Marine Corps SBIR (via Navy SBIR Program)

Marine Corps SBIR Phase I

Supports MCSC small businesses developing ground systems through monthly topic release flow.

Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC) participates in the Department of the Navy SBIR program by releasing Marine Corps-specific technology topics across multiple monthly BAA cycles throughout each fiscal year. MCSC topics are labeled with the NV prefix in the Navy SBIR monthly BAA releases (e.g., NV001 in FY26 Release 1: Amphibious Combat Vehicle Maneuver Improvements under solicitation DON26BZ01). FY26 Release 1 opened May 6, 2026 and closed June 3, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET. Topic releases for additional MCSC priorities continue across subsequent monthly releases through September 2026. MCSC topics span ground systems, amphibious combat vehicles, command and control information technology, expeditionary warfighting capabilities, and related Marine Corps acquisition priorities.

Phase I awards are approximately $140,000 for a six-month period of performance, structured as a Firm Fixed Price or Cost-Plus Fixed Fee contract. All proposals must be submitted electronically through the Defense SBIR/STTR Innovation Portal (DSIP) at dodsbirsttr.mil. Eligibility requires US small business concern status: 500 employees or fewer, at least 51% owned and controlled by US citizens or permanent residents, with all R&D work performed in the United States. The small business must perform at least two-thirds of the Phase I work. A Direct-to-Phase II pathway is available for qualifying topics where the applicant can document prior equivalent feasibility work, allowing the company to skip Phase I.

MCSC topics are administered by the Naval SBIR Program Office but sponsored by MCSC program managers, who set the technical requirements and evaluate technical proposals from an operational needs perspective. Applicants should search the DSIP topic database filtering by MCSC to identify open or pre-release topics relevant to their technology. Winning Phase I companies are eligible to compete for Phase II awards of up to approximately $1.7 million over 24 months, and strong performers may be nominated for Navy Catapult second Phase II awards ranging from $1.7 million to $13 million.