstrations.

• Potential integration with Department of War mission partners.

• Eligibility for award through an Other Transaction (OT) agreement under 10 U.S.C. 4022.

• Potential direct award of follow-on production contracts or transactions without further competition upon successful completion of a prototype effort.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Application deadline: 2026-07-10 23:59:59 US/Eastern Time.

The solicitation follows a three-phase process:

1. Solution Brief submission.

2. Pitch session for selected companies.

3. Full proposal submission for companies invited to continue.

DIU states it will strive to notify companies within approximately 30 days if it is interested in learning more through a pitch. The solicitation does not specify award dates, contracting timelines, or funding disbursement dates. Prototype periods of performance may not exceed 24 months.

Where does this funding come from?

The opportunity is offered by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) on behalf of the Department of War through the Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) process. Any resulting agreements will be awarded under Other Transactions Authority (OTA) pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 4022.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include:

• U.S. vendors.

• International vendors.

• Vendors applying independently or collaboratively.

• Vendors that currently have or previously had contracts with DIU.

• Traditional defense contractors.

• Nontraditional defense contractors.

• Nonprofit research institutions, where otherwise eligible under OTA requirements.

• Companies proposing solutions with a minimum current TRL of 4.

Who is not eligible to apply?

The solicitation states that:

• Solutions below TRL 4 are not eligible.

• Projects with periods of performance longer than 24 months are not eligible.

• Respondents must be eligible to receive an award under 10 U.S.C. 4022.

• Companies that are suspended, debarred, prohibited by law, or otherwise determined ineligible for federal award may not receive an agreement.

No additional eligibility exclusions are explicitly specified.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Based on the stated evaluation criteria and desired solution attributes, competitive projects are likely to demonstrate:

• Mature prototypes ready for operational testing within three to nine months after award.

• Clear transition pathways to operational deployment within two to three years.

• Improvements in sensitivity and SWaP beyond current state-of-the-art solutions.

• Strong technical merit and feasibility.

• Open Systems Architecture and Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA) alignment where applicable.

• Evidence of manufacturability, scalability, and supply chain robustness.

• Previous laboratory, field, defense, or commercial testing results.

• Dual-use commercial market potential.

• Clear insertion pathways into military ISR applications.

• Unique, innovative, or underutilized technologies relevant to the stated mission needs.How competitive will this solicitation be?

ONR plans to fund approximately five to six awards, indicating a limited number of available selections.

The solicitation does not specify the expected number of applicants, historical success rates, or anticipated competition levels.

How competitive will this solicitation be?

The solicitation is expected to be competitive.

DIU states that it routinely receives more solution briefs than it has resources to award and that only a select group of submissions will be invited to pitch. Solution briefs are evaluated on relevance to the Area of Interest, technical merit, feasibility, innovation, and company viability.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Key restrictions include:

• Vendors may submit no more than one solution brief per Line of Effort.

• Solutions must have a minimum current TRL of 4.

• Periods of performance may not exceed 24 months.

• Solution briefs must be submitted through the DIU website.

• Late submissions will not be reviewed.

• Submissions must be unclassified.

• Respondents must be eligible for award under OTA authority.

• Technical data with military applications may require export approvals or licenses.

• Companies must register in SAM prior to award.

• Any awarded agreement will require compliance with Section 889 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

The solicitation requests a solution brief that is approximately:

• Five written pages or fewer, or

• Fifteen slides or fewer.

Applicants must provide technical, business, prototype readiness, transition readiness, ruggedness, and commercialization information. The solicitation does not estimate preparation time.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can help your team:

• Determine the most appropriate Line of Effort.

• Assess alignment with DIU evaluation criteria.

• Position your technology around prototype readiness, transition readiness, and dual-use value.

• Develop a compliant solution brief and supporting materials.

• Prepare for DIU pitch sessions.

• Structure technical narratives around operational military outcomes and commercialization potential.

• Support proposal development if invited to Phase 3.

Review the solicitation here.

FY27 Communications and Networking Applied Research Announcement for Office of Naval Research

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

Executive Summary:

The Office of Naval Research (ONR) is seeking applied research projects that advance communications and networking technologies for distributed maritime operations and the Naval Tactical Grid. This opportunity is focused on technologies that improve connectivity, resilience, throughput, and mission-critical information exchange across naval, joint, and coalition forces operating in challenging environments.

ONR is particularly interested in projects related to advanced communications systems, networking technologies, low-probability-of-detection communications, distributed network control, and predictive network performance algorithms. The agency plans to fund approximately five to six awards.

Although white papers are not required, they are strongly encouraged and provide an opportunity to receive feedback before submitting a full proposal. To ensure full consideration, white papers should be submitted no later than July 31, 2026, 4 pm Eastern Time.

How much funding would I receive?

ONR plans to fund five (5) to six (6) individual awards valued at $250,000 to $500,000 per year using research funds. Lower-cost and higher-cost proposals will also be considered.

The period of performance may be one, two, or three years.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding is intended for applied research projects that develop and mature communications and networking technologies for Naval operations. ONR identified the following focus areas:

• Development of long-range VHF-band data links using compact 4x4 MIMO systems based on 5G/COTS technologies and sub-MHz frequency channelization.

• Novel design and prototyping of compact electronically steered apertures for frequencies above Ka-band.

• Innovative approaches for low probability-of-detection communications against advanced electronic threats.

• Advanced techniques for distributed network control, synchronization, and scheduling.

• New algorithms for predicting network behavior, network performance, or emerging operational requirements that can be translated into traffic engineering policies.

ONR also states that it is receptive to innovative communications and networking concepts that fall outside these focus areas if they are important to Navy and Marine Corps communications and networking needs.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Offerors that submit white papers may receive Government feedback indicating whether the proposed technology appears to be of “particular value” to the Department of the Navy. This feedback is intended to help organizations assess the likelihood of funding.

ONR may also suggest modifications to project scope, budget, tasks, or applications to better align proposals with available funding and Navy priorities.

Organizations identified as offering technologies of particular value may be invited to provide an oral presentation to further discuss their approach and impact.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Key dates include:

• Recommended White Paper Submission Date: July 31, 2026, 4 pm Eastern Time

• Notification of White Paper Valuation: August 14, 2026

• Oral Presentations: September 10, 2026

• Notification of Selection: Full Proposals: October 5, 2026

• Recommended Full Proposal Submission: November 16, 2026, 4 pm Eastern Time

• Awards: April 15, 2027

The solicitation states that white papers should be submitted no later than July 31, 2026, 4 pm Eastern Time to ensure full and timely consideration.

Funding decisions should be made by October 5, 2026, and selected projects have an estimated award date of April 15, 2027.

Where does this funding come from?

This opportunity is offered by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) under BAA Call Number N0001426SBC11, titled FY27 Communications and Networking Applied Research. It is issued under the Navy and Marine Corps Long Range Broad Agency Announcement N0001425SB001.

The effort supports the Navy’s Information Warfare vision and communications and networking research priorities.

Who is eligible to apply?

The solicitation does not provide a standalone eligibility section within this announcement. Offerors are directed to submit white papers and proposals in accordance with the parent Broad Agency Announcement N0001425SB001 or its successor.

The announcement explicitly references participation by:

• Small businesses.

• Other-than-small businesses (large businesses).

• Non-profit organizations.

• Educational institutions.

Additional eligibility requirements are not specified in this announcement.

Who is not eligible to apply?

Not specified in this announcement. Offerors should review the parent Broad Agency Announcement N0001425SB001 or its successor for any eligibility restrictions.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Based on the stated program objectives, ONR is seeking projects that directly advance communications and networking capabilities for Naval operations and distributed maritime operations. Competitive projects are likely to demonstrate:

• Strong technical innovation.

• Clear relevance to Navy and Marine Corps missions.

• Measurable operational performance improvements.

• Practical concepts of operation.

• Demonstrated plans for operational evaluation.

• Clear research goals and benchmarks.

• Alignment with Gold Standard Science requirements.

Projects aligned with one or more of the five identified focus areas may be particularly responsive to the solicitation.

How competitive will this solicitation be?

ONR plans to fund approximately five to six awards, indicating a limited number of available selections.

The solicitation does not specify the expected number of applicants, historical success rates, or anticipated competition levels.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Important requirements include:

• White papers should not exceed five single-sided pages, excluding the cover page, references, and principal investigator resume.

• White papers must use 12-point Times New Roman font and margins of at least one inch.

• White papers must be submitted through the ONR Submission Portal.

• White papers must include a rough order of magnitude cost estimate.

• White papers must address Gold Standard Science requirements.

• Principal investigator resumes are limited to one page.

• Other-than-small businesses, including large businesses, non-profits, and educational institutions, must submit a subcontracting plan with their research proposal.

The solicitation also requires compliance with Gold Standard Science policies under Executive Order 14303.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

The solicitation does not specify the expected preparation time.

Applicants choosing to submit a white paper must prepare a technical concept, naval relevance discussion, operational concept, operational utility assessment plan, research goals and benchmarks, Gold Standard Science discussion, rough order of magnitude budget estimate, and principal investigator resume.

Organizations invited to continue will also need to prepare a full proposal in accordance with the requirements of N0001425SB001 or its successor.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can help you:

• Assess alignment with ONR’s Communications and Networking priorities.

• Develop a competitive white paper that clearly demonstrates Naval relevance and technical innovation.

• Refine project scope, milestones, benchmarks, and transition strategy.

• Prepare full proposal technical and cost volumes.

• Strengthen positioning for oral presentations and ONR discussions.

• Ensure compliance with submission requirements and deadlines.

Review the solicitation here.

NIH & NIAID | RADIOLOGICAL OR NUCLEAR MEDICAL COUNTERMEASURE PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT (PDS)

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

Executive Summary:

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is seeking a single organization capable of providing comprehensive product development support for radiological and nuclear medical countermeasures (MCMs) and biodosimetry technologies. The awardee will support the development of products intended to achieve FDA approval, licensure, or clearance through a series of government-funded task orders. This opportunity is designed for organizations with broad product development capabilities spanning animal models, efficacy testing, nonclinical development, manufacturing, quality systems, and Phase I clinical studies. The proposal deadline is August 31, 2026 at 3:00 PM, Local Time. NIAID has explicitly stated that this deadline will not be extended.

How much funding would I receive?

The solicitation is structured as a single Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract.

• Contract minimum: $2,500

• Contract maximum: $135,000,000

• One IDIQ contract is expected to be awarded.

The solicitation does not specify the value of individual task orders. Most sample task orders included in the solicitation list estimated costs as "TBD."

What could I use the funding for?

Funding will support product development activities related to radiological or nuclear medical countermeasures and biodosimetry technologies. The contractor must be capable of supporting activities across five task areas:

• Task Area A: Administrative and Technical Support

• Task Area B: Animal Model and New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) Development and Efficacy Testing of Candidate MCMs

• Task Area C: Non-Clinical Studies supporting IND, NDA, and BLA submissions

• Task Area D: Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) Support

• Task Area E: Phase I Clinical Safety Studies and Support

Examples of supported activities include:

• Animal model development

• Efficacy testing in rodent and large animal models

• Biodosimetry support

• Pharmacology and toxicology studies

• Manufacturing and formulation development

• Quality assurance activities

• Phase I clinical safety studies

• Regulatory support toward FDA approval, licensure, or clearance

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

The solicitation does not specify any non-financial benefits such as mentorship, commercialization support, technical assistance, networking programs, or investor introductions.

However, the contractor will work directly with NIAID through government-directed task orders and support the development of medical countermeasures intended for FDA approval, licensure, or clearance.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Key dates include:

• Solicitation issued: June 2, 2026

• Recommended deadline for questions: July 2, 2026 at 3:00 PM EST

• Proposal deadline: August 31, 2026 at 3:00 PM, Local Time (Unchanged)

• Contract period of performance: July 1, 2027 through June 30, 2034

The solicitation does not specify an anticipated award date.

Work and funding will be provided through task orders issued under the IDIQ contract after award.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding comes from:

• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

• National Institutes of Health (NIH)

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

Who is eligible to apply?

The solicitation does not provide a specific eligibility section limiting applicants by company type.

The solicitation states that one IDIQ contract will be awarded to an organization capable of providing comprehensive product development services and notes that products may originate from industry, academia, and government agencies.

Offerors must:

• Be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) prior to award.

• Demonstrate the facilities, expertise, personnel, and capabilities necessary to perform all required task areas.

Who is not eligible to apply?

The solicitation does not explicitly identify categories of organizations that are ineligible to apply.

However, organizations that cannot demonstrate the required technical capabilities, facilities, staffing, regulatory compliance, and ability to perform across the required task areas may not be competitive. The solicitation also requires SAM registration prior to award.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

The solicitation strongly favors organizations capable of operating as a full-service product development partner for NIAID.

Competitive offerors will likely demonstrate:

• Experience developing radiological or nuclear medical countermeasures

• GLP-compliant animal efficacy testing capabilities

• Large-animal research capabilities

• Biodosimetry support capabilities

• Nonclinical pharmacology and toxicology expertise

• Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) manufacturing capabilities

• Regulatory support experience for INDs, NDAs, BLAs, and FDA submissions

• Phase I clinical research capabilities

• Ability to execute work across all five task areas through internal resources and/or integrated subcontractor teams

The solicitation states that the contractor must be capable of carrying out task orders in each of the five task areas identified in the Statement of Work.

How competitive will this solicitation be?

This solicitation is likely to be highly competitive.

Reasons include:

• Only one IDIQ contract is anticipated.

• Maximum contract ceiling of $135,000,000.

• Requirement to support all five technical task areas.

• Significant infrastructure, regulatory, manufacturing, animal research, and clinical capabilities are required.

The solicitation does not state the expected number of proposals or anticipated success rate.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Examples include:

• Offerors must comply with extensive human subjects, animal welfare, clinical trial, data reporting, and information security requirements.

• NIH-funded clinical trials must be registered and reported through ClinicalTrials.gov.

• Contract funds may not be used for abortion activities, human embryo research, or gene-editing technologies in human embryos.

• Contract funds may not be used for needle exchange programs.

• Contract funds may not be used to disseminate false or deliberately misleading information.

• Certain direct costs may require prior approval, including foreign travel, consultant fees, subcontracts, and other specified costs.

Proposal restrictions include:

• Technical proposal page limit is 250 pages inclusive of attachments, as clarified by Amendment 1.

• CVs may not exceed 3 pages.

• Pages exceeding the limitation will not be considered.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

The solicitation does not specify an estimated preparation time.

However, the proposal requires:

• Detailed technical responses

• Responses to task-order scenarios

• Cost proposals

• Regulatory and compliance documentation

• Staffing and organizational information

• Potential subcontracting plans

• Capability demonstrations across five major technical areas

Given the complexity and breadth of the requirements, applicants should plan for a substantial proposal development effort.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can help organizations:

• Assess fit before investing in proposal development

• Interpret the solicitation requirements

• Build a compliant proposal strategy

• Coordinate technical, management, and cost volume development

• Manage subcontractor contributions

• Develop win themes aligned with NIAID priorities

• Review proposals for compliance with page limits, formatting requirements, and evaluation criteria

• Support final submission preparation

Review the solicitation here.

ARPA-H REST (Restorative & health-Enhancing Sleep Time) Program

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

Executive Summary:

ARPA-H is seeking ambitious teams to develop the next generation of sleep technologies through the Restorative & health-Enhancing Sleep Time (REST) program.

The program aims to redefine sleep as a measurable and controllable biological system by funding technologies that can objectively measure sleep quality at home, diagnose poor sleep (with a primary emphasis on insomnia), and deliver personalized, real-time interventions throughout the night.

REST is structured around two technical areas:

• Technical Area 1 (TA1): Measure & Diagnose

• Technical Area 2 (TA2): Control & Treat

ARPA-H is specifically looking for interdisciplinary teams that combine expertise across areas such as sleep medicine, neuroscience, AI/ML, biosensing, wearable technologies, neuromodulation, clinical research, and regulatory strategy.

A Solution Summary is required before a team can be invited to submit a full proposal.

Application deadline: August 12, 2026 at 12pm ET.

How much funding would I receive?

The solicitation does not specify award amounts, award ranges, total program funding, or the number of awards anticipated, but typical ARPA-H awards range anywhere from $5 million to $50 million.

ARPA-H states that awards may be made through Other Transaction (OT) agreements.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding may be used to develop technologies within one or both of the following Technical Areas.

Technical Area 1 (TA1): Measure & Diagnose

• Consumer-grade in-home sleep monitoring systems

• Wearable or nearable sleep sensing technologies

• Sleep microstructure measurement technologies

• Mechanistic insomnia subtype classification systems

• In-home diagnostic systems

• Personalized sleep-related health risk prediction tools

• Human factors and usability validation

• Integration with broader REST program resources

Technical Area 2 (TA2): Control & Treat

• Closed-loop sleep intervention systems

• Noninvasive neuromodulation technologies

• Real-time physiological monitoring and feedback systems

• Adaptive treatment algorithms

• Personalized sleep intervention technologies

• Human subjects research

• Safety and tolerability validation

• Regulatory and commercialization planning

Examples of technologies referenced in the solicitation include:

• Wearable EEG

• Smartwatches

• Rings

• In/under-mattress sensors

• WiFi signal analysis

• Haptics

• Acoustics

• Transcranial electrical stimulation

• Focused ultrasound

• Targeted nerve stimulation

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Potential benefits include:

• Access to shared REST program resources

• Access to large-scale harmonized sleep datasets as they become available

• Participation in program-wide benchmarking efforts

• Support from a Research Integrator focused on interoperability and transition planning

• Independent verification and validation support

• Opportunities to collaborate with other REST performers

The solicitation also anticipates support for future clinical translation and commercialization activities.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Key dates currently identified in the solicitation are:

• Solicitation released: June 16, 2026

• Proposers' Day: July 13, 2026

• Solution Summary Deadline: August 12, 2026 at 12pm ET

• Full Proposal: By invitation only following Solution Summary review

• Full Proposal Due Date: Not specified in the solicitation

Important notes:

• Submission of a Solution Summary is mandatory.

• Only selected Solution Summaries will be invited to submit a Full Proposal.

• Submission of a Solution Summary does not guarantee invitation to submit a Full Proposal.

• Award timing is not specified in the solicitation.

Program duration:

• 66 months (5.5 years)

• Phase 1: Months 1–24

• Phase 2: Months 25–42

• Phase 3: Months 43–66

The Solution Summary deadline is August 12, 2026 at 12pm ET.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding comes from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) through the Proactive Health Office (PHO).

Program:

• Restorative & health-Enhancing Sleep Time (REST)

Solicitation Number:

• ARPA-H-SOL-26-159

Award Instrument:

• Other Transaction (OT)

Who is eligible to apply?

ARPA-H states it is primarily interested in proposals from:

• Commercial performers

• Academic institutions

• Non-profit organizations

Additional requirements include:

• Work must be conducted in the United States

• Active SAM.gov registration is required

• Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) is required

Restrictions include:

• Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) are generally not permitted to participate as prime or sub-performers except under limited exceptions

• Government entities, including federal employees, are generally not permitted to respond

• ARPA-H will not make awards to entities organized under the laws of a covered foreign country per 42 U.S.C. 290c(n)(1)(D)

Non-domestic performers are encouraged to collaborate with a domestic entity.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Based on the solicitation, competitive proposals are likely to:

• Focus on insomnia as a primary use case

• Deliver objective, physiological measurement of sleep quality

• Demonstrate clinically meaningful home-based performance

• Combine multiple technical disciplines

• Incorporate AI/ML approaches

• Include strong commercialization pathways

• Demonstrate integration with the broader REST ecosystem

• Provide clear plans for data sharing, benchmarking, and interoperability

• Show a credible path toward clinical translation

ARPA-H specifically encourages teams spanning:

• Sleep medicine

• Neuroscience

• Psychiatry

• Biomedical engineering

• Wearable and in-home biosensing

• Signal processing

• Machine learning

• Neuromodulation

• Clinical trials

• Regulatory science

For TA1, proposals should also include a credible industry cost-share strategy as technologies mature toward commercialization.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Out-of-scope TA1 activities include:

• General wellness tracking only

• Sleep hygiene tools only

• Conventional sleep scoring without a credible path to diagnosis, mechanistic characterization, or health-relevant prediction

Out-of-scope TA2 activities include:

• Pharmacologic treatment-only approaches

• Non-personalized interventions

• Systems that do not use objective physiological measurements to adapt treatment

For both Technical Areas:

• Standalone infrastructure efforts without direct contribution to REST research objectives are out of scope

Additional requirements include:

• Human subjects research approvals

• Participation in program coordination activities

• Benchmarking and integration activities

• Compliance with research security reviews

• Compliance with negotiated intellectual property and data rights requirements

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

The required Solution Summary is limited to:

• Maximum 6 pages for a single Technical Area

• Maximum 8 pages for proposals covering both Technical Areas

Required content includes:

• Technical Area selection

• Technical approach

• Team qualifications

• Key risks and mitigations

• Rough order of magnitude budget

• Preliminary cost-share strategy for TA1 applicants

Because REST emphasizes interdisciplinary teams, commercialization planning, human subjects considerations, regulatory strategy, and technical integration, applicants should expect substantial coordination and preparation effort.

The solicitation does not estimate preparation time.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can support:

• Opportunity qualification

• Teaming strategy

• Technical narrative development

• Solution Summary preparation

• Commercialization strategy development

• Cost-share strategy development for TA1 applicants

• Proposal management

• Full Proposal preparation if invited

• Pitch preparation and coaching

• Reviewer-style compliance reviews

Review the solicitation here.

Cornerstone Initiative Request (CIR) | Reshore Enhanced Secure Heterogenous Advanced Packaged Electronics(RESHAPE) 2.0 | Cornerstone Initiative Request (CIR) Number: CS-26-1301

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

Executive Summary:

The Reshore Enhanced Secure Heterogenous Advanced Packaged Electronics (RESHAPE) 2.0 initiative is a major Department of Defense effort to build a U.S.-owned, domestic advanced packaging ecosystem for secure microelectronics manufacturing. The Government intends to fund multiple prototype projects that expand U.S. capabilities in advanced substrates, 2.5D and 3D packaging, fan-out packaging, RF packaging, advanced assembly, testing, and related manufacturing technologies.

This is a large-scale funding opportunity with an estimated total initiative value of $1,250,000,000 and an expected 4 to 10 awards. The Government is seeking projects that strengthen domestic supply chains, reshore advanced microelectronics manufacturing capabilities, and support Department of Defense programs.

Application deadline: 15 July 2026/12:00pm Central. Questions will not be accepted after 8 July 2026/12:00pm Central.

How much funding would I receive?

The solicitation states that the total estimated value for this initiative is $1,250,000,000.00, subject to the availability of funds. The Government intends to award multiple (estimated 4 to 10) Fixed-Price Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs).

The solicitation does not specify individual award sizes. The Government reserves the right to award all, some, or none of the proposed elements.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding is intended for prototype projects that improve U.S. advanced packaging capability and capacity for defense-related microelectronics. Projects may address one or more of the following technical elements:

• Advanced Substrates

• 3D Packaging

• Fan-Out Packaging

• 2.5D Packaging

• Radio Frequency Packaging

• Design Enablement

• Department of War Multi-Chip Module Prototypes

• Back-End-of-Line (BEOL) Processes

• Advanced Assembly

• Advanced Test and Failure Analysis

The initiative supports development of domestic capabilities for advanced system integration, secure packaging, heterogeneous integration, manufacturing infrastructure, prototyping, testing, and related technologies.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Potential benefits include:

• Eligibility for a prototype OTA rather than a FAR-based contract.

• Potential follow-on production opportunities under 10 U.S.C. § 4022(f) if the prototype project is successfully completed.

• Opportunity to participate in a national effort to establish a domestic advanced packaging ecosystem supporting Department of Defense programs and supply chain resilience.

The solicitation explicitly states that follow-on production is not guaranteed.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Key dates include:

• Solicitation issued: 15 June 2026

• Questions accepted until: 8 July 2026/12:00pm Central

• White Papers due date: 15 July 2026/12:00pm Central

The solicitation uses a two-step process consisting of:

1. White Paper submission.

2. Full Proposal submission by invitation. The due date for full proposals will be provided in the Government's invitation.

Funding is expected to be provided through milestone-based payments upon successful completion and Government acceptance of agreed deliverables.

The solicitation does not specify when award decisions will be made or when funding will be received.

Where does this funding come from?

The opportunity is being issued by Army Contracting Command – Rock Island Arsenal (ACC-RIA) on behalf of the Combat Capabilities Development Command – Chemical Biological Center (DEVCOM CBC) in support of the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) Program (10 U.S.C. § 4817).

Funding supports the Department of Defense objective to strengthen the defense industrial base, expand domestic manufacturing capacity, and address supply chain vulnerabilities in advanced microelectronics packaging.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must:

• Be members with an executed Cornerstone Consortium Management Agreement.

• Have an active System for Award Management (SAM) registration.

• Have favorable status in the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS).

Foreign participation, access, and transfers are restricted and reviewed on a case-by-case basis when determined to be in the best interest of the U.S. Government.

To satisfy OTA statutory requirements, projects must meet at least one condition described in 10 U.S.C. § 4022, including participation by a nontraditional defense contractor, participation by qualifying small businesses, qualifying cost share, or exceptional circumstances approved by the Government.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

The solicitation favors projects that:

• Establish or expand domestic advanced packaging capabilities.

• Strengthen supply chain resilience and reduce foreign dependencies.

• Deliver measurable Government return on investment through financial, technical, or supply-chain benefits.

• Support Department of War Programs of Record.

• Demonstrate commercially viable business models and sustainable operations.

• Provide functional prototypes with clear transition pathways.

• Leverage prior Department of War and Department of Commerce investments.

• Strengthen domestic workforce, manufacturing infrastructure, and technical capability.

Priority is specifically encouraged for responses that include delivery of functional prototypes capable of transitioning to Department of War Programs of Record.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Key restrictions include:

• All manufacturing and development work must be performed within the United States.

• Foreign participation is restricted and subject to Government approval.

• Participation in non-U.S. research programs is restricted without Government concurrence.

• Export-controlled information restrictions apply.

• NIST SP 800-171 cybersecurity requirements apply.

• Controlled Unclassified Information requirements apply.

• The Government will seek Unlimited Rights or, at minimum, Government Purpose Rights for work performed under the project.

• The security classification level is UNCLASSIFIED, although CUI requirements may apply.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

This opportunity will likely require a significant application effort.

The solicitation requires detailed technical, manufacturing, supply chain, financial, workforce, infrastructure, ROI, commercialization, and milestone planning information. White papers are limited to 10 pages, and invited full proposals are limited to 15 pages plus appendices and supporting materials.

Applicants responding to multiple technical elements must prepare separate responses for each element.

The solicitation does not specify an estimated preparation time.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can support companies by:

• Assessing fit against the solicitation requirements.

• Identifying the strongest technical element(s) for submission.

• Developing the white paper strategy and narrative.

• Building milestone-based project plans.

• Preparing commercialization, ROI, and supply chain impact sections.

• Developing cost-share and investment positioning.

• Drafting and managing proposal submissions.

• Supporting consortium participation and OTA strategy.

MTEC Multi-Topic Request for Project Proposals: Military Medical Prototype Advancement (MTEC-26-04-MultiTopic)

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

Executive Summary

The Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC) has released its Fiscal Year 2026 Multi-Topic Request for Project Proposals (RPP), solicitation number MTEC-26-04-MultiTopic, under Other Transaction Agreement No. W81XWH-15-9-0001. This is the full solicitation, not a pre-announcement. The RPP was issued on August 6, 2026, and Enhanced White Papers are due by October 30, 2026 at Noon Eastern Time.

The opportunity funds military-relevant medical prototype technologies, medical techniques, knowledge products, devices, drugs, and biologics across 15 Focus Areas spanning primary prevention, infectious disease, trauma and wound infection, sepsis, musculoskeletal injury, pain management, anesthesia, and blast and blunt exposure monitoring. Note that the released RPP now includes 15 Focus Areas rather than the 14 described in the earlier pre-announcement. Focus Area 15 (Blast and Blunt Sensors for Exposure Monitoring) has been added, and several Focus Area titles were refined.

Each proposal must address one and only one Focus Area. Competition is expected to be highly competitive and uses a two-stage Enhanced White Paper process. Evaluations run on a rolling, first-in first-out basis, so early submission is an advantage. Only current MTEC members in good standing may submit as the prime.

Application deadline: October 30, 2026, Noon Eastern Time.

How much funding would I receive?

For most Focus Areas the funding amount, number of awards, and period of performance remain unspecified and are contingent upon the availability of federal funds. For informational purposes, MTEC states that the average size of MTEC awards for the initial period of performance is approximately $2.0M to $3.5M over a 2 to 3 year period of performance. These figures are historical averages and are not guaranteed award amounts.

The released RPP does specify funding for three sub areas. For Focus Area 10A, therapeutic interventions to accelerate recovery from musculoskeletal injury, the Government anticipates 1 to 2 awards of roughly $3M each, with a period of performance not to exceed 36 months. For Focus Area 10B, preservation of musculoskeletal health, the Government anticipates 2 to 3 awards of roughly $1.5M each, also with a period of performance not to exceed 36 months. For Focus Area 15, blast and blunt sensors for exposure monitoring, a total of $10.5M is available for 2 awards, one of which may be up to $7M, with a period of performance not to exceed 48 months and an expected FY27 start.

Focus Area 10 and Focus Area 15 awards are expected to begin in FY27. Awards from the RPP overall are expected to be made in FY 2027 and FY 2028.

For Focus Areas 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, and 14, the Government has chosen to keep funding availability unspecified given the wide range of prototype maturity that could be responsive. Offerors are encouraged to propose budgets and a period of performance commensurate with the nature, scope, and complexity of the proposed work, and to structure budgets around major deliverables so that Sponsors can more easily allocate available funding.

Awards may be structured incrementally and tied to completion of milestones and deliverables.

What could I use the funding for?

Each proposal must address only one Focus Area. Proposed solutions may include medical techniques, knowledge products, and materiel such as medical devices, drugs, and biologics. Military relevance is a key requirement.

Examples of work that could be included in the period of performance include non-GLP laboratory research, exploratory studies of candidate devices, drugs, or systems, evaluation in laboratory or animal models, prototype development and maturation, nonclinical and preclinical studies for a regulatory data package, preparation of regulatory submissions (IND, IDE), clinical feasibility and pivotal studies as needed, stability and shelf-life studies, GMP manufacturing establishment, and prototype delivery for military-relevant testing.

Focus Areas:

• Focus Area 1: Policies and practices for cross-cutting prevention

  The aim of this focus area is to develop and evaluate non-training interventions/activities that address risk and protective factors for harmful behaviors. Priority risk/protective factors to address include: morale, fairness, work-life balance, passive leadership, toxic leadership, and workplace hostility.

• Focus Area 2: Fostering Service member physical fitness through integrated primary prevention

  The aim of this focus area is to develop interventions or trainings to combat the key contributors to obesity and physical inactivity. This focus area encourages offerors to consider resource/environmental constraints and social and psychological barriers present for warfighters when developing solutions.

• Focus Area 3: Identify and reduce barriers to help-seeking

  The aim of this focus area is to identify and develop solutions against key drivers of help-seeking. Solutions should prioritize high-impact resources/services and Service member populations at elevated risk for harmful behaviors.

• Focus Area 4: Prophylactic Solutions to Prevent Battlefield and Complex Traumatic Wound Infections in Austere or Contested Environments

  The aim of this focus area is thedevelopment of solutions to prevent or delay wound infections (bacterial, fungal, and/or antimicrobial-resistant) following battlefield and complex traumatic wounds, including in austere or contested environments, for use at the point of injury and in prolonged care environments (Roles 1 and 2), without negatively impacting wound healing. High-priority pathogens include Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus aureus, and invasive fungal infections.

• Focus Area 5: Pathogen Agnostic Countermeasures for the Treatment of Sepsis Caused by Wound Infection

  The aim of this focus area is the development of products, including immune modulators, novel drugs, immunotherapeutics, and other pathogen-agnostic and/or host-directed approaches, to treat sepsis following battlefield and complex traumatic wounds (excluding burn wounds), including in austere or contested environments.

• Focus Area 6: Knowledge Product Solutions for the Prevention of Infection in Traumatic Penetrating Wounds

  The aim of this focus area is the development of knowledge product solutions to optimize clinical practice guidelines for the prevention of infection in traumatic penetrating wounds.

• Focus Area 7: Bacterial Diarrhea Prevention

  The aim of this focus area is the development of solutions to prevent bacterial diarrhea resulting from high-priority pathogens (Campylobacter jejuni, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, and Shigella) in operational settings.

• Focus Area 8: Dengue Fever Prevention and/or Treatment Solutions

  The aim of this focus area is the development of prophylactic drugs and vaccines, to prevent all four serotypes of Dengue Fever.

• Focus Area 9: Prevention and Treatment of Emerging Infectious Diseases

  The aim of this focus area is on developing pathogen-agnostic and/or broad-spectrum solutions for prevention or treatment of Lassa fever virus, Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHFV), and various hantaviruses, which are high-consequence pathogens that pose distinct risks to the deployed Joint Force.

• Focus Area 10: Musculoskeletal Injury Treatment

  The aim of this focus area is the development of solutions for musculoskeletal injury interventions for the pre-hospital environment. Specifically, this focus area seeks (1) therapeutic interventions to accelerate recovery from musculoskeletal injury or (2) solutions for the preservation of musculoskeletal health.

• Focus Area 11: Operational Suitability of Existing Pain Treatments

  The aim of this focus area is for solutions that inform risk/benefit decisions and create evidence-based recommendations for the Joint Trauma System (JTS) to refine and optimize existing Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) and Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) protocols.

• Focus Area 12: Repurposing and Novel Delivery of Approved Compounds

  The aim of this focus area is to accelerate the development of safer, opioid-sparing analgesics by leveraging the FDA's 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway for repurposed drugs delivered via novel administration methods. The desired end-state is a candidate drug/device combination ready to enter Phase I clinical trials.

• Focus Area 13: Development of Novel Non-Addictive Analgesics

  The aim of this focus area is to advance the preclinical development of a novel, non-addictive analgesic compound with a mechanism of action suitable for treating acute, combat-related trauma. The desired end-state is a promising lead candidate with a data package sufficient to justify further investment in IND-enabling studies.

• Focus Area 14: Advanced Anesthesia and Procedural Pain Solutions

  The aim of this focus area is to develop and demonstrate a prototype system or therapeutic for the management of anesthesia and procedural pain in austere environments (Role 1 and 2). The goal is to produce a solution that reduces the cognitive burden on providers and can be used by non-specialists.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Potential additional benefits include:

• Potential award of one or more non-competitive follow-on tasks based on successful project performance and milestone progression, awarded to the original awardee.

• Access to MTEC member teaming resources, the Member Profiles directory, and M-Corps subject matter experts.

• Potential access to MTEC's consortium network and its relationships with the Defense Health Agency and other government agencies.

• Eligibility for the "basket" provision: proposals with technical merit that cannot be funded immediately remain eligible for funding for two years from the date of submission.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Key dates from the released RPP:

• RPP issued: August 6, 2026

• BIDS submission portal opens: no later than August 21, 2026

• Enhanced White Paper due: October 30, 2026, Noon Eastern Time

• Proposers Conference series: webinars expected within several weeks of RPP release

• Teaming Connects: virtual sessions to be scheduled; 3 minutes and 1 slide per pitch

• Period of performance start: no sooner than 4 months after the submission deadline unless otherwise specified

• Awards expected: FY 2027 and FY 2028

The solicitation uses a two-stage Enhanced White Paper process. In Stage 1, current MTEC members submit Enhanced White Papers in the mandatory format. Selected offerors are invited to submit a full cost proposal in Stage 2. Evaluations and award recommendations are conducted on a rolling, first-in first-out basis, so submitting early in the open window is advantageous.

Application deadline: October 30, 2026, Noon Eastern Time.

Where does this funding come from?

The opportunity is released through the Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC), a 501(c)(3) non profit. MTEC supports the Department of Defense and Department of War, the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command, the Defense Health Agency, and other government agencies. MTEC operates under a renewable Other Transaction Agreement with a ten year term, Agreement No. W81XWH-15-9-0001, with the Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity, awarded under the authority of 10 U.S.C. § 4022.

Who is eligible to apply?

The prime performer must be an MTEC member in good standing at least three days prior to submission of the Enhanced White Paper. Subcontractors and lower tier subawardees do not need to be MTEC members. Proposed projects must fit MTEC's prototype definition and must not be exploratory, and a foundation of preliminary data is required. A minimum KRL or TRL of 3 at the time of submission is required unless a Focus Area specifies otherwise. Proposed solutions must not have been submitted to MTEC under RPPs within the past two years, including the 25-04-MultiTopic and 24-01-MPAI solicitations; substantially revised proposals that respond to prior Government feedback are allowed, but identical resubmissions are not. Each Enhanced White Paper must align to a single Focus Area.

Members who have not paid the MTEC Assessment Fee within 90 days of its due date are not considered members in good standing.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Selection is highly competitive and is based on technical merit, programmatic considerations including portfolio composition, and the availability of funds. The number of meaningful submissions normally exceeds what available funding can support.

The RPP now specifies three evaluation factors:

1. Programmatic Relevance, which covers alignment to the Focus Area, the clinical problem and research gap, and demonstration of the minimum requirements: military relevance, prototype fit, minimum KRL or TRL, new submission, and single Focus Area alignment.

2. Technical Approach, which covers the hypothesis and objectives, scientific rationale and preliminary data, experimental design and feasibility, the team's ability to execute including regulatory compliance, and the statement of work and budget.

3. Commercialization Readiness Advancement, which covers technical maturity advancement, the market and business model, and the development and regulatory strategy, or a plan to transition the technology to the government where commercialization does not apply.

Proposals are rated Outstanding, Good, Acceptable, Marginal, or Unacceptable. High merit ratings do not guarantee funding, since decisions also weigh funding priorities and portfolio balance.

The projects best positioned are those that address exactly one Focus Area, demonstrate clear military relevance, meet the prototype definition, satisfy the minimum KRL or TRL, include supporting preliminary and preclinical data, address a clearly identified DoD medical need, and include the Focus Area's mandatory submission documents.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Each proposal must address only one Focus Area, and failure to align to a single Focus Area may result in an Unacceptable rating. Projects must not be exploratory and must have preliminary data. The minimum KRL or TRL is 3 at submission unless a Focus Area specifies higher. Solutions submitted to MTEC within the previous two years may not be resubmitted.

Several Focus Areas carry mandatory documentation at submission, for example preclinical efficacy data, toxicity data if the FDA requires it, and documented FDA engagement, and missing required documentation can result in an Unacceptable rating. Route of administration limits apply to Focus Areas 8 and 9, which allow oral, intramuscular, transdermal, or subcutaneous administration only and exclude intravenous. Animal studies are prohibited under Focus Area 10A and out of scope for Focus Area 15.

Research involving human subjects or animals requires review by the DHA R&D MRDC Office of Research and Regulatory Compliance, specifically the Office of Human Research Oversight for human subjects and the Animal Care and Use Review Office for animals, in addition to local IRB or IACUC review. Allow two to three months for the human subjects review and three to four months for the animal review, and build at least 30 days into the schedule for the compliance office review and authorization process.

The MTEC Assessment Fee of 2 percent of the total funded value is not allowable as a direct charge and must not be included in proposed direct costs. Do not submit classified information in the Enhanced White Paper.

What do I need to submit?

Stage 1 requires six documents for all Focus Areas, submitted separately through BIDS, each 5MB or lower: Enhanced White Paper, limited to ten pages including the cover page, using the mandatory template in Section 8. Warranties and Representations. Statement of Work and Milestone Payment Schedule. Current and Pending Support. Intellectual Property and Data Rights Assertions, signed. Technology or Knowledge Readiness Level Checklist. Additional documents are required or encouraged depending on the Focus Area, including Extramural Research Involving Human Subjects, Documentation of FDA Engagement, Letters of Support, Biographical Sketches, and a Published or Additional Data Addendum. Refer to Addendum 6 of the RPP for the matrix showing which documents apply to each Focus Area. The Enhanced White Paper must be in 12 point font or larger, single spaced, 8.5 by 11 inches, with margins of at least 0.5 inch. Full cost proposals are only required in Stage 2, for offerors recommended for funding. Submissions are made through BIDS at https://bids.mtec-sc.org/Hub/Portal.nsf/Start?ReadForm. It is the offeror's responsibility to ensure a timely and complete submission, so submit ahead of the deadline.

How is my application evaluated?

MTEC first conducts a preliminary screening for compliance. Enhanced White Papers that pass are forwarded to the Government for source selection against the three evaluation factors above, sometimes with external peer review. Favorably evaluated offerors may be invited to a dialogue with the Government. The outcomes are an overall recommendation of Award, placement in the basket, or non selection. Given the high submission volume and compressed rolling review cycles, feedback may be very brief.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

The RPP does not specify a preparation time, but the ten page Enhanced White Paper, the six required documents, and the Focus Area specific data requirements, including preclinical data and FDA engagement documentation for several areas, mean preparation should begin now. Because evaluations follow a rolling process where the earliest complete submissions are reviewed first, submitting earlier in the open window improves the odds. Companies proposing human subjects or animal research should account for the additional regulatory review timelines noted above.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can help your team:

1. Assess fit against the 15 Focus Areas and confirm you are targeting exactly one.

2. Determine whether your technology satisfies MTEC's prototype definition and the minimum KRL or TRL 3 expectation, and complete the readiness level checklist accurately.

3. Build a compelling military relevance narrative tied to the Joint Trauma System guidelines, Tactical Combat Casualty Care protocols, or other Department of War requirements documents.

4. Develop the Enhanced White Paper strategy and draft the full ten page paper plus the six required documents.

5. Assemble Focus Area specific requirements, including preclinical data packages, FDA engagement documentation, and letters of support.

6. Identify teaming partners through MTEC's Member Profiles directory and prepare for Teaming Connects.

7. Sequence your submission to take advantage of the rolling review.

8. Prepare the Stage 2 cost proposal and supporting materials if invited.

Review solicitation here.

NASA - Robotically Manipulated Payload Challenge

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

Executive Summary:

NASA’s Flight Opportunities program is accepting applications for the Robotically Manipulated Payload Challenge, the fifth challenge in the NASA TechLeap Prize series. The program is designed to advance technologies that support in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM) by funding payloads that can be manipulated, installed, reconfigured, or activated by a robotic arm in low Earth orbit.

NASA plans to select up to three winners, each with the opportunity to receive up to $500,000 in prize funding across three phases. In addition, NASA intends to offer Phase 3 winners a flight test aboard a hosted orbital spacecraft at no additional cost.

The application deadline is August 12, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET. Applicants must complete registration by July 29, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET.

How much funding would I receive?

NASA will select up to three winners.

Each winner may receive up to $500,000 in total prize funding across three phases:

• Phase 1: $200,000

• Phase 2: Additional $200,000

• Phase 3: Additional $100,000

Funding is awarded as a prize competition rather than a grant.

What could I use the funding for?

According to the challenge FAQ, prize funds are distributed directly to winners and may be used however the winner sees fit, provided eligibility requirements continue to be met throughout all phases.

Applicants are permitted to include any cost categories they believe support payload development, including contingencies for risk mitigation.

NASA states that budgets should exclude flight test costs because NASA intends to provide the flight opportunity separately.

Example application areas identified by NASA include:

• Robotic inspection

• Structural assembly

• Sensor deployment

• Material processing

• Modular systems that can be swapped, upgraded, or reconfigured in orbit

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Benefits include:

• Support from NASA subject matter experts during payload development.

• Technical engagement to ensure compatibility with the Fly Foundational Robots (FFR) mission.

• Site visit feedback from field judges during later phases.

• NASA intends to offer Phase 3 winners a flight test aboard a hosted orbital spacecraft at no additional cost.

• Opportunity to demonstrate hardware in orbit using the FFR robotic platform.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Key deadlines:

• Challenge launch: May 20, 2026

• Virtual information session: June 18, 2026

• Registration deadline: July 29, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET

• Application deadline: August 12, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET

• Phase 1 winners announced: September 2026

Phase schedule:

Phase 1 – Application Period

• Applications submitted and evaluated

• Up to three winners receive $200,000

Phase 2 – Final Design and Initial Build

• September 2026 through December 2026

• Winners finalize designs and begin payload construction

• Eligible for an additional $200,000

Phase 3 – Complete Build for Integration

• December 2026 through May 2027

• Winners complete payloads and prepare for flight integration

• Eligible for an additional $100,000

• NASA intends to offer a flight test opportunity at no additional cost

The application deadline is August 12, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET.

Where does this funding come from?

The challenge is sponsored by NASA through the Flight Opportunities program as part of the NASA TechLeap Prize series.

The challenge supports NASA’s objectives in In-space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM).

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include:

• U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are 18 years of age or older.

• U.S.-incorporated organizations with a primary place of business in the United States.

• Teams led by a U.S. citizen or permanent resident who is 18 years of age or older.

• For-profit organizations.

• Nonprofit organizations.

• Universities and academic organizations that meet eligibility requirements.

Additional eligibility requirements apply.

Foreign nationals may participate on teams under specific conditions described in the challenge rules.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Based on the published evaluation criteria, the strongest applications will:

• Address a clearly defined ISAM capability gap.

• Make robotic manipulation central to the payload’s value proposition.

• Demonstrate a meaningful advancement in in-space servicing, assembly, or manufacturing.

• Define measurable success metrics for an on-orbit demonstration.

• Present a technically sound design compatible with FFR mission requirements.

• Demonstrate strong systems engineering practices.

• Provide a credible path to flight readiness within the competition timeline.

• Identify risks and present realistic mitigation strategies.

• Show the team has the experience, resources, and project management capabilities required to deliver a flight-ready payload.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Key restrictions include:

• Applicants may submit only one application as the lead applicant.

• Applicants cannot receive U.S. government funding twice for the same scope of work.

• Organizations already receiving government funding to develop a similar flight-ready payload may be ineligible.

• Federal entities and federal employees acting within the scope of employment are not eligible for awards.

• Employees of NASA, Luminary Labs, Motiv Space Systems, Rocket Lab Corporation, their affiliates, and certain related individuals are not eligible.

• Participants must maintain at least $250,000 in liability insurance coverage or otherwise demonstrate financial responsibility for that amount.

• Applications must be submitted in English.

• Organizations must maintain a primary place of business in the United States.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

The challenge uses a competitive application process requiring:

• Technical payload concept development

• Systems engineering planning

• Budget preparation

• Risk assessment

• Flight-readiness planning

• A video pitch

• Written application responses

Because applicants must demonstrate technical feasibility, mission compatibility, project execution capability, and clear ISAM impact, most teams should expect a substantial preparation effort. The solicitation does not specify an estimated application preparation time.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can help your team:

• Evaluate whether your payload concept aligns with NASA’s stated scoring criteria.

• Identify and articulate the ISAM capability gap your technology addresses.

• Develop compelling success metrics tied directly to evaluation criteria.

• Strengthen project plans, schedules, budgets, and risk mitigation strategies.

• Review technical narratives for consistency with NASA requirements.

• Maximize competitiveness before submission.

Review solicitation here.

Rapid Electromagnetic Warfare & Signals Intelligence (REWSI)

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

Executive Summary:

The U.S. Army’s Project Manager Electromagnetic Warfare & Collection (PM EW&C) is seeking commercial Electromagnetic Warfare & Collection (EW&C) capabilities through the Rapid Electromagnetic Warfare & Signals Intelligence (REWSI) Call for Solutions under the Army Open Solicitation (AOS) Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO). The Army intends to establish one or more commercial contracts and may also award prototype Other Transaction Authorities (OTAs) to rapidly acquire and field electromagnetic spectrum operations (EMSO) capabilities.

This opportunity is designed for companies with mature commercial technologies or post-prototype capabilities that can help the Army sense, locate, attack, protect, and manage spectrum-dependent systems in denied, degraded, intermittent connectivity, or limited bandwidth (DDIL) environments.

Solution Brief Due Date/Time: 22 April 2027 1600 EST. Solution briefs received after this date and time will not be considered.

How much funding would I receive?

The solicitation does not specify award amounts, contract ceilings, minimum awards, maximum awards, or funding ranges.

Offerors are required to provide a notional pricing structure, including unit pricing, quantity discounts, and sustainment pricing, but no government funding amount is stated.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding may support the production, sustainment, and associated services for EW&C capabilities aligned with the Army’s EMSO requirements.

Solutions should address one or more of the following areas:

• Electromagnetic Attack (EA)

• Electromagnetic Surveillance (ES) / Support

• Electromagnetic Protection (EP) / Protect

• Common Services supporting open architecture integration and data exchange standards

The Army is interested in capabilities that are:

• Resilient

• Adaptable

• Modular

• Scalable

• AI/ML-enabled

• Rapidly Deployable

• Secure

• Interoperable with Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) architectures

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Potential benefits include:

• Access to a streamlined acquisition pathway intended to accelerate delivery of capabilities to Army units.

• Consideration for one or more commercial contracts, including potential IDIQ awards.

• Consideration for prototype OTA awards for solutions requiring additional maturation.

• If not immediately selected, solutions may be retained in a government library for up to 12 months for future consideration.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

The selection process consists of three stages:

1. Solution Brief Submission

2. Pitch Session / Vendor Technical Demonstration (PS/VTD)

3. Proposal Submission

Solution Brief Due Date/Time: 22 April 2027 1600 EST. Solution briefs received after this date and time will not be considered.

Additional timeline details:

• The Call will remain open for no more than 12 months from the original posting.

• Reviews may occur on an ongoing basis as submissions are received.

• There is no specified timeline for awards. Evaluation of submissions will continue throughout the open period.

The solicitation does not specify when funding, contracts, or OTA awards would be issued following selection.

Where does this funding come from?

The opportunity is sponsored by:

• Capability Program Executive Intelligence and Spectrum Warfare (CPE ISW)

• Project Manager Electromagnetic Warfare & Collection (PM EW&C)

The contracting activity is:

• Army Contracting Command – Aberdeen Proving Ground (ACC-APG)

The solicitation is being issued under the Army Open Solicitation (AOS) Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO).

Who is eligible to apply?

The solicitation invites submissions from parties with innovative solutions that address the EW&C requirements described in the Call.

The Government is specifically seeking:

• Commercially available EW&C capabilities

• Mature commercial solutions

• Post-prototype capabilities

• Solutions that may require additional development

• Fully commercialized and currently fielded technologies

The solicitation does not specify company size restrictions, small business requirements, geographic restrictions, ownership requirements, or other eligibility categories.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Based on the stated evaluation criteria, the strongest applicants will likely be companies that can demonstrate:

• Clear alignment with Army EMSO objectives.

• Solutions addressing EA, ES, EP, or Common Services requirements.

• Mature, technically credible capabilities with demonstrated performance potential.

• Open architecture approaches that support MOSA, SOSA, APIs, and NGC2 integration.

• AI/ML-enabled capabilities that improve sensing, geolocation, targeting, and decision-making.

• Demonstrated production capacity, sustainment planning, training support, and scalability.

• Strong operational readiness supported by testing, pilot programs, previous fieldings, or work with government entities.

The Government states that vendor selection will be based on:

• Relevance to EMSO requirements

• Maturity of the offering

• Demonstrated ability to produce and sustain capabilities

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Key restrictions and requirements include:

• Solution Briefs must clearly demonstrate relevance to EMSO requirements or they will not be considered.

• Solution Briefs are limited to a maximum of ten (10) pages or slides, excluding the coversheet or title page.

• Solution Briefs must be written in English.

• The period of performance for any Solution Brief or proposal should generally be no greater than twelve (12) months.

• Solution Briefs received after 22 April 2027 1600 EST will not be considered.

• Vendors must register on the VULCAN platform to submit solution briefs or proposals.

• Submitted materials may be reviewed by support contractors and Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) personnel operating under nondisclosure requirements.

The solicitation does not specify cost-share requirements.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

The solicitation requires a Solution Brief of up to ten pages or slides addressing:

• Capability description

• Technical alignment

• Technical maturity or TRL

• Company experience and past performance

• Production and sustainment approach

• Pricing structure

The solicitation does not specify an expected proposal preparation time.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can support:

• Go/no-go assessment against the Army’s EMSO evaluation criteria

• Solution Brief development and narrative drafting

• Positioning around EMSO technical objectives, MOSA, SOSA, NGC2, and AI/ML requirements

• Pricing strategy development and ROM presentation

• Pitch Session and Vendor Technical Demonstration preparation

• Proposal and Statement of Work support for companies invited to Step 3

Review solicitation here.

Targeting RNA in Disease with Novel Technologies (TRDNT) Challenge

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

Executive Summary:

The NIH Targeting RNA in Disease with Novel Technologies (TRDNT) Challenge is seeking novel technologies that target endogenous RNA to address diseases driven by RNA dysfunction or difficult-to-drug protein targets. Unlike traditional grant programs, this is a prize competition that rewards promising concepts and technologies through multiple phases.

Phase I is focused on planning and proposal development. Applicants must describe a novel RNA-targeting technology, explain the health need it addresses, and provide a roadmap for developing the technology into a prototype in future phases.

The application deadline is July 15, 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Companies and research teams developing innovative RNA-targeting approaches should evaluate this opportunity quickly, as Phase I winners may be well-positioned for anticipated future prize phases totaling up to $13.1 million.

How much funding would I receive?

Phase I (Currently Open)

• Up to $20,000 per winner

• Up to 25 winners

• Total Phase I prize pool: up to $500,000

Future Phases (Anticipated)

Phase II: Prototype Development and Use Case Demonstration

• Interim Milestone Prize: Up to $120,000 per winner

• Up to 25 winners

• Final Submission Prize: Up to $320,000 per winner

• Up to 15 winners

Phase III: Final Iteration and Technology Dissemination

• Winner Prize: Up to $525,000 per winner

• Up to 8 winners

• Runner-Up Prize: Up to $200,000 per winner

• Up to 3 winners

NIH states that the announcement of Phases II and III is discretionary and contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds.

What could I use the funding for?

Phase I funding supports development of a proposal for a novel RNA-targeting technology.

Applicants must submit:

• A description of the technology

• The significant health need it addresses

• An early-stage technical concept

• A development plan for future prototype creation

• A proposed use case demonstrating future therapeutic potential

The challenge is focused on technologies that target endogenous RNA in disease and may include:

• RNA-RNA binding protein (RBP) interaction technologies

• Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) targeting approaches

• RNA-protein interaction discovery platforms

• RNA-targeting small molecule screening technologies

• Technologies that modify aberrant RNA structures

Submissions are not limited to these examples but must align with the challenge goal.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

In addition to prize funding, participants may receive:

• Validation from NIH subject matter experts

• Visibility within the RNA therapeutics ecosystem

• Potential eligibility to participate in future challenge phases

• An opportunity to contribute technologies intended for broad scientific use

NIH also encourages winners to pursue future NIH funding opportunities, although no future funding is guaranteed.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Phase I Timeline

• Challenge Launch: January 30, 2026

• Submission Open: May 30, 2026

• Submission Deadline: July 15, 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time

• Judging: July–August 2026

• Winners Announced: August 2026

Anticipated Future Phases

Phase II

• Launch: August 2026

• Interim Milestone Submission: November 2026–January 2027

• Interim Winners Announced: March 2027

• Final Submission: June–July 2027

• Final Winners Announced: October 2027

Phase III

• Launch: November 2027

• Submission Window: August–October 2028

• Winners Announced: January 2029

All future phase timelines are anticipated and subject to NIH discretion.

Where does this funding come from?

This challenge is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Common Fund through the NIH Venture Program.

The program is administered through the NIH Office of the Director and is intended to support innovative technologies that address priorities shared across multiple NIH Institutes and Centers.

The challenge is conducted under the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010, as amended.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible participants include:

• Individuals

• Teams of individuals

• Startups

• Small businesses

• Mid-size businesses

• Large businesses

• Nonprofit organizations

• Academic institutions

• Independent research institutions

To be eligible for a prize:

• Individuals must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents

• Private entities must be incorporated in the United States and maintain a primary place of business in the United States

• Participants must be at least 18 years old

Federal employees acting within the scope of their employment are not eligible.

Non-U.S. citizens and non-permanent residents may participate on eligible teams but are not eligible to receive prize money.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

NIH states that highly competitive submissions will:

• Target endogenous RNA to treat disease

• Address unmet medical needs

• Demonstrate relevance across multiple diseases

• Present innovative and novel approaches

• Avoid well-established and widely utilized technologies

• Provide sufficient technical detail to support future prototyping

• Demonstrate a realistic development plan

• Identify potential development risks and mitigation strategies

• Show that the team possesses, or can quickly obtain, the expertise required for execution

Phase I judging emphasizes:

• Potential clinical impact (30%)

• Novelty of the proposed solution (30%)

• Likelihood that the team can successfully develop the technology (30%)

• Completeness of the submission (10%)

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Key restrictions include:

• Only technologies targeting endogenous RNA are considered competitive.

• Standard RNA therapeutic programs are not the focus unless they specifically target endogenous RNA in a manner aligned with challenge goals.

• Federal contractors may not use federal contract funds to support submissions.

• Participants using federal grant, cooperative agreement, or OT award funding must comply with applicable federal requirements.

• NIH receives a royalty-free, nonexclusive worldwide license to reproduce, publish, post, link to, share, and publicly display submissions.

• Participants retain their intellectual property rights.

• Winning technologies are expected to be made publicly available to the scientific community in future phases.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

Applicants should expect a moderate preparation effort.

Phase I requires:

• A Title and Executive Summary

• A written proposal of up to 10 pages

• A development roadmap

• Technical concept documentation

• Discussion of expertise, resources, and potential development challenges

• References

For teams with an existing RNA-targeting technology concept, preparation may primarily involve organizing technical and commercialization plans. For earlier-stage concepts, additional time may be required to develop a credible prototype development strategy.

The solicitation does not specify an expected preparation timeline.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can support applicants by:

• Assessing alignment with NIH's RNA-targeting objectives

• Positioning the technology against the evaluation criteria

• Developing a compelling clinical impact narrative

• Strengthening technical concept documentation

• Building a clear prototype development roadmap

• Identifying and addressing reviewer concerns

• Preparing submission materials for compliance with challenge requirements

• Managing the overall application process from kickoff through submission

Review solicitation here.

ARPA-H | BRAIN REPAIR OF ANY INJURED NEURAL STRUCTURE | BRAINS | HEALTH SCIENCE FUTURES | ARPA-H-SOL-26-148

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

Executive Summary:

ARPA-H’s Brain Repair of Any Injured Neural Structure (BRAINS) program is seeking breakthrough approaches to regenerate and replace damaged brain tissue in regions outside the neocortex and spinal cord. The goal is to develop technologies that can generate region-specific precursor brain tissue and demonstrate surgical engraftment into damaged brain regions, laying the groundwork for future therapies that restore lost neurological function.

This opportunity is designed for ambitious teams pursuing transformative—not incremental—approaches to brain repair. ARPA-H specifically seeks technologies that could enable replacement of damaged tissue in brain regions such as the hippocampus, amygdala, thalamus, hypothalamus, striatum, substantia nigra, brainstem, and cerebellum. Proposals focused on the neocortex or spinal cord will not be reviewed.

There are two application cycles. The first application deadline is July 9th, 2026, 5:00 PM Eastern Time for Solution Summaries. The second application deadline is January 7th, 2027, 5:00 PM Eastern Time for Solution Summaries.

How much funding would I receive?

ARPA-H anticipates:

• Phase I awards of $500,000 per team per Technical Area (TA)

• The possibility of an additional $500,000 per team per TA for Phase II

The solicitation also states that ARPA-H intends to negotiate multiple Other Transaction (OT) Agreements with selected performers.

The total number of awards is not specified.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding is intended to support projects addressing one or both of the following Technical Areas:

TA1: Defining and generating precursor tissue for any brain region

• Characterization of natural precursor tissue

• Identification of cellular and extracellular components

• Generation of human iPSC-derived precursor cells

• Development and validation of precursor tissue generation methods

TA2: Optimizing surgical engraftment of precursor tissue

• Development of transplantation methods

• Demonstration of graft survival and vascularization

• Demonstration of tissue maturation, structure, and connectivity in animal models

Projects must address all milestones and metrics associated with either one Technical Area or both.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

The solicitation states that selected performers may receive:

• Funding through an Other Transaction (OT) Agreement structure.

• Direct engagement with ARPA-H program leadership through:

  • Monthly technical status reporting

  • Monthly meetings with the ARPA-H Program Manager

  • Potential site visits and technical reviews by ARPA-H personnel throughout performance.

No other additional benefits are specified.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

BRAINS has two intake groups. Applicants must first submit a Solution Summary and, if encouraged by ARPA-H, may then submit a Full Proposal.

Intake Group 1

• Solution Summaries Due: July 9th, 2026, 5:00 PM

• Full Proposals Due: August 6th, 2026, 5:00 PM

Intake Group 2

• Solution Summaries Due: January 7th, 2027, 5:00 PM

• Full Proposals Due: February 6th, 2027, 5:00 PM

Program structure:

• 18-month project duration

• Two 9-month phases

• Down-select at the end of Phase I based on milestone achievement.

The solicitation does not specify when award decisions will be made or when funding will be received.

Where does this funding come from?

This funding comes from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). The federal agency listed in the solicitation is ARPA-H.

Program title:
Brain Repair of Any Injured Neural Structure (BRAINS).

Who is eligible to apply?

The solicitation states that all responsible sources capable of satisfying the Government’s needs may submit a proposal. Eligible organizations include:

• Universities

• Non-profit organizations

• Small businesses

• Other than small businesses (large businesses)

ARPA-H states that early career investigators are preferred.

Additional eligibility requirements include:

• Active SAM.gov registration.

• Work conducted in the United States is prioritized.

• Non-U.S. entities may participate subject to applicable restrictions.

Ineligible entities include:

• Organizations currently providing contracted support services to ARPA-H where an unmitigable OCI exists.

• FFRDCs and Government entities acting as prime or sub-performers, except under limited circumstances described in the solicitation.

• Covered foreign entities and other restricted organizations identified in the solicitation.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Based on the stated evaluation criteria, ARPA-H is looking for projects that are:

• Innovative, feasible, and technically strong.

• Led by teams with demonstrated expertise and relevant experience.

• Capable of transforming biomedicine and addressing unmet medical needs.

• Positioned for future research, commercial, and/or clinical impact.

• Pursuing revolutionary approaches rather than incremental improvements.

The solicitation specifically states that ARPA-H seeks approaches that will generate precursor tissue capable of restoring function in damaged brain regions and demonstrate successful engraftment in preclinical models.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

The solicitation specifically excludes proposals that:

• Offer incremental improvements to the current state-of-the-art.

• Use human embryos.

• Use human fetal tissue.

• Do not address the objectives of the BRAINS Exploratory Topic.

Additional restrictions include:

• Proposals addressing the neocortex or spinal cord will not be reviewed.

• Cell-based and state-of-the-art organoid approaches will not be considered.

• Research must comply with applicable HHS stem cell policies and regulations.

• HHS funds may not be used for dangerous gain-of-function research.

• Various research security, foreign participation, and organizational conflict-of-interest requirements apply.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

The application process requires:

Step 1

• A mandatory Solution Summary submission limited to three pages (excluding permitted attachments).

Step 2

• A Full Proposal if encouraged by ARPA-H. The Full Proposal includes:

  • Technical and Management Proposal

  • Cost Proposal

  • Administrative and Policy Requirements Submission

  • Supporting schedules, milestones, and compliance documentation.

The solicitation does not specify the expected preparation time required to develop an application.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can support applicants by:

• Assessing fit with BRAINS technical objectives and evaluation criteria.

• Developing the Solution Summary.

• Building the technical narrative, milestones, and commercialization positioning.

• Structuring budgets and proposal volumes.

• Coordinating subcontractors and proposal compliance.

• Managing submission through the ARPA-H process.

Review solicitation here.

AFGSC - Handheld Drone Detection Device Prototype

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

Executive Summary:

Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC), through the AFGSC OTA Partnership coordinated by Collaboration Link and Army Contracting Command – Rock Island, is seeking prototype handheld drone detection devices manufactured in the United States. The effort is focused on improving force protection and situational awareness at Priority Level 1 nuclear military installations.

The government is looking for lightweight handheld counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) detection devices capable of detecting, identifying, tracking, and assessing small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) during both day and night operations. Required features include integrated thermal imaging and night vision functionality, range detection over 1,000 yards, onboard storage, and image capture capabilities.

Applications are due by Jun 11, 2026 at 04:00 PM.

How much funding would I receive?

Estimated awards are between $500k - $2m.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding would support the prototyping and potential fielding of handheld drone detection devices with capabilities including:

• Day and night usage

• Drone detection capabilities

• High precision infrared capabilities

• Image capture and recording options

• Range detection over 1,000 yards

• Onboard storage capabilities

• Manufacturing in the United States

The devices are intended to improve installation security posture, enable early threat warning, support security forces response actions, and reduce vulnerabilities posed by commercial and adversarial drone technologies.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Potential benefits include:

• Opportunity to prototype technology for Air Force Global Strike Command

• Potential pathway through an AFGSC OTA contracting vehicle

• Exposure to defense and national security end users

• Participation in a rapid down-select process anticipated within 30 days of posting

The solicitation does not specify follow-on production opportunities or additional program benefits.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

The challenge posting opened on May 21, 2026 at 05:00 PM. Applications are due by Jun 11, 2026 at 04:00 PM.

ONI anticipates a rapid down-select within 30 days of posting.

The solicitation does not specify award timing, funding disbursement timing, or project start dates.

Where does this funding come from?

This opportunity is being issued through the AFGSC OTA Partnership. The effort is coordinated by Collaboration Link on behalf of Air Force Global Strike Command’s Rapid Capability Division. Award is expected to be made under the AFGSC OTA in coordination with Army Contracting Command – Rock Island.

Who is eligible to apply?

To be eligible, companies must:

• Be a small business with fewer than 500 employees

• Be located in the United States

• Have at least 50% ownership by U.S. citizens or permanent residents

• Perform all funded work in the United States

• Employ a Principal Investigator (PI) at least 20 hours per week

• Have the PI commit at least one month (173 hours) of work per six months of project duration

NSF states it does not fund:

• Companies majority-owned by multiple venture capital firms

• Companies majority-owned by private equity firms

• Companies majority-owned by hedge funds

The PI does not need advanced degrees.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

The solicitation appears to favor companies with:

• Existing handheld drone detection technology

• U.S.-manufactured products

• Integrated thermal imaging and night vision capabilities

• Long-range detection capability exceeding 1,000 yards

• Experience supporting defense or security applications

• Ability to rapidly prototype and field solutions

The government specifically references concerns related to unauthorized drone incursions at strategic military installations and evolving adversary drone threats.

The posted scoring rubric places the highest weight on:

• Detection and identification performance (20%)

• Thermal and night vision integration (15%)

• U.S. manufacturing and supply chain compliance (15%)

Submissions will be evaluated using a combination of subject matter expert review and One Nation Innovation’s AI-powered rubric generation tools.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Key restrictions and requirements include:

• Devices must be made in the United States

• Responses must be between 2–10 pages maximum

• Respondents must submit through https://gocolosseum.org

• Proposals must include:

  • Proposed Period of Performance

  • Proposed Applicable Documents

  • Proposed Technical Approach

  • Proposed Deliverables

  • Proposed Schedule with Milestones

  • Proposed Payment Schedule

  • Proposed Patents and Data Rights

  • Proposed Costs by Milestone including labor category breakdowns and ROM costs

• Respondents must complete the Agreement Holder’s Representations form

The solicitation does not specify cost share requirements, security clearance requirements, or export control restrictions.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

The application appears designed for rapid submission.

Required responses are limited to 2–10 pages and require:

• Technical concept

• Implementation approach

• Company information

• Past performance

• Milestone schedule

• ROM pricing and cost breakdowns

Companies with an existing prototype or mature drone detection capability could likely prepare a submission relatively quickly.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can help your team:

• Position your technology against the government’s stated drone threat priorities

• Translate technical capabilities into defense customer language

• Develop a compliant OTA-style white paper submission

• Build milestone-based project plans and ROM budgets

• Strengthen your technical approach and deliverables package

• Support rapid-turn proposal preparation for accelerated timelines

Additional Resources

Learn more about the program here.

National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research Program (NSF SBIR/STTR)

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

Executive Summary:

The NSF SBIR/STTR program provides non-dilutive funding to U.S.-based startups and small businesses developing high-risk, high-impact technologies with strong commercial potential. NSF states it funds “nearly everything from biotechnology to wireless communications to quantum to semiconductors.” Companies begin by submitting a required Project Pitch to determine fit with the program before being invited to submit a full proposal.

The NSF SBIR/STTR program looks forward to receiving the submission of new Project Pitches in response to the new solicitations beginning on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. Full proposal submission deadlines are:

• July 27 2026

• November 4 2026

• March 4 2027

Proposal submission is due by 5:00 PM submitter’s time on the specified due date.

NSF emphasizes that the program is intended for technologies requiring substantial high-risk R&D and not “straightforward engineering or incremental product development tasks.” The process is highly competitive, with historical NSF SBIR/STTR Phase I funding rates between 10% and 20%.

How much funding would I receive?

If your proposal is awarded, NSF states you may receive:

• Up to $305,000 for a Phase I award.

• Up to $1,250,000 over two years for a Phase II award.

The solicitation materials provided do not specify award minimums, matching requirements, or the number of anticipated awards.

What could I use the funding for?

NSF states funding is intended for:

• High-risk research and development

• Deep technologies

• Foundational science and engineering innovations

• New products, services, and scalable solutions

• Technologies with strong commercial potential and societal impact

The program specifically supports technologies that:

• Require substantial technical innovation

• Address significant societal or national problems

• Create sustainable competitive advantages

• Demonstrate meaningful market pull and scalability

NSF explicitly states it does not fund:

• Straightforward engineering

• Incremental product development tasks

Areas of Interest

• Advanced Manufacturing (M)

  The Advanced Manufacturing topic aims to support emerging innovations in manufacturing with the potential to stimulate the nation’s manufacturing sector by improving efficiency, competitiveness and sustainability. Proposals should be driven by a foundational technology that significantly advances the way products are made. This can include, but is not exclusive to, technologies in new manufacturing processes, equipment, automation, modeling, and materials/minerals.

  Sub-Topics

  M1. Building and Infrastructure
  M2. Carbon Sequestration
  M3. Cybermanufacturing
  M4. Distributed Manufacturing
  M5. Ecomanufacturing
  M6. Modeling and Simulation
  M7. Natural Resources and Critical Minerals
  M8. Quantum Device Manufacturing
  M9. Sustainable Chemical Manufacturing
  M10. Other Manufacturing Technologies

• Advanced Materials (AM)

  The Advanced Materials topic addresses the development of new and improved materials for a wide variety of commercial and industrial applications. Proposals may focus on the creation of innovative material systems and/or on critical fabrication, processing or manufacturing challenges involved in the successful demonstration and commercialization of novel advanced materials. A broad range of applications areas will be considered as part of this topic.

  Sub-Topics

  AM1. Advanced Engineering Materials
  AM2. Coatings and Surface Modifications
  AM3. Metals and Ceramics
  AM4. Novel Advanced Materials-based Sensors
  AM5. Structural and Infrastructural Materials
  AM6. Other Advanced Materials Technologies

• Advanced Systems for Scalable Analytics (AA)

  The Advanced Systems for Scalable Analytics topic focuses on innovations needed for building systems that organize and process large and ever-increasing volumes of structured, semi-structured and unstructured data to reveal actionable new insights. It also includes innovative knowledge management and data mining technologies that complement deep learning. Sample topics include data and knowledge management technologies for data acquisition, integration, annotation, governance and provenance; hardware and software for addressing the performance needs of analytical systems; technologies for continual learning in dynamic environments; technologies in data mining, visualization and optimization; and marketplaces for data and models.
  
  These subtopics are only meant to serve as examples. All proposals focused on the development of a new high-risk technical innovation and significant potential commercial and societal impact are welcome to apply, regardless of subtopic.

  Sub-Topics

  AA1. Building Analytical System for Learning from Dynamic Environments
  AA2. Data Mining, Machine Learning (Non-deep learning-based), and Reinforcement Learning
  AA3. Decision Support and Optimization
  AA4. Knowledge and Data Management Technologies
  AA5. Marketplaces for Data and Models
  AA6. Novel Visualization Technologies
  AA7. Software Technologies for Scalable Analytical Systems
  AA8. Other Novel Technologies

• Agricultural Technologies (AG)

  The Agricultural Technologies topic supports innovations enabling farm production ecosystems that support the proper utilization of natural resources. Such technologies may encompass systems-level and multidisciplinary solutions to enable complex agricultural practices that support increased biodiversity balanced with yield production.

  Sub-Topics

  AG1. Agroforestry
  AG2. Expanding Access to Farming
  AG3. Food Waste Mitigation
  AG4. Harvesting Complex Systems
  AG5. Improved Resilience through Interspecies Interchange
  AG6. Nature-based Solutions
  AG7. Polyculture Systems
  AG8. Precision Agriculture
  AG9. Resilient Supply & Distribution
  AG10. Other Agricultural Technologies

• Artificial Intelligence (AI)

  The Artificial Intelligence topic focuses on cutting-edge technologies in the field of deep learning-based AI systems and AI-based hardware. The recent successes in computer vision, machine translation, natural-language processing and speech recognition have led to widespread use of learning-based systems in production and an unprecedented growth in AI systems that interact frequently with and/or on behalf of humans in highly personalized contexts. This topic especially emphasizes next-generation AI technologies that are not only safe and reliable but also fair, robust against sophisticated adversaries, privacy preserving, and efficient in terms of computational resources, energy, training data size, etc. It also includes cutting-edge hardware technologies needed for sustainable AI (i.e., novel devices and architectures to support the tremendous processing power needed by AI technologies), edge devices (i.e., intelligent systems on a chip for applications such as voice assistants) and AI technologies that lead to better hardware systems.
  
  These subtopics are only meant to serve as examples. All proposals that are focused on developing a new high-risk technical innovation and that have significant potential commercial and societal impact are welcome to apply, regardless of subtopic.  

  Sub-Topics

  AI1. Cognitive Science-based Technologies
  AI2. Computer Vision Based AI Technologies
  AI3. Conversational AI Technologies
  AI4. Language-Based AI Technologies
  AI5. Novel AI Hardware Technologies (e.g. Neuromorphic Computing, High-performance Technologies for AI, Smart and Secure Edge Devices, etc.)
  AI6. Sustainable AI Technologies for Low Resource Environments
  AI7. Technologies for Trustworthy AI (safe, fair, transparent, privacy-preserving, explainable, and/or secure)
  AI8. Other Novel Technologies

• Augmented Virtual and Mixed Reality (AV/VR/MR)

  The Augmented, Virtual and Mixed Reality (AR/VR/MR) topic aims to support entrepreneurs and startups at the earliest stages of development of innovative, differentiated and novel hardware/software that can create shared experiences to translate research-based insights into commercializable opportunities for scalable, real-world application.
  
  Technologies in this portfolio include those applying AI in education or workforce development, training tools, upskilling an aging workforce, improving health and wellbeing, as well as technologies as an enabling platform to deliver shared experiences, virtual collaboration, and experiential learning.

  Sub-Topics

  AV1. Differentiated Hardware Technologies for AR/VR/MR
  AV2. Differentiated Software Technologies for AR/VR/MR
  AV3. UI/UX for Immersive AR/VR/MR
  AV4. Advanced Analytics for Collaboration in AR/VR/MR
  AV5. Other Augmented, Virtual, and Mixed Reality Technologies

• Biological Technologies (BT)

  The Biological Technologies topic covers a wide range of technology areas to advance engineering and science innovation across the biological spectrum. Biological technologies have disrupted decades-old chemical, agricultural and medical products and services, producing a new bioeconomy. Potential breakthroughs in this space are on course to make major socioeconomic contributions by boosting productivity in industrial and agricultural processes, improving human health, and making advances toward environmental sustainability.
  
  Proposed projects should be focused on using or modifying living organisms, systems or biological processes to develop new technologies to produce biochemicals and medical and agricultural products. They may involve bioengineering to improve function in molecules, cells and tissues in humans, plants, animals and microbes. NSF also encourages proposals for enabling new technologies, such as new tools for genomics, proteomics and drug discovery; instruments for biological applications; computational and bioinformatic tools; and new manufacturing technologies for cells, tissues, organs and biologics (with the exception of clinical trials and schedule I substances).
  
  Subtopics are not aimed at supporting or conducting clinical trials, clinical efficacy or safety studies, the development pre-clinical or clinical-stage drug candidates or medical devices, or work performed primarily for regulatory purposes. Limited studies with human subjects may be acceptable to the extent that they are performed in support of feasibility, such as proof-of-concept studies of early-stage technologies. Proposals that request support for clinical studies will be deemed noncompliant with the SBIR/STTR solicitations and returned without review.

  Sub-Topics

  BT1. Animal Biotechnology
  BT2. Aquaculture
  BT3. Bio-Inspired Technologies
  BT4. Bioinstruments and Biosensors
  BT5. Cell and Tissue Engineering
  BT6. Fermentation
  BT7. Life Science Research Tools
  BT8. Microbiome and Microbial Diversity
  BT9. Plant Biotechnology
  BT10. Synthetic Biology and Metabolic Engineering
  BT11. Other Biological Technologies

• Biomedical Technologies (BM)

  The Biomedical Technologies topic aims to support the early-stage development of novel products, processes or services that will enable the delivery of high-quality, economically efficient healthcare.
  
  Subtopics are not aimed at supporting or conducting clinical trials, clinical efficacy or safety studies, the development pre-clinical or clinical-stage drug candidates or medical devices, or work performed primarily for regulatory purposes. Limited studies with human subjects may be acceptable to the extent that they are performed in support of feasibility, such as proof-of-concept studies of early-stage technologies. Proposals that request support for clinical studies will be deemed noncompliant with the SBIR/STTR solicitations and returned without review.
  

  Sub-Topics

  BM1. Diagnostics
  BM2. Drug Delivery Methods
  BM3. Materials for Biomedical Applications
  BM4. Medical Imaging
  BM5. Monitoring Devices
  BM6. Other Biomedical Technologies

• Chemical Technologies (CT)

  The Chemical Technologies topic covers a wide range of technology areas of current and emerging commercial significance to many areas, including the broad chemical industry; food processing and technology; agrochemicals; chemical alternatives and organics; green chemicals; water treatment and separations; advanced catalysts and materials; and biochemicals. Sensing, data and advanced analytics technologies relevant to these fields are also appropriate for this topic area. Beyond improvement on technical specifications, it is important to also clearly identify the competitive landscape of what is currently possible and why the proposed innovation will have an impact commercially and/or from a societal benefit standpoint.

  Sub-Topics

  CT1. Biochemicals
  CT2. Catalysts, Advanced Chemicals and Materials
  CT3. Chemical and Environmental Sensing and Data
  CT4. Food Processing, Chemicals and Agriculture
  CT5. Green Chemicals and Chemical Alternatives
  CT6. Separations and Water Treatment
  CT7. Other Chemical Technologies

• Cloud and High-Performance Computing (CH)

  The Cloud and High-Performance Computing (HPC) topic focuses on innovations that result in substantial improvements to cloud computing or high-performance computing platforms. These improvements may be to computing power and efficiency, energy management, data storage, latency, data integrity and availability, cost, or any other factor of importance in such platforms, and may result from software- or hardware-based innovations. These subtopic areas are meant to serve as examples; all proposals with technical innovation and significant commercial potential are welcome, regardless of the specific area of focus of the project.

  Sub-Topics

  CH1. Algorithms and Applications
  CH2. Computational Architecture
  CH3. Convergence of AI and Cloud/HPC
  CH4. Edge Computing
  CH5. Energy Efficiency and Sustainability
  CH6. In-memory Processing
  CH7. Interconnects
  CH8. Middleware
  CH9. Performance Monitoring
  CH10. Processing on Encrypted Data
  CH11. Processor Architecture and Design
  CH12. Resilience and Resource Management
  CH13. Other Cloud and High-Performance Computing Technologies

• Cybersecurity and Authentication (CA)

  The Cybersecurity and Authentication topic focuses on innovations related to the security and integrity of data and data processing and the authentication of people and devices. These subtopic areas are meant to serve as examples; all proposals with technical innovation and significant commercial potential are welcome, regardless of the specific area of focus of the project.

  Sub-Topics

  CA1. Computation on Encrypted Data
  CA2. Cryptography, including Post-quantum Cryptography
  CA3. Data Privacy and Integrity
  CA4. Device Authentication
  CA5. Distributed Ledger
  CA6. Encryption, including Homomorphic Encryption
  CA7. Network and Device Security
  CA8. Personal Authentication
  CA9. Secure and Trusted Computing
  CA10. Secure Machine-to-Machine Communication
  CA11. Security of Cloud and High Performance Computing (HPC) Platforms
  CA12. Other Cybersecurity and Authentication Technologies

• Digital Health (DH)

  The Digital Health topic aims to support entrepreneurs and startups at the earliest-stages of development of innovative, differentiated and novel technologies that aim to improve physical or mental wellbeing or health, enable or assist individuals to increase or regain independence and quality of life and improve the delivery of healthcare including efficiency, reducing cost or improving outcomes.
  
  Technologies in this portfolio include those applying AI in healthcare or general wellness (medical image analysis, personalized medicine, EHR/EMR, Clinical decision support, Computer aided diagnostics, support or therapy, smart/connected medical devices) as well as technologies that enable or provide assistance to aging or disabled populations and individuals undergoing rehabilitation.

  Sub-Topics

  DH1. Assistive, Enabling and Rehabilitative technologies
  DH2. AI in healthcare and drug discovery
  DH3. Healthcare Workflow, Economics and Delivery
  DH4. Medical Diagnostics and Devices
  DH5. Physical, Mental and Behavioral Health
  DH6. Other Digital Health Technologies

• Emerging Technologies (EM)

  Breakthroughs at the edge of science and engineering are reshaping industries, redefining human capabilities, and creating new market spaces. The Emerging Technologies topic within the NSF Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer program is designed for startups working on transformative innovations that defy conventional classifications — pioneering discoveries that could set the stage for the next technological revolution.
  

  This topic is for radical, high-risk ideas that leverage deep science and engineering to push beyond existing limitations. Proposals should introduce disruptive, category-defining solutions that may not fit within traditional NSF topic areas but have the potential to create entirely new industries or fundamentally alter how we interact with the world.
  

  Examples include, but are not limited to:

  • Post-Silicon Computation & Intelligent Systems: Quantum logic, molecular computing or bio-inspired artificial intelligence architectures

  • Matter & Machines at the Extreme: Self-assembling nanostructures, programmable materials, or biohybrid robotic systems that blur the lines between biology and engineering

  • Living Technologies & Engineered Evolution: Synthetic biology innovations that harness evolution to create self-improving therapeutics, biocomputers, or sustainable biomaterials

  • Radical Energy & Resilient Earth Innovations: Zero-point energy exploration, deep-space resource utilization, or engineered photosynthesis for planetary-scale impact

  • Cognition & Human Augmentation: Direct brain-machine integration, digital telepathy, or neuroplasticity-enhancing interfaces that redefine intelligence

  • Unconventional Sensing & Interaction: Quantum sensors, femtosecond imaging, or technologies enabling new dimensions of perception If your startup is pioneering a new technological paradigm, building something that did not exist before, and pushing the limits of what's possible, the Emerging Technologies topic is your opportunity to secure early-stage funding for world-changing innovation.

  Sub-Topics

  EM1. Emerging Technologies

• Environmental Technologies (ET)

  Environmental Technologies covers a variety of areas of current and emerging commercial significance including environmental sensing, data, and advanced analytics. Please highlight any aspects of the proposed technology or approach that address a problem without a current solution, or one which is underdeveloped.

  Sub-Topics

  ET1. Conservation, Adaptation and Restoration
  ET2. Digital Ecosystem for the Environment
  ET3. Emission or Waste Reduction and the Circular Economy
  ET4. Food, Regenerative Agriculture, and Energy
  ET5. Measurement
  ET6. Resiliency
  ET7. Sustainable Community Systems
  ET8. Water Treatment, Resilience, and Sanitation
  ET9. Other Environmental Technologies

• Human-Computer Interaction (HC)

  The Human-Computer Interaction (HC) topic aims to support entrepreneurs and startups at the earliest stages of development of innovative, differentiated and novel HCI in the context of domains, such as health, education, families, or work to design new computing systems to amplify humans’ physical, cognitive, and social capabilities which translate research-based insights into commercializable opportunities for scalable, real-world application.
  
  Technologies in this portfolio include multimedia and multimodal interfaces, such as haptic, tangible, gestural, spatial, and wearable; brain-computer interfaces; intelligent and interactive user interfaces; affective computing; human state estimation involving interaction; and methods for interaction with artificial intelligence. This topic includes commercialization of computational methods and systems for creating and authoring video, audio, textual, visual, and multimedia forms in support of creative expression and ideation and includes technology-supported human-to-human communication and systems which foster innovation and dismantle barriers to scientific progress in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and the development of information, interaction, networks, systems, and other forms of computation in response to human needs, desires, and intentions.

  Sub-Topics

  HC1. Multimedia and Multimodal Interfaces
  HC2. HC Computational Methods and Systems
  HC3. Smart Integrated Systems
  HC4. Human-to-Human Communication Systems via Technology
  HC5. Other Human-Computer Interaction Technologies

• Instrumentation and Hardware Systems (IH)

  The Instrumentation and Hardware Systems topic addresses the research and development of new and improved instrumentation and related systems for a wide variety of commercial and industrial applications. Proposals in this topic may deal with new instruments for use in scientific, industrial, engineering or manufacturing environments, among others. Systems and tools designed for the purposes of detection, manipulation, characterization, measurement, processing, control or monitoring will be considered. A wide variety of applications areas will be considered as part of this topic.

  Sub-Topics

  IH1. Instrumentation or Hardware Systems for Actuation, Control, and Manipulation
  IH2. Instrumentation or Hardware Systems for Detection and Characterization
  IH3. Instrumentation or Hardware Systems for Imaging
  IH4. Other Instrumentation or Hardware Systems Technologies

• Internet of Things (I)

  The Internet of Things (IoT) is a rapidly evolving field that involves the interconnection and interaction of smart objects (objects or devices with embedded sensors, onboard data processing capability, and a means of communication) to provide automated services that would otherwise not be possible. IoT is not a single technology, but rather involves the convergence of sensor, actuator, information and communication technologies. Emerging IoT implementations will use smaller and more energy-efficient embedded sensor technologies, more sophisticated actuators, enhanced communications and advanced data analytics to collect and aggregate information. These new tools will enable intelligent systems that understand context, track and manage complex interactions and anticipate requirements. Market verticals that are potentially impacted by innovations in this area include connected cities and homes, smart transportation, smart agriculture, industrial IoT, and retail IoT.

  Sub-Topics

  I1. IoT Communications
  I2. IoT Integrated Systems
  I3. IoT Sensors and Actuators
  I4. Networking
  I5. Other IoT Technologies

• Learning and Cognition Technologies (LC)

  The Learning and Cognitions Technologies topic aims to support entrepreneurs and startups at the earliest stages of development of innovative, differentiated and novel innovations which disrupt educational norms, challenge conventional methods of content delivery and workforce development with measurable results while remaining firmly anchored in foundational research. They equip individuals for success in emerging industries and undefined roles, bridging the gap between established curricula and the swiftly evolving knowledge landscape.
  
  Technologies in this portfolio include those applying AI in education or workforce development, training tools, upskilling an aging workforce, improving health and wellbeing, as well as technologies as an enabling platform to deliver innovative approaches to learning and cognition development which leverage groundbreaking technological advancements rooted in research.
  
  Limited studies with human subjects may be acceptable to the extent that they are performed in support of feasibility, such as proof-of-concept studies of early-stage technologies. Proposals that request support for clinical studies will be deemed noncompliant with the SBIR/STTR solicitations and returned without review.

  Sub-Topics

  LC1. Advanced Learning Technologies
  LC2. Workforce Development and Upskilling
  LC3. Advanced Analytics for Learning and Cognition
  LC4. Innovative Approaches to Multimodal Learning
  LC5. Other Learning and Cognition Technologies

• Medical Devices (MD)

  The Medical Devices topic aims to develop novel medical device platforms, introduce innovative medical technologies or translate emerging scientific principles into health practice. Proposals should be considered leading edge innovations, typically based on a discovery, new approach or new scientific principle to medical devices or technologies.
  
  Limited human subject clinical studies may be acceptable if they are performed in support of feasibility or proof-of-concept objectives. The program does not support proposals to conduct clinical trials for sample size calculations, statistically demonstrate safety or efficacy or the development of pre-clinical or clinical-stage drug candidates. Clinical work performed primarily for regulatory purposes or post market surveillance are also not allowed. Proposals requesting support for clinical trials are noncompliant with the SBIR/STTR solicitation and returned without review.

  Sub-Topics

  MD1. Diagnostic Imaging or Monitoring
  MD2. General Medical Devices
  MD3. Implantable
  MD4. Manufacturing Processes or Prototyping Methods
  MD5. Materials (non biological)
  MD6. Procedural Technologies or Visualization
  MD7. Rehabilitation
  MD8. Wearables
  MD9. Women's Health

• Mobility (MO)

  The Mobility topic encourages novel innovations in the land, air, and sea-based movement of goods and people that improve sustainability and resiliency. Proposals responsive to this topic may include technical breakthroughs that address infrastructure and flow issues in global, urban and rural environments. Interdisciplinary and collaborative innovations to address multiple mobility grand challenges are welcome. All proposed innovations must be capable of a sustainable business model.

  Sub-Topics

  MO1. Traffic Congestion and Routing
  MO2. Safety and Navigation
  MO3. Disaster Resilience 
  MO4. Efficiency
  MO5. Supply Chain Transparency and Security
  MO6. Labor Shortages
  MO7. Accessibility
  MO8. Other Mobility Topics

• Nanotechnology (N)

  The Nanotechnology topic addresses the creation and manipulation of functional materials, devices and systems with novel properties that are achieved through the control of matter at a submicroscopic scale (from a fraction of nanometer to about 100 nanometers). This includes, but is not limited to, innovative hierarchical nanostructures, nanolayered structures, nanowires, nanotubes, quantum dots, nanoparticles, nanofibers and other nanomaterials and biomaterials and their composite structures.

  Sub-Topics

  N1. Nanomanufacturing

• Other Topics (OT)

  For projects that do not seem to fit into one of the other technology topic areas, but still meet the NSF SBIR/STTR goals of supporting research and development of deep technology with commercial viability and the potential to benefit society, please pick Other Topics and subtopic OT1. Project pitches and proposals submitted to Other Topics are typically transferred and reviewed in the topic area that best matches the underlying technical innovation. The program does not reject Project Pitches or proposals based on a non-ideal choice of topic areas. The program routinely moves Project Pitches or proposals internally among topic areas that seem to best describe the underlying technical innovation and to ensure the right program officer and reviewer panel sees the project.

  Sub-Topics

  OT1. Other Topics

• Pharmaceutical Technologies (PT)

  The Pharmaceutical Technologies topic covers a wide range of technology areas that advance the discovery, formulation, and manufacture of novel drugs, moieties, compounds, products, processes, platforms or services that will improve the selection, quality or price of pharmaceutical and biologic therapies.
  
  The Pharmaceutical Technologies topic is not aimed at supporting or conducting clinical trials, clinical efficacy and safety studies, the development of pre-clinical or clinical-stage drug candidates, work on medical devices or schedule I substances, or work performed primarily for regulatory purposes. Limited studies with human subjects may be acceptable if they are performed in support of feasibility, proof-of-concept studies of early-stage technologies and must follow NSF policies on research on human subjects. Proposals that request support for clinical studies are noncompliant with the SBIR/STTR solicitations and returned without review.
  
  The NSF SBIR/STTR program no longer supports the development of specific therapeutic molecules. Drug Discovery and Manufacturing are still supported by the program.
  
  Subtopics are not aimed at supporting clinical trials, the clinical validation of information technologies, or medical devices or studies performed primarily for regulatory purposes. Limited studies with human subjects may be acceptable to the extent that they are performed in support of feasibility, such as proof-of-concept studies of early-stage technologies. Proposals that request support for clinical studies will be deemed noncompliant with the SBIR/STTR solicitations and returned without review.

  Sub-Topics

  PT1. Drug Discovery
  PT2. Pharmaceutical and Biologic Manufacturing
  PT3. Other Pharmaceutical Technologies

• Photonics (PH)

  The Photonics topic addresses the research and development of new materials, devices, components, and systems that have the potential for revolutionary change in the optics and photonics industries. Photonic technologies can include anything generally operating in or using photons in the electromagnetic spectrum, from gamma rays down to long radio waves. Examples include lasers, various light emitting diode technologies (LED, OLED, QLED), radiation detectors, photonic integrated circuits, optical systems and novel communications technologies.

  Sub-Topics

  PH1. Advanced Metrology and Sensors
  PH2. Advanced Optical Components and Systems
  PH3. Communications, Information, and Data Storage
  PH4. Lighting and Displays
  PH5. Photonic Devices
  PH6. Photonic Energy Conversion
  PH7. Photonic Materials
  PH8. Photonic Metamaterials and Plasmonics
  PH9. Quantum Optics and Nanophotonics
  PH10. Silicon Photonics and Photonic Integrated Circuits
  PH11. Other Photonics Technologies

• Power Management (PM)

  The Power Management topic address the development of novel technologies that enable new power and thermal management solutions. Innovations supported could range from device-scale breakthroughs to embedded or standalone systems or grid-scale technologies.

  Sub-Topics

  PM1. Energy Harvesting Devices and Systems
  PM2. Materials and Devices for Power Electronics
  PM3. Materials and Devices for Thermal Management
  PM4. Novel Power and Thermal Management Sensors
  PM5. Power Electronics Circuits and Control Systems
  PM6. Power Management Infrastructure and Smart Grid Systems
  PM7. Systems for Thermal Management
  PM8. Other Power Management Technologies

• Quantum Information Technologies (QT)

  This topic focuses on innovations in information and communications technologies that rely fundamentally on quantum mechanical properties and interactions. Typically, such innovations will involve the generation, detection, or manipulation of quantum states to provide faster, more efficient or more secure information processing and communications. Proposals may include innovations at the component, sub-system or system level that result in substantial and usable improvements in the generation, transmission, detection, storage or processing of information, or the security and privacy of information. Proposed innovations must offer the potential for robustness, reliability, scalability and operation at temperatures that are practical within the constraints of the intended application. Innovations at the component and sub-system level should aim for compactness and energy efficiency, consistent with the requirements of the application.
  
  Examples of technology innovations in the quantum computing subtopic could include qubit generation and detection, development of computational models (quantum circuits, etc.), error correction, software, hardware sub-systems and systems and Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum (NISQ) computers. Examples of technology innovations in the quantum communications subtopic could include components such as sources, memories, repeaters, detectors, hardware sub-systems and systems, networks, cryptography and key distribution.

  Sub-Topics

  QT1. Quantum Algorithms
  QT2. Quantum Communications
  QT3. Quantum Computing
  QT4. Quantum Sensing and Metrology
  QT5. Quantum Simulation
  QT6. Other Quantum Information Technologies

• Robotics (R)

  The Robotics topic covers robot intelligence and experiential learning, particularly in the areas of high-performance processors or hardware that provides situational awareness and improved artificial intelligence. Innovations in voice, obstacle and image recognition, emotional response and hand-eye coordination are encouraged. We encourage proposals describing projects that borrow features from other animal nervous systems and include biologists, neuroscientists and psychologists on their team to exploit new knowledge in the study of the brain and behavior.
  
  NSF also seeks proposals that address next-generation automation; the flexible and rapid reconfiguration of assembly lines allowing mass customization; the use of advanced control, scheduling, modularization, and decentralization with agile, mobile robotic systems that can enable the cost-effective manufacture of small lot-size products; and on-demand parts manufacturing.
  
  Proposals to support the physical and educational needs of individuals with disabilities (e.g., vision, hearing, cognitive, motor related) are sought. Robotic applications in healthcare, smart drones and drone networks are appropriate. Medical devices focused on providing new capabilities to doctors including surgery; robotic exoskeletons to enhance human strength; personal robots with an emphasis on human-centered end use and interaction, personal caregiving and increased autonomy; future of work; flying taxis; reverse engineering the human brain; robot sense, motion, thought, and emotion; human-robot art; and robots of augmentation are welcome.
  
  Subtopics are not aimed at supporting or conducting clinical trials, clinical efficacy or safety studies, the development pre-clinical or clinical-stage drug candidates or medical devices, or work performed primarily for regulatory purposes. Limited studies with human subjects may be acceptable to the extent that they are performed in support of feasibility, such as proof-of-concept studies of early-stage technologies. Proposals that request support for clinical studies will be deemed noncompliant with the SBIR/STTR solicitations and returned without review.

  Sub-Topics

  R1. Human Assistive Technologies and Bio-related Robotics
  R2. Human-Machine Interfaces and Control/Architecture
  R3. Robotic Applications
  R4. Robotics in Agile Manufacturing, and Co-Robots
  R5. Underground or Underwater Robotics for Low-Visibility, Poor-Connectivity or Hidden Topography
  R6. Other Robotics Technologies

• Semiconductors (S)

  The Semiconductors topic addresses the research and development of new designs, materials, devices and manufacturing systems that have the potential for impactful change in the semiconductor and microelectronics industry.

  Sub-Topics

  S1. Electronic Devices
  S2. Electronic Materials
  S3. Integrated Circuit Design
  S4. Microelectronics Packaging and Systems Integration
  S5. Novel Semiconductor-based Sensors
  S6. Processing and Metrology Technology
  S7. Sustainable Semiconductor Manufacturing
  S8. Wide Bandgap Power Devices and Materials
  S9. Other Semiconductor Technologies

• Space (SP)

  The Space topic seeks transformative technologies to create solutions for sustainable space exploration, habitation or industrialization that could also have a positive impact on human lives.
  
  Applicants should address known capability gaps for enabling technologies for the space or terrestrial industries. Proposals in this area may focus upon launch vehicles or satellite and vehicle propulsion systems, in-space research or manufacturing systems and services, human sustainability, spaceflight or exploration infrastructure, data processing and communication technologies, orbital servicing, asteroid mining and microgravity applications.

  Sub-Topics

  SP1. Launch vehicles and propulsion
  SP2. Satellite technology
  SP3. Spaceflight infrastructure
  SP4. Data and communication
  SP5. In space services and production
  SP6. Human viability and sustainability

• Wireless Technologies (W)

  The Wireless topic involves next-generation wireless communication technologies requiring systems with high data rates, low costs and that support a wide variety of applications and services while maintaining full mobility, minimum latency, and long battery life. Devices and subsystems that increase data throughput rates via cell density; increased spectrum; multiple input, multiple output (MIMO); and new “antenna” concepts are encouraged. NSF welcomes proposals involving modulation and demodulation techniques for signal generation and reception through spectral efficiency, noise immunity, jamming immunity, and power efficiency; radio frequency (RF) pollution: devices and circuits; processing algorithms/3D spatial control; and high efficiency devices such as micro-TWT (traveling-wave tube), smart dust and inductive couplers. NSF seeks proposals in the areas of spectrum-related research and development activities that improve the efficiency by which the radio spectrum is used, and the ability of all members of the public to access spectrum-related services. Mobile and automotive radar, smart solar panels, on-panel DC-AC converters, openRAN (Radio Access Networks)-related devices and applications and self-testing and self-networking devices are also of interest.

  Sub-Topics

  W1. Communication and Networking Technologies
  W2. Networked Sensors and Sensing
  W3. Wireless Devices and Components
  W4. Wireless Systems
  W5. Other Wireless Technologies

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Additional benefits described in the solicitation materials include:

• Access to external technical and commercialization reviewers

• Feedback from NSF experts and review panels

• Eligibility for supplemental funding opportunities after Phase II

• Ability to apply for additional NSF funding after successful Phase I progress

NSF also notes that access to most Phase I award funds occurs at the time of award notification.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Application process timeline:

1. Complete the Project Pitch Assessment

2. Submit a required Project Pitch

3. Receive a response from NSF in approximately 1–2 months

4. If invited, submit a full proposal

5. Undergo proposal review and due diligence

6. Receive funding decision approximately 5–7 months after proposal submission deadline

Full proposal submission deadlines are:

• July 27 2026

• November 4 2026

• March 4 2027

Proposal submission is due by 5:00 PM submitter’s time on the specified due date.

NSF states:

• Proposal review occurs approximately 1–3 months after submission

• Additional due diligence may occur approximately 3–5 months after submission

• Funding decisions occur approximately 5–7 months after submission

Where does this funding come from?

The funding comes from:

• The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)

• America’s Seed Fund

• NSF SBIR/STTR programs

The solicitation references:

• NSF 26-510: Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I, Phase II, Fast-Track Programs SBIR/STTR: Developing Deep Technologies that Advance U.S. Competitiveness and Security

• NSF 26-511: Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I, Phase II, Fast-Track Programs: A Pilot Emphasis on Scientific Instrumentation

Who is eligible to apply?

To be eligible, companies must:

• Be a small business with fewer than 500 employees

• Be located in the United States

• Have at least 50% ownership by U.S. citizens or permanent residents

• Perform all funded work in the United States

• Employ a Principal Investigator (PI) at least 20 hours per week

• Have the PI commit at least one month (173 hours) of work per six months of project duration

NSF states it does not fund:

• Companies majority-owned by multiple venture capital firms

• Companies majority-owned by private equity firms

• Companies majority-owned by hedge funds

The PI does not need advanced degrees.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

NSF states it looks for companies and projects with:

• Strong technological innovation

• High-risk, unproven R&D

• Significant societal or national impact

• Sustainable competitive advantages

• Commercial potential and market pull

• Scalable business opportunities

• Technically qualified and commercially motivated teams

NSF specifically evaluates:

• Intellectual Merit

• Broader Impacts

• Commercial Impact

The solicitation materials state that proposals are reviewed by external technical and commercialization experts in addition to NSF program staff.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Important restrictions and requirements include:

• Only one Project Pitch per submission deadline is allowed

• Companies with a pending Project Pitch, Open Invitation, or proposal under review must wait before submitting another Project Pitch

• All funded work, including consultant and contractor work, must occur in the United States

• SAM registration is required before proposal submission

• SAM registration can take up to three weeks to complete

• Proposal submission is due by 5:00 PM submitter’s time on the specified due date

NSF also notes that:

• An invitation to submit a proposal does not guarantee funding

• Historical Phase I funding rates have been between 10% and 20%

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

The solicitation materials do not specify a required preparation timeline.

However, NSF states:

• Writing a full proposal requires a “significant investment of time and effort”

• Companies should begin registration processes “as soon as possible”

• SAM registration can take up to three weeks

• Research.gov registration can take up to 48 hours

The application process includes:

• Completing a Project Pitch

• Receiving NSF feedback

• Preparing a full proposal if invited

• Completing multiple federal registrations

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can help companies:

• Assess fit with NSF SBIR/STTR evaluation criteria

• Develop a compelling Project Pitch

• Position the technical innovation and commercial potential clearly

• Draft and manage the full NSF proposal process

• Prepare commercialization and market positioning content

• Coordinate registrations and submission workflows

• Improve competitiveness against NSF review criteria

How much would BW&CO Charge?

Our full service support is available for a flat fee of $9,000 + 5% Success Fee.

Fractional support is $300 per hour.

For startups, we offer a discounted rate of $250 per hour to make top-tier grant consulting more accessible while maintaining the same level of strategic guidance and proposal quality.

Additional Resources

Learn more about the program here.