SBIR

SOCOM SBIR Process

Small businesses submit proposals for Phase I feasibility studies in accordance with the DoD SBIR Solicitation at www.dodsbir.net/solicitation.

Phase I: The maximum amount of SBIR funding for a SOCOM Phase I award is $100,000 and the maximum time frame for a Phase I period of performance is 6 months. SOCOM does not include options in Phase I SBIR contracts and typically awards up to three Phase I SBIR contracts per topic.

SOCOM participates in the first DoD SBIR solicitation of the Fiscal Year and will participate in follow-on solicitations as deemed necessary by the SBIR Program Manager. SOCOM SBIR solicitations follow DoD time-phased milestones. These milestones are presented in the following table to illustrate the key events using Fiscal Year 2008 as an example.

Phase II: The Phase II effort is a substantial R&D effort that is intended to result in a dual-use prototype product or service that meets the requirements of the original solicitation topic and that can be made viable in the private sector. SOCOM commonly invites one Phase I firm only to submit a Phase II proposal. The annual SOCOM SBIR budget ranges between $8 and $14 Million. This small budget constrains the number of SBIR topics that SOCOM can pursue as well as the number of Phase II follow-on efforts per topic.

The firm selected to continue in Phase II is the firm that has the greatest chance of developing and transitioning the needed technology. As importantly, it is the firm whose performance during Phase I was exemplary. SOCOM's Phase II cost proposals "right-size" the level of effort to perform a comprehensive R&D study. Firms selected for a Phase II effort should neither underestimate nor overestimate the cost of the Phase II effort to meet an unrealistic budget estimate. That emphasized, the SBIR Contracting Officer historically awards Phase II contracts for between $750,000 to $1 million. Phase II SBIR awards can exceed $1 Million should the level of effort needed during this development and demonstration stage warrant additional analysis to achieve SOCOM technology objectives. Likewise, firms invited to submit a Phase II proposal should provide realistic periods of performance. Many Phase II proposals received by SOCOM in the past have offered periods of performances well under 24 months. The "right-sizing" of the period of performances helps the SOCOM SBIR Program Manager transition the technology to SOF quickly.

Firms should realize that workload and operational tempo preclude extensive access to Government and military personnel beyond established periodic reviews. Requests for meetings with SOCOM operators must be coordinated through the Contracting Officer's Representative and are not to be independently pursued by the firm.

Phase III:  The primary focus of the SOCOM SBIR program is to transition needed technology to SOF. However, SOCOM also emphasizes the transition of innovative technologies to other DoD agencies and the private sector. The SOCOM SBIR Program Manager assists firms to commercialize innovative technology to the extent possible and practicable.

Phase III SBIR efforts are sole source acquisitions that obligate other than SBIR funds (mission funds). The SOCOM Program Executive Offices provide acquisition funds for the Phase III follow-on SBIR efforts.  

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For additional details on SBIR process areas, click on any of the items below.

• Fast Track
• Foreign Nationals
• Phase II Enhancement Program
• Proposals
• Security
• Site Visits
• Small Business Technology Transfer Program (STTR)
• Phase I and Phase II Selection Processes
• Topics
• Unsolicited Proposals