SBIR

NASA selected PiLogic for a six-month SBIR Phase I effort to evaluate its Manifest system for detecting and reasoning about faults across spacecraft electrical power, thermal-management, and attitude-control systems. The study signals NASA’s interest in explainable, probabilistic diagnostics, but is not a deployment decision; the award value and any follow-on procurement remain undisclosed.

The Navy’s $1.2 billion medium unmanned surface vessel production effort names Galliano Marine Services, HII, and Saronic Technologies as awardees, with deliveries expected to begin in FY2027. A planned fleet of 47 MUSVs and 16 extra-large unmanned underwater vehicles, combined with rolling solicitations, a DIU challenge, and a Navy SBIR opportunity, creates additional avenues for industry participation.

Metallium reported that its U.S. subsidiary, Flash Metals Texas, received a U.S. Defense Logistics Agency Phase II SBIR contract worth up to $1 million to pilot recovery of gallium and germanium from electronic waste at Gator Point. The award signals funded development in critical-material recovery, but does not represent an open solicitation or announced bidding opportunity.

The National Institutes of Health awarded Salimetrics, LLC a Phase I SBIR grant under RFA-MD-24-006 to assess whether insulin can be measured in dried saliva spots. The early-stage work will combine analytical and feasibility studies with community engagement; the award amount was not disclosed, and the project is not evidence of a validated or clinically ready test.

The Defense Logistics Agency awarded Supra Elemental Recovery a Phase I SBIR contract to assess whether its separation platform can recover scandium from relevant feedstocks. The award supports feasibility research—not production or a commitment to buy scandium—and no contract value, separate award date, or follow-on timeline was disclosed.

Space Systems Command is weighing eight artificial intelligence proposals for up to $12 million in Fight Tonight funding across space mission operations and infrastructure. Selections are expected November 13, 2026; this is a funding competition, not an active request for proposals.

The U.S. Air Force awarded LIFT Airborne Technologies an SBIR Phase III follow-on IDIQ with an $83.4 million ceiling for next-generation fixed-wing helmets. About $4.1 million in FY2026 RDT&E funding was obligated initially; further work and funding may come through task orders, with performance expected through October 30, 2036.

The Department of Defense’s SBIR/STTR program gives small businesses a staged route from concept validation in Phase I to prototype development in Phase II. Posted topics can help firms identify DoD technology needs, but participation does not guarantee a follow-on contract or procurement award.

The U.S. Marine Corps awarded Sabel Systems a task order to support digital engineering and digital acquisition for the Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle program. The order has a $19.05 million ceiling, but only about $390,000 is funded for the initial six-month effort; three 12-month option periods represent potential, not guaranteed, follow-on work.

AFWERX selected Geminus for a Small Business Innovation Research Phase I contract to develop physics-informed AI and digital-twin software for managing microgrids at deployed Air Force sites. The effort will model diesel generation, lithium-ion batteries, and changing electrical loads, with a possible follow-on pilot but no announced contract value or schedule.

The U.S. Army issued IperionX Task Order 2 under its existing $99 million SBIR Phase III IDIQ, with $11.5 million initially funded and a potential value of $25.4 million including options. The order reinforces demand for domestic titanium production, while the remaining $79.2 million IDIQ ceiling could support additional task orders but does not represent an open solicitation or guarantee future awards.

NIH's NICHD awarded Inherent Biosciences' Path Fertility a two-year, $2 million Direct to Phase II SBIR grant to validate a semen-based epigenetic diagnostic for non-obstructive azoosphermia and associated cancer risk. The award signals federal R&D investment in reproductive-health diagnostics but is not a procurement solicitation.

The National Science Foundation awarded Anu a $500,000 Phase IIB Small Business Innovation Research grant to scale production of its compostable Plug-and-Grow Seed Pods and test the nutritional quality of produce grown in its automated systems. The award supports manufacturing at Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana and Anu’s healthcare-focused Food is Medicine platform; it is not an open solicitation.

The **National Institutes of Health** awarded **UP Oncolytics** $2.5 million in Phase II SBIR Fast-Track funding for a two-year effort to complete preclinical development of an engineered Zika-virus therapy and prepare an Investigational New Drug application. The research award builds on a prior $500,000 Phase I award and is not an open procurement, but future testing, manufacturing, and clinical-trial support needs may emerge if the program advances.

SpaceWERX facilitated a Direct-to-Phase-II SBIR award to The Tech7 Company to prototype PLATE, an AWS-based, unclassified testbed for developing and evaluating applications for potential use in Space Development Agency tranches and the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. Work is scheduled to begin in October 2026; the award value and contract number were not disclosed, and a future Phase III is a possible transition path—not an open solicitation or guaranteed award.

North Carolina’s FY2027 One North Carolina Small Business Program allocates $2.13 million to support tech-based small businesses with federal Phase I SBIR/STTR grants. This funding includes both application-preparation incentives and matching grants, emphasizing the state’s commitment to fostering innovation.

The U.S. Army has awarded Unstructured a **$2 million SBIR contract** to enhance AI-ready data processing for military applications. This initiative will streamline decision-making and operational efficiency through advanced technology in anomaly detection and sensor data management.

The U.S. Navy has awarded significant contracts totaling over $1 billion for environmental and IT modernization projects. These projects signal a robust commitment towards environmental restoration and cybersecurity, providing contractors with long-term opportunities in these crucial areas.

The U.S. Department of War has awarded a **$1 million** Phase II **SBIR contract** to **Flash Metals Texas** for advancing the recovery of gallium and germanium from electronic waste. This initiative aims to enhance U.S. capabilities in critical mineral supply chains crucial for defense and semiconductor applications.

The U.S. Air Force has awarded a Direct-to-Phase II SBIR contract to Icarus Quantum for developing high-efficiency entangled photon sources. This initiative, aimed at enhancing quantum computing and secure communications, reflects a strategic investment in quantum technology and offers significant business opportunities for contractors in this emerging field.