U.S. Department of Transportation Small Business Innovation Research Fiscal Year 2026 Phase I Solicitation

Key Dates

Due Date

Posted Date

Agency & Value

Agency

6913G6 VOLPE NATL. TRANS. SYS CNTR

Contract Value

Not provided

Codes & Classification

Solicitation Number

6913G626QSBIR1

NAICS

541715 - Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)

Classification Code

AS11

Additional Details

Set Aside

SBA

Place of Performance

—

SourceSAM

Documents1

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), through its Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology and the John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center), has issued its Fiscal Year 2026 Phase I solicitation under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program. This solicitation, identified by procurement number 6913G626QSBIR1, invites qualified U.S. small businesses to submit innovative research proposals addressing key transportation challenges as outlined in the solicitation topics. The primary purpose of this procurement is to foster the development of advanced solutions in transportation by leveraging the creativity and technical expertise of small businesses. The scope encompasses a range of research areas critical to the DOT’s mission, with the intended outcome of generating novel technologies and methodologies that can enhance safety, efficiency, and sustainability across the nation’s transportation systems. Successful Phase I projects are expected to demonstrate technical feasibility and lay the groundwork for potential Phase II development and commercialization. Key requirements for participation include compliance with the Small Business Administration (SBA) set-aside criteria, specifically as defined in 13 CFR 121.702. Eligible offerors must qualify as small businesses under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541715, which pertains to Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology), with a size standard of 500 employees. The Product Service Code associated with this solicitation is AS11. The solicitation features several updated research topics, each with clarified objectives and expected deliverables for Phase I. These include: - Edge AI-V2X Integrated Practical Solutions for Congestion Prevention and Mitigation (Topic 26-FH1), with enhanced details on functionalities and desired outcomes. - Automated Mobile Catch-basin Inspection System (Topic 26-FH2), with revised topic descriptions. - Mobile High-Power Emergency Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) De-energizer for Rail Vehicle Propulsion (Topic 26-FR1), with expanded information on operational goals. - Person-Centered, Carefree, Complete Trip Planning Powered by AI (Topic 26-FT1), with clarified desired outcomes. - Freight Corridor Predictive Intelligence (Topic 26-OS2), with updated objectives and technical parameters. - Increase End-of-Life Battery Safety and Recovery of Rare Earth Minerals (Topic 26-PH1), with additional details on desired outcomes. All solicitation documents and related materials are available exclusively through electronic means on the U.S. DOT SBIR program website. No hard copies will be provided. Offerors are encouraged to review the FAQs and technical Q&A, which address questions received during the pre-solicitation period (April 29, 2026, through May 29, 2026), accessible at https://usdot.uservoice.com/forums/967226-u-s-dot-fy-2026-phase-i-pre-solicitation-q-a. A pre-proposal webinar is scheduled for June 9, 2026, from 2:00 to 3:00 pm Eastern Time, with further information available in the solicitation and on the program website. This event offers prospective offerors an opportunity to gain additional insights into the solicitation requirements and process. The contracting entity for this opportunity is the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Entity Name: 6913G6 VOLPE NATL. TRANS. SYS CNTR), operating under the Department of Transportation, Office of the Secretary. The primary point of contact is Darren F Shaffer ([email protected], 857-270-8407), with secondary contact available via the U.S. DOT SBIR Program ([email protected]). This solicitation is active, with a response deadline of July 7, 2026, at 19:07 Eastern Time. Contractors interested in pursuing this opportunity should ensure alignment with the specified NAICS code, SBA set-aside requirements, and the technical focus areas outlined in the solicitation. The procurement is structured to support the advancement of innovative research and development efforts that will remain central to the DOT’s objectives throughout the contract lifecycle. For further details and access to solicitation documents, visit the official SAM.gov opportunity page: https://sam.gov/opp/641fcfa6579749c08c8ffdfe28d7ebb7/view.