Integrated Deployable Microsensors for Chemical Detection
SBIR Opportunity Analysis
The Department of Defense’s CBD SBIR topic CBD254-007 seeks integrated deployable microsensors for chemical threat detection, with the goal of providing early warning of nerve, blister, and pharmaceutical-based agents. The work calls for low-SWaP-C sensors that can be widely distributed and networked, detect threats in vapor or aerosol form in near real time, self-calibrate, and send high-density data to mission command systems. Phase I focuses on a breadboard prototype able to detect at least two threat classes, while Phase II advances to a higher-fidelity prototype that can detect at least three classes, support array network communications, and meet the stated size, weight, power, and endurance targets of under 250 grams, no more than 5 centimeters in diameter, and 24 hours of operation. The topic also indicates ITAR/EAR restrictions and a Phase III path toward integration with unmanned or robotic platforms for small production runs. Applications are due May 13, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. ET under solicitation 25.4 through the DoD SBIR/STTR topics portal.