How to find, decode, and respond to DoD SBIR and STTR quantum sensing topics: code structure, issuing components, cycle deadlines, and where to look a topic up.
A working guide to Department of Defense SBIR and STTR quantum sensing topics. Topic codes such as dod_sbir_2026_p1_cbx, dod_sbir_2026_p1_cbz, and dod_sttr_2026_p1_ctz are DoD SBIR/STTR Innovation Portal identifiers: the agency, the program, the fiscal year of the solicitation, the phase, and a component-assigned suffix that distinguishes the topic inside that release. The suffix is a sequence marker, not a subject code. Quantum sensing topics are issued by the Air Force through AFRL and AFWERX for quantum position navigation and timing and atomic clocks, by the Army through DEVCOM for magnetometry and rugged field hardware, by the Navy and ONR for undersea navigation and gravimetry, by DARPA for higher-risk seeding programs, and by MDA and DTRA for detection problems. Each release runs through pre-release, when the topic author can be contacted directly, then open, then close and evaluation. Phase I is feasibility and Phase II is prototype development. STTR requires a research-institution partner. Confirm dates on the DoD SBIR/STTR Innovation Portal.