Autonomous systems: funding and government opportunities

Open and planning notices

• Tactical Behaviors for Autonomous Maneuver

  Grants.gov · Posted — date requires source check · Closing not reported · Observed 2026-10-13

  **UPDATE 5 APRIL 2024: The proposal submission date has been updated to 24 April 2024. The FOA has been amended to reflect this submission date and include a Question and Answer document based on questions received from interested applicants. Other than the updated proposal submission date in the FOA, the actual FOA Amendment has not been changed. However, the answers provided in the Q&A; document are considered part of the FOA Amendment.** **CYCLE 2 UPDATE 20 MARCH 2024 - THE OPPORTUNITY WEBINAR FOR CYCLE 2 WILL BE HELD ONLINE VIA MS TEAMS AT 1500 EDT ON 22 MARCH 2024 AT THE FOLLOWING LINK:

• xTech|Kinetic Reach Competition

  DSIP · Pre-Release · Closing 2026-12-23 · Observed 2026-10-13

  DoW SBIR 2026 CSO xTech; Autonomy; Robotics; Uncrewed Ground Vehicles (UGV); Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS); Teleoperation; Contested Environments; GPS-Denied Navigation; Communications-Denied, Degraded, Intermittent, and Limited (DDIL) Environments; Electronic Warfare (EW) Resiliency Force Sustainment, Contested Logistics; Point-of-Need Delivery The U.S. Army is seeking innovative force sustainment solutions from eligible small businesses across the U.S. through the xTech Kinetic Reach competition. This platform offers participants the opportunity to engage with the Department of War (DoW), ea

• Ground-Based Affordable Mass (G-BAM)

  DSIP · Pre-Release · Closing 2026-12-23 · Observed 2026-10-13

  DoW SBIR 2026 CSO Low-cost munition; long-range; precision fires; cruise missile; one-way attack; launched effects; scalable; rapid production; advanced manufacturing; internal navigation; autonomous navigation; automated target recognition; terminal guidance. The United States currently faces an "unprecedented" military buildup by China and increasing air and missile threats that demand a robust deterrent. However, the current inventory of long-range strike weapons is dominated by high-cost, low-volume systems or aging strategic assets like the Minuteman III, which dates back to the 1960s. Th

• G-TEAD USAREUR-AF ACE 27-02: Spectrum Enabled Warfare Powered by xTech

  DSIP · Pre-Release · Closing 2027-05-07 · Observed 2026-10-13

  DoW SBIR 2027 CSO Electromagnetic Support, Autonomous Network Management, Electromagnetic Environment Visualization, Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations, Distributed RF Systems The U.S. Army is seeking innovative electromagnetic spectrum operations solutions from eligible small businesses across the U.S. through the Global Tactical Edge Acquisition Directorate (G-TEAD) U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF) Accelerated Capability Event (ACE) 27-02: Spectrum Enabled Warfare Powered by xTech. This platform offers participants the opportunity to engage with the Department of War (DoW), earn pri

• Ground and Air Launched Drone Swarms Create a Self-Protecting Perimeter Using Autonomous AI

  DSIP · Open · Closing 2026-10-21 · Observed 2026-10-13

  DoW SBIR 2026 CSO autonomous drones; AI-driven swarm; air-launched effects; perimeter defense; secure communications; mobility asset protection; Agile Combat Employment; high-altitude deployment; mobility launch platforms; dual-use; swarm technology; force protection The overall goal of this Direct to Phase II research and development effort is to adapt and validate mature, readily available autonomous unmanned aerial swarm technologies to provide enhanced situational awareness and force-multiplying capabilities for high-value Mobility Air Forces assets and forward ground installations. To ens

• Low SWaP-C Tactical Awareness Payload for Proliferated, Agile Satellites (TAPPAS) for Space Domain Awareness

  DSIP · Open · Closing 2026-10-21 · Observed 2026-10-13

  DoW SBIR 2026 CSO Surveillance; Space Based Surveillance; Proliferation; Constellation; Resident Space Object; Space Domain Awareness; Geostationary Orbit; GEO Belt; visual magnitude; Electro Optical; Infrared; Radio Frequency; Free Flyer; GEO SDA; Low Size Weight and Power; own-ship awareness; Local Area Sensor The objective of this Direct to Phase II (D2P2) effort is to provide a production representative article of flight qualifiable hardware to be flown in the GEO space environment. The modern space domain requires a layered sensing architecture to ensure resilience. This D2P2 effort is fo

• Cyberspace Warfare for Space

  DSIP · Open · Closing 2026-10-21 · Observed 2026-10-13

  DoW SBIR 2026 CSO SpaceWERX, On-Orbit Cyber Defense; Space Vehicles (SVs); Autonomous Cyber Response; Real-Time Monitoring; Defensive Cyber Warfare (DCW); Artificial Intelligence (AI); Machine Learning (ML); Threat Simulation SpaceWERX, in partnership with Cyberspace Warfare professionals within the U.S. Space Force (USSF), are seeking innovative solutions supporting the next generation capabilities to defend space systems from adversarial attack through the cyber domain. The desired outcome is to produce capabilities that advance the domain of defensive cyber warfare operations in 8 different

• Autonomous On Orbit Logistics and Sustainment Architecture

  DSIP · Open · Closing 2026-10-21 · Observed 2026-10-13

  DoW SBIR 2026 CSO on-orbit sustainment; space logistics; orbital refueling; propellant transfer; in-space servicing; rendezvous and proximity operations; sustained maneuver; space mobility; depot architecture; spacecraft resilience; cislunar logistics; SDP 4-0 The objective of this Direct to Phase II topic is to accelerate the development and demonstration of prototype ready technologies that enable a complete on orbit logistics enterprise. This enterprise must support autonomous resupply, refuel, repair, recovery, and reconstitution of United States space assets across Low Earth Orbit, Medium

• Artificial Intelligence Performance Evaluation Tool

  DSIP · Open · Closing 2026-10-21 · Observed 2026-10-13

  DoW STTR 2026 BAA Artificial Intelligence; AI Performance Evaluation; Trusted AI; Autonomy; Explainability; AI Metrics; AI Validation; AI Systems; Sensor Technologies; Information Systems; Operational Testing; ABMS; 412TW; AFTC; DoD AI Standards; Test and Evaluation. The objective of this research effort is to design, develop, and demonstrate an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Performance Evaluation Tool that streamlines, standardizes, and enhances the evaluation of AI-enabled systems across various operational conditions. This Phase I STTR effort will focus on exploring innovative methodologies

• Technical Data Package Modernization for Information Assurance and Secure Data Exchange

  DSIP · Pre-Release · Closing 2026-11-25 · Observed 2026-10-13

  DoW SBIR 2027 BAA Technical Data Packages (TDP); Information Assurance (IA); Secure Data Exchange; Trusted AI; Autonomy; Air Force; Space Force; Digital Twin; Model-Based Definition (MBD); Configuration Management; Data Integrity; Zero Trust Architecture 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

• Agile Wire Harness Manipulation and Installation for Unmanned Aerial Systems

  DSIP · Pre-Release · Closing 2026-11-25 · Observed 2026-10-13

  DoW SBIR 2027 BAA Robotic Wire Routing; Deformable Material Manipulation; Autonomous Harness Installation; Single-Arm Workcell; Blind-Mate Connector Insertion; Real-Time Tactile Feedback; Computer Vision Alignment; Multi-Modal Sensory Control Develop and demonstrate a modular, agile robotic manufacturing workcell capable of autonomously routing, aligning, inserting, and verifying flexible, non-rigid wire harnesses and electrical connectors within the highly constrained physical geometries of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and advanced munitions.As a Direct-to-Phase-II (D2P2) topic, the immediat

• Agile Autonomous Technical Data Package to Path Robotic Task Specification

  DSIP · Pre-Release · Closing 2026-11-25 · Observed 2026-10-13

  DoW SBIR 2027 BAA Autonomous Path PlanningTechnical Data Package (TDP)Automated InspectionEnterprise Data IngestionSemantic Feature ExtractionDigital Manufacturing 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(i

• Fusion of Cooperative Information Sharing for Uncrewed Air Systems (FOCISAUS)

  DSIP · Pre-Release · Closing 2026-11-25 · Observed 2026-10-13

  DoW STTR 2027 BAA cooperative perception; sensor fusion; data fusion; uncrewed air systems; autonomy; adaptive transmission; compression; edge processing; distributed sensing; situational awareness; object detection The Department of the Air Force seeks mature, innovative solutions ready for prototype development and demonstration in cooperative perception for uncrewed or autonomous air systems. The objective of this topic is to develop and demonstrate a scalable prototype that enables distributed sensing nodes to share, prioritize, and fuse mission-relevant information in near real time to im

• TRIAGE-X: Autonomous Casualty Triage and Treatment in Chemically Contaminated Mass Casualty Events

  DSIP · Open · Closing 2026-10-21 · Observed 2026-10-13

  DoW SBIR 2026 BAA medical triage; mass casualty incidents; autonomous systems; robotics; medical countermeasures; chemical warfare injuries Develop and demonstrate capability with autonomous medical triage systems to recognize chemical toxidromes and physically deliver the corresponding antidote or life-saving intervention.

• ICU-in-a-Box: Autonomous Extracorporeal Multiple-Organ Support Therapies

  DSIP · Open · Closing 2026-10-21 · Observed 2026-10-13

  DoW SBIR 2026 BAA Autonomous Systems, Life Support Systems; Resuscitation; Trauma; Shock; Casualties; ARDS; multiple organ failure Develop (large animal model testing) an autonomous, portable extracorporeal life support platform for prolonged field care that integrates resuscitation, cardiovascular and pulmonary support, and (optionally) electrolyte and medication delivery capabilities.

• Smart Manufacturing

  DSIP · Open · Closing 2026-10-21 · Observed 2026-10-13

  DoW SBIR 2026 BAA Smart Manufacturing, AI, Robotics, Smart Factories, Industry 4.0, 5G Connected Warehouse The objective of this Phase II effort is to design, validate, and demonstrate a fully open-source, private 5G network platform for smart manufacturing that integrates OCUDU, SD-Core, SD-RAN, and OSC components into a secure, vendor-neutral architecture. This platform will deliver highly reliable, low-latency connectivity to support autonomous robotics, machine vision, and connected-worker safety, providing a cost-effective, FutureG-ready solution for both commercial manufacturers and dual

• Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems Rapid Maturation

  DSIP · Pre-Release · Closing 2026-11-25 · Observed 2026-10-13

  DoW SBIR 2027 BAA Counter-UAS; C-sUAS; Group 1 UAS; Group 2 UAS; autonomous threat detection; edge artificial intelligence; multi-sensor fusion; denied environment Mature commercial and dual-use technologies that detect, track, identify, or defeat small low-flying drones (Group 1 and Group 2 unmanned aerial systems) in hostile or contested areas.

• Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems Rapid Maturation

  DSIP · Pre-Release · Closing 2026-11-25 · Observed 2026-10-13

  DoW SBIR 2027 BAA Counter-UAS; C-sUAS; Group 1 UAS; Group 2 UAS; autonomous threat detection; edge artificial intelligence; multi-sensor fusion; denied environment Mature commercial and dual-use technologies that detect, track, identify, or defeat small low-flying drones (Group 1 and Group 2 unmanned aerial systems) in hostile or contested areas.