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OpenFederal SBIR/STTROpen to for-profit businessesOSW26BZ06-NV028

5G Signature Tracking Mitigation via Cyber Deception

Department of War, Office of the Secretary of DefenseCloses Oct 21, 2026(1 day left)

Does this fit your business?

This is a DoD SBIR Phase I/II contract topic for US small businesses doing R&D on cyber deception to stop digital signature tracking of personnel on commercial 5G/mobile networks. It is for for-profit small businesses (500 or fewer employees, majority US-owned) with cybersecurity R&D capability. Nonprofits and organizations outside defense technology should not bother applying.

Best for
Small for-profit cybersecurity or software firms, US-owned small businesses with 500 or fewer employees, Companies doing defense-related R&D on mobile network security
Not for
Nonprofit organizations, Businesses majority-owned by non-US citizens, Companies outside cybersecurity or defense technology
Estimated fit by industry, best first
IndustryEstimated fit
Technology & SoftwareMatches your industry (sbir, sttr, digital, cyber)
86
Strong Match
Energy & Clean TechLimit: Primarily for minority-owned businesses
54
Possible Match
Healthcare & BiotechLimit: Primarily for minority-owned businesses
54
Possible Match
Construction & InfrastructureLimit: Primarily for minority-owned businesses
48
Possible Match
Food & BeverageLimit: Primarily for minority-owned businesses
48
Possible Match
Finance & BankingLimit: Primarily for minority-owned businesses
46
Possible Match
Show all 15 industries
Estimated fit by industry, best first
IndustryEstimated fit
ManufacturingLimit: Primarily for minority-owned businesses
46
Possible Match
Retail & E-CommerceLimit: Primarily for minority-owned businesses
46
Possible Match
Housing & Real EstateLimit: Primarily for minority-owned businesses
45
Possible Match
Agriculture & FarmingLimit: Primarily for minority-owned businesses
44
Possible Match
Transportation & LogisticsLimit: Primarily for minority-owned businesses
44
Possible Match
Arts & CultureLimit: This program does not accept nonprofit applicants.
0
Worth Exploring
Education & TrainingLimit: This program does not accept nonprofit applicants.
0
Worth Exploring
Environment & ConservationLimit: This program does not accept nonprofit applicants.
0
Worth Exploring
Social Services & NonprofitLimit: This program does not accept nonprofit applicants.
0
Worth Exploring

These are our matcher’s estimates for a typical business in each industry. A real match depends on your size, your state and what you need the money for — check your own fit.

What this funds

Money can be used for
R&D, Research
Who can apply
Small businesses

Questions about this grant

Who can apply for this grant?
For-profit US small businesses with 500 or fewer employees, including affiliates, that are more than 50% owned and controlled by US citizens or permanent residents. The principal investigator must be primarily employed by the business, and you must be registered in SAM.gov before submitting. Note this is awarded as a contract, not a grant.
Can a sole proprietor or single-member LLC apply?
The facts only state that eligible applicants are for-profit US small businesses with 500 or fewer employees and majority US ownership. They do not specifically address sole proprietors or single-member LLCs, so check the official solicitation.
Can a nonprofit apply?
No. This program accepts small businesses only. Under the related STTR mechanism, a small business can partner with a US nonprofit research institution or university, which must do at least 30% of the work, but the nonprofit cannot be the applicant.

Summary

DoD SBIR Phase I/II contract topic for US small businesses (500 or fewer employees, majority US-owned). Funds R&D on cyber deception techniques to mitigate digital signature tracking of personnel using commercial 5G/mobile networks, protecting against surveillance and espionage threats.

About this grant

As military and government personnel increasingly rely on commercial mobile networks, the management of digital signatures has become a critical operational concern. Accessing foreign mobile phone networks exposes individuals and organizations to surveillance and espionage threats due to their "digital exhaust", the metadata required to operate on a cellular network (e.g., credentials, location data, device IDs). Adversaries can leverage this data to track daily routines, identify deviations indicating special events (e.g., VIP visits or mission preparation), and map sensitive facilities based on cell phone concentration or periods of inactivity.

Program: SBIR, Phase I and Phase II Agency: Department of War, Office of the Secretary of Defense Topic number: OSW26BZ06-NV028 Solicitation: 26.BZ Released September 2, 2026; proposals accepted from September 23, 2026 Closes October 21, 2026. Check the official solicitation for the exact due time. Award type: contract, not a grant. Official solicitation: https://www.dodsbirsttr.mil/topics-app/ Listed on SBIR.gov: https://www.sbir.gov/topics/12966. SBIR.gov copies agency solicitations and can lag behind them; the official solicitation is the final word.

Who can apply

Small businesses only: a for-profit US business with 500 or fewer employees, including affiliates.

More than 50% owned and controlled by US citizens or permanent residents (some agencies also accept majority ownership by venture capital, hedge fund or private equity firms; the solicitation says).

SBIR: the principal investigator is primarily employed by the business. STTR: the business partners with a US nonprofit research institution or university, which does at least 30% of the work.

Registered in SAM.gov before submitting.

Check the official solicitation for its own conditions, proposal limits and security review.

Topics and uses of funds

Topics

  • Defense
  • Technology
  • Cybersecurity

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