SOCOM SBIR Process
Foreign Nationals
Foreign nationals may be permitted to work on unclassified SOCOM SBIR contracts if they are identified in the proposal and if the firm has submitted appropriate documentation to SOCOM. Foreign nationals may not be used on projects that involve classified information or material due to their inability to obtain security clearances. Foreign National (also known as Foreign Person) means any person who is NOT:
- a citizen or national of the United States; or
- a lawful permanent resident; or
- a protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C.1324b(a)(3).
"Lawful permanent resident" is a person having the status of having been lawfully accorded the privilege of residing permanently in the United States as an immigrant in accordance with the immigration laws and such status not having changed. A lawful permanent resident requires a "green card" to work in the United States.
"Protected individual" is an alien who is lawfully admitted for permanent residence, is granted the status of an alien lawfully admitted for temporary residence under 8 U.S.C.1160(a) or 8 U.S.C.1255a(a)(1), is admitted as a refugee under 8 U.S.C.1157, or is granted asylum under section 8 U.S.C.1158; but does not include (i) an alien who fails to apply for naturalization within six months of the date the alien first becomes eligible (by virtue of period of lawful permanent residence) to apply for naturalization or, if later, within six months after November 6, 1986, and (ii) an alien who has applied on a timely basis, but has not been naturalized as a citizen within 2 years after the date of the application, unless the alien can establish that the alien is actively pursuing naturalization, except that time consumed in the Service's processing the application shall not be counted toward the 2-year period.
SOCOM requires its SBIR firms to specifically identify all foreign nationals expected to participate in the SBIR effort in both Phase I or Phase II proposals. SOCOM investigates all foreign nationals and will advise the firm of the status of each. Formal clearance of all foreign nationals is a pre-requisite and condition to awarding Phase I and Phase II SBIR contracts.
For additional details on SBIR process areas, click on any of the items below.