The “key facts” mode pulls structured fields directly from the official source posting (amount, deadline, eligibility tags). The AI mode adds a short plain-English narrative on top, generated from the same source. Always verify with the agency before applying.
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Who can apply — at a glance
Eligible applicants:
see the Eligibility tab for the criteria from the official announcement.
Where:
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, District of Columbia.
Award:
Up to $250k.
Matching funds:
not required.
Deadline type: Fixed.
Compiled from the official listing's structured fields — always verify with the funder before applying.
Topic Funding Opportunities Back to Funding Opportunities Search Artificial Intelligence Performance Evaluation Tool Funding Agency DOW USAF Year: 2026 Topic Number: DAF26TZ06-NV006 Solicitation Number: 26.TZ Tagged as: STTR BOTH Solicitation Status: Open NOTE: The Solicitations and topics listed on this site are copies from the various SBIR agency solicitations and are not necessarily the latest and most up-to-date. For this reason, you should use the agency link listed below which will take you directly to the appropriate agency server where you can read the official version of this solicitation and download the appropriate forms and rules. View Official Solicitation Release Schedule Release Date September 2, 2026 Open Date September 23, 2026 Due Date(s) October 21, 2026 Close Date October 21, 2026 Description The proposed research effort aims to address critical gaps in the evaluation and validation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems within the Air Force by developing an Artificial Intelligence Performance Evaluation Tool. The tool will provide a robust framework capable of assessing the explainability of AI models, with a targeted application in sensor and information systems used in test and evaluation missions under the 412th Test Wing (412TW) of the Air Force Test Center (AFTC). This effort aligns with the Department of Defense's (DoD) thrust toward advancing Trusted AI and Autonomy and operationally focused Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) initiatives. Problem/Unmet Need: Current AI evaluation processes lack standardization and reproducibility across varying operational environments, making it difficult for the AFTC to confidently assess AI models’ operational readiness. Furthermore, the escalation in complexity of AI-enabled systems has underscored the need for technologies that can quantitatively measure AI performance while adhering to DoD Responsible AI principles. These challenges prevent the Air Force from leveraging AI advancements at scale, impacting readiness and modernization goals. Opportunity/Desired Outcome: By creating a modular AI evaluation tool, this effort provides an opportunity to establish a scalable and adaptable solution that aligns with emerging DoD AI standards. The desired outcome is a measurable enhancement in the consistency of AI performance assessments, reducing decision-making cycles and increasing mission readiness. The tool will enable practical implementation of AI validation in secure environments, ensuring compliance with applicable standards and operational conditions. Successful deployment will support the broader modernization priorities tied to mission-critical AI deployment and advanced autonomy. Approach The project will begin in Phase I with baseline research and feasibility studies, advancing into a scalable prototype in Phase II for integration and testing in operationally relevant environments. A summary of planned efforts by phase follows: Phase I: Feasibility and Concept Development (Initial TRL: 2; Target TRL: 4) Research: Conduct an initial landscape analysis of AI performance tools with a focus on gaps and challenges specific to AFTC’s mission space. Identify and assess algorithms for measuring real-time inference latency, adversarial resilience, and data drift specifically for different sensor models. This research must establish and utilize open-source or synthetically generated surrogate sensor datasets that are representative of AFTC flight test scenarios. Framework Design: Develop a software architecture for an adaptable AI performance evaluation framework designed to address explainability metrics. Awardees will need to base their design on widely accepted DoD digital engineering and telemetry standards.
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Who can apply
Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) eligibility: applicant must be a small business concern (<= 500 employees) partnered with a non-profit research institution (university or federally-funded R&D center). Small business performs at least 40% of the work; research institution performs at least 30%. | eligibility Apply Find Topics and Solicitations Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Lab to Market Hub Program Tutorials Community Stay connected with our innovation ecosystem Community Event Spotlight News and Events Newsletter Sign-up Federal and State Technology (FAST) Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (GAFC) Topic Funding Opportunities Back to Funding Opportunities Search Artificial Intelligence Performance Evaluation Tool Funding Agency DOW USAF Year: 2026 Topic Number: DAF26TZ06-NV006 Solicitation Number: 26.TZ Tagged as: STTR BOTH Solicitation Status: Open NOTE: The Solicitations and topics listed on this site are copies from the various SBIR agency solicitations and are not necessarily the latest and most up-to-date. For this reason, you should use the agency link listed below which
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How to apply
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