Input-Output Unit (IOU) for Secure Processing and Routing of Hull, Mechanical, & Electrical (HM&E) and Navigation Signals

The U.S. Navy, under the Department of Defense, is soliciting Phase I SBIR proposals for the development of an Input-Output Unit (IOU) designed for the secure processing and routing of Navigation signals as well as Hull, Mechanical, and Electrical (HM&E) signals. This solicitation is a total small business set-aside, requiring proposing entities to be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) and the SBA Company Registry. Proposals must be submitted via the DSIP portal by November 25, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. ET. The submission must follow a strict seven-volume structure, including technical, cost, and commercialization reports, with the technical volume required as a single, unlocked PDF file. Awards are granted on a competitive basis, with evaluations focused on technical capability and technical value. Proposals are initially screened for responsiveness to the topic objective before being assessed by subject matter experts on the merit of their specific technical approach. Successful Phase I completion may lead to Phase II awards based on scientific merit, technical merit, and commercialization potential. Contractual requirements include adherence to CMMC cybersecurity standards, annual self-assessments for compliance, and the electronic submission of final technical reports to the Defense Technical Center. Performance is subject to continuous government inspection to ensure work meets high professional standards.