STRENGTH IN (SMALL) NUMBERS
“By utilizing SBIRs in concert with the standard acquisition process, we can get the state of the art, we can get improvements in our performance and we can reduce costs.”
“With SBIR funding, that’s where a lot of innovation happens,” Jarmale said. “It is still competitive among all the small compa- nies, but if you are good at it, you will be able to develop superior technologies and superior products. We have used technologies out of SBIR programs and developed successful products.”
FROM INNOVATION TO PRODUCT If there is a challenge when it comes to SBIRs, it’s the time involved to develop a mature product. Even though the pace is faster than for most Army acquisition programs, often it’s not fast enough for a small business that needs a constant infusion of funding to stay viable.
“As a small business, we have to work with the government and prime companies to integrate our products into systems,” Jarmale said. “Te biggest hurdle to overcome is they want mature products. Unless there’s enough funding and desire from the government or the platform primes to help move the innova- tive technologies to maturity, there’s very little chance they’ll get picked up. Tere should be more support to assist small busi- nesses in transitioning capabilities, especially when you see very promising technologies developed in SBIRs.”
Patel agreed, saying that funding to offset the time lapse is often unavailable for small businesses.
“Te downside is the time it takes for a SBIR to be developed and enter into production,” Patel said. “Tere’s a backlog and there’s no funding after a product is developed, so many SBIRs have died.”
Tis feedback from small businesses is being heard. Te delay between Phase II, when the SBIR funding ends, and the prod- uct’s development into an existing capability or program of record can be as long as 12 to 24 months—a relatively short
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time period by Army acquisition standards, but not in the fast- moving world of small businesses.
“Army requirements drive funding,” Badger said. “If it’s a small business, that process may take a year or two, and they have to try to bridge that. However, an advantage of this process is that small businesses maintain the intellectual property, and many times these innovations find dual use in the military and com- mercial worlds. If they can ‘productize’ their product into the commercial space, that’s one way to bridge the time gap.”
CONCLUSION Te network is an integral part of current and future Army mis- sions. Keeping pace with technology requires new approaches, and small businesses can play a vital role. SBIRs are one such approach. Tey give small businesses insight into military mar- kets, which they traditionally would not have.
Small businesses also receive development funds to produce prototypes of their enhanced concepts. Trough this unique step, the Army plays a role similar to that of a venture capital- ist, with small businesses receiving feedback on their prototypes that can assist them in being first to market with a proven solu- tion. Additionally, because the Army allows them to retain the intellectual property rights for their products, small businesses have the opportunity to commercialize products with dual use for military and civilian applications. Tus, a small company with a great idea can grow into a producer of state-of-the-art capabilities.
By introducing these products first and putting them into the hands of Soldiers, the Army also benefits from SBIRs. As the collaboration between small businesses and the Army contin- ues through the use of SBIRs, cutting-edge capabilities can be incorporated into established programs, empowering the joint force with the most technologically effective tools available.
For more information, see the PEO C3T website at http://peoc3t.
army.mil/c3t/.
MS. NANCY JONES-BONBREST is a staff writer for DSA Inc., providing contract support to PEO C3T. She holds a B.S. in jour- nalism from the University of Maryland, College Park. She has covered the Army’s tactical network for several years, including multiple training and testing events.
Army AL&T Magazine
January-March 2016
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