According to the Navy’s June 2026 MUSV marketplace announcement, the service is still using demonstrations, prototyping, and rapid down-selects to move unmanned surface capabilities into the fleet. That means small businesses are not just competing for a single production contract; they are competing for entry into a program pipeline that can start with market research, continue through at-sea demonstrations, and then flow into follow-on work. According to the Navy’s small unmanned surface vehicles fact file, the family of systems includes platforms for scouting, distributed operations, and payload delivery, which creates openings for software, hull integration, autonomy, sensors, communications, and sustainment. Per FAR 19.502, small-business participation becomes stronger when the acquisition is structured for set-asides, subcontracting, or teaming. According to SBA guidance, the winners are the firms that can prove size eligibility, update certifications, and respond fast enough to match the Navy’s compressed decision cycle. This affects SDVOSB, HUBZone, 8(a), WOSB, and other small firms that can deliver technical value, not just labor hours.