The Department of Defense, specifically the Army, is seeking innovative software solutions for the automated functional grading of materials in directed energy deposition (DED) additive manufacturing, as part of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The objective is to develop software that can interface with CAD models to create complex functionally graded materials (FGMs) by allowing user-defined compositional gradients across multiple metals, enhancing the design capabilities for military munitions. This initiative is crucial for advancing manufacturing techniques that can lead to improved performance and multifunctionality in military applications, while also having potential civilian uses in various sectors such as aerospace and medical manufacturing. Interested parties should note that the solicitation is currently closed, with the next opportunity expected to open on June 26, 2024, and applications due by July 30, 2024. For more information, visit the official SBIR website at https://www.dodsbirsttr.mil/topics-app/.