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PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program strengthens opportunities for innovative small businesses using federally funded research. The program stimulates technological innovation, uses small businesses to meet federal research needs, and enables participation by socially and economically disadvantaged businesses. Additionally, the program facilitates the transition of the resulting research into the commercial sector, a strategy that increases competition, productivity and economic growth.

The Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program is a sister program to SBIR that requires the small business to partner with a University, a Federally Funded Research and Development Center, or a qualified non-profit research institution. The STTR standards require the small business to serve as the prime contractor and perform at least 40 percent of the work, with the research partner performing at least 30 percent of the work. The remaining work may be done either the small business, the research partner, or by a third party. 

Visit www.navysbir.com for more information on eligibility requirements.

PROGRAM MISSION

The primary goal of the Department of the Navy’s SBIR and STTR programs is to use small business to develop innovative technologies that meet a broad range of Navy and Marine Corps needs. The ultimate goal is to insert SBIR/STTR technologies and products into platforms and systems that help the Department of the Navy, also referred to as DON, to achieve its mission. The Navy’s process is acquisition-driven with strong technology pull from the various Systems Commands, referred to as SYSCOMs. The Navy accounts for over 50% of all Phase III commercialization dollars for DoD SBIR/STTR programs. Another service the Navy provides is called the SBIR/STTR Transition Program or STP. Every Navy Phase II awardee is invited. We usually see a 20% higher Phase III award rate for STP participants.

For the Navy success is the transition or commercialization of a technology to a warfighter. Example of Navy success stories and additional program information can be found on the Navy SBIR/STTR website, www.navysbir.com

NAVY FORUM BROAD AGENCY
ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA)

As of September 30, 2022 Congress has approved reauthorization of the SBIR & STTR Extension Act of 2022. The NAVY’s SBIR programs will now present Open Topics to seek commercial small business solutions to meet mission critical Naval needs. Establish a due diligence program to assess potential risks posed by foreign ties and obligations. And increase the minimum performance standards for experienced firms, while limiting private entity solicitation influences.

Majority of NAVSEA participation is presented in the first BAA of the three DOD BAA’s.

Direct contact with topic authors is permitted during the pre-release period.

Proposing firms have an opportunity to directly contact the Technical Point of Contact to ask technical questions about the specific BAA topic. Once DoD begins accepting proposals, no further direct contact between proposers and topic authors is allowed unless the Topic Author is responding to a question submitted during the pre-release period.

SITIS Q&A System:  After the pre-release period, proposers may submit written questions through SITIS (SBIR/STTR Interactive Topic Information System) at www.dodsbirsttr.mil/topics-app/, login and follow instructions. In SITIS, the questioner and respondent remain anonymous, but all questions and answers are posted for general viewing. During the open period until two weeks prior to the close date for active BAAs, questions are only permitted to be submitted.

UPCOMING EVENTS

 

Upcoming Events

 

SMALL BUSINESS NEWS

NAVSEA to present at WEST 2025
WEST 2025 NAVSEA graphic.
Jan. 24, 2025 - WASHINGTON – Officials from Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) and affiliated program executive

Keyport Innovation Center helps engineer overcome project delay with 3D-printed mockups
User frame fixture on a mockup part created by NUWC Division, Keyport Mechanical Engineer Keegan Webster at the Keyport Innovation Center for a cold spray repair project. (U.S. Navy photo by Keegan Webster/Released)
Jan. 17, 2025 - Keegan Webster was in a pinch. The mechanical engineer with Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Keyport's Rapid Prototyping and Fabrication Technology Division was facing a roadblock on a crucial project this past summer due to parts delays.

U.S. Navy Enhances LCS Surface Warfare Mission Package with Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System Capability
Enlisted technicians from the Navy Munitions Command (NMC) Bahrain Detachment deliver hardware and software upgrades aboard USS Indianapolis (LCS 17), September 2024, while the ship is forward deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AoR). The upgrades focus on the Surface-to-Surface Missile Module (SSMM), enhancing both its software and hardware systems. These improvements are designed to strengthen the ship’s defense posture, ensuring its capabilities remain advanced and effective during deployment.
Jan. 16, 2025 - WASHINGTON – The U.S. Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship Mission Modules program office has successfully

NSWC Crane works alongside university to develop advanced spectrum sensing and channel estimation
NSWC Crane works alongside university to develop advanced spectrum sensing and channel estimation
Dec. 17, 2024 - Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane), along with the University of

Warfare Center Collaboration leads to the Navy’s First At-sea Reloading of Vertical Launching System
The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Chosin (CG 65) approaches the Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship USNS Washington Chambers (T-AKE 11) in preparation for an at-sea demonstration of the Transferrable Reload At-sea Method (TRAM) while underway in the Pacific Ocean Oct. 11, 2024. Sailors aboard Chosin used the hydraulically- powered TRAM device to load an empty missile canister into the ship’s MK 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) while off the coast of San Diego. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Charlotte Dudenhoeffer)
Dec. 13, 2024 - Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division (NSWC IHD) Systems Integration Department’s Naval

SOCIAL MEDIA

 

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RESOURCES

NAVY STP PHASE III SUCCESS STORIES


Jardon & Howard Technologies Inc. - Physics Based Multi-Touch Movement Interface Creation for 3D Modeling


KCF Technologies, Inc. - Opportunistic Energy Harvesting for Submarine Wireless Sensors


Progeny Systems Corporation - Innovative Signal Processing Concepts for Active Emissions

 

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