11/13/2006
Defense Seeks Small Business Research Proposals
by Mildred Holley, Technology Programs Manager
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) released its first SBIR Fiscal Year 2007 Solicitation on November 6. The DoD is the largest agency that offers Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) opportunities to Arkansas entrepreneurs to do research and development for its component units. Entrepreneurs have until January 10, 2007 to respond to the DoD’s FY07.1 Program Solicitation. Generally, competition for awards requires a 25-page proposal outlining the small business research activities to be conducted on any topic.
Participating component agencies within DoD have identified 390 technical topics for which they want research proposals from the U.S. small business community. Awards for feasibility studies will be made based on the technical merit of the solutions being proposed to the topics.
DoD begins accepting Phase I proposals on December 6, 2006 and all proposals must be received no later than 6:00 a.m. EST on January 10, 2007. A very important opportunity exists until December 6. Up to that date, entrepreneurs can communicate directly with the research topic authors (by phone or e-mail) to obtain answers to technical questions so that they ensure they understand a particular topic’s requirements. After December 5, no direct contact between the agency’s topic authors and proposers is permitted.
This DoD SBIR solicitation includes research topics from 6 participating agencies. Phase I winners can expect to be notified of their proposal success in May 2007. For more details, visit www.acq.osd.mil/sadbu/sbir/solicitations/sbir071.
Air Force
The FY07.1 announcement describes 232 research topics. Phase I awards from the Air Force are for 9 months and do not exceed $100,000. Phase I winners are expected to complete their primary research work during the first 6 months; the last 3 months offer project continuity for those projects that will also receive Phase II funds. Note that the AF restricts Phase I proposals to a 20-page limit, not including the cost proposal and required company commercialization report.
Navy
Navy’s FY07.1 solicitation describes 113 research topics. The department will fund certain topics at amounts up to $70,000 and 6 months with an option for as much as $30,000 and 3 months additional work effort. A second set of topics (NAVAIR N07-006 through N07-051) will be eligible for up to $80,000 and 6 months with an option not exceeding $70,000 and 6 months for additional work. These Phase I options are usually funded only if the Navy decides to provide Phase II funding for further research and development. Navy’s maximum Phase II award may go as high as $1 million (vs. the more typical $750,000 limit) for projects it deems worthy of this higher funding level.
Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD)
The FY07.1 solicitation identifies 10 topics for which OSD will accept Phase I proposals. OSD will provide up to $100,000 for performance periods up to 6 months to any small businesses receiving awards in response to its topic announcement. All of OSD’s research topics focus on energy and power security technologies. The Army, Navy and Air Force are participating components under this OSD solicitation.
Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA)
DTRA’s current solicitation describes 12 technical topics. Phase I awards from DTRA cannot exceed $100,000 and 6 months for performance. Entrepreneurs with expertise in nuclear, WMD counter-force and systems engineering technologies are encouraged to review the topic descriptions.
Chemical and Biological Defense (CBD)
CBD describes 16 research topics in its solicitation for which it will accept Phase I proposals. Successful Phase I proposers can expect awards not exceeding $70,000 and 6 months. As part of their Phase I proposals, Arkansas entrepreneurs can propose a Phase I Option to cover activities for up to 3 additional months and at a cost of no more than $30,000. Only small businesses selected to continue their research and development into Phase II will be eligible for this additional funding.
U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)
The FY07.1 solicitation describes 7 research topics for which USSOCOM will accept Phase I proposals. Phase I awards will not exceed $100,000 and 6 months for performance. The USSOCOM mission includes developing and acquiring equipment, material, supplies and services required by special operations forces.
Arkansas entrepreneurs and researchers interested in learning more about this or other SBIR/STTR opportunities are encouraged to contact Mildred Holley lcfine@ualr.edu , 501.683.7700 or 800.862.2040 (AR only).
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