Small Business Innovative Research(SBIR)/ Small Business Technical Transfer Research(STTR)
DoD SBIR/STTR Program
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and the Small Business Technology Transfer Program (STTR) programs are highly competitive government-funded contracts or grants that encourage domestic small businesses to engage in Federal Research/Research and Development (R/R&D) that has the potential for commercialization. The recipient projects must have the potential for commercialization and must meet specific U.S. Government R&D needs. These needs are advertised during three Announcements each year. You must be a small business that meets certain qualifications in order to be eligible for this program.
SBIR/STTR Eligibility
SBIR/STTR Program Eligibility Guide
The DoD SBIR and STTR programs fund a ~$1.8 billion dollars each year in phase 1 Project Feasibility and phase 2 Technology development programs that serve a DoD need and have commercial applications.
The DoD has an interested in a variety of technical areas that may include, but not limited to:
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Air Platform
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Battlespace
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Biomedical
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Electronics
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Ground/Sea Vehicles
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Info Systems
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Weapons
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Human Systems
The SBIR/STTR Program generally awards $50,000 - $250,000 in Phase I for 6 months (SBIR) or 1 year (STTR). Phase II awards for eligible Phase I awardees are generally $750,000 for 2 years.
The SBIR Program encourages domestic small businesses to engage in Federal Research/Research and Development (R/R&D) that has the potential for commercialization.
The STTR expands funding opportunities in R&D to small businesses working cooperatively as a public/private partnership or joint venture with researchers at universities and other nonprofit research institutions.
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Small companies retain the intellectual property rights to technologies they develop under these programs.
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Funding is awarded competitively, but the process is streamlined and user-friendly.
Navy SBIR/STTR Program
SBIR- The SBIR program was established by Congress in 1982 with a statutory purpose to strengthen the role of small business concerns (SBCs) in Federally-funded research or research and development Research/Research & Development (R/R&D). Specific program purposes are to
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Stimulate technological innovation
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Use small business to meet Federal R/R&D needs
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Foster and encourage participation by socially and economically disadvantaged SBCs working in technological innovation
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Increase private sector commercialization of innovations derived from Federal R/R&D, thereby increasing competition, productivity and economic growth
STTR- The STTR program is a sister program to SBIR, established by Congress in 1992 with a similar statutory purpose as SBIR. A major difference in the two programs is that the STTR requires the small business to have a research partner consisting of a university, Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC), or a qualified non-profit institution. In STTR the small business must be the prime contractor and perform at least 40% of the R&D, with a single partnering research institution performing at least 30% of the R&D. The balance can be performed by either party and/or a third party.
Although the Navy's SBIR and STTR programs are a component of the overall Department of Defense(DoD) SBIR/STTR program, the Navy's program is targeted at addressing the needs and areas of interest to the Navy and its System Commands (SYSCOMS).
On a schedule coordinated by DoD, the Navy issues SBIR Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs) or "announcements" (formerly called solicitations), usually 3 per year, that contain a series of "Technical Topics" that describe the areas of interest and needs of the Navy and its SYSCOMS. Small businesses are invited to submit proposals targeted at one or more of the technical topics listed in the announcement. The STTR program works in the same manner, but has only 2 announcements per year.
The Navy's SBIR/STTR Programs are primarily mission oriented, providing companies the opportunity to become part of the national technology base that can feed both the military and private sectors of the nation. To that end, the Navy incorporates into its Phase II component, the the emphasis on the small business' need to market its technology to both military and private sectors.
The DoN SBIR/STTR Phase III guidebook provides guidance to Program Managers and Deputy Program Managers, Heads of Contracting Activity and Contracting Officers and Small Business Professionals on using SBIR/STTR technologies. To view the guidebook click here
For more information about the SBIR/STTR Solicitation and Phase processes, visit the Navy SBIR/STTR website at: http://www.navysbir.com
NAVFAC's Technical Point of Contact for SBIR/STTR is Tim Petro email: timothy.j.petro.civ@us.navy.mil