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AFWERX 26. 1 SBIR Phase I Open Topic is a grant from the Department of the Air Force that invites small businesses to propose commercial technology solutions with potential military applications. Through the SBIR/STTR Open Topic process, Phase I awards up to $75,000 for a 3-month feasibility study in which companies identify an Air Force end user and program office and obtain a signed Customer Memorandum.
Successful Phase I teams may advance to Phase II prototyping awards up to $1. 25 million over 21 months. Businesses with mature solutions and a signed Customer Memorandum may apply directly to the Direct to Phase II (D2P2) track.
Proposals are submitted through the Department of Defense's online submission portal.
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The Open Topic is the front door to working with the Department of the Air Force. The Open Topic operates in a Phase I, followed by a Phase II and Direct to Phase II approach. Commercial industry submits their technology solutions in the proposal process and defines how they think their solution will benefit the warfighter.
The Air Force then evaluates the proposal to determine if the project is something they would like to conduct a feasibility study on.
The feasibility study is conducted during Phase I with a 3-month period of performance where the small business works to identify their Air Force end user (warfighter) and customer (program office) with the goal of getting that Air Force end user and customer to sign a Customer Memorandum verbalizing their intent to work with the small business on transitioning their technology to warfighters.
Once the Customer Memorandum, a requirement for submitting for a Phase II proposal, is in hand, small businesses will compete to proceed to prototyping their solution.
Period of Performance: 3 months A maximum award of $75K (SBIR) and $110K (STTR) On contract to conduct Technical Feasibility Two deliverables (preliminary & final reports) Prepare for Phase II application Work to get a DAF Customer & End User to sign a Customer Memorandum for Phase II proposal The Phase II, or prototyping phase, sees the small business work directly with an Air Force Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) to conduct further R&D to build and adapt their dual-use proposed solution to fit Air Force needs.
If a small business already has a solution that is ready for prototype and adaptation to Air Force needs, has identified an Air Force end user and customer, and has a signed Customer Memorandum in hand, they are able to skip the initial Phase I process and apply to a Direct to Phase II (D2P2) solicitation. Period of Performance: Up to 21-months A maximum award of $1. 25M (SBIR) and $1.
8M (STTR) Milestone Deliverables in accordance with Proposal Milestone Schedule Work with the DAF Customer & End User who signed the Customer Memorandum Direct to Phase II (D2P2) Period of Performance: Up to 21-months A maximum award of $1.
25M (SBIR) Milestone Deliverables in accordance with Proposal Milestone Schedule Work with the DAF Customer & End User who signed the Customer Memorandum AND must demonstrate technical merit Submit a Proposal *Dates are subject to change. Open Topic utilizes an out-of-cycle solicitation schedule offering Phase I (with follow-on Phase II opportunities) and Direct to Phase II (D2P2) opportunities.
A SBIR/STTR proposal for any DoW component must be submitted through the online DoW Submission website.
Customer Memorandum Resources Customer Memorandum Example Memorandum Definitions & Resources Customer Memorandum Purpose Letter Customer Memorandum FAQs Direct to Phase II (D2P2) FAQs SBIR/STTR Open Topic Overview Data Rights Assertions Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) FAQs Open Topic Phase I FAQs NOTICE: AFWERX & SpaceWERX email addresses are changing to @afrl. af. mil effective Jan.
19. Please update your contacts. Correspondence sent to @afwerx.
af. mil addresses will expire on Feb. 18.
*You may see this announcement again at any time by using the link in the footer of this website. You may see this announcement again at any time by using the link in the footer of this website. Looking to connect and collaborate to find innovative commercial solutions to accelerate U.S. defense capabilities?
Are you interested in learning about opportunities to collaborate and engage with AFWERX? Join the AFWERX Portal Now!
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: U. S. small businesses with fewer than 500 employees; must be a for-profit entity. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates Up to $75,000 (Phase I) - $1.25M+ (Phase II) Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is May 20, 2026. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
Federal grant success rates typically range from 10-30%, varying by agency and program. Build a strong proposal with clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and a well-justified budget to improve your chances.
Requirements vary by sponsor, but typically include a project narrative, budget justification, organizational capability statement, and key personnel CVs. Check the official notice for the complete list of required attachments.
Yes — AI tools like Granted can help research funders, draft proposal sections, and check compliance. However, always review and customize AI-generated content to reflect your organization's unique strengths and the specific requirements of the solicitation.
Review timelines vary by funder. Federal agencies typically take 3-6 months from submission to award notification. Foundation grants may be faster, often 1-3 months. Check the program's timeline in the official solicitation for specific dates.
Many federal programs offer multi-year funding or allow competitive renewals. Check the official solicitation for continuation and renewal policies. Non-competing continuation applications are common for multi-year awards.
The Department of the Air Force Small UAS and Asymmetric Capabilities Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO Call 001) seeks innovative low-cost unmanned aircraft systems capable of autonomous, high-speed, long-range operations. This program is part of the broader DoD push to rapidly scale autonomous drone capabilities, with Congress allocating over $1 billion to expand the attack drone industrial base. The CSO targets commercial technology developers with existing autonomous UAS solutions that can be rapidly adapted for military applications. Focus areas include AI-driven flight control, resilient communications for GPS-denied environments, swarm coordination, electronic warfare payloads, and modular mission configurations. Solutions must demonstrate the potential for rapid production scaling and cost-effective manufacturing. This opportunity is distinct from SBIR programs in that it is open to companies of any size and uses a streamlined commercial contracting pathway rather than traditional defense acquisition processes.
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DoD SBIR 2026.2/STTR 2026.B Phase I is sponsored by Department of Defense (DoD). This grant supports U. S. -based for-profit small businesses with 500 or fewer employees seeking to develop innovative technologies relevant to national defense. Phase I awards are for feasibility research with a path to Phase II development and commercialization.
Department of Defense SBIR 2026.2 Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) is a grant from the U.S. Department of Defense that funds small business R&D projects addressing critical defense technology challenges through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The 2026.2 cycle includes topics from Army and Navy components with particular focus on advanced materials and protective equipment, including lightweight ballistic materials and shield innovations for personal and vehicle protection. Awards range from $250,000 to $1,700,000 depending on phase. Eligible applicants must be U.S.-based for-profit small businesses with fewer than 500 employees. The application deadline is May 15, 2026.