The APFIT 27-1 Cycle is officially open. Devin Bohanan, APFIT Director at OUSD(R&E), announced the opening of the FY2027 Cycle 1 submission window. Updated templates are available at ac.cto.mil/apfit.
What is APFIT
The Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies (APFIT) program provides procurement funding — $10M to $50M per project — for innovative technologies that have completed development and are ready for initial production. Managed by the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)), the program targets small businesses and non-traditional defense performers to bridge the “valley of death” between successful prototyping and operational fielding.
APFIT began in FY2022 with $100M in appropriations. Funding has scaled rapidly:
| Fiscal Year | Appropriation | Projects Selected |
|---|---|---|
| FY2022 | $100M | 10 projects ($10M each) |
| FY2023 | $150M | 11 projects |
| FY2024 | $300M | Multiple rounds |
| FY2025 | Record funding level (broke previous records) | Multiple rounds |
| FY2026 | $400M+ (first round alone: 14 projects) | Surpassed $1B cumulative |
The program’s highest single award to date: $49.7M — just under the statutory $50M cap (War Department, 2025).
Under the FY2026 Defense Appropriations Bill, APFIT expanded to include software and digital technology for the first time.
APFIT 27-1 Cycle: Deadlines and Process
Bohanan’s critical note: participating organizations (Services, CCMDs, Agencies) will provide final submissions to the APFIT team in August 2026, but that is not the vendor deadline. Each organization sets its own earlier internal due dates. Vendors must:
- Identify which organization they plan to submit through
- Have their government sponsor contact that organization for specific deadlines
- Submit through that organization’s internal process
Contact: [email protected] or schedule a virtual meeting via the APFIT website.
Eligibility Requirements
Per APFIT FAQ (ac.cto.mil/apfit/faq):
- Technology must be production-ready (past R&D/prototyping)
- Must address critical capability gaps with strong demand signals across DoD
- Must involve small business or non-traditional performers
- Must have a government sponsor (program office, service, CCMD, or agency)
- Proposals submitted by government sponsors, not directly by vendors
Upcoming: $500M+ in APFIT 26-2 Selections
Bohanan noted that over $500 million in APFIT 26-2 cycle selections will be announced soon.
Source Profile
Devin Bohanan — APFIT Director, OUSD(R&E). Previously toured TRFB (Trident Refit Facility, Bangor) to evaluate technologies in July 2024. Regularly conducts industry deep-dive sessions and virtual office hours for APFIT submissions.
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/devin-bohanan
- APFIT Website: ac.cto.mil/apfit
References
Bohanan, D. (2026, June). APFIT 27-1 cycle announcement. LinkedIn.
OUSD(R&E). (n.d.). APFIT program. Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering.
OUSD(R&E). (n.d.). APFIT FAQ.
War Department. (2025, December 22). The War Department announces first round of FY 2026 APFIT projects, surpassing $1B.
OUSD(R&E). (2025, June 17). APFIT program boosts small business innovation with record funding level.
Frontier House DC. (2026, February). APFIT expands to include software in FY2026. LinkedIn.