The Department of Defense, specifically the Navy, is seeking proposals for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program to develop enhanced mattresses aimed at improving sleep quality for Sailors and Marines aboard Naval vessels. The objective is to create a mattress that meets Navy standards (MIL-PRF-32568) while significantly enhancing comfort and sleep quality, thereby reducing fatigue and operational risks associated with high-stress environments. This initiative is critical as inadequate sleep has been linked to serious incidents in military operations, highlighting the need for improved bedding solutions. Interested parties should note that the solicitation will open on January 8, 2025, with proposals due by February 5, 2025, and can find more information at the official DOD SBIR website.

## Description

Insufficient sleep quality and quantity degrade health and performance outcomes. This is particularly problematic in high-risk occupations where long hours of continuous operations along with circadian rhythm disruption negatively affect sleep quality and quantity and in turn increase the probability of mishaps and mistakes to occur; for example, fatigue was a contributory factor in the two deadly mishaps in 2017 with the USS Fitzgerald and USS McCain. Research focused on exploring the operational factors driving Sailor fatigue found that uncomfortable mattresses are a key contributor negatively impacting sleep quality and quantity [Refs 1,2]. In addition, the Government Accountability Office also identified poor mattress quality as a key factor for addressing fatigue in the Navy [Ref 3]. The objective of this STTR topic is to develop an enhanced mattress for Sailors and Marines aboard Naval vessels to increase comfort and sleep, and ultimately lead to improvements in sleep quality/quantity and reductions in fatigue and operational risks. Innovative mattress technologies must comply with current berthing area dimensional requirements and standards (i.e., fire-proofing, floatation, etc.) outlined in MIL-PRF-32568. Mattress testing (e.g., ASTM E1590) needs be conducted in compliance with MIL-PRF-32568. The enhanced mattresses must demonstrate improved comfort, as subjectively rated by Sailors; and improved sleep quantity and quantity, as objectively defined by gold standard sleep assessment techniques in lab and shipboard-based settings (e.g., polysomnography/ electroencephalography, wearable devices, and subjective assessments) when compared to current shipboard mattresses. To develop these mattresses and ensure that they provide a higher level of comfort and ultimately sleep quality/quantity, the proposer should partner with an academic and/or clinical institution that has experience in performing evaluations and human sleep research studies. The proposer should work with the academic/clinical institution to ensure there is a valid and reliable improvement in comfort and sleep quality/quantity using the newly developed prototype mattresses over the currently deployed standard shipboard mattresses. It is expected that mattresses will be examined initially in a lab-based setting and then in a shipboard environment once all necessary standards and regulations have been addressed; and demonstrate improvements in comfort and sleep quality.

## Objective

Improve shipboard mattresses while meeting required Navy standards (MIL-PRF-32568) to improve sleep quality and enable increases in morale, reductions in fatigue/incident risk, and enhancement of resiliency. No human testing to be completed in Phase I.

## Phase I

Define and develop an enhanced shipboard mattress prototype model/concept which meets the dimensional and safety requirements for placement aboard Naval vessels (MIL-PRF-32568); and provide the theoretical justifications for why new mattresses will improve comfort and sleep quality/quantity over the current standard shipboard legacy mattresses. Determine feasibility of scalability of incorporating the new enhanced mattress across the Fleet to replace the legacy mattresses. Required Phase I deliverables to include, but are not limited to, enhanced shipboard mattress concept including planned materials, costs, manufacturing logistics, planned testing (e.g., ASTM E1590), and planned partnership with academic/clinical institution.The academic/clinical institutional partner should work with the small business to develop a plan for human subjects testing that would take place in subsequent award phases. The deliverables from the small business and academic institution partnership should describe the means and methods to ensure valid and reliable assessment of the mattress performance compared to the legacy mattresses; these are to include but are not limited to: targeted sample population for testing, lab space for testing, IRB and research protocol preparation, and analytical methods.

## Phase II

Develop and limited production of prototype enhanced mattresses that meet the dimensional, safety, and improved comfortability aspects defined in Phase I and the Description. The enhanced mattress should be developed and validated for improving sleep quality and quantity via standard sleep assessments in partnership with the academic/clinical institution (e.g., polysomnography, other wearable devices, subjective ratings). The prototype should be capable of being deployed aboard Naval vessels at the end of Phase II. Prototypes need be tested for compliance with Navy standards (e.g., ASTM E1590) in Phase II prior to deployment aboard ships. The deliverables from the Phase II are to include, but are not limited to: 12 prototype mattresses (6 of which are to be provided to the Navy for testing) and 6 of which can be used by the small business and academic/clinical partner to conduct internal testing outlined in the Phase I deliverables. Three (3) initial prototype mattresses should be delivered to the Navy within 3 months of Phase II award; with the additional 9 to be completed for the Navy within 6 months of award. Human testing should be completed and reported on within the second 6 months of the award (12 months after award).

## Phase III: Dual Use Applications

Focus on refining the product for transition and integration into the U.S. Navy surface fleet. This is to include preparations for scaling production of the enhanced mattresses and obtaining required certifications/accreditations for deployment to surface ships. In partnership with the small business, the Navy will integrate the Phase II developed enhanced shipboard mattress as a production product into deployed Naval vessels and transition finalized product to Naval Surface Force. Aim at scaling the production mattresses to commercial markets (e.g., recreational vehicles, garrison bunks). Continued research and development to ensure wide scale acceptance for increased sleep metrics is to be conducted simultaneously.The final product to be delivered to the Navy should meet all dimensional and safety requirements as specified (MIL-PRF-32568), while also demonstrating increased comfort and sleep quality/ quantity for the users over previous Navy bedding.

Mattresses for Improved Sleep Quality (MISQ)

STTR Opportunity Analysis

SBIR Documents

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Opportunity Snapshot

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