By Daniel Smoot, Office of Army Prize Competitions and Army Applied SBIR Program

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Army selected four small businesses to develop advanced extended-range sensors that can see and assess threats in operational environments, allowing for increased survivability and mission capability.

Through the development and delivery of dual-band sensors, the Army will equip Soldiers with state-of-the-art gear that provides simultaneous, high-quality imaging.

“Developing simpler Soldier optics presents an opportunity to reduce the size, weight and power needed in comparison to current cumbersome equipment,” said Dr. Matt Willis, director of Army Prize Competitions and the Army Applied SBIR Program. “Through the solicitation, we look to address challenges pertaining to Soldiers’ equipment load, while providing the advanced tools needed to detect threats across a variety of environmental conditions.”

Small businesses may each receive $250,000 in Army SBIR Phase I contract awards. Technical experts within the Army science and technology ecosystem will assess each company’s technology based on its SWaP and long-range, dual-band imaging capabilities.

Phase I: Dual-Band Imager selectees

• Alphacore, Inc.; Tempe, Ariz.
• Atollo Engineering, LLC; Camarillo, Calif.
• Episensors, Inc.; Bolingbrook, Ill.
• Intellisense, Inc.; Torrance, Calif.

During the anticipated three-month performance period, Phase I selectees will engage with Soldier touchpoints that will evaluate their solutions in realistic environments. The Army Applied SBIR Program awards Phase I contracts to small and nontraditional businesses with solutions showing technical merit, feasibility and commercial potential. The program awards Phase II and Direct to Phase II contracts to those addressing Army needs and provides them increased federal support to mature their technologies for demonstration.

Small businesses can engage with technical, acquisition and operational subject matter experts. These specialists offer insight into the Army’s technological needs and guidance from the Army research and development ecosystem. Companies capitalize on this connection by collaborating with technical points of contact that serve as business resources as they mature their technologies for eventual insertion into Army acquisition programs.

The Army Applied SBIR Program releases contract opportunities ad hoc to respond to current and anticipated warfighting technology needs. For eligibility information and a list of open topics, please visit armysbir.army.mil.

The Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology leverages technologies and capabilities to provide U.S. Soldiers a decisive advantage in any environment by developing, acquiring, fielding and sustaining the world’s finest equipment and services. For more information, visit army.mil/asaalt and follow @ArmyASAALT.