SBIR/STTR | The Contracting Education Academy

November 13, 2020 By cs

Army awards 10 prototyping contracts under small business pilot program

The U.S. Army is using a special topics pilot program to shorten the life cycle of military technology development.

The U.S. Army selected 10 projects addressing military technology gaps for prototyping under a small business pilot program meant to speed the development life cycle, according to a press release.

The awards were made using an Army Small Business Technology Transfer, or STTR, pilot program, according to the Nov. 5 announcement. The 10 projects from nine small businesses and partner research institutions were selected from a pool of 22 proposals.

Most of the projects address the Army’s network modernization priority and cover seven special topic areas including position navigation and timing, or PNT, without GPS, edge sensor processing, and interference and jamming of high frequency radios.

The prototyping is the second phase in a three-step pilot program for identifying and addressing warfighter technology gaps that requires small businesses to partner with research institutions like universities or nonprofits, according to the statement. The pilot is meant to get new technology solutions in the hands of warfighters faster, according to a broad agency announcement outlining the program.

Keep reading this article at: https://www.nextgov.com/it-modernization/2020/11/army-awards-10-prototyping-contracts-under-small-business-pilot-program/169898/

March 21, 2018 By AMK

Ineligible SBIR contractor pays $12 million to settle False Claim Act allegations

TrellisWare Technologies, Inc. has agreed to pay $12,177,631.90 to settle civil False Claims Act allegations that it was ineligible for multiple Small Business Innovation and Research (SBIR) contracts it entered into with the Defense Department.

TrellisWare is a majority-owned subsidiary of ViaSat, Inc., a global broadband services and technology company headquartered in San Diego.

The SBIR program is designed to stimulate technological innovation by funding small businesses to engage in federal research and development efforts. To be considered a small business for purposes of SBIR awards, a contractor must not be majority owned by another company.

Between 2008 and 2015, TrellisWare was awarded multiple SBIR contracts to provide the Navy, Army and Air Force with a variety of technology services and products involving communications and signal processing systems, including wireless networks used in military tactical environments. TrellisWare self-certified that it met the small business size requirements for eligibility to receive SBIR funding. But based on certain disclosures that TrellisWare later made about its ownership relationship with ViaSat, the government conducted an investigation into TrellisWare’s eligibility for SBIR awards. The government contends that TrellisWare was not eligible for SBIR awards because it was actually a majority-owned subsidiary of ViaSat at the time it was awarded and performed on SBIR contracts.

This matter was investigated by auditing personnel of the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in coordination with Special Agents of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service; Naval Criminal Investigative Service; Army Criminal Investigation Command; Air Force Office of Special Investigations; and Small Business Administration, Office of the Inspector General.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdca/pr/san-diego-communications-company-pays-more-12-million-settle-false-claim-act

February 5, 2018 By AMK

DoD implements streamlining awards for innovative technology projects

On January 9, 2018, Department of Defense (“DoD”) issued Class Deviation 2018-O0009, designed to reduce barriers to entry for innovative entities through streamlining the awards process for research and development contracts.

This Class Deviation allows for the use of simplified acquisition procedures and excuses certain procurement obligations when DoD awards contracts and subcontracts valued at less than $7.5 million to “nontraditional defense contractors” or small businesses. The Class Deviation implements Section 873 of the National Defense Authorization Act (“NDAA”) for FY 2016, Pub. L. 114-92, as amended by Section 896 of the NDAA for FY 2017 (Pub. L. 114-328).

The Class Deviation, titled “Pilot Program for Streamlining Awards for Innovative Technology,” expands exceptions to certified cost or pricing data requirements under FAR 15.403-1(b) to include contracts or subcontracts valued at less than $7.5 million awarded to small businesses or nontraditional defense contractors. The exceptions apply to awards pursuant to: 1) a broad agency announcement for the acquisition of basic or applied research (see FAR 35.016(b)(2)); 2) the Small Business Innovation Research (“SBIR”) Program; and 3) the Small Business Technology Transfer (“SBTT”) Program. Nontraditional defense contractors and small businesses awarded contracts or subcontracts valued at less than $7.5 million pursuant to a broad agency announcement under FAR 35.106 or the SBIR Program are also exempted from requirements for audits and records examination under FAR 52.215-2. The exceptions expire on October 1, 2020.

Keep reading this article at: https://www.insidegovernmentcontracts.com/2018/01/dod-implements-streamlining-awards-for-innovative-technology-projects/

April 28, 2017 By AMK

Watchdog: Energy Dept. mismanaged some small business R&D investments

The Energy Department’s research investment programs aren’t effectively managed, occasionally leading to overspending, a federal watchdog found.

The department’s Office of Science distributes Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) awards, given to companies working on specific energy-themed technology projects. The Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy also builds cooperative agreements with small businesses developing new technology.

Those programs need to do a better job guaranteeing awardees meet their development goals and ensuring funding is allocated efficiently, among other steps, according to an inspector general’s audit.

Keep reading this article at: http://www.nextgov.com/cio-briefing/2017/04/watchdog-energy-department-mismanaged-some-rd-investments/137164/

May 17, 2016 By AMK

The Pentagon is dodging the real issue on innovation

The Defense Department is asking Congress for special authority to buy products and services from “innovative” businesses that have done little or no business with the government.

If that sounds familiar, it should; the President’s 2017 budget request contains a very similar proposal. Like that earlier proposal, the Pentagon’s request generates a few reactions.

First, give the department credit for recognizing, after repeated visits to Silicon Valley, Boston and elsewhere, that it has a problem. Because of scores of unique requirements designed mostly for yesterday’s market and the generally plodding nature of the acquisition system, many commercial tech companies aren’t all that excited about working with the government. This isn’t anything new—it’s a drum many of us have been beating for years. And the department asked more than a year ago for input on non-value-added, government-unique process and compliance requirements it should do away with. Thus far, there’s been no action on dozens of recommendations that were made.

Beyond that, however, real questions arise as to whether the proposal itself makes sense—whether it is wise to create yet another set-aside under which limited or no competition would be allowed. Sure, there are innovative companies that do not do business with the government today that might find such a program at least palatable. But that alone does not make the proposal a good, idea.

Keep reading this article at: http://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2016/04/pentagon-dodging-real-issue-innovation/127773

The U.S. Army is using a special topics pilot program to shorten the life cycle of military technology development.

TrellisWare Technologies, Inc. has agreed to pay $12,177,631.90 to settle civil False Claims Act allegations that it was ineligible for multiple Small Business Innovation and Research (SBIR) contracts it entered into with the Defense Department.

On January 9, 2018, Department of Defense (“DoD”) issued Class Deviation 2018-O0009, designed to reduce barriers to entry for innovative entities through streamlining the awards process for research and development contracts.

The Energy Department’s research investment programs aren’t effectively managed, occasionally leading to overspending, a federal watchdog found.

The Defense Department is asking Congress for special authority to buy products and services from “innovative” businesses that have done little or no business with the government.

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