DIU Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO)
Funds commercial companies prototyping advanced technology for US defense through fast Other Transaction agreements.
The Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) is how the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) — the part of the US Department of Defense that buys commercial technology fast — funds companies. Instead of a slow traditional contract, DIU uses a quicker tool called an "Other Transaction" agreement to pay companies to build and test prototypes for real military needs.
There is no fixed award size; the money depen…
Commercial technology prototypes for US Department of Defense needs — AI, autonomy, space, cyber, energy, and advanced hardware — via Other Transaction agreements.
Sign up free to see the funding breakdown
Sign up free to see the industries in scope
Sign up free to see the full eligibility
Sign up free to see how to apply
Sign up free to see what you submit
Sign up free to see how they score you
Sign up free to see where teams trip up
Guides for this application
All guides →Grants for Robotics Startups: SBIR, Defense, NSF, and Pilot Funding
A practical guide to grants for robotics startups, including SBIR/STTR, NSF, DoD, NASA, field validation, TRL, pilot evidence, budgets, and commercialization strategy.
Write proposalHow to Write a Grant Proposal Reviewers Can Score
Learn how to write a grant proposal around reviewer criteria, evidence, work packages, budget logic, and commercialization for deeptech and R&D funding.
DocumentsGrant Work Plan Template: Work Packages, Gantt, Milestones, and Risks
Use this grant work plan template to structure work packages, tasks, owners, deliverables, Gantt timing, dependencies, and risk registers.
Submit & reportSAM.gov Registration and UEI Guide for Federal Grant Applicants
Learn how SAM.gov registration, UEI numbers, Grants.gov accounts, organization profiles, workspace roles, and renewal timing fit together.
More from DIU
All grants from this funder →DIU CSO — Prototype Contract
🇺🇸DIU · United States
Provides research teams and institutions for DIU CSO Prototype Contract in artificial intelligence, defense innovation, and cybersecurity.
NSIC Hardware Startup Prototype Contract
🇺🇸DIU · United States
Backs startup and industry teams with commercialization support for NSIC Hardware Startup Prototype Contract in aerospace, defense innovation, and hardware.
Dual-Use University Accelerator Challenge
🇺🇸DIU · United States
Shares a $500,000 prize pool among university-founded startups building dual-use defense tech.
ROADS Prize Challenge
🇺🇸DIU · United States
Connects teams delivering high impact prototypes with milestone support for ROADS Prize Challenge in robotics, defense innovation, and transport and mobility.
Similar grants
Browse the directory →BIRD General Program
🇺🇸BIRD Foundation · United States
Supports United States and Israel partners to jointly commercialize hi-tech innovation, including cybersecurity, life sciences, and manufacturing.
Global Access Program
🇺🇸PA DCED · United States
Funds Pennsylvania companies expanding export sales through reimbursement grants for eligible international business development costs.
BIRD Energy
🇺🇸BIRD Foundation · United States
Supports United States and Israel energy collaborations across technology, grid optimization, advanced manufacturing, and infrastructure security.
Expeditions in Computing (Expeditions)
🇺🇸NSF · United States
Funds NSF's largest computing awards — up to $15 million over seven years for a research agenda that looks a decade ahead.
DARPA DSO Disruptioneering
🇺🇸DARPA · United States
Supports rapid United States exploratory defense research through fast-distributed projects and compact delivery agreements.
FES Continuation Solicitation
🇺🇸DOE FES · United States
Supports fusion, plasma, and high-energy-density research partnerships blending public and private work.