U.S. Department of Transportation Small Business Innovation Research Fiscal Year 2026 Phase I Solicitation
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) has issued a pre-solicitation notice for its Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I Solicitation. This notice invites small businesses to review proposed research topics and submit technical questions. No submissions are accepted at this time. The full solicitation is anticipated to be released on or about June 3, 2026.
Purpose & Scope
This pre-solicitation aims to inform potential small business offerors about the upcoming U.S. DOT SBIR FY26 Phase I research topics. The SBIR program seeks innovative solutions in transportation R&D. The proposed topics cover areas such as Edge AI-V2X for congestion prevention (FHWA), Mobile High-Power Emergency BESS De-energizer for rail (FRA), AI-powered trip planning (FTA), Predictive Safety Analytics (OST), and various hazardous materials safety innovations (PHMSA). A detailed list of topics is available in Appendix A.
Key Dates & Actions
- Pre-solicitation Q&A Period: April 29, 2026, through May 29, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET.
- Q&A Forum: Technical questions must be posted to https://usdot.uservoice.com/forums/967226. Questions should be limited to clarifying topic requirements; no solution ideas or proprietary information.
- Solicitation Release: On or about June 3, 2026.
- Informational Webinar: Expected in early June 2026, details to follow.
Set-Aside & Eligibility
This opportunity is designated as a Total Small Business Set-Aside. Eligible small businesses must be registered in the SBA SBIR Company Registry Database (https://app.www.sbir.gov/company-registration/overview) and the System for Award Management (SAM) (https://sam.gov/SAM/) prior to submitting offers for the full solicitation.
Research Topics
The proposed FY26 Phase I research topics include:
- Federal Highway Administration (FHWA): Edge AI-V2X Integrated Practical Solutions for Congestion Prevention and Mitigation; Automated Mobile Catch-basin Inspection System.
- Federal Railroad Administration (FRA): Mobile High-Power Emergency BESS De-energizer System for Rail Vehicle Propulsion.
- Federal Transit Administration (FTA): Person-Centered, Carefree, Complete Trip Planning - Powered by AI.
- Office of the Secretary (OST): Predictive Safety Analytics for Commercial Transport Modernization; Freight Corridor Predictive Intelligence.
- Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA): Increase End-of-Life Battery Safety and Recovery of Rare Earth Minerals; Thermal Indicator Coatings for Hazardous Materials Packaging Safety; Self-repairing Hazardous Materials Packaging; Improved Response to Lithium-ion Battery Fires.
Contact Information
For inquiries, contact Darren F Shaffer at darren.shaffer@dot.gov or 857-270-8407.