SBIR Signal

Commercial-Derived Insights for Novel Tactical Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Tracking (TacSRT) Capabilities

SBIR topic from SpaceWERX, solicitation 26.BX. Open now. Closes 2026-08-19 (24 days left).

Component (WERX)
SpaceWERX
Agency
USAF
Program / Phase
SBIR
Solicitation #
26.BX
Topic #
DAF26BX04-NV506
Status
Open
Pre-release date
2026-07-01
Open date
2026-07-22
Close date
2026-08-19 · 24 days until close · Add to calendar · See all deadlines
Set-aside
—
NAICS
—
AFWERX / SpaceWERX open-topic brief

Topic brief

AFWERX / SpaceWERX-style open topics reward clear dual-use technology and a crisp problem framing. Treat DAF26BX04-NV506 as a customer-problem essay tied to Air Force / Space Force mission pull — not a generic SBIR dump.

WERX open-topic focus: Lead with the mission problem and dual-use path. See also AFWERX open topics and the monthly DSIP guide.

Who this is for

  • Dual-use tech firms targeting Air Force or Space Force end users
  • Teams that can show commercial traction or dual-use path
  • Companies following the monthly DSIP / WERX open-topic cadence

Capture playbook

  1. Frame the warfighter / operator problem in one paragraph before tech
  2. Show dual-use or commercial path alongside defense application
  3. Check peer AFWERX open topics closing the same cycle
  4. Use the monthly open-topic digest to avoid missing the drop
  5. Run match + scorecard before allocating proposal bandwidth

pWin cues

  • Specific end-user pain and measurable outcome
  • Technology maturity appropriate to the phase
  • Evidence of speed — AFWERX culture rewards execution

Watch-outs

  • Generic dual-use claims without a named mission thread
  • Missing the monthly cycle because you only checked SBIR.gov weekly
  • Ignoring related open topics that dilute or concentrate competition

Peer open topics

Topic brief FAQ

Where are AFWERX open topics listed?

Live lists are on /afwerx-open-topics and the opportunities feed; monthly digests summarize the open cycle.

How does the monthly DSIP drop work?

DoD SBIR/STTR topics often release on a monthly cadence via DSIP. See the AFWERX DSIP guide on the blog.

Is open topic the same as a traditional SBIR topic?

Open topics are broader problem statements; traditional topics are often more narrowly specified. Read evaluation criteria carefully.

Readiness scorecard Capability match Monthly open-topic digest All topic briefs

Go / No-Go decision pack

One-click pack: competitive field, conversion signal, related awards, and (Pro) a full GO / MAYBE / NO-GO verdict against your capability.

Open scorecard Match my capability

Pro unlocks full Go/No-Go verdicts and named incumbents. Compare plans

Incumbent detector

No adjacent award history found for this topic yet. Use the decision pack and scorecard to build your own go/no-go case, and re-check after the next data refresh.

Description

The objective of this Phase I effort is to identify, assess, and demonstrate the feasibility of novel, non–missile-warning space and/or ground enabled sensing and analytic capabilities that can deliver rapid, commercially derived insights with meaningful operational utility. The effort seeks concepts that enhance geospatial tactical awareness, reduce operational risk, and provide operators with timely, relevant, and resilient information in contested environments. Phase I will evaluate scientific and technical feasibility, characterize expected performance, and define the minimum viable capability that can be matured into a rapidly fieldable prototype in Phase II.

View / apply on DoD DSIP ↗

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