How Can Small Businesses Bid on DIU or DoD Long‑Range Maritime Strike Drone Opportunities? 2026

According to GSA guidelines, contractors must align commercial offerings to DoD technical needs and comply with GSA and DIU commercial‑solution procedures when responding to prototype or other transaction style solicitations. This means small businesses must present mature technical demonstrations tied to metrics—range, payload, endurance, maritime communications interoperability, and strike integration—plus logistics support plans. The paragraph addresses administrative prerequisites: active SAM.gov registration, current representations and certifications, NAICS codes, and a primary point of contact. It also explains that teaming with larger integrators, prime contractors, or service‑disabled veteran owned small businesses can bridge gaps in platform scale, export compliance, and sustainment. Mentioning the SBA, FAR, OMB, and DoD is intentional: SBA size standards determine eligibility for small‑business set‑asides; Per FAR clauses contractors must meet contract clauses for cybersecurity and export controls; Under OMB priorities agencies favor rapid prototyping and reusable technical data where appropriate. This paragraph therefore frames the combined administrative and technical preparedness a small firm needs to bid effectively on DIU and Navy long‑range maritime strike opportunities.

Per FAR 19.502, small businesses can pursue set‑aside pathways, subcontracting plans, and mentor‑protégé arrangements to access defense opportunities, and should evaluate eligibility for 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, VOSB, or SDVOSB programs early in the capture process. This paragraph outlines actionable compliance tasks: verify small‑business status in SAM.gov, obtain SAM small business representations, and record NAICS codes that map to unmanned systems and weapons integration. It also details that FAR flowdowns for DoD prime contracts commonly require compliance with DFARS cybersecurity clauses, and that primes will demand CMMC compliance mapping to DFARS 252.204‑7021/7022. Small firms must budget for CMMC or equivalent NIST 800‑171 remediation, allocate 60–180 days for readiness, and identify a C3PAO if needed. Per FAR, teaming agreements should define IP, subcontracting percentages, and performance responsibilities to satisfy primes and contracting officers.

The SBA reports that 78% of small firms that win DoD prototyping or early engineering contracts already have at least one strategic partner for systems integration and compliance tasks; use that statistic to prioritize teaming and capital planning. This paragraph prescribes specific investments: plan $50,000–$250,000 for sensor integration, $75,000–$200,000 for cybersecurity remediation, and 90 days for SAM, DSBS, and SBA profile updates. It also notes that DIU’s Blue UAS Refresh challenges and DIU maritime prototype solicitations expect demonstrable test data—flight logs, endurance trials, and maritime comms checks—so small firms must document test protocols and share telemetry securely. Finally, the paragraph underscores that firms should engage local PTACs and SBA resource partners to validate size standards and to structure mentor-protégé or subcontract vehicles before solicitation close.

According to GSA guidelines, contractors must understand the DIU model: DIU sources commercial innovation through challenges, open solicitations, and prototype contracts to accelerate DoD adoption. DIU’s Blue UAS Refresh Challenge and maritime prototype efforts require small businesses to present ready‑to‑test platforms or subsystems that address range, payload, and maritime integration. The Navy’s parallel RFPs—such as the $349M unmanned systems support solicitation—show scale commitment and signal both prototype purchase and potential sustainment work. DIU emphasizes rapid validation and fielding; successful teams often move from prototype award to integration contracts within 12–24 months. For small firms, that compresses capture timelines: capture teams must simultaneously prepare technical demos, compliance documentation, and capture briefs for primes. This paragraph lists capture milestones: SAM.gov active, CMMC remediation plan, test plan accepted by DIU or Navy, and a teaming agreement signed prior to proposal submission. Agencies listed—GSA, OMB, SBA, DoD, Navy—coordinate on acquisition policy, small‑business goals, and budget priorities, meaning firms must synchronize business development and compliance activities with both DIU timelines and DoD procurement cycles.

Per FAR and DoD policy, prototyping authorities and other transaction authorities reduce some FAR constraints but still demand strong compliance with export, cybersecurity, and safety regulations. The Blue UAS Refresh program and DIU maritime prototype solicitations require demonstration of system performance in maritime environments alongside risk mitigation plans for weapons integration and C2 interoperability with Navy systems. Small businesses should note that OMB M‑25‑21 and related guidance shape agency adoption of commercial cloud and AI tools for operations; similarly, DoD’s CMMC framework requires demonstrable cybersecurity posture to handle controlled unclassified information during prototype efforts. Practical implication: firms must budget and staff for both integration engineering and cybersecurity, typically engaging a C3PAO or third‑party assessor for CMMC mapping and investing in encryption and secure telemetry channels. This paragraph stresses that compliance is not peripheral—it's decisive for award eligibility.

Under OMB M‑25‑21, agencies will prioritize secure, auditable acquisitions and expect contractors to meet cloud and data protection standards when proposals include hosted analytics or AI for targeting or maritime awareness. This paragraph lays out discrete implementation tasks for small businesses: (1) SAM.gov registration and active SAM marketing code within 90 days; (2) CMMC gap analysis and remediation plan with cost estimate ($50,000–$200,000 typical); (3) flight and maritime test evidence including endurance, EO/IR performance, and secure comms logs; and (4) export compliance checks under ITAR or EAR if weapons or dual‑use sensors are proposed. Additionally, firms must prepare a security classification guide and a data rights position to negotiate FAR or OT data rights with DIU or DoD. Engaging legal counsel on IP and a CMMC consultant early reduces schedule risk. Agencies including GSA, SBA, OMB, and DoD will review these elements during both technical and responsibility evaluations.

DoD's CMMC framework requires contractors to demonstrate specific cybersecurity controls when handling CUI; for prototype work that touches weapons integration or targeting data, expect at least a CMMC Level 2 posture or NIST SP 800‑171 equivalence. This paragraph prescribes timelines and costs: schedule a 60–120 day remediation, budget $75,000–$250,000 for system upgrades and third‑party assessment, and secure a C3PAO to validate controls. For FedRAMP or cloud hosting needs, align with FedRAMP Moderate or High authorizations if DIU or DoD will process telemetry on approved cloud services. Finally, the paragraph emphasizes that primes will enforce DFARS clauses and may require flowdowns; small businesses should document compliance evidence and maintain an audit trail to expedite award negotiations.

Best practices for small businesses targeting DIU and DoD long‑range maritime strike opportunities emphasize capture sequencing, practical partnering, and measurable technical proofs. Per FAR and DIU guidance, begin with a concise capability statement to DIU’s CSO portal and schedule a pre‑submission informational call at least 30–45 days before solicitation close. Build a capture plan that sequences CMMC remediation, tests, and teaming: prioritize CMMC/NIST tasks in month 1–3, hardware integration and sea trials in months 2–5, and proposal finalization with prime partners in the final 30 days. Engage SBA resource partners and PTACs for certificates (8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB) if eligible; these certifications can influence evaluation or subcontract preferences. Maintain a realistic cost model that includes $50K–$250K for compliance and testing and plan for a 12–24 month pathway from prototype award to potential sustainment contract.