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DIU - Containerized Autonomous Drone Delivery System (CADDS) is a grant from the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) that funds commercial companies developing containerized autonomous drone delivery systems for rapid large-scale military deployment. The solicitation seeks innovative solutions enabling automated storage, launch, recovery, and refit for multi-agent UAS systems from containerized platforms with minimal crew burden.
Awards are prototype contracts under Other Transaction (OT) authority, with amounts negotiated based on solution scope, and successful prototypes may receive follow-on production contracts. Eligible applicants are U.S. and international commercial vendors meeting OT authority requirements, including nontraditional defense contractors or small businesses. The solicitation closed February 17, 2026.
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DIU CADDS Funding Opportunity | Autonomous Drone Systems — BW&CO DIU - Containerized Autonomous Drone Delivery System (CADDS) Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).
DIU’s Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) solicitation PROJ00637 — Containerized Autonomous Drone Delivery System (CADDS) seeks innovative commercial solutions to enable rapid deployment and autonomous operation of large numbers of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) from containerized platforms. This opportunity closes February 17, 2026 at 23:59:59 US Eastern Time — urgent submission recommended . How much funding would I receive?
The exact award amount is not specified online. DIU typically awards prototype contracts under Other Transaction (OT) authority , with budgets determined during negotiation based on solution scope and DoD partner need. Follow-on production contracts may be possible if the prototype is successful.
What could I use the funding for? This solicitation is looking for solutions that: Enable rapid, large-scale UAS deployment from containerized platforms. Automate storage, launch, recovery, and refit for multi-agent systems.
Provide rapid transport and emplacement using military/commercial vehicles. Support resilient command and control interfaces and open architecture integration. Reduce human operator burden and minimize required crew size.
You’d be expected to demonstrate capabilities within ~90 days of award. Are there any additional benefits I would receive? Potential follow-on production contracts without additional competition under 10 U.S.C.
§ 4022 if the prototype succeeds. A fast-moving path into Department of Defense fielding and contracting. What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?
Proposal Deadline: February 17, 2026 @ 23:59:59 US/Eastern . DIU typically reviews solution briefs first , then invites selected teams to pitch/submit full proposals (often within ~30 days). Prototype projects are generally expected to be demonstrable within ~90 days of award.
Where does this funding come from? DIU is part of the U.S. Department of Defense , focused on accelerating commercial tech adoption for defense applications. Funding is administered under Other Transaction (OT) authority — a flexible contracting approach outside traditional FAR rules.
Who is eligible to apply? U.S. and international vendors are eligible to respond. To use an OT agreement, requirements of 10 U.S.C.
§ 4022 must be satisfied (e.g., contributions by nontraditional defense contractors, small business participants, or cost sharing). What companies and projects are likely to win? Competitive submissions will: Clearly align with rapid autonomous UAS deployment at scale .
Demonstrate modularity, open architecture, and operational utility . Show ability to reduce human operator burden and handle austere environments. Present clear pathway to meet the ~90-day demonstration target.
Are there any restrictions I should know about? Compliance with Section 889 of the John S. McCain NDAA is required for award.
IP is generally retained by the company, with negotiated DoD use rights. OT agreements have specific cost-sharing and contractor status rules under 10 U.S.C. § 4022 .
How long will it take me to prepare an application? Solution briefs are typically ~5 pages (or ~15 slides) and can be prepared in 1–3 weeks with focused effort. Full proposals (if invited) will require detailed technical and project execution plans.
Crafting solution briefs that clearly align with DIU’s mission and review criteria. Developing full OT proposals with technical, cost, and operational plans. Strategizing for rapid prototype demonstration and DoD transition pathways.
How much would BW&CO Charge? Fractional support is $300 per hour . For startups, we offer a discounted rate of $250 per hour to make top-tier consulting more accessible while maintaining the same level of strategic guidance and proposal quality.
Review the solicitation here. DIU DOD DOW UAS CSO OTA SWARM Drone Defense & Dual Use Technology Robotics & Autonomous Systems Aerospace & Spacetech National Security Logistics https://www. bwcoconsulting.
com National Defense Stockpile (NDS) Research & Qualification BAA – DLA DIU - Sensors and Seekers For Fire Control
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: Unspecified, but DIU typically works with commercial companies. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates Unspecified Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is February 17, 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 Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) Open Mission Engine (OMEN) Commercial Solutions Opening seeks prototype solutions for a modular, open-architecture platform that powers mission applications for aircrew operating in contested environments. The solicitation encompasses three lines of effort: LOE 1 targets an open-architecture application engine with SDK and APIs supporting disconnected operations and modular mission app development; LOE 2 seeks a tactical moving map application fusing operational data into aircrew displays for enhanced situational awareness; and LOE 3 addresses data integration to normalize operational information through standardized protocols. The initiative emphasizes modularity, interoperability, and open standards as core requirements, seeking commercial technology solutions that can be rapidly adapted for military use. DIU's Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) process is specifically designed to engage non-traditional defense contractors and commercial technology companies, using Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreements rather than traditional Federal Acquisition Regulation contracts. Successful prototype completion may lead to follow-on production contracts without additional competition. The government may provide existing adapters and reference implementations to facilitate integration. This represents a significant opportunity for AI and software companies to bring commercial mission planning, data fusion, and decision support technologies to military aviation applications.
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ALIAS Missionized Autonomy for Emergency Services - SBIR XL is sponsored by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). This initiative aims to develop and integrate third-party autonomy applications with existing systems to deliver enhanced optionally piloted vehicle (OPV) capabilities optimized for sustained concurrent/collaborative multi-vehicle wildland firefighting operations, with additional capabilities pertaining to emergency services, including search and rescue (SAR). The focus is on autonomy app development to enable complex tasks with minimal human intervention.