DON26BZ03-NV054 TITLE: Long-Range Listening Device
COMPONENT TECHNOLOGY PRIORITY AREA(S): Microelectronics;Sustainment
PROJECTED CMMC LEVEL REQUIREMENT: Level 2 (Self)
OBJECTIVE: Develop and demonstrate a long-range listening device capable of accurately identifying and recording sounds at a distance.
DESCRIPTION: Counterintelligence and Human Intelligence (CI/HUMINT) Marines perform intelligence operations in support of Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) operations, with a focus on the collection of information and identification of threats posed by hostile organizations, espionage, sabotage, subversion, or terrorism. They require organic, portable capabilities to aid in the collection of information for intelligence reporting to decision makers. The capability to surveil sounds from a distance enhances their toolset. While long-range listening devices exist, innovation is required to meet the Marine Corps' portability, range, target area, accuracy, and recording requirements.
This SBIR topic seeks a small device that can accurately identify and record sounds at a distance.
Requirements for the Long-Range Listening Device
- Capable of effectively identifying and recording sounds at a distance of 200m (Threshold), while maintaining a minimal terminal target area of no more than 2 meters (Threshold).
- Capture and deliver sufficient recorded sound quality and target precision (at range) for a human listener to reliably differentiate voice, mechanical noises, and natural sounds such as wind and water.
- Small enough for an individual person to transport (50lbs or less) and set up from transit case to operational within one hour.
- Non-military in appearance (preferred).
- Able to operate by battery power with a minimum continuous recording time of 24 hours.
PHASE I: Design a concept for a long-range listening device that can meet the performance and size constraints listed in the Description. Demonstrate and validate the feasibility of the concept. Prepare a Phase II development plan with performance goals, key technical milestones, and risk reduction approaches.
PHASE II: Produce prototype hardware for a long-range listening device based on the Phase I work and requirements in the Description. Demonstrate and validate prototype performance in a realistic operational environment.
PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Though the primary objective is to support the Marine Corps to transition to support CI/HUMINT and force protection operations for the MAGTF. The other military Services and federal law enforcement agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Secret Service, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), are likely to adopt this capability for similar long range surveillance operations. State and local law enforcement and private investigators could also employ the capability for surveillance.
REFERENCES:
1. Fluitt, Kim, et al. "Auditory Perception in Open Field: Distance Estimation." Army Research Lab, July 2013. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301504471_Auditory_perception_in_open_field_Dista ce_estimation
2. Fluitt, Kim, et al. "Auditory Perception in an Open Space: Detection and Recognition." Army Research Lab, June 2015. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301502948_Auditory_perception_in_an_open_space_ etection_and_recognition
3. Training and Education Command, US Marine Corps. "Marine Corps Reference Publication (MCRP) 2-10A.2, Counterintelligence and Human Intelligence." Quantico, VA: US Marine Corps, February 2025). https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/Publications/MCRP%202 10A.2%20(SECURED).pdf?ver=NgVh3ByQV9uNRbF3RnJQxA%3d%3d
KEYWORDS: Listening; Long-Range; Audio; Counterintelligence; Human Intelligence; Intelligence
| 7/7/26 | Q. | Is the commercial, non-military appearance (no bigger than a 50-pound transit case) required only during transit to the listening location, or does the appearance need to also be non-military during deployment and operation? |
| A. | The device should be commercial, non-military in appearance during deployment and operation as well. | |
| 6/30/26 | Q. | Is there a minimum requirement for the target sound level in dB which can be detected after traveling 200 m and in what environment sound background noise such as wind, machine noise, etc.? |
| A. | There is no minimum requirement for the target sound level in dB. The device should operate in both open terrain and urban environments. Sound quality needs to be good enough for a human listener to differentiate between types of sounds. Example: voice, mechanical, and natural sounds. | |
| 6/29/26 | Q. | Would a solution that uses a wireless radio connection to achieve the desired distance between the user and target listening area be considered responsive to the solicitation? |
| A. | A device that does not require the user to plant something or enter a target area is preferred. | |
| 6/25/26 | Q. | 1. Is there a listening system in current use or inventory that perhaps does not meet all your requirements, but that we can use as a reference?
2.The description asked that the system not be military in appearance. Will the desired system be used in such a way that it also needs to be disguised into a natural setting (camouflaged), or otherwise hard to detect? 3. Can the system use a low probability of intercept / low probability of detect (LPI/LPD) radio to connect to bigger compute resources? |
| A. | 1. There is currently no system in use or in inventory.
2. The system should look commercial in appearance. The system should not look government or military in appearance to an observer. 3. A stand-alone disconnected system is preferred. LPI and LPD should be considered in the overall design. |
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| 6/24/26 | Q. | Question: whether “minimal terminal target area of no more than 2 meters” means physical target designation accuracy or acoustic spatial-resolution footprint? |
| A. | Minimal terminal target area of no more than 2 meters refers to the physical target designation area. We need the ability to focus in on a specific area (no more than 2 meters wide) and listen to conversation in that space. |
** TOPIC NOTICE ** |
The Navy Topic above is an "unofficial" copy from the Navy Topics in the DoW FY-26 Release 3 SBIR BAA. Please see the official DoW Topic website at www.dodsbirsttr.mil/submissions/solicitation-documents/active-solicitations for any updates. The DoW issued its Navy FY-26 Release 3 SBIR Topics pre-release on June 3, 2026 which opens to receive proposals on June 24, 2026, and closes July 22, 2026 (12:00pm ET). Direct Contact with Topic Authors: During the pre-release period (June 3, through June 23, 2026) proposing firms have an opportunity to directly contact the Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) to ask technical questions about the specific BAA topic. The TPOC contact information is listed in each topic description. Once DoW begins accepting proposals on June 24, 2026 no further direct contact between proposers and topic authors is allowed unless the Topic Author is responding to a question submitted during the Pre-release period. DoD On-line Q&A System: After the pre-release period, until July 8, 2026, at 12:00 PM ET, proposers may submit written questions through the DoW On-line Topic Q&A at https://www.dodsbirsttr.mil/submissions/login/ by logging in and following instructions. In the Topic Q&A system, the questioner and respondent remain anonymous but all questions and answers are posted for general viewing.
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