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

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Army announced a round of new contracts for innovative small businesses offering critical, next-generation technologies for the American Soldier.

The Office of Army Prize Competitions and the Army Applied Small Business Innovation Research Program selected four small businesses for a Phase I contract. It also chose two additional small businesses for a Direct to Phase II contract award.

Businesses chosen for the Phase I contract will receive up to $250,000 in funding for lightweight, reconfigurable UH-60 flooring. Meanwhile, the Phase II selectees may each see up to $1.7 million in awards for integrated tactical vehicle recorder technology for live and synthetic augmented reality synchronization.

The Army Applied SBIR Program shaped these contract opportunities through collaborations with an Army program executive office and/or research and development laboratory. This ensures the investments align with the Army’s modernization efforts as well as the Department of Defense’s focus on transitioning new science and technology capabilities to U.S. Soldiers.

“The Army program offices and labs were fully involved in developing these contract opportunities based on the technologies they need from industry to deliver their programs,” said Dr. Matthew Willis, director of Army prize competitions and the Army Applied SBIR Program, led by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology.

“We have adapted the Army SBIR Program to be more responsive, releasing contracts on an ad hoc, rolling basis, which allows Army program managers to capitalize on small-business innovation at a time that aligns with program schedules,” added Willis.

Phase I Contract for Lightweight, Reconfigurable UH-60 Floor

• CPS Technologies Corporation, Norton, M.A.
• Dynovas Inc., Poway, CA
• Lynntech, Inc., College Station, TX
• Macro Industries Inc., Huntsville, AL

Direct to Phase II Contract for Integrated Tactical Vehicle Recorder Technology for Live and Synthetic/AR Synchronization:

• Shock Stream LLC, Oveido, FL
• Deep Analytics LLC, Montpelier, VT

The Army Applied SBIR Program awards Phase I contracts to small businesses and non-traditional vendors with solutions that offer technical merit, feasibility and commercial potential. Funding is also given to those that can meet the Army’s needs and earn further federal support in Phase II. The Direct to Phase II award is for solutions that are already mature and ready for demonstration.

Through the Army Applied SBIR Program, small businesses can interact with technical, acquisition and operational subject matter experts. These specialists provide insight into the Army’s technological needs as well as guidance through the Army research and development ecosystem.

Small businesses take advantage of this by partnering with technical points of contact that serve as resources for companies as they mature their technologies for eventual insertion into Army acquisition programs.

Additionally, the Army Applied SBIR Program’s timeliness and flexibility in solving the Army’s emerging technological needs maximizes the initial cash flow for small businesses while minimizing the time to contract.

The Army Applied SBIR Program releases contract opportunities on a rolling basis to respond to the Army’s current and anticipated warfighting technology needs. For eligibility information and a list of open topics, please visit the Army SBIR | STTR website.

The Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology provides the American Soldier with a decisive advantage in any mission by developing, acquiring, fielding and sustaining the world’s finest equipment and services. It also leverages technologies and capabilities to meet current and future Army needs. For more information, please visit the Army ASA(ALT) website.