NAVY | SBIR | TAP
TRANSITIONS . . . FALL EDITION VOLUME 11 ISSUE 2 2014
From the Director INTRODUCING NEW SBIR/STTR DIRECTOR I’m Bob Smith, and I consider it an honor to have the opportunity to lead the nation’s most successful SBIR/STTR program. Prior to assuming the role of Acting Director, I held “Big Navy” positions including one with the Navy Secretariat, and at ONR I managed several technology transition programs dealing with programming, budgeting, policy and execution issues affecting multiple and major elements in the Navy’s R&D portfolio. For years I have marveled at the invaluable impact small businesses have had in solving some of the most vexing challenges facing Naval warfighters. Please join me in my efforts to make a great program even better with a goal of accelerating and expanding transition of your technologies. Working together, you, I, acquisition staffs and PEOs within the Navy can make this a reality. Just prior to his departure from SBIR/STTR, John Williams – who put a very impressive stamp on this DON program – wrote, “Over my past 15 years in the SBIR community I’ve met some of this nation’s best engineers and scientists – worked with you, watched you grow, and learned much about entrepreneurship from you. It’s this history that encouraged me to accept a senior position at the Small Business Administration, starting November 1, 2014.” John will be missed, but his departure gives us the opportunity to write a new chapter in American technological innovation, working together. Join me also in wishing DON Office of Small Business Programs’ Director Mr. Sean Crean fair winds and following seas as he leaves successful DON work to help small firms, and moves to the SBA to lead contracting work there. Retired RADM Crean became our SBIR/STTR champion in the “Big Navy”, but has left his office in the very capable hands of Director Patricia Obey (Acting), whom I look forward to working with to take small business contracting and subcontracting to a new level of effectiveness and opportunity.
at www.navysbir.com, and look forward to working with OSBP Director Obey to socialize this important publication throughout the Navy and Marine Corps – and perhaps beyond, to other DoD Services and smaller Components, in response to growing interest. For example, two SBIR awardees have already reported their successful use of the Phase III Guidebook in helping Contracting Officers decide to use the Phase III tool instead of issuing new RFPs – one company with an Air Force SBIR project, the other with an Army SBIR – as proof of this document’s worth across DoD Component lines.
NAVY OPPORTUNITY FORUM I’m happy to report that the 2015 Navy Opportunity Forum is ahead of its planning schedule and has received formal DON Assistant for Administration approval – as you know, the 2014 Forum was one of just a tiny handful of events across DoD approved last year, a fight won on the strength of SBIR/STTR awardees’ commercialization performance plus our ability to achieve major Forum cost efficiencies. Hats off to Dawnbreaker Inc. for their years of service in managing annual Forums starting in 2000. Anticipating an improved 2015 Forum, Steve Sullivan and I have already begun working with DON Systems Commands through VADM Paul Grosklags – Principal Military Deputy ASN RDA – to ensure their participation in the 2015 Forum marketplace. We’re also working with ASN RDA Sean Stackley to ensure his formal support in the form of a DON-wide memo we hope to see in January, 2015. Further, my “Primes Initiative” held more than a dozen meetings with new and old defense industry firms at the recent Beyond Phase II and Defense Manufacturing Conferences to sharpen their appetite for 2015 Forum participation. I expect the 2015 Forum to be the year’s most successful DoD marketplace for 150 small firms, and hope to see you there.
PHASE III GUIDEBOOK DON SBIR/STTR passed a major milestone with the publication in October 2014 of the long-awaited SBIR and STTR Phase III Guidebook For Program Managers, Contracting Officers and Small Business Professionals. Commissioned by ASN RDA in 2012, this comprehensive “how to” desk reference, assembled with assistance from DON Office of Small Business Programs, DASN Research Development Testing & Evaluation and DON Acquisition & Procurement, is intended as a “living document” that will be frequently updated to ensure accuracy. Importantly, It reflects input on best practice from DON’s PM and Contracting Officer communities. I have posted the Phase III Guidebook
Bob Smith Director (Acting),DON NavySBIR/STTR SBIR/STTRPrograms Programs Director (Acting),
SBIR/STTR Phase III Guidebook www.navysbir.com
The Navy SBI R/ STTR Program Office is located at the Office of Naval Research. For additional information visit www.navysbir.com.