Critical Low-Risk Electro-optic Alternatives for Resilience (CLEAR) | Project No. 26-05

Coming Soon Notice – Posted 21 April 2026

The Department of War (DoW) Advanced Materials Office, in partnership with Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane, is preparing to release an Advanced Technology Development opportunity, Critical Low-Risk Electro-optic Alternatives for Resilience (CLEAR), focused on accelerating the development and maturity of alternative optical materials supporting electro-optic and infrared (EO/IR) systems.

This effort targets high-impact critical material dependencies affecting current and emerging DoW technologies, with the goal of enabling secure, scalable, and high-performance solutions that reduce reliance on constrained supply chains, such as germanium, gallium, etc.

Key Areas of Interest include:

1. 1. Alternative Optical Materials – Development of material alternatives that support EO/IR imaging across multiple spectral bands
   2. Multispectral Sensing Enablement – Materials that support optical transmittance and function across multiple EO/IR bands
   3. Enhanced Materials and Processing – Approaches to improve performance, availability, and manufacturability of EO/IR material alternatives that minimize or avoid use of critical materials
   4. Manufacturing and Scalability – Processes enabling cost-effective production of EO/IR materials and systems at-scale

This effort will support the advancement of resilient material solutions and strengthen the domestic industrial base for critical DoW EO/IR systems. The prototype development period of performance for CLEAR Other Transaction Authority awards will be determined following the release of the Request for Solutions and based on selected performers’ proposed timelines.

To view the full Coming Soon notice, please fill out the key document request form on the right side of the page.

TEAMING OPPORTUNITIES:

Interested in collaborating on the opportunity? There are multiple ways to connect with potential partners. Organizations can opt into the teaming list to share and receive contact information or explore companies that presented during the virtual Innovator NETWORX teaming event. These resources are designed to help you identify complementary capabilities and form effective partnerships.

Ways to Engage:

• Register for the Innovator NETWORX Teaming Event: The INX teaming event process begins when an opportunity is announced as “Coming Soon,” and the corresponding INX event date is released. At that time, organizations can register to either attend the event as a listener or present their capabilities to other interested participants. During the virtual event, organizations interested in the CLEAR opportunity will have 3–6 minutes to share, depending on overall interest and the number of presenters. After the event concludes, all registrants receive follow-up resources, including the presentation slide deck with contact information.
  • Join this exclusive event on May 05, 2026, at 11:00 am ET to introduce yourself and meet others who complement your offerings. If you plan to present, please register and send your slides to s2martsopps@nstxl.org by Friday, May 01 before 12:00 PM ET. You can find the registration link HERE: Innovator NETWORX Registration
    

• Join the Teaming List: If you’re interested in teaming for this opportunity, we encourage you to fill out the form below to be added to the teaming list. By submitting your information, you consent to sharing your details with other companies who also request access to the list.
  • Important Note: Note that the teaming list will be updated on a rolling basis, but you will not receive notifications each time a new company is added; you’ll need to revisit the link to see the most recent updates. (26-05) CLEAR : Teaming List Form

Interested in submitting?

All respondents must have an active NSTXL membership to submit a solution to any S²MARTS opportunity. To apply or check your membership status, contact our team at membership@nstxl.org. Please allow one business day for processing new applications.