# SBIR / STTR #DON27BZ02-NV012

Navy SBIR research on autonomous Agentic SI swarms and embedded safeguards

**Buyer:** ONR
**Posted:** November 06, 2026
**Respond By:** January 06, 2027
**Identifier:** DON27BZ02-NV012
**NAICS:** 541715

The U.S. Navy, through the Office of Naval Research (ONR), seeks small-business research and development for autonomous Agentic SI swarms and embedded safeguards under a Phase I SBIR topic.
- **Government buyer:** U.S. Navy, Department of the Navy, Office of Naval Research (ONR); the broader SBIR announcement is issued by the Department of War Small Business Innovation Research Program.
- **Topic:** Self-Replicating Evolutionary Agentic SI Swarming Force with Autonomous Embedded SI Guardrail Enforcers (DON27BZ02-NV012; 27.BZ).
- **Requested work:** Phase I feasibility study and limited proof of concept for hardware-agnostic swarms that can self-organize and evolve, and replicate only when authorized. Embedded guardrail agents must enforce policy, safety, and security.
- **Phase I outputs:** Define a challenge problem and measures of success; assess requirements, data, interfaces, and candidate approaches; evaluate a low-cost proof of concept; and provide a feasibility report, preliminary architecture, risk assessments, and a Phase II plan.
- **Performance goals:** Demonstrate at least 90% task success and zero policy violations or uncontrolled replication. Phase II is intended to develop and demonstrate a prototype, including prioritized sensor alerts and threat escalation.
- **Later phases:** Phase III may advance the capability to TRL 7 and support integration with Maritime Tactical Command and Control, Marine Air-Ground Task Force Command and Control, or Marine Corps Information Operations Center ISR platforms; dual-use applications are also sought.
- **Notable requirements:** CMMC Level 2 (Self) is required. The topic also notes ITAR/EAR restrictions and U.S.-ownership and cleared-facility requirements.
- **OEMs and vendors:** No commercial OEMs or vendors are named. No product part numbers or procurement quantities are specified.

### Description

This is a Phase I Navy SBIR topic titled “Self-Replicating Evolutionary Agentic SI Swarming Force” with Autonomous Embedded SI Guardrail Enforcers. The solicitation lists the topic code DON27BZ02-NV012 and identifies the command as ONR. The topic is in pre-release status, Release 2, with a response deadline of January 7, 2027. CMMC Level 2 (Self) is required.

[View original listing](https://www.dodsbirsttr.mil/topics-app/)