DON26BZ05-NV069 TITLE: Wearable Real-Time Command-and-Control Interface for Enhanced Naval Situational Awareness
COMPONENT TECHNOLOGY PRIORITY AREA(S): Human-Machine Interfaces
PROJECTED CMMC LEVEL REQUIREMENT: Level 2 (Self)
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(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws.
OBJECTIVE: Develop, demonstrate, and deliver a production-ready, wearable, real-time Command-and-Control (C2) interface utilizing Mixed Reality (MR) technology with spatial anchoring that integrates and fuses multi-domain naval sensor data from Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2).
DESCRIPTION: The Department of the Navy faces critical operational challenges in delivering real-time C2 capabilities to personnel operating in complex, multi-domain maritime environments. Naval operations require processing vast amounts of multi-source intelligence from JADC2 while ensuring mobility, tactical effectiveness, and operator safety.
Operational Gaps:
Key challenges include:
• Information Overload: High-tempo operations result in multi-domain data saturation, reducing situational awareness.
• Mobility Constraints: Console-based systems limit operator mobility and adaptability in dynamic maritime environments.
• Environmental Limitations: Commercial wearables lack durability and functionality under maritime conditions, including exposure to salt spray, extreme temperatures, and high humidity.
• Test Range Deficiencies: Current test ranges lack integrated C2 capabilities across JADC2 domains.
• Laser Safety Compliance: Eye protection for Class 4 laser environments is required while accessing multi-domain data.
• REPLICATOR Program Needs: Human-autonomous system interfaces are essential for coordinated swarm operations
The objective of this topic is to develop, demonstrate, and deliver a production-ready, wearable, real-time C2 interface utilizing MR technology with spatial anchoring that integrates and fuses multi-domain naval sensor data from JADC2 with the purpose of enabling enhanced human-machine interfaces (HMIs) for geographically dispersed naval forces supporting Distributed Maritime Operations.
This interface must provide real-time, multi-source intelligence processing while maintaining mobility and tactical effectiveness, with initial deployment focused on test range operations and REPLICATOR autonomous systems integration.
Technical Requirements:
This effort demands MR capabilities, surpassing basic augmented reality (AR) systems. MR provides spatial anchoring of digital information to real-world objects, environmental understanding for safety-critical operations, and occlusion handling to ensure digital displays are appropriately hidden behind real-world hazards. These features are vital for naval operations where tactical data must be spatially registered to ship equipment, deck spaces, and operational areas while maintaining operator safety.
Existing Systems and Limitations:
Current systems include console-based combat information centers, handheld tactical computers, and tablet-based devices, all of which are vulnerable to maritime conditions. Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) MR platforms, such as Microsoft HoloLens 2, Magic Leap 2, Apple Vision Pro (passthrough mode), and Meta Quest Pro (passthrough mode), provide foundational capabilities but lack maritime environmental qualification and military-grade cybersecurity features.
Technology Maturity:
• Integrated MR systems: TRL 6-7
• Maritime-qualified implementations: TRL 5-6
• JADC2 sensor fusion with laser safety integration: TRL 4-5 Performance Requirements:
Optimized for initial deployment in test range operations and REPLICATOR integration under non-combatant conditions:
• Operating temperature: -10°C to +50°C
• Water resistance: IPX6 rating
• Continuous operation: 12+ hours
• Data processing latency: <30ms
• Sensor integration: 10+ simultaneous inputs
• Display performance: 1 arc minute resolution, 90Hz refresh rate
• Angular tracking accuracy: sub-1 deg
• Security: FOUO/CUI processing capability
• Laser safety: ANSI Z136.1 and MIL-STD-1425 compliance
• Human performance: MIL-STD-1472H compliance
• Equipment Durability: MIL-STD-810 compliance
• REPLICATOR compatibility: Autonomous system interfaces and Common Control System (CCS) framework
Critical Innovation Areas:
Breakthrough development is required in:
• Laser-safe optical systems: Full MR functionality with Department of War (DoW)-approved eye protection for Class 4 laser environments.
• Adaptive brightness control: Handling extreme maritime lighting conditions and MIL-STD-1472 compliance
• Real-time processing architecture: Supporting 15+ simultaneous JADC2 data streams with AI-driven threat correlation.
• Ruggedized electronics: Surviving 1,000-hour salt spray exposure with MIL-STD-810 compliance.
• Quantum-resistant encryption: Enabling secure mesh networking.
• Autonomous system interfaces: Intuitive gesture and voice recognition for single-operator swarm management.
Security and Classification:
Work produced in Phase II may become classified. Note: The prospective contractor(s) must be U.S. owned and operated with no foreign influence as defined by 32 U.S.C. § 2004.20 et seq., National Industrial Security Program Executive Agent and Operating Manual, unless acceptable mitigating procedures can and have been implemented and approved by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) formerly Defense Security Service (DSS). The selected contractor and/or subcontractor must be able to acquire and maintain a secret level facility and Personnel Security Clearances. This will allow contractor personnel to perform on advanced phases of this project as set forth by DCSA and NAVAIR in order to gain access to classified information pertaining to the national defense of the United States and its allies; this will be an inherent requirement. The selected company will be required to safeguard classified material during the advanced phases of this contract IAW the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM), which can be found at Title 32, Part 2004.20 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
PHASE I: Define and develop a concept for a wearable MR C2 interface that meets performance and environmental constraints for test range and REPLICATOR applications. Demonstrate laser safety integration with full MR functionality. Validate cybersecurity framework for FOUO/CUI processing. Establish REPLICATOR integration baseline with autonomous system interface development. Perform modeling and simulation to provide initial assessment of concept performance. Phase I Option, if exercised, would include initial layout and capabilities description to build the unit in Phase II.
The Phase I effort will include prototype plans to be developed under Phase II.
PHASE II: Develop production-ready hardware platform optimized for initial deployment environments. Implement JADC2 sensor fusion capabilities for test range and distributed maritime operations. Integrate REPLICATOR autonomous system interfaces and human-machine teaming protocols. Validate compatibility with Navy's Common Control System (CCS) framework. Demonstrate coordinated control of multiple autonomous platforms through MR interface. Complete commercial environmental qualification testing. Conduct operator evaluation with test range personnel and fleet operators. Deliver 5 prototype systems qualified for operational evaluation with complete technical data package and source code with Government Purpose Rights.
Work in Phase II may become classified. Please see note in Description section.
PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Integrate Phase II developed wearable interface with multiple platforms for enhanced crew situational awareness. Upgrade to full military environmental qualification including IPX8 rating, MIL-S-901D Grade A compliance, and SECRET-level processing capability. Expand REPLICATOR program integration for autonomous swarm coordination in distributed maritime operations with full combat capability. Scale manufacturing for naval platform deployment quantities.
Commercial applications include maritime industry fleet management with real-time cargo and navigation data; offshore energy platform operations with safety-critical information overlay; port security operations integrating multiple sensor systems; manufacturing facilities with laser-intensive operations requiring worker protection; aerospace testing operations with complex instrumentation integration; and emergency response coordination with real-time situational awareness. Estimated total addressable market of $2.3B by 2030 across commercial maritime ($850M), industrial safety ($1.1B), and government/defense ($350M+) segments.
REFERENCES:
KEYWORDS: Mixed Reality; Human machine interface; JADC2; REPLICATOR; Distributed Maritime Operations; Sensor Fusion
| 9/9/26 | Q. | The Description states that the selected contractor and/or subcontractor must be able to acquire and maintain a secret level facility and Personnel Security Clearances in order to perform on advanced phases, and that work produced in Phase II may become classified. For the Phase I tasks as described - concept definition, laser safety integration demonstration, cybersecurity framework validation for FOUO/CUI processing, REPLICATOR integration baseline, and modeling and simulation - does the Government anticipate that any Phase I task will require access to classified information, or is the entire Phase I effort, including the Phase I Option, expected to be performed at the unclassified/CUI level? If any Phase I task is expected to require access to classified information, please identify which task(s) so that offerors can plan facility and personnel security arrangements to support Phase I performance. |
| A. | You will not be expected to have a classified space during the Phase I process. Efforts may become classified in Phase II. If your proposal is selected for that award the Contracting Officer will coordinate with you directly if this is required. | |
| 9/2/26 | Q. | For the Phase I requirement to “validate cybersecurity framework for FOUO/CUI processing,” what level of validation evidence is expected? For example, would a documented CUI system architecture, security-control mapping, threat model, data-flow analysis, encryption/access-control design, and implementation/test plan be sufficient for Phase I, or is operation within an established CMMC Level 2 CUI environment expected during Phase I performance? |
| A. | Phase one is completely unclassified and will not require an established CMMC Level 2 CUI environment. A documented CUI system architecture, security-control mapping, threat model, data-flow analysis, encryption/access-control design, and implementation/test plan is sufficient for Phase I. | |
| 9/2/26 | Q. | For the Phase I requirement to “demonstrate laser safety integration with full MR functionality,” is the Government expecting physical testing of an MR system with DoW-approved Class 4 laser protective eyewear during Phase I, or may Phase I demonstrate the optical/interface integration through representative protective components, engineering analysis, modeling, and laboratory testing, with formal qualification and environmental testing conducted in Phase II? |
| A. | For laser safety, you can demonstrate the optical/interface integration through representative protective components, engineering analysis, modeling, and laboratory testing, with formal qualification and environmental testing conducted in Phase II. Phase I does not require hardware deliverables. Providing component level hardware demonstrations will not automatically place your solution above others' solutions. If you plan to do component demonstrations to reduce risk going into phase II, then ensure you articulate how your demonstration will reduce risk and why it is important to do it in phase I. You will also have to prove that your laser safety solution will not interfere with the full MR experience, which is important for maintaining the safety of the user while moving around an environment that has obstructions (a test range with trip hazards, for example). To do so, the wearable interface should maintain the level of visual situational awareness the user needs to be safe while moving. Sometimes traditional laser safety devices can occlude visual acuity (through FOV reduction, being too dark (think night operations), or filtering out critical wavelengths of light needed to navigate an environment). From the MR perspective, the laser protection method should not reduce the MR capabilities. Things to consider are how the laser protection affects FOV, contrast, brightness, color balance, etc of the MR experience, which will all affect the human user’s experience. Another thing to consider is that there are several types of MR devices. Some are pass through, which means the user can see through them, which also means a laser can pass through, and other MR devices are solid/opaque and use external cameras to project the world to the user, naturally blocking lasers from entering the user's eyes. This is a multi-faceted problem space with coupled requirements. There is no preference for pass-through vs opaque. It is up to you to articulate why your laser safety solution is the best fit given the many requirements in this topic | |
| 9/2/26 | Q. | The Phase I description requires establishing a REPLICATOR integration baseline with autonomous-system interface development, while Phase II calls for validating compatibility with the Navy Common Control System (CCS) framework. For Phase I, does the Government expect an implemented CCS-compatible interface, or would a defined interface architecture, representative autonomous-platform integration, and modeling/simulation demonstrating the proposed human-machine teaming approach satisfy the Phase I baseline requirement? |
| A. | A defined interface architecture, representative autonomous-platform integration, and modeling/simulation demonstrating the proposed human-machine teaming approach will satisfy the Phase I baseline requirement. Phase 1 is unclassified and no government data will be provided (no JADC2/REPLICATOR data, interface documentation). You will need to use what is publicly available to show the feasibility of your phase I approach. | |
| 9/2/26 | Q. | For the Phase I modeling and simulation effort, is it acceptable for an offeror to demonstrate the required multi-source sensor-fusion architecture using representative or synthetically generated JADC2-like sensor data and publicly available/open-interface data formats, with integration to operational Government JADC2 data sources deferred until Government-furnished interfaces or data are available in a subsequent phase? |
| A. | Yes, this will suffice. Phase 1 is unclassified and no government data will be provided (no JADC2/REPLICATOR data, interface documentation). You will need to use what is publicly available to show the feasibility of your phase I approach. The government will furnish more detailed interface documentation and representative data in Phase II. | |
| 8/26/26 | Q. | Would a haptic mixed reality system be considered for phase 1 and 2 provided it meets requirements, or is a visual display for information presentation required? |
| A. | The immersive MR visual experience is central to the topic, so fully tactile systems will not qualify. Although, there may be value in pairing a haptic system with visual/auditory systems to keep the operator's visual and auditory channels free to reduce cognitive overload. The intent with this topic is to produce a design that works in a maritime environment (actual ruggedization doesn’t happen until phase II, but you have to lay out your plan to get fully rugged in your phase I proposal) and reduces the cognitive load on the operator when managing many assets/data streams at the same time, while also keeping them safe while they move around a range (think trip hazards or other collision hazards). We don’t want to flood the operator with 15+ streams of raw data. The MR experience and information processing within it should be able to organize and distill the data to help the operator make decisions on what to do next. Ensure that you articulate the impact of adding a haptic solution to a visual/auditory solution to allow a fair and accurate evaluation of the proposal. You can partner with a prime or be a prime and partner with a subcontractor in this SBIR. |
** TOPIC NOTICE ** |
The Navy Topic above is an "unofficial" copy from the Navy Topics in the DoW FY-26 Release 5 SBIR BAA. Please see the official DoW Topic website at www.dodsbirsttr.mil/submissions/solicitation-documents/active-solicitations for any updates. The DoW issued its Navy FY-26 Release 5 SBIR Topics pre-release on August 5, 2026 which opens to receive proposals on August 26, 2026, and closes September 23, 2026 (12:00pm ET). Direct Contact with Topic Authors: During the pre-release period (August 5, through August 25, 2026) proposing firms have an opportunity to directly contact the Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) to ask technical questions about the specific BAA topic. The TPOC contact information is listed in each topic description. Once DoW begins accepting proposals on August 26, 2026 no further direct contact between proposers and topic authors is allowed unless the Topic Author is responding to a question submitted during the Pre-release period. DoD On-line Q&A System: After the pre-release period, until September 9, 2026, at 12:00 PM ET, proposers may submit written questions through the DoW On-line Topic Q&A at https://www.dodsbirsttr.mil/submissions/login/ by logging in and following instructions. In the Topic Q&A system, the questioner and respondent remain anonymous but all questions and answers are posted for general viewing.
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