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U.S. DOT FY 2026 Phase I Pre-Solicitation Q&A



5/29/26 Update: The Pre-solicitation is now closed. Topic questions are no longer being accepted. * * *

This U.S. DOT Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Pre-solicitation Q&A Forum provides small businesses an opportunity to submit clarifying questions on the topics published in the U.S. DOT Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Phase I Pre-Solicitation. Questions will be answered by the Technical Experts/Topic Authors at the U.S. DOT Operating Administrations during this period. Questions shall be limited to improving the understanding of a particular topic's requirements and should not share proposal ideas nor proprietary information.

The U.S. DOT’s FY 2026 Pre-Solicitation period is April 29, 2026, through May 29, 2026, at 5:00 pm Eastern Time (ET). Only questions posted within this period will be responded to.

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Search: Browse the existing questions by category to find the topic you are interested in and to see if your question has already been addressed. If you see a question, you are also interested in, you can add a vote to the question, or leave a comment.

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Please note, all comments will be public information. Potential offerors shall not include in the question(s) or comment(s) any information that they do not wish to be made public. Telephone inquiries or meeting requests will not be addressed and may be removed. The U.S. DOT shall not respond to requests for advice or guidance on any offeror’s solution to any SBIR topic and shall not consider any submitted materials other than questions.

The Pre-solicitation is now closed.

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3 results found

  1. External or Internal Surface Temperature

    Does the solicitation require the coating to indicate temperature thresholds corresponding to internal package temperatures, or is external surface temperature indication sufficient for compliance purposes?"

    1 vote

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    3 comments  ·  26-PH2: Thermal Indicator Coatings for Hazardous Materials Packaging Safety  ·  Admin →

  2. Color-Difference Acceptance Criterion

    Would PHMSA accept a quantitative colorimetric criterion as the threshold for "visible and distinct" — for example, a CIELAB color difference of ΔE*ab ≥ 30 (or another agency-preferred value) between the pre-trigger and post-trigger states, measured per ASTM D2244 or equivalent?

    1 vote

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    1 comment  ·  26-PH2: Thermal Indicator Coatings for Hazardous Materials Packaging Safety  ·  Admin →

  3. 26-PH2 mentions " it may consider ceramic-based coatings, polymer composites, or nanoenhanced paints that would integrate temperature-sensi

    it may consider ceramic-based coatings, polymer composites, or nanoenhanced paints that would integrate temperature-sensitive pigments... The topic clearly talks about color changing but are changes in surface character such as roughness also in scope for response? Also, is there any degree of "Resolution"? Are 50F increments adequate? Also is peak temperature indication important or is the only interest "Current" temperature?

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    1 comment  ·  26-PH2: Thermal Indicator Coatings for Hazardous Materials Packaging Safety  ·  Admin →

U.S. DOT FY 2026 Phase I Pre-Solicitation Q&A

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