Intelligent Threat Aware Autonomy - SBIR Topic DAF26BZ01-NV006

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $140,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

The objectives are to do: 1. Weapon Engagement Zone (WEZ) Modeling: Develop models to represent the area where a weapon can effectively engage targets. This involves considering factors like weapon range, vehicle movement, and threat trajectories, to provide risk measures for path planning and weapons employment.2. WEZ Avoidance: Develop path planning algorithms for ACPs to navigate safely through dynamic WEZs, minimizing risk while reaching objectives efficiently. This requires real-time solutions that can handle multiple static and moving threats.3. Advanced Weaponeering: Optimize weapon usage for ACPs to maximize target capture and neutralization. This includes assigning appropriate weapons to targets, considering target movement and the overall mission context.4. Mutual Support: Investigate how multiple ACPs can cooperate effectively in adversarial situations. This includes coordinated movement to avoid threats and collaborative weapon engagement for increased effectiveness.

Description:

To address future Air Force strategic needs, an increasing number of advanced systems with intelligent autonomy are being envisioned. Intelligent autonomy is central to systems involving advanced automation, artificial intelligence, machine learning, adaptive control architectures, and heightened performance compared to the state of the art. A critical need for enabling these future autonomous systems are behaviors that can be leveraged by higher level cognition or mission managers to achieve collaborative mission execution for ACPs. The question that needs to be asked is, “Provided that systems have all the data available to them from sensors and mission objectives, what is it that the systems actually have to do to be successful in their mission?” It is clear that the sensing and available of data is a critical requirement for making informed decisions, this may entail a deep investigation on coupling behaviors with sensing capability; but, the focus of this effort is more toward the thinking and action than the sensing of the sense-think-act process flow. Near term objectives of this work are to invest in basic and applied research to building on the accomplished R&D, address specific identified technical challenges and tools for solving Intelligent Threat Aware Autonomy (ITA2) objectives. Far term objectives involve advanced technology development to constrict ITA2 avionics packages, perform real-time hardware and flight testing of ITA2 products, manufacture vehicles capable of performing ITA2 or hardware that interfaces with current ACPs, and flight test on Air Force / DoD commercial platforms.

Intelligent Threat Aware Autonomy (ITA2) is aimed at finding ways to take measured risks and enable autonomous systems to achieve air superiority in threat laden environments. Multiple facets of this project are to be investigated including: ways of measuring risk from ensuing threats, leveraging own-ship weapon models for capturing targets of interest, avoiding adversarial threats, addressing limited communication range and navigational error, quantifying mutual support and types of mutual support, and measures of force through collaboration and teaming. Lastly, the addressing of uncertainty of own-ship(s) states, target vehicle(s) states, operations boundaries, target vehicle capability, and other forms of uncertainties such as communication delay and environmental disturbances (wind) are important for obtaining reliable and robust behaviors.

Vehicle control is performed by providing the vehicles desired aim-points or waypoint plans in three-dimensional space. The inner loop control systems of aircraft is out of scope of this work; rather, interfacing with current / existing vehicle control technologies is expected though the use of aim-points. This reduces the burden of developing the necessary vehicle control commands such as normal acceleration, roll-rate, and throttle. Furthermore, it leverages the most state of the art methods for performing vehicle control and AI enabling technologies.

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with section 3.5 of the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Runtime Assured Autonomy - SBIR Topic DAF26BZ01-NV008

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $140,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

The Need for Advanced Autonomy: The Air Force has gained wide interest in fully autonomous, unmanned air platforms operating in teams making collaborative decisions to successfully complete missions. Highest level, real-time decision making will be the responsibility of advanced autonomy. This autonomy will include both flight-level autonomy and mission-level autonomy. Flight-level autonomy functions will generate local commands that keep the vehicle operating safely. Mission-level autonomy functions will continuously deliver courses of action (COAs) to each platform in the fleet, commanding mission progress in real time. Although all vehicles in the fleet will have instantiations of the mission-level autonomy functions, COAs will typically be generated by a chosen fleet leader.

Description:

The Need for Runtime Assured Autonomy: Autonomy approaches under current development can be highly complex and nondeterministic in their behaviors. AFRL is currently developing approaches for autonomously executed missions using complex event processing techniques. This class of autonomy will be difficult, if not impossible, to fully certify from an airworthiness perspective, and therefore cannot be trusted to correctly operate under all mission conditions. Further, the capabilities of artificial intelligence and autonomy are rapidly increasing with continually updated versions and design iterations expected to occur throughout the operational lifecycles of unmanned systems. Such protocols are clearly not amenable to the time consuming and expensive airworthiness certification process.

To address this hurdle, Runtime assured autonomy (RTAA) functions will be needed to perform runtime monitoring of the autonomy and enact procedures to mitigate any adverse effects due to errors in the autonomy design. The safety and performance protections provided by RTAA will lessen the certification burden, allowing rapid fielding of autonomy functions.

Topic Objective: The objective of this topic is to develop innovative approaches to RTAA systems that protect the individual platform and the fleet against undiscovered design errors in the autonomy functions. The focus should be on use cases in which the RTAA determines whether the autonomy is generating infeasible, incorrect, and/or non-optimal solutions (e.g., commanded paths or task allocation) that may affect mission progress and effectiveness.

Several of the Air Force’s Operational Imperatives call for unmanned platforms to support manned platforms. The Advanced Battle Management System, Moving Target Engagement, Tactical Air Dominance and Global Strike imperatives all call for less expensive, attritable uncrewed platforms to aid in executing complex battle missions. These uncrewed systems cannot always be guaranteed to be controlled by remote human operators due to loss of radio communications or saturated operator workload. Full autonomy will need to fill the gap when human command/control cannot. To address future Air Force tactical and strategic needs, an increasing number of advanced systems with intelligent autonomy are being envisioned. Intelligent autonomy is central to systems involving a wide range of advanced adaptation, reconfiguration, autonomous decision making and contingency management.

Assured autonomy is the requirement that the autonomy operates safely and correctly under all circumstances and mission scenarios. RTAA fulfills this Air Force technology need, providing continuous monitoring/mitigation of autonomy functions to deliver required assurances of safe flight and correct mission execution. There are considerable challenges to developing a working RTAA system. The two key functions of the RTAA are:

1. Fault detection & isolation: The RTAA system must be able to determine if the autonomy is correctly producing COAs and other commands, which is especially difficult if agnostic of the autonomy function details. Developing strategies that can indirectly detect and isolate autonomy design faults in dynamic environments will be key to developing the RTAA system. Faults within the autonomy will need to be determined through the effects those faults have on the platform’s safety, performance, and/or mission effectiveness. RTAA fault determination may come from comparing the current actions of the autonomy with nominal functional or performance requirements (e.g., what defines correct behavior), sanity checks, rubrics, rule sets, etc.

2. Mitigation response: If the RTAA determines that errors in the design of the autonomy functions are adversely affecting flight and mission decisions, it must then activate proper recovery or reversionary protocols. This may include first commanding the vehicle to a failsafe loiter point, then clearing functional states and restarting the autonomy functions. As a last resort, the RTAA may activate return-to base or ditch procedures. If available, the RTAA may switch to simpler, reversionary autonomy functions that can continue the mission either temporarily until the advanced autonomy is back online, or to mission completion, if capable.

The two main functional levels of an RTAA system are:

1. Platform/fleet safety: Here, the RTAA typically treats the autonomy functions as a black box and simply monitors the platform and fleet for safety violations. The RTAA will monitor, for example, 1) flight envelope parameters such as angle of attack, angular rates, g-loading, etc., determining if their values remain within prescribed limits, 2) flight corridor values, determining if the vehicles are within their prescribed airspace and location for path deconfliction, and 3) path commands generated by the autonomy functions to determine if the vehicle’s maneuvering capabilities can fly the commanded path. If it is determined that safety violations are ensuing, (and assuming no hardware faults or other contingencies are causing unsafe conditions), then the RTAA will deactivate the autonomy functions and activate simpler reversionary controllers or procedures designed to bring the vehicle/fleet back to a safe state.

2. Autonomy function performance: Here, the RTAA is monitoring for correct and/or optimal performance of the autonomy itself. The RTAA must determine if the autonomy functions are, for example, 1) generating correct COAs, including safe, optimal and deconflicted paths, 2) commanding proper asset allocation and reassignment of platform roles, if necessary (e.g., send the vehicle with the most fuel to the furthest mission point, or use the fastest vehicle for the most time-critical objective, etc.), 3) replanning mission objectives accordingly due to unforeseen changes in the environment (inclement weather, observed adversarial threats, etc.), changes in the commander’s intent (uploaded changes to mission objectives, etc.) or other unforeseen contingencies, and 4) addressing other relevant mission aspects to maximize mission effectiveness.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

AI Framework for Multimodal Scene Construction and Data Generation - SBIR Topic DAF26BZ01-DV005

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $140,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

The objective is to develop a capability for generating geo-specific, sensor-independent scenes for multimodal (RF and EO/IR) synthetic data generation by leveraging geo-spatial information, time-of-day, seasonal data, and measured databases, overcoming limitations in existing models and radiometric data.

Description:

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with section 3.5 of the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws.

The objective is to develop a capability for generating geo-specific, sensor-independent scenes for multimodal (RF and EO/IR) synthetic data generation by leveraging geo-spatial information, time-of-day, seasonal data, and measured databases, overcoming limitations in existing models and radiometric data.

The DoD requires large-scale, high-fidelity background scenes to advance autonomous systems and Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) capabilities. These scenes are critical for providing realistic, context-rich environments that enable AI/ML and/or autonomous systems to learn, adapt, and perform effectively in real-world, dynamic conditions. A critical component of this effort is the ability to generate dynamic, high-fidelity background scenes that realistically model operational environments. Unlike traditional synthetic data generation, which often focuses on isolated sensor outputs, scene generation must create a coherent, interactive world where autonomous agents can navigate, perceive, and process imagery based on their movement and decision-making.

This presents several challenges. First, scene generation requires accurate modeling of complex environmental factors such as terrain variation, urban structures, vegetation, weather conditions, and electromagnetic propagation—all of which impact sensor performance. Additionally, ensuring spatial and temporal consistency across multimodal data (e.g., RF and EO/IR) is far more demanding than simply generating independent synthetic datasets. Autonomous systems rely on their ability to interpret changes in the environment dynamically, requiring realistic physics-based interactions between sensors and the scene. Further, aligning RF and EO/IR perspectives within the same scenario for sensor fusion introduces an added layer of complexity, demanding precise calibration of sensor viewpoints, occlusions, and atmospheric effects.

To accurately model such complex environments, scene generation tools must not only produce synthetic RF and EO/IR data but also ensure that these representations align with real-world sensor measurements. When the underlying environment is well-characterized, scene generation tools can generate multimodal imagery alongside ground truth labels, providing ready-made datasets for AI/ML models and autonomous agents. However, their effectiveness is often constrained by the availability of accurate models and measured databases that capture the necessary radiometric and electromagnetic characteristics of the environment. Addressing these limitations requires the development of software that integrates geospatial data, time-of-day, seasonal variations, measured databases, and land cover data to generate detailed representations of the environment. Furthermore, this software must support standardized scene formats compatible with existing simulation tools such as FLITES (EO/IR) and Xpatch (RF), allowing for flexible resolution and fidelity adjustments based on scenario requirements. Finally, a structured approach should be proposed to refine synthetic scene renderings as real-world measurements become available, improving realism and scene fidelity over time.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Low-Cost Modular Payload Vehicle for Agile Electronic Warfare Swarms with Ground Launch Capability - SBIR Topic DAF26BZ01-NV003

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $140,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Develop a low-cost, versatile sUAS platform (Group 3 and below) specifically designed to accommodate modular payloads and capable of ground launch. This platform should enable agile electronic warfare applications in swarms. This topic is intended to develop a standalone solution that can be integrated with a variety of payloads, either by modifying an existing sUAS platform or by developing a new platform from the ground up.

Description:

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with section 3.5 of the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws.

Develop a low-cost, versatile sUAS platform (Group 3 and below) specifically designed to accommodate modular payloads and capable of ground launch. This platform should enable agile electronic warfare applications in swarms. This topic is intended to develop a standalone solution that can be integrated with a variety of payloads, either by modifying an existing sUAS platform or by developing a new platform from the ground up.

The effective deployment of electronic warfare (EW) capabilities relies on agile and adaptable platforms that can rapidly integrate and deploy a variety of payloads. Current sUAS platforms often lack the modularity and flexibility required to support the rapid evolution of EW technology. This topic addresses the need for a low-cost, versatile sUAS platform specifically designed to accommodate modular payloads and designed for ground launch, enabling rapid deployment in diverse operational environments. Proposals may consider either modifying an existing, commercially available sUAS platform to meet the requirements of this topic, or developing a new platform optimized for modularity and ground launch.

The key innovation is the development of a sUAS platform (either new or modified) with a standardized payload interface that allows for rapid integration and swapping of different payloads. This modular design, combined with ground launch capability, will enable:

 Rapid Payload Integration: Simplified and standardized interfaces for connecting power, data, and control signals to the payload.

 Payload Agnosticism: The ability to accommodate a wide range of payload sizes, weights, and power requirements.

 Enhanced Mission Flexibility: The ability to quickly reconfigure the sUAS for different missions by swapping payloads.

 Simplified Logistics: Reduced maintenance and support costs through standardized components and interfaces.

 Ground Launch Compatibility: Robust design specifically for compatibility with ground launch systems, enabling rapid deployment from ground-based platforms, even in challenging terrain.

The sUAS platform should be optimized for operation in low to medium sized swarms (3-10 units), allowing for coordinated EW effects. The design should also prioritize low cost, ease of use, reliability, and the following Key Performance Parameters (KPPs):

 Payload Capacity: Minimum of 5 lbs

 Endurance: Minimum flight time of 45 minutes with a 5 lb payload.

 Range: Minimum operational range of 100 kilometers.

 Ground Launch System Compatibility: Compatible with a readily available ground launch system (e.g., pneumatic launcher, rail system).

 Deployment Time: Capable of being launched and operational within 5 minutes of arrival at the launch site.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Environmental Exposure Detection Technologies and/or Decontamination Treatments for Military Working Dogs - SBIR DHA26BZ01-NV003

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $250,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Develop decontamination treatments for military working dogs that have been exposed to toxic industrial chemicals and materials through the performance of their duties.

Description:

This topic is in support of the DoD Working Dog Strategic Research Plan concerning mitigation, countermeasures and treatments for toxin/toxic exposures1. In modern military operations, military working dogs (MWDs) are at risk of exposure by many different types of hazardous materials. These include toxic industrial chemicals (TICs) and materials (TIMs) such as hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, glycols, hazardous metals, gases (hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen sulfide, freon, carbon monoxide, etc.), acids and alkali substances. Techniques for the decontamination of hazardous material exposures to the surface of the MWD are well defined2,3,4. Although there are useful treatment options for external decontamination, there are few treatment options for toxic exposures that have been absorbed into the body of the MWD.

The objective of this topic is to develop new treatments for MWDs against hazardous materials that have been absorbed into the body either through the skin or mucous membranes, by inhalation, or ingestion. Current systemic treatments employed to care for MWDs include supportive antibiotic therapy for sulfur mustard, atropine injections for nerve agents, and Narcan for narcotics, but there are limited treatment options available for TIC/TIM exposures4,5,6. Systemic treatments for the MWD should be able to be performed by veterinarians and their support personnel (trained animal care specialists (68T) in Role 1 and/or veterinary medical and surgical teams (VMST) in Role 2). Potential MWD systemic treatments could include but are not limited to kits containing indicators or detectors of TIC/TIM exposure with easily identifiable injectable treatments for the identified contaminant (indicator/detector) and/or hemoperfusion systems and filters that can be used to remove contaminants from the blood (systemic). This research topic does not support the use of canines for testing purposes. Any animal testing would require use of a suitable animal model that would approximate the response of a canine.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Development of Wearable Device for Detecting Biomarkers and Treating Viral and Bacterial Infections - SBIR DHA26BZ01-NV004

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $250,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Develop a non-invasive wearable device that can discretely detect biomarkers for and provide initial broad-spectrum treatment for pan-viral and pan-bacterial infections. If fielded for military use, it may require additional security measures.

Description:

The DHA Strategic Research Plan (SRP): Environmental Exposures (June 2024) lists two capability requirements under the “Assess” and “Treat” capability areas that align with this proposal: Environmental Detection and Health Risk Assessments under Assess and Environmental Exposures Treatment under Treat. In addition, the DHA SRP: Military Infectious Diseases (May 2024) lists three capability requirements under the “Prevent”, “Treat”, and “Enable” capability areas that align with this proposal: Prevention of Military Relevant Endemic and Emerging Infectious Diseases under Prevent, Treatment of Military Relevant Endemic and Emerging Infectious Diseases under Treat, and Core Competencies under Enable.

The Department of the Air Force (DAF) is looking for an advanced, non-invasive (does not break the skin or physically enter the body) wearable device (i.e., flash/continuous glucose style monitoring) capable of qualitatively detecting all-viral and all-bacterial infections using discrete biomarkers for such infections: TRAIL, MxA, CD46, IP-10, PTX3, or other non-blood based biomarkers (saliva, sweat, etc.) for viral infections and CRP, PCT, IL-6, IL-8, CD35, CD55, CD64, pro-ADM, or other non-blood based biomarkers (saliva, sweat, etc.) for bacterial infections. The end goal is a wearable device that discretely detects viral and bacterial infections and renders initial, broad-spectrum anti-viral or anti-bacterial treatment(s) at austere operational environments where no immediate medical countermeasures and no other detection capabilities are available until casualties are evacuated to locations with more robust medical resources for additional and specific differentiation and treatment. At a higher echelon of care, medical personnel must be able to receive data from the device to find out what category of threats (viral or bacterial) has triggered a biomarker detection and what corresponding treatments have been rendered to the affected force before providing more advanced care.

By continuously monitoring validated biomarkers, this device will empower warfighters to detect and respond to biological threats early, enhancing their survivability and operational effectiveness in high-threat theaters and mitigating risks to mission and force. This Air Force Medical Command initiative improves force health protection and ensures mission success. Dual-use functionality of this technology will focus on civilian healthcare systems.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Detection and Treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury in Military Working Dogs - SBIR DHA26BZ01-NV002

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $250,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Evaluate previously developed traumatic brain injury (TBI) detection and treatments methods that can be repurposed for use in military working dogs (MWDs) after suffering from battlefield injuries.

Description:

This topic is in support of the DoD Working Dog Strategic Research Plan concerning mitigation, strategies, and treatments for the detection and treatment of TBI.1 Due to the high-risk nature of MWD operations, TBI is a common injury. TBI in the MWD carries an extremely high mortality rate with a prehospital mortality of over 40% for severe TBI cases. It is estimated that 25-40% of all MWD trauma cases are accompanied by TBI, but there is limited data concerning the short- and long-term effects of TBI on the performance and health of the MWD. Current clinical detection methods for TBI in the MWD are by the observation of altered mentation (coma, stupor, depression, lethargy, inappropriate behavior or responses) of the MWD and by use of the modified veterinary Glasgow coma scale or with physical evidence of head trauma (e.g., lacerations, abrasions, bruising, swelling, pain, bleeding from the nose or ears). Current treatment guidelines for TBI in MWDs are largely based on treatment recommendations for humans and are primarily supportive measures to maintain blood pressure, oxygen levels, proper ventilation, and body temperature to mitigate secondary injuries2,3,4. There have been many TBI detection methods and treatment strategies developed for humans that have shown promising results in rodent and large animal models5. The objective of this SBIR is to review research that was performed in rodents, canines, or other large animal models that could be repurposed for the detection and treatment of TBI specifically in MWDs. This research topic does not support the use of canines for testing purposes. Any animal testing would require use of suitable animal model that would approximate the response of a canine.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Military Working Dog Whole Blood Product or Substitute - SBIR DHA26BZ01-NV001

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $250,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Develop a whole blood product or substitute to aid in hemorrhage control for Military Working Dogs (MWD) after battlefield injury that can be used near the point of injury (POI) and throughout the continuum of care to reduce morbidity and mortality.

Description:

This topic is in support of the DoD Working Dog Strategic Research Plan concerning solutions for bleeding control and coagulopathy support.1 The Military Working Dog (MWD) provides a unique and important service to the warfighter. MWDs serve as sentries, perform tracking and patrol, and are used for the detection of explosives. These activities come with a high risk of injury. Uncontrolled hemorrhage following traumatic injury accounts for over 45% of all MWD battlefield deaths2. The current standard of care for hemorrhage in the MWD is to provide immediate fluid therapy through the delivery of crystalloid fluids as the first-line treatment, which is then followed by a synthetic colloid or hypertonic saline. These treatments also require the administration of supplemental oxygen to maintain appropriate oxygen levels and for the survival of the MWD3. To improve their survival rates, the development of a shelf stable canine whole blood product or substitute is a critical priority

The goal of this topic is to develop a stable canine whole blood product and/or substitute (i.e. hemoglobin or polymer oxygen carriers), intended for canine use at both POI and throughout the continuum of care. The product should have a shelf-life of greater than 3 years and be thermal stable (-9℃ to 60℃) to ensure accessibility in operational environments. The product must primarily replicate the oxygen carrier characteristics of whole blood and demonstrate the ability to be used safely and effectively to treat blood loss following traumatic injury. This research topic does not support the use of canines for testing purposes. Any animal testing would require use of suitable animal models that would approximate the response of a canine.

Blood products derived from canine donors must be negative for canine red blood cell antigens DEA 1.1 and DEA 1.2. Donor animals must also be tested for blood borne diseases including canine brucellosis, hemobartonellosis, Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease), Dirofilaria immitis (heartworm disease), Ehrlichia canis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Coccidioides immitis, Babesia canis, Babesia gibsoni, Mycoplasma haemocanis and plasma levels of von Willebrand factor. All donor animals must be current on immunizations for canine distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, leptospirosis, parvovirus, Bordatella, coronavirus and rabies virus as applicable.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Development of Small Molecules with Antifungal Properties for Safe Use in Human Patients (Direct to Phase II) - SBIR DHA26BZ01-DV005

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $1.3 Million

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

This topic is intended for technology proven ready to move directly into Phase II and accepts Direct to Phase II proposals only. The proposed research will focus on identifying compounds with broad-spectrum activity against clinically relevant fungal pathogens while minimizing toxicity to humans. The primary objective is to identify a small molecule with fungicidal properties that are safe for human use, with FDA clearance.

Description:

Fungal infections represent a growing global health challenge, particularly among immuno-compromised individuals. Invasive fungal infections caused by pathogens such as Candida species, Aspergillus species, Fusarium species, and Mucor species are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Fungal infections are associated with 130k hospitalizations, 13 million outpatient visits, and result in a financial burden of $19 billion on the civilian health care sector. Fungal wound infections in particular are also growing challenge for the military. Despite the availability of antifungal agents, current treatments are often limited by toxicity, drug resistance, and narrow-spectrum activity. The emergence of multidrug-resistant fungal strains, such as Candida auris, has further exacerbated the need for novel antifungal therapies. Small molecules with antifungal properties offer a promising avenue for addressing these challenges. Their ability to target specific fungal pathways, combined with the potential for oral bioavailability and low manufacturing costs, makes them ideal candidates for therapeutic development. However, significant scientific and technical hurdles remain with the discovery and optimization of small molecules that are both effective against fungal pathogens and safe for human use. Qualified proposals should identify small molecules with antifungal properties from an existing library. These small molecules should be active against all of the following fungi: Fusarium species, Aspergillus species, Candida auris, or Mucorales species. Qualified molecules will have antifungal activity at nanomolar concentrations. Further, these small molecules must have a cytotoxicity profile similar, or better than Amphotericin B.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

Low-Cost, Phased Array Antennas for Collaborative Jamming in sUAS Swarms - SBIR Topic DAF26TZ01-NV004

Disclaimer:
This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
We believe this topic is planned to be released once the SBIR program is reauthorized; however, this topic may ultimately be modified or withdrawn.

Sign up below to be notified as soon as this topic is released again. In the meantime, we’d recommend you start planning to respond if within your capabilities.

Funding Amount:

Est. $140,000

Deadline to Apply:

Est. April 29th, 2026.

Objective:

Develop a low-cost, phased array antenna system and associated signal processing techniques for collaborative jamming applications using small to medium-sized sUAS swarms (3-7 units).

Description:

This topic addresses the need for affordable and scalable jamming capabilities leveraging sUAS swarms. Instead of focusing on individual, high-power jammers, this STTR seeks to develop a collaborative jamming approach using multiple sUAS equipped with low-cost phased array antennas.

The key innovation is the development of a low-cost phased array antenna system that can be precisely controlled to focus jamming energy on specific targets. By coordinating the signals from multiple sUAS in a swarm, the effective jamming power can be significantly increased. The focus on low to medium-sized swarms (3-7 units) allows for manageable coordination and control strategies.

This approach offers several advantages over traditional jamming techniques, including:

 Increased jamming effectiveness through beamforming.

 Improved resilience through redundancy.

 Reduced risk of detection and counter-attack.

 Lower cost compared to high-power jamming systems.

Who will win?

If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any company that meets the following criteria:

• For-profit company

• U.S.-owned and controlled.

• 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)

How Can BW&CO Help?

1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.

2) Proposal strategy and review.

3) Administrative & compliance support.

Request to talk with a member of our team by completing the form below:

DIBC: Domestic Processing Capabilities of Critical Minerals

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

Executive Summary:

The Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC) has released RPP-CM-26-01: Domestic Processing Capabilities of Critical Minerals to strengthen U.S. defense supply chains.

The RPP closes: March 20, 2026, at 5:00 PM (ET). Late submissions may not be reviewed or considered.

This opportunity supports projects that establish, expand, or scale domestic processing capabilities for critical minerals essential to national defense. Awards will be issued through Other Transaction (OT) authority under 10 U.S.C. § 4021 (Research) or 10 U.S.C. § 4022 (Prototype).

If your company operates anywhere across the mineral value chain — from extraction to refining to recycling — and addresses at least one in-scope mineral, this is a high-priority DoD-backed industrial base investment opportunity.

How much funding would I receive?

The solicitation does not specify award amounts, minimum or maximum funding levels, number of awards, or total program funding.

Phase 2 submissions will include full pricing documentation. The Government will evaluate cost reasonableness and feasibility.

For projects:

• Over $100M but not $500M, additional cost feasibility standards apply.

• Over $500M, use of authority must be essential to meet critical national security objectives.

All agreements are generally expected to be fixed-price with milestone payments, although other award types may be proposed and negotiated.

What could I use the funding for?

Projects must address at least one of the following minerals:

• Arsenic

• Bismuth

• Gadolinium

• Germanium

• Graphite

• Hafnium

• Nickel

• Samarium

• Tungsten

• Vanadium

• Ytterbium

• Yttrium

• Zirconium

And must align with at least one of six Areas of Interest (AOIs):

AOI 1 – Raw Mineral Sourcing and Beneficiation

• Feasibility studies

• Infrastructure improvements

• Capital investments

• Productivity enhancements

• Expansion of mining capacity

AOI 2 – Separation and Processing

• Conversion to intermediate chemical forms (e.g., oxides, chlorides, salts)

AOI 3 – Metal Production, Metallization, Refining, and Upscaling

• Smelting

• Metal purification and refining

AOI 4 – Alloying and Finish Processing

• Alloy production

• Coating or plating

• Production of materials ready for integration into supply chains

AOI 5 – Recycling, Recovery, and Alternative Sourcing

• Recovery from mine tailings, scrap, industrial waste, end-of-life materials

AOI 6 – Supporting Supply Chains

• Production of chemical reagents, key inputs, tooling, production equipment

• Qualification of materials for DoD systems

Projects may span multiple stages of the value chain and may include co-products if at least one in-scope mineral is produced.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

This opportunity is structured under Other Transaction (OT) authority, which:

• Is not subject to the FAR

• Allows flexible commercial terms

• Enables milestone-based payment structures

• May support follow-on production without further competition under 10 U.S.C. § 4022(f), if the prototype is successfully completed

Submissions may also be placed in a 24-month “basket” for potential future award consideration.

The Government may also leverage additional financial tools such as:

• Direct equity stakes

• SAFE instruments

• Convertible notes

• Revenue share agreements

• Offtake agreements

• DPA Title III loans, loan guarantees, or purchase commitments

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

RPP Release Date: February 27, 2026
RPP Closes: March 20, 2026, at 5:00 PM (ET)

The Government may close the RPP at any time. After closure, submissions will not be accepted.

The solicitation does not specify an award timeline or expected funding start date.

The review process includes:

Phase 1: Quad Chart submission

• Evaluated for relevance and feasibility

• Selected companies invited to Phase 2

Phase 2: Full proposal package

• Includes Project Execution Plan, pricing, certifications, Environmental Assessment Questionnaire

Only selected Phase 1 applicants will move to Phase 2.

Where does this funding come from?

This opportunity is issued by the Washington Headquarters Services, Acquisition Directorate (WHS/AD) under the Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC).

It supports the mission of Industrial Base Policy (IBP) within the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment (OUSW(A&S)).

Funding is aligned with:

• Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS)

• Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III authorities

Who is eligible to apply?

Only Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC) Consortium Members may submit.

Additional requirements:

• Must submit through ATI’s Business Information Data System (BIDS)

• Must be registered in SAM (System for Award Management)

• Must not be suspended or debarred

• Must meet responsibility determination standards

For Prototype authority under 10 U.S.C. § 4022, eligibility requires one of the following:

• Significant participation by a Nontraditional Defense Contractor (NDC) or Nonprofit Research Institution (NRI),

• Complete participation by a small business, or

• At least one-third resource contribution by a consortium member other than the above.

Foreign investment or control must be disclosed.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

The Government will evaluate proposals based on:

Phase 1:

• Relevance to the AOI

• Merit and feasibility

Phase 2:

• Relevance to the AOI

• Technical merit and feasibility

• Reasonableness of schedule

• Reasonableness and adequacy of cost

• Data rights assertions

Projects must clearly demonstrate:

• Impact on defense supply chains

• Production volumes

• Advancement in TRL and MRL

• Commercialization pathway

• Mitigation of global supply chain vulnerabilities

Holistic, integrated, scalable solutions across multiple value chain stages are encouraged.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Key restrictions include:

• Submissions must follow mandatory templates.

• Files must be unencrypted, under 5MB.

• No reimbursement for proposal costs.

• Classified material is not allowed.

• CUI submissions must comply with NIST SP 800-171r2.

• Supply chain reporting is required (including vendor data and part traceability).

• Mandatory Government terms apply under the DIBC Base Agreement.

• The Government retains broad discretion and may decline any proposal.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

This is a two-phase process.

Phase 1:

• Quad Chart (mandatory template)

Phase 2 (by invitation only):

• Cover Page (2 pages)

• Project Execution Plan (15 pages)

• Affirmation of Business Status Certification

• Price proposal and justification

• Environmental Assessment Questionnaire

Preparation time will depend on project complexity. The solicitation does not specify an estimated preparation timeline.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can:

• Determine alignment with IBAS vs. DPA Title III authorities

• Position your project across the mineral value chain

• Develop a compliant Quad Chart

• Build a defensible milestone-based pricing structure

• Align TRL/MRL progression to evaluation criteria

• Structure cost share or resource contribution documentation

• De-risk data rights assertions

• Prepare Phase 2 documentation under strict OT requirements

We ensure your submission aligns precisely with AOI criteria and evaluation factors.

How much would BW&CO Charge?

We have both fractional engagements ($250 an hour) and full engagements ($9,000) available.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.

Air Force: AERIAL LAYER NETWORKING & TRANSMISSION TECHNOLOGIES

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

Executive Summary:

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Information Directorate (Rome Research Site), is soliciting white papers under BAA FA8750-23-S-7002 for advanced research in Aerial Layer Networking & Transmission Technologies.

This is an Open, 2-Step Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) focused on enabling self-forming, self-healing, resilient airborne networks that operate in contested and degraded environments.

White papers will be accepted until 0500 PM EST on 30 September 2027, and this BAA will close on 30 September 2027.

While submissions are accepted on a rolling basis, AFRL recommends aligning to fiscal year targets to maximize funding probability. If this topic aligns with your capabilities, early submission materially improves your chances of selection.

This is a multi-year, $99.5M opportunity with potential awards ranging from $1M to $10M — and up to $49.5M in certain cases.

How much funding would I receive?

• Total BAA funding: Approximately $99.5M

• Funding by fiscal year:

  • FY26 – $19.9M

  • FY27 – $19.9M

• Typical individual awards:

  • Normally range from $1M to $10M

  • Period of performance typically not to exceed 36 months

  • Potential exists for awards up to $49.5M

Multiple awards are anticipated. The Air Force reserves the right to award zero, one, or more awards depending on funding availability and proposal quality.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding supports research, development, integration, test, evaluation, and experimentation of technologies for Airborne Network Connectivity and Dissemination, including:

Airborne Network Management & Monitoring

• Self-managing and self-healing wireless networks

• Software Defined Networking (SDN)

• Network Function Virtualization (NFV)

• Monitoring and management of tactical data link (TDL) networks

Robust Airborne Networking

• Resilient networking in contested environments

• Mesh networking technologies

• RF front ends, radios, modems

• Security and reliability improvements

• Apertures and waveforms

Demonstrable Network Technologies

• Advanced radios and networking technologies

• Proof-of-concept demonstrations

• Lower-cost demonstrations leveraging AFRL infrastructure

AESA-Based Tracking Systems

• Analog active electronically steered array (AESA) technology

• Embedded control solutions for modular AESA panels

• Electronic tracking algorithms

• Small form-factor RF hardware

• Communications system integration and characterization

Both fundamental and non-fundamental research may be awarded. The Government retains sole discretion on instrument type and publication restrictions.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Potential benefits include:

• Ability to receive FAR-based contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or Other Transactions (OTs)

• For Other Transaction for Prototype (10 USC 4022) awards:

  • Potential transition to a follow-on production contract or transaction without further competition if the prototype is successfully completed

• Engagement and dialogue with AFRL prior to submission

• White paper feedback within 45 days of submission

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

This is a rolling, open BAA.

White papers will be accepted until 0500 PM EST on 30 September 2027. The BAA will close on 30 September 2027.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding is provided by:

Department of the Air Force
Air Force Materiel Command
Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)
Information Directorate – Rome Research Site

Assistance Listing Number: 12.800

Statutory authorities may include:

• 10 USC 4021

• 10 USC 4022

• 10 USC 4023

Who is eligible to apply?

All qualified offerors who meet BAA requirements may apply.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

White papers and proposals are evaluated in descending order of importance based on:

1. Overall Scientific and Technical Merit

2. Related Experience relevant to USAF and Joint DoD missions

3. Openness, Maturity, and Assurance of Solution

4. Reasonableness and Realism of Costs

Projects that:

• Advance resilient airborne networking in contested environments

• Demonstrate operational transition potential

• Leverage existing standards and capabilities

• Present technically sound and executable plans

are aligned with stated priorities.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Key restrictions include:

• Foreign participation is prohibited except as explicitly permitted for fundamental research

• Classified work may require SECRET or TOP SECRET facility clearance

• Export control registration (DD Form 2345) may be required

• SBIR data rights are non-negotiable

• Non-SBIR data rights are subject to negotiation

• Cost sharing is not required and is not a selection factor

• Certified cost and pricing data required for contracts exceeding $2M ($7.5M for small businesses or nontraditional defense contractors)

• Human subject research requires IRB and AFRL-level approval

• Security Risk Review required for Senior/Key Personnel and Covered Individuals

• GAAP compliance required for OTs

• SPRS Basic NIST SP 800-171 DoD Assessment required

• AFRL supplemental OCI restrictions prohibit concurrent SETA/A&AS support and technical performance

Failure to follow white paper formatting instructions may result in rejection.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

Step One requires a 3–5 page white paper including:

• Title, period of performance, estimated cost

• Task objective

• Technical summary and deliverables

Formatting must comply with BAA instructions (double-spaced, 12-point font minimum).

If invited to Step Two, a full technical and cost proposal will be required per the AFRL BAA Guide and RI-Specific Proposal Preparation Instructions (latest versions).

Preparation time will depend on complexity. The solicitation does not specify expected preparation duration.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can:

• Assess strategic fit before submission

• Refine your white paper to align precisely with AFRL evaluation criteria

• Position technical merit and transition potential clearly

• Structure cost strategy for FAR-based or OT pathways

• Identify and mitigate OCI, FOCI, and S&T Protection risks

• Support full proposal development if invited to Step Two

We ensure your submission is compliant, competitive, and aligned to Air Force mission priorities.

How much would BW&CO Charge?

We have both fractional engagements ($250 an hour) and full engagements ($4,000) available.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.

Air Force: AFRL/RX Functional Materials Open BAA

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

Executive Summary:

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Materials & Manufacturing Directorate, is seeking white papers under the AFRL/RX Functional Materials Open BAA (FA8650-22-S-5002). This is a two-step, rolling Broad Agency Announcement focused on innovative functional materials that enable new warfighting capabilities and improve size, weight, power (SWaP), reliability, maintainability, and lifecycle cost.

White Papers may be submitted at any time upon issuance of this BAA until 28 October 2026 3:00 PM Wright-Patterson AFB, OH Local time . Early submission is encouraged.

Total anticipated funding under this BAA is approximately $48,000,000. Multiple awards are anticipated, but the Air Force reserves the right to award zero, one, or more contracts.

If you are developing advanced photonic materials, nanoelectronic materials, quantum materials, soft matter, biomaterials, or related enabling technologies aligned with AFRL/RX core competencies, this is an open, flexible vehicle to secure non-dilutive federal R&D funding through 28 October 2026 3:00 PM Wright-Patterson AFB, OH Local time .

How much funding would I receive?

This BAA has total anticipated funding of approximately $48M across FY22–FY26 .

• FY26: ~$8.5M

The solicitation does not specify minimum or maximum award sizes per project.

The Air Force anticipates awarding multiple awards but reserves the right to award zero, one, or more contracts .

Each award is anticipated to be between 12 to 60 months for the technical effort plus an additional 3 months for reporting .

All funding is subject to availability and Government discretion .

What could I use the funding for?

Funding supports research aligned with the AFRL/RX Functional Materials mission, including:

Photonic Materials Core Competencies

• Optical materials and processes

• Hardened materials and processing

• Electro-Optic/Infrared (EO/IR) sensor protection

• Laser materials and structural protection

Nanoelectronic Materials Core Competencies

• Nanoscale transport materials and processes

• Ultra-wide bandgap semiconductors

• 2D materials

• Magnetoelectric and memristor materials

• Heterogeneous integration

Quantum Semiconductor Materials and Processes

• Quantum-enabled sensors and electronics

• Infrared sensing and hyperspectral imaging

• Secure communications and electronic warfare

• Quantum memory or transduction systems

Soft Matter and Biomaterials

• Stimuli-responsive polymers

• Flexible/stretchable electronics

• Wearable sensors

• Bioelectronics and biofunctionalization

• Biomanufacturing and biodegradation

• Synthetic biology for materials development

Work may include studies, research, experiments, characterization, processing, modeling, software, proof-of-concept development, and prototype hardware and software .

Deliverables may include data, software, prototypes, demonstration components/systems, and material samples, as required .

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Potential benefits include:

• Flexible award instruments: FAR-based contracts, Other Transactions (OT) for Prototype, OT for Research, grants, or cooperative agreements

• Anticipated use of Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contracts

• Opportunity to transition technologies to future Government needs (explicitly evaluated in proposal review)

• Direct engagement and dialogue with AFRL prior to proposal submission

The Government will receive Unlimited Rights in noncommercial technical data and software developed exclusively with Government funds , which is important to consider in your IP strategy.

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

This is a two-step process.

Step 1: White Paper
White Papers may be submitted at any time upon issuance of this BAA until 28 October 2026 3:00 PM Wright-Patterson AFB, OH Local time .

• Government review is anticipated to take 30 working days .

• Offerors will be notified whether they are recommended to submit a full proposal on or about 30 days after receipt .

Step 2: Full Proposal

• Only offerors who submitted a White Paper are eligible for award .

• Full proposals must be submitted within 30 working days of the proposal request .

Award timing is not specifically stated and depends on funding availability and successful negotiations.

The BAA remains open and effective until 28 October 2026 .

Where does this funding come from?

Funding comes from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Functional Materials Division (AFRL/RXA) .

Broad Agency Announcement Number: FA8650-22-S-5002
CFDA Number: 12.800 Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program .

Who is eligible to apply?

This is an unrestricted solicitation .

• Small businesses are encouraged to propose .

• There are no limits on the number of white papers/proposals an offeror may submit .

• Cost sharing is not required .

Foreign participation:

• AFRL is authorized to exclude all foreign participation at the prime contractor level .

• Foreign contractors are advised to notify the Contracting Officer before responding .

• Export control laws may apply, and a Certified DD Form 2345 may be required .

Government agencies must pursue participation outside this announcement .

What companies and projects are likely to win?

White Papers are evaluated (equal importance) on:

• Whether the technical approach is consistent with the technologies listed in the BAA

• Whether the research is of interest to the Government

• Whether appropriate funding is available

Full Proposals are evaluated primarily on Technical merit, including:

• Unique and innovative approach

• Advances in knowledge and state of the art

• Transition potential to future Government needs

• Understanding of scope

• Sound technical approach and risk mitigation

• Qualifications of personnel

• Availability of necessary facilities

Cost/Price is a substantial factor but ranked second to technical merit .

Projects that demonstrate innovation, transition potential, and alignment to AFRL functional material core competencies are most competitive.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Key restrictions include:

• Strict White Paper page limit: 4 pages plus 1 Quad Chart (5 total pages) .

• Strict Technical Proposal page limit: 20 pages plus 1 Quad Chart (21 total pages), plus separate 10-page SOW .

• Export control requirements (ITAR/EAR) may apply .

• Program security classification may be up to and including SECRET .

• Data rights: Government receives Unlimited Rights in noncommercial technical data and software developed exclusively with Government funds .

• GFP is not anticipated .

Late submissions due to installation security delays will be considered “late” .

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

White Paper (Step 1):

• 4 pages plus 1 Quad Chart

• Requires technical summary and Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) cost estimate .

Full Proposal (Step 2):

• 20-page technical/management volume + 1 Quad Chart

• Separate 10-page Statement of Work

• Detailed cost/business proposal with full cost element breakdown .

The solicitation does not estimate preparation time. Preparation time will depend on complexity, internal cost systems, and whether certified cost or pricing data is required.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can support you by:

• Aligning your technology to the correct AFRL/RX core competency

• Shaping your White Paper to pass peer/scientific review criteria

• Structuring your Quad Chart for clarity and impact

• Developing a compliant 20-page technical proposal and 10-page SOW

• Building a defensible cost model aligned with FAR and DFARS requirements

• Managing data rights assertions and export control positioning

We focus on positioning your innovation for Selectable categorization under AFRL’s technical-first review process.

How much would BW&CO Charge?

We have both fractional engagements ($250 an hour) and full engagements ($4,000) available.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.

Navy: Autonomous Systems to Reduce Risk Warfighters Encounter

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

Executive Summary:

The Department of the Navy, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane Division has released Special Notice N0016426SNB34 titled “Autonomous Systems to Reduce Risk Warfighters Encounter.”

This is a Request for Information (RFI) seeking input from industry on Uncrewed System (UxS) solutions (UGV, UAV, USV, UUV) that reduce risk to warfighters.

The Government may issue a future Request for Solutions (RFS) and award a Project Order under the Expeditionary Missions Consortium (EMC2) Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) in accordance with 10 U.S.C. § 4022.

The Response Date is Mar 30, 2026 2:00 PM EDT.
If you have a relevant UxS platform, you should evaluate this immediately.

How much funding would I receive?

Although the solicitation does not explicitly state a funding amount, contract opportunities typically follow within the range of $500k to $5m.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding is not specified at this stage.

However, the RFI is focused on autonomous Uncrewed System (UxS) solutions (UGV, UAV, USV, UUV) that reduce risk to warfighters and meet the following required criteria:

REQUIRED (must meet Questions 1–3):

• Total system weight: 45 lbs or less

• Battery life: Minimum 30-minute run time after deployment

• Minimum speed: Must keep pace with a human (between 2.5 and 4 mph)

The RFI also requests additional information on:

• Carrying capacity

• Safety features (redundant safety, deployment delay timers)

• Cost and production rate

• Blue UAS status

• TRL

• ATAK compatibility

• Autonomy capabilities

• Operation in contested environments

• Emission profile (auditory, visual, thermal)

• Kinetic/non-kinetic launcher integration

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

The notice states:

• Responses may be shared with other partner organizations for additional use cases.

• Submission could potentially lead to contact from NSWC Crane personnel for further information.

• Participation positions you for potential future EMC2 RFS opportunities.

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

• RFI Release Date: 10 February 2026

• Response Date: Mar 30, 2026 2:00 PM EDT

• Inactive Date: Apr 14, 2026

Where does this funding come from?

• Department of Defense

• Department of the Navy

• Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA)

• Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane Division

• Issued under the Expeditionary Missions Consortium (EMC2)

• Potential awards under Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) authority in accordance with 10 U.S.C. § 4022

Who is eligible to apply?

The RFI is issued to the general public and industry.

All interested parties should visit https://emccrane.org/ to become a member of the consortium to view future possible RFS opportunities.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

While no evaluation criteria are provided, the RFI clearly prioritizes systems that:

• Weigh 45 lbs or less

• Provide at least 30 minutes of run time

• Move at 2.5–4 mph

• Demonstrate autonomy capabilities

• Potentially integrate with ATAK

• Can operate in contested environments

• Have known TRL levels

• Provide clear cost and production scalability

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Key restrictions include:

• Submissions must be non-proprietary

• Do not submit classified information

• No marketing/advertising pictures

• No hyperlinks allowed

• File types limited to Microsoft Word, PDF, or PowerPoint

• File size must not exceed 10MB

• Page limits:

  • Word/PDF: Not to exceed 5 pages

  • PowerPoint: Not to exceed 5 slides

• Font: Times New Roman 10 (or larger)

• Must answer required questions in numbered format

• Must clearly indicate “N/A” where applicable

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

The submission is limited to:

• 5 pages (Word/PDF) or

• 5 slides (PowerPoint)

Formatting requirements are strict but concise.

For a company with an existing UxS platform that meets the REQUIRED criteria, preparation time is likely moderate. The exact time required is not specified in the notice.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can:

• Assess whether your UxS meets the REQUIRED criteria

• Position your technology clearly against the numbered RFI questions

• Frame autonomy, TRL, ATAK, and contested-environment capabilities strategically

• Ensure compliance with formatting and non-proprietary requirements

• Prepare you for a potential future EMC2 Request for Solutions (RFS)

How much would BW&CO Charge?

We have both fractional engagements ($250 an hour) and full engagements ($13,000 + 5%) available.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.

Vulcan: Position, Navigation, & Timing at the Tactical Edge

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

Executive Summary:

Cyber & Specialist Operations Command is seeking Assured and Alternate Position, Navigation, & Timing (APNT) technologies to enable Force Elements to operate in GNSS denied, contested, or degraded environments.

This opportunity is structured as a Scout Card submission for Market Research purposes.

The submission deadline is 30 Apr 2026 : 17:59 GMT-6. The call opened on 22 Jan 2026 : 18:00 GMT-6. If your technology supports dismounted soldiers, vehicles, maritime mobility, or uncrewed systems in contested PNT environments, you should assess fit and prepare a submission before 30 Apr 2026 : 17:59 GMT-6.

How much funding would I receive?

Although the solicitation does not explicitly state a funding amount, contract opportunities typically follow within the range of $500k to $5m.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding use is not specified in the solicitation.

The description indicates interest in APNT technologies for:

• Dismounted Soldiers

• Maritime Mobility (Surface and Sub-Surface)

• Land Mobility Vehicles

• Uncrewed Vehicles (in all domains)

Technologies may be:

• Hardware based

• Software based (e.g., data fusion engines)

Technologies should be compatible with existing systems (plug and play).

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Additional benefits are not specified in the solicitation.

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

Open Date: 22 Jan 2026 : 18:00 GMT-6
Deadline: 30 Apr 2026 : 17:59 GMT-6

The deadline to submit a Scout Card is 30 Apr 2026 : 17:59 GMT-6.

Where does this funding come from?

The opportunity is issued by Cyber & Specialist Operations Command.

Who is eligible to apply?

The posting does not state whether applicants must be small businesses, non-traditional contractors, primes, academic institutions, or other entities.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

The solicitation indicates interest in technologies that:

• Enable operation in GNSS denied, contested, or degraded environments

• Support dismounted soldiers or vehicle platforms (static and on-the-move)

• Are compatible with existing systems (plug and play)

• Can be hardware-based or software-based (including data fusion engines)

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Restrictions, cost share requirements, intellectual property terms, and compliance requirements are not specified in the solicitation.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

Preparation time will depend on the amount of technical detail required in the Scout Card. Specific page limits or format instructions are not specified.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can:

• Assess alignment of your APNT technology with the stated use cases

• Refine positioning for GNSS denied, contested, or degraded environments

• Translate technical capabilities into mission-aligned language

• Prepare and structure your Scout Card submission

We focus on clearly articulating operational value, system compatibility, and deployment readiness.

How much would BW&CO Charge?

We have both fractional engagements ($250 an hour) and full engagements ($13,000 + 5%) available.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.

CDMRP: FY26 Lung Cancer Research Program (LCRP)

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

Executive Summary:

Act now to prepare for the FY26 Lung Cancer Research Program (LCRP) funding opportunities — anticipated to open on Grants.gov imminently. This chance is critical for investigators aiming to drive innovative, high-impact research that will eradicate deaths and suffering from lung cancer, with a focus on outcomes that benefit Service Members, Veterans, their families, and the general public. Exact pre-application and application deadlines will be posted in the final NOFOs on Grants.gov when released.

How much funding would I receive?

Award amounts for the FY26 LCRP are specified by mechanism:

• Idea Development Award: Up to $800,000 total costs over 3 years.

• Translational Research Award (Level 1): Up to $1.35M total costs over 3 years.

• Translational Research Award (Level 2 – Clinical Trial Option): Up to $1.85M total costs over 4 years.

• Patient-Centered Outcomes and Survivorship Award: Up to $975,000 total costs over 3 years.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding supports research in the following Areas of Emphasis:

• Biology & Etiology: Mechanisms of lung cancer initiation and progression.

• Prevention & Risk Reduction: Innovative prevention and recurrence reduction strategies.

• Detection, Diagnosis & Surveillance: Improved early detection and disease monitoring.

• Treatment & Prognosis: Novel treatments, biomarkers, and metastasis management.

• Health Outcomes & Survivorship: Survivorship quality of life, comorbidity impacts, and disparities reduction.

Each mechanism has specific focus and eligibility criteria detailed in the forthcoming NOFOs.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

The pre-announcement does not specify additional benefits (e.g., data resources or training support). These may be described in the final funding opportunity announcements.

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

• Pre-application and application deadlines: Not yet released; will be included in the NOFOs on Grants.gov once published.

• Funding decisions: Award timing will follow the CDMRP review process described in the final announcements.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding arises from the FY26 Defense Appropriations Act and is administered through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) within the Defense Health Agency Research and Development.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility (e.g., investigator types, institution requirements) will be outlined in the final NOFOs. The pre-announcement does not include full eligibility details.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Applicants are more competitive if they:

• Align tightly with one or more Areas of Emphasis.

• Demonstrate innovation and potential clinical impact.

• Address relevance to military health (e.g., Veteran populations, exposures).

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Some mechanisms (e.g., Idea Development) do not allow clinical trials.

• Specific restrictions and requirements will be in the NOFOs once released.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

Preparation time depends on the mechanism, project maturity, and whether preliminary data or partnerships are needed. Start planning now to align with the mechanisms and Areas of Emphasis.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can help you:

• Decode the final NOFO requirements.

• Align your research strategy to maximize impact.

• Draft and polish pre-applications/ applications.

• Manage submission logistics and compliance.

How much would BW&CO Charge?

We have both fractional engagements ($250 an hour) and full engagements ($13,000 + 5%) available.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.

USASOC CY2026 C-sUAS Open Call

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

Executive Summary:

U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) is seeking counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-sUAS) technologies to protect Army Special Operations Forces (ARSOF) operating in austere, high-risk environments.

Small UAS pose a growing threat through ISR, targeting, and direct attack capabilities. USASOC is looking for TRL 4–7 solutions that improve detection and defeat capabilities while minimizing the electromagnetic signature of the user.

The submission deadline is 01 Dec 2026 : 22:59 GMT-6.

Submissions are currently open and will be accepted beginning 02 Feb 2026 : 23:00 GMT-6 through 01 Dec 2026 : 22:59 GMT-6. If this is aligned with your technology, you should plan to submit before the deadline.

How much funding would I receive?

Typical funding is around $500k - $2m.

What could I use the funding for?

This opportunity supports engagement objectives including:

• Capability Demonstration

• Market Research

• Tech Experimentation

USASOC is specifically interested in C-sUAS technologies that are:

• TRL 4–7

• Handheld or body worn sensors for sUAS detection

• Handheld RF detect and defeat solutions

• GNSS denial or spoofing technologies

• Expeditionary Fixed Sites (EFS) that are man packable <50lbs

• EFS that provide detection capabilities of group 1–3 UAS

All technologies should minimize the electromagnetic signature of the user.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Additional benefits are not specified in the solicitation.

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

Open Date: 02 Feb 2026 : 23:00 GMT-6
Deadline: 01 Dec 2026 : 22:59 GMT-6

The deadline to submit is 01 Dec 2026 : 22:59 GMT-6.

Where does this funding come from?

The opportunity is issued by U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC).

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility requirements are not specified in the provided solicitation materials.

Entity type restrictions (e.g., small businesses, large businesses, academic institutions, non-profits) are not specified.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Based on the stated interests, USASOC is seeking technologies that:

• Address sUAS threats to ARSOF

• Fall within TRL 4–7

• Provide handheld, body-worn, RF detect/defeat, GNSS denial/spoofing, or man-packable (<50lbs) Expeditionary Fixed Site capabilities

• Detect group 1–3 UAS

• Minimize the electromagnetic signature of the user

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

Submission requires:

• Uploading a quad chart of your technology (See template)

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

The only required submission material specified is a quad chart of your technology.

Preparation time will depend on how quickly you can complete the required quad chart.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can:

• Assess whether your technology aligns with the stated TRL 4–7 and C-sUAS requirements

• Refine your positioning to clearly address ARSOF operational needs

• Develop and optimize your quad chart to align with USASOC’s stated interests

• Ensure your submission directly reflects the language and priorities in the solicitation

How much would BW&CO Charge?

We have both fractional engagements ($250 an hour) and full engagements ($4,000) available.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.

Offensive Subsea and Seabed Warfare (SSW) Exercise Barb 26

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

Executive Summary:

COMSUBFOR is seeking emerging technologies to support Offensive Subsea and Seabed Warfare (SSW) operations in alignment with U.S. national security and DoD strategic guidance. The focus is on maintaining undersea dominance by modernizing warfighting capabilities through persistent innovation and integration of emerging technologies.

This effort supports broader Joint Force and AUKUS Pillar 2 requirements. Technologies must directly enhance U.S. Submarine Force and AUKUS mission effectiveness and lethality in a contested undersea environment.

The application deadline is March 22nd. If you are developing autonomous, robotic, or remotely operated systems capable of conducting Offensive Seabed Attack missions, you should begin preparing immediately.

How much funding would I receive?

Typical funding is around $500k - $2m.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding would support technologies that enhance the execution of Offensive Subsea and Seabed Warfare (SSW) operations.

Area of Interest (AOI-1): Offensive Seabed Attack

Submissions should address:

• Deploying and operating robotic autonomous systems

• Deploying and operating remotely operated systems

• Targeting adversary seabed systems

• Achieving kinetic and non-kinetic effects

• Covering the entire kill chain from deployment through battle damage assessment

Technologies must be directly relevant to enhancing mission effectiveness and lethality in a contested undersea environment.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

This effort supports U.S. Submarine Force priorities and AUKUS Pillar 2 requirements.

Additional benefits beyond potential integration to enhance U.S. Submarine Force and AUKUS mission effectiveness are not specified.

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

The application deadline is March 22nd.

Where does this funding come from?

This effort is issued by COMSUBFOR in accordance with U.S. national security and DoD strategic guidance.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility requirements are not specified in the provided solicitation materials.

Entity type restrictions (e.g., small businesses, large businesses, academic institutions, non-profits) are not specified.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Projects that:

• Enhance Offensive Subsea and Seabed Warfare (SSW) capabilities

• Improve mission effectiveness and lethality in contested undersea environments

• Support U.S. Submarine Force and AUKUS Pillar 2 requirements

• Address the full kill chain from deployment to battle damage assessment

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Cost share requirements are not specified.

• Technology readiness level (TRL) requirements are not specified.

• Export control, security clearance, or classification requirements are not specified.

• Other restrictions are not specified in the provided materials.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

Given the March 22nd deadline, companies should assume an accelerated preparation timeline.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can:

• Translate your seabed or autonomous systems technology into a mission-aligned narrative tailored to COMSUBFOR priorities

• Map your solution to the Offensive Seabed Attack AOI and clearly articulate full kill chain impact

• Position your company to demonstrate relevance to U.S. Submarine Force and AUKUS Pillar 2 mission effectiveness

• Develop concise, defense-aligned technical and capability briefs

How much would BW&CO Charge?

We have both fractional engagements ($250 an hour) and full engagements ($4,000) available.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.

U.S. Army FUZE: xTech|Adaptive Strike Competition

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

Executive Summary:

The U.S. Army FUZE xTech Program has launched the xTech|Adaptive Strike competition, seeking ready-to-deploy, affordable technologies that address urgent battlefield capability gaps in reconnaissance, drones, power generation, and counter-UAS.

The Army intends to award up to $1.5 million in total cash prizes and may pursue follow-on contracts or agreements with finalists or winners.

Registration information and submission upload must be received by 5:00 PM ET on March 13, 2026. Submissions received after the deadline will not be considered.

If you have a commercially available or near-commercial solution that can be fielded rapidly and demonstrated in live Soldier exercises, this is a time-sensitive opportunity to engage directly with Army end-users.

How much funding would I receive?

The total prize pool is $1.5 million under 10 U.S.C. §4025 (Prize Competitions).

Awards are structured as follows:

Part 1 – Concept White Paper

• Up to 20 semifinalists

• $25,000 each

Part 2 – Semifinals Soldier Exercise

• Up to 10 finalists

• Additional $50,000 each

Part 3 – Finals Soldier Exercise

• Up to five (5) winners

• Additional $100,000 each

Total potential per winner (if selected through all phases):

• $25,000 + $50,000 + $100,000 = $175,000

In addition to prize money, winners may have an opportunity to submit for a follow-on contract or agreement, subject to availability of funds and technical needs.

What could I use the funding for?

Prize funds are awarded as part of a competitive down-select mechanism and are not described as cost-reimbursable project funding.

The competition is designed to:

• Stimulate innovation

• Identify promising technologies for national security applications

• Enable rapid technology maturation

• Accelerate transition to operational forces

Participants must demonstrate solutions in one of four capability areas:

1. Extended On-Station Time and Range for Medium/Long-Range Reconnaissance (MRR/LRR)

   • Complete system cost must be less than $350,000

   • Must provide 10 testable units for the June 2026 Semi-Finals if selected

2. Affordable Drones and Loitering Munitions for Scaled Operations

   • Must provide 10 testable units for the June 2026 Semi-Finals if selected

3. Power Generation for Ground Units with sUAS

   • Must provide 10 testable units for the June 2026 Semi-Finals if selected

4. Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (c-UAS) for Soldier Operations

   • Must provide 6 testable units for the June 2026 Semi-Finals if selected

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Participants may receive:

• Direct engagement with U.S. Army and Department of War (DoW) subject matter experts

• Live Soldier exercise participation

• Evaluator feedback during each part of the competition

• Exposure to Army end-users and operational units

• Potential follow-on opportunities using various statutory authorities, including:

  • 10 U.S.C. § 4114

  • 10 U.S.C. § 4022

  • 10 U.S.C. § 4023

  • 10 U.S.C. § 4001

  • 10 U.S.C. § 4021 (OTA)

  • 10 U.S.C. § 3458

  • 15 U.S.C. § 3703

  • 15 U.S.C. § 638 (SBIR/STTR)

Finalists may be contacted separately for additional proposal opportunities outside the prize competition.

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

Registration information and submission upload must be received by 5:00 PM ET on March 13, 2026. Submissions received after the deadline will not be considered.

Proposed schedule (subject to change):

• February 23 – March 13, 2026 – Part 1: Concept white paper & video submission period

• April 17, 2026 – Semifinalists announced

• June 1–19, 2026 – Part 2: Semifinals Soldier Exercise (NTC, Fort Irwin, CA)

• July 2026 – Finalists announced

• October 29 – November 28, 2026 – Part 3: Finals Soldier Exercise (NTC, Fort Irwin, CA)

• November 2026 – Winners announced

Prize payments are tied to advancement through each phase.

Dates and times are subject to change.

Where does this funding come from?

The competition is conducted under 10 U.S.C. § 4025, which authorizes the use of prize competitions to stimulate innovation and identify promising technologies for national security applications.

The initiative is led by:

• The U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (ASA(ALT))

• Joint Innovation Outpost (JIOP)

• U.S. Army 3rd Infantry Division (3ID)

• MARNE Innovation Center

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible entities include:

• U.S.-based nonprofit organizations

• U.S.-based for-profit organizations (large and small businesses)

Each eligible entity:

• Shall be incorporated in, and maintain, a primary place of business in the U.S.

• Shall not be a U.S. Federal government entity or employ a U.S. Federal Employee acting within the scope of their employment

• Shall not be currently under contract, agreement or otherwise providing similar capabilities to the Government for work described in the problem statement

• Must have or be able to obtain a CAGE code if selected to advance

• Shall be at the sole discretion of the Government

Only one (1) submission per capability area per eligible entity is permitted.
If submitting to more than one (1) capability area, the technology solutions must be different.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

The Army is seeking commercially available or near-commercial technologies that:

• Address urgent operational capability gaps

• Are affordable and scalable

• Can be delivered within 180 days of challenge completion

• Can be demonstrated in live Soldier exercise events

• Meet unit quantity requirements for the June 2026 Semi-Finals

Submissions are evaluated using the following criteria and weights:

• Introduction – 7%

• Army Benefits – 30%

• Technical Approach – 20%

• System Scalability / Economics – 30%

• Commercial Potential – 10%

• Submission Quality – 3%

Proposals must include:

• A five (5)-page concept white paper using the required template

• A pre-recorded video of up to 10 minutes

• Evidence of ability to deliver specified test units for the June exercise

Submissions exceeding page or video limits will not be evaluated.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Participants must assume risks and waive claims against the Federal Government, except in cases of willful misconduct.

• Additional documentation is required prior to exercise events to meet safety protocols.

• Failure to meet documentation deadlines or performance standards may result in disqualification.

• Full participation in the entire duration of the exercise event is required.

• Submissions are treated as privileged information and disclosed only for evaluation and program support.

Intellectual Property:

• The Federal Government may not gain an interest in IP developed by a participant without written consent.

• The Government may negotiate a license for the use of IP developed during the competition.

• Existing Government IP rights remain unchanged.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

The application requires:

• A five (5)-page concept white paper using the required template

• A pre-recorded video (up to 10 minutes)

• Registration submission through the xTech portal

• Self-certification of minimum requirements

The solicitation does not specify an estimated preparation time.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can:

• Determine which capability area best aligns with your technology

• Position your solution against the published evaluation criteria

• Develop a compliant five-page white paper using the required template

• Structure your narrative around Army Benefits, Scalability, and Technical Approach scoring weights

• Support video content strategy to align with evaluation expectations

• Prepare you for Soldier exercise engagement and potential follow-on pathways

We focus on translating commercial capability into Army-relevant value that scores.

How much would BW&CO Charge?

We have both fractional engagements ($250 an hour) and full engagements ($4,000) available.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.

CDMRP: FY26 Orthopaedic Research Program (ORP)

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

Executive Summary:

The FY26 Orthopaedic Research Program (ORP) pre-announcement outlines anticipated funding opportunities supporting innovative, high-impact research to advance treatment and rehabilitation for orthopaedic injuries sustained during combat and service-related activities. This pre-announcement is intended to help teams plan now; it is not a promise of funding. Full Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) with submission deadlines will be posted on Grants.gov and eBRAP when released.

How much funding would I receive?

Specific award budgets and totals are not yet provided in the pre-announcement. A sampling of anticipated mechanisms includes:

• Applied Research Award – up to $950,000 total costs over up to 3 years.

• Clinical Research Award (Level 1) – up to $2,000,000 total costs (4-year max).

• Clinical Research Award (Level 2) – up to $3,200,000 total costs (4-year max).
  (Total awards by mechanism and number of awards are not specified at this stage.)

What could I use the funding for?

Projects must address one or more of the FY26 ORP focus areas, including:

• Battlefield fracture-related infection (prevention, early detection, eradication strategies).

• Composite tissue regeneration following high-energy extremity trauma.

• Ligamentous trauma treatments for musculoskeletal soft-tissue instability.

• Limb stabilization and wound protectants enabling prolonged care.

• Osseointegration outcomes for prosthetic limb interfaces.

• Return-to-duty strategies to optimize reintegration and reduce reinjury.

• Military women’s health impacts of orthopaedic care.
  Funding applies to research that improves patient function, restores mobility, and maximizes return to duty in military and service-related contexts.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

The pre-announcement does not list additional benefits (e.g., mentoring, training, networking) beyond funding support.

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

• Pre-announcement release: February 24, 2026.

• FOAs release: Posted later on Grants.gov and eBRAP (dates not yet specified).

• Pre-application and application deadlines: To be included in the full FOAs.

• Funding start dates: Determined after FOA release and award negotiations (not specified).
  (All deadlines and schedules will be in the final FOAs — not provided in this pre-announcement.)

Where does this funding come from?

Funding is authorized by the FY26 Defense Appropriations Act and administered by the Defense Health Agency Research and Development / Medical Research and Development Command (MRDC) through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP).

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility for each award mechanism will be defined in the full FOAs. From the pre-announcement:

• Independent investigators at all career levels are eligible for many mechanisms, particularly clinical research awards.

• Preproposal required: Some mechanisms require a preproposal through eBRAP, and full application is by invitation only.
  (Complete eligibility details — including institution types, citizenship, and cost share — will be in the FOAs and are not specified here.)

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Specific companies or project profiles most likely to win are not described in the pre-announcement. Competitive applications will align with the ORP focus areas and demonstrate potential to advance orthopaedic care in military and clinical contexts.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• The ORP will not consider applications proposing strategies infeasible in battlefield environments for fracture-related infection or tissue regeneration alone.

• The program will not consider biomarker-only research.

• Preproposal submission is required for certain mechanisms; full applications may be by invitation only.

• All submissions must comply with final FOA instructions posted on Grants.gov.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

With deadlines and FOA details not yet posted, exact preparation time cannot be stated. Given CDMRP’s typical structure, planning should begin now to develop compelling science narratives, compliance documents, and required eBRAP preproposals.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can help you:

• Monitor FOA release dates and mechanism details.

• Translate the final FOA into a targeted application roadmap.

• Develop high-impact narrative, budget, and compliance materials.

• Guide submission strategy on eBRAP and Grants.gov.

• Support preproposal and full application review to maximize competitiveness.

How much would BW&CO Charge?

We have both fractional engagements ($250 an hour) and full engagements ($13,000 + 5%) available.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.