Special Program Announcement for Office of Naval Research Research Opportunity: FY27 Communications and Networking Applied Research

Open Posted

Opportunity number
N0001426SBC11
Agency
Applications due
Award size
$250,000 to $500,000

Opportunity facts

Assistance listings
Funding instrument
Grant
Category
  • Science and Technology and other Research and Development
Eligible applicants
  • Other
Full announcement

Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .

About this opportunity

Written by GovTribe AI ·

The Office of Naval Research is soliciting applications for communications and networking technologies supporting distributed maritime operations and the Naval Tactical Grid, with full proposals due November 16, 2026. Eligible applicants include academia, industry, and research organizations worldwide; Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), Department of Defense and civilian agency laboratories, and Navy laboratories are ineligible, though teaming with FFRDCs by eligible principal offerors is permitted if sponsoring agreements allow. University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs) are eligible unless precluded by their DoD contract.

ONR anticipates five to six awards valued at $250,000 to $500,000 per year for one-, two-, or three-year periods. Both grants and cooperative agreements will be issued. Large businesses, non-profit organizations, and educational institutions must submit small business subcontracting plans.

Five focus areas are prioritized: long-range VHF-band data links using compact 4x4 MIMO based on 5G/COTS with sub-MHz frequency channelization; compact electronically-steered apertures for higher frequencies above Ka-band; low probability-of-detection communications against electronic threats; distributed network control, synchronization, and scheduling techniques; and algorithms for predicting network behavior and operational requirements. ONR is receptive to innovative ideas outside these focus areas supporting Navy and Marine Corps communications and networking objectives.

White papers (not to exceed five single-sided pages, 12-point Times New Roman, one-inch margins, submitted via ONR Submission Portal) are strongly encouraged by July 31, 2026 at 4 p.m. Eastern Time; government feedback is due August 14, 2026, with expanded oral presentations tentatively scheduled for September 10, 2026. Award decisions are anticipated by October 5, 2026, with estimated award date April 15, 2027.

Assistance Listing 12.300; CFDA 12.300. Technical POC: Dr. Sunoy Banerjee (sunoy.n.banerjee.civ@us.navy.mil); Business POC: Stephen Hughes (stephen.t.hughes.civ@us.navy.mil).

Synopsis

The proposed topic will develop and mature Communications and Networking technologies for Naval operations.

Background:

A Design for Maritime Superiority (2018) describes an operational architecture for distributed maritime operations (DMO) that "... will provide accurate, timely, and analyzed information to units, warfighting groups, and fleets." A critical component of this architecture is the Naval Tactical Grid (NTG) to connect distributed units into groups and distributed groups into fleets.

Communications and networking technologies that can provide seamless, robust, connectivity are key enablers for the NTG. These technologies will be deployed on a variety of platforms, both manned and unmanned, operating under challenging environmental and operational warfare conditions (lack of infrastructure, mobility, spectrum limitations, interference, multipath, atmospherics, jamming, electronic intercept, size/weight/power constraint, etc.) in different domains (land, maritime [includes both surface and undersea], cyber, and space). Successful

Command and Control (C2) and decision making, at all levels of command, for DMO is critically dependent on these communications and networking technologies

Eligibility

All responsible sources from academia, industry and the research community worldwide may submit proposals under this BAA. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Institutions (MIs) are encouraged to submit proposals and join others in submitting proposals; however, no portion of this BAA will be set aside for HBCUs/MIs, small businesses or other socio-economic participation. All businesses, both small and large, are encouraged to submit proposals and compete for funding consideration. Federally Funded Research & Development Centers (FFRDCs), including Department of Energy National Laboratories, are not eligible to receive awards under this BAA. However, teaming arrangements between FFRDCs and eligible principal Offerors are allowed so long as such arrangements are permitted under the sponsoring agreement between the Government and the specific FFRDC. Navy laboratories, military universities and warfare centers as well as other Department of Defense and civilian agency laboratories are also not eligible to receive awards under this BAA and should not directly submit either white papers or full proposals in response to this BAA. If any such organization is interested in one or more of the programs described herein, the organization should contact an appropriate ONR Technical POC to discuss its area of interest. University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs) are eligible to submit proposals under this BAA unless precluded from doing so by their Department of Defense UARC contract. Teams are also encouraged and may submit proposals in any areas; however, Offerors must be willing to cooperate and exchange software, data and other information in an integrated program with other contractors, as well as with system integrators, selected by ONR. Disclosures of current and pending support made in this application may render an applicant ineligible for funding. Prior to award and throughout the period of performance, DoD may continue to request updated continuing and pending support information, which will be reviewed and may result in discontinuation of funding.

Files

File Type Posted
N0001426SBC11.POST.pdf PDF

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