Department of the Navy SBIR/STTR Programs

What Department of the Navy SBIR/STTR Programs does

The Department of the Navy SBIR/STTR Programs is the U.S. federal program office that administers Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) funding on behalf of the Department of the Navy, including the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. The office is housed within the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Office of Small Business Programs / Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Office of Small Business Programs and coordinates with the Office of Naval Research (ONR). It serves small businesses (including non-traditional and venture-backed defense startups), non-profit research institutions, and academic researchers seeking non-dilutive early-stage funding for technologies with naval defense applications. The program is statutorily required under 15 U.S.C. §638 and operates through multiple solicitation channels, including Navy-specific Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs) released on a near-monthly cadence, the DoD-wide SBIR/STTR BAAs, and the newer Chief of Naval Research / Chief of Staff (CSO) Open Topics stream that allows proposers to address capability gaps outside pre-defined topics.

The program's underlying technology portfolio is the aggregated output of its awardees: autonomy and unmanned systems, undersea sensing and communications, advanced energetics, hypersonics, information warfare, AI/ML, sustainment and logistics, and naval aviation subsystems. The program does not build technology itself; it funds Phase I feasibility studies (typically up to ~$250K), Phase II prototypes (typically up to ~$1.7M), and supports Phase III transition into Navy and joint acquisition programs via mechanisms such as Navy Launch. From a business model standpoint, the program is a passthrough funded by congressional set-asides calculated as a fixed percentage of the Department of the Navy's extramural R&D budget (SBIR at 3.2%, STTR at 0.45%); it does not generate commercial revenue, and its economic significance is best measured by annual obligation throughput and downstream Phase III procurement pull-through rather than top-line.

The program's strategic posture has shifted notably in 2024: BAA cadence has accelerated to near-monthly releases, the CSO Open Topics stream has opened non-traditional proposal pathways, and the Navy Launch transition ecosystem has been expanded to convert more SBIR awardees into operational Navy programs. These moves indicate a deliberate push to broaden the supplier base (especially non-traditional and venture-backed firms), compress time-to-award, and improve transition rates — all of which are aimed at making Navy SBIR a higher-throughput channel for naval innovation in an era of strategic competition with peer adversaries.

Name

Department of the Navy SBIR/STTR Programs

Legal name

Department of the Navy SBIR/STTR Programs

Website

https://navysbir.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Department of the Navy SBIR/STTR Programs is the federal program office that administers statutory small business innovation and technology transfer funding for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, serving small businesses, universities, and non-profits via Navy-specific BAAs and CSO Open Topics solicitations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Federal Defense R&D Funding Programs

NAICS

National Security and International Affairs (928), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Defense R&D, Test, Evaluation & Innovation (BPAIAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Naval Combat Systems Integration (CMS, Weapons, Sensors, EW) (IMAJABAJ), Naval Weapons & Launch Systems (Guns, VLS, Torpedoes) (IMABAKAC), Naval C4ISR, Communications & Electronic Warfare (IMABAKAE)

Keywords

• Federal R&D funding
• Small business innovation
• Defense technology programs
• Government contracting support
• Dual-use defense research

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. SBIR Phase I Contracts: Government R&D contracts awarded to domestic U.S. small businesses for Phase I feasibility demonstration. Phase I awards typically range up to approximately $300,000 with a 9-12 month period of performance.
2. SBIR Phase II Contracts: Phase II contracts for expanded R&D following successful Phase I. Award types include Firm Fixed Price and Cost-Plus Fixed Fee contracts. Phase II supports prototype development and demonstration.
3. Phase III Commercialization Awards: Non-SBIR funding awards that support transition of successfully demonstrated SBIR/STTR technologies into military programs of record or commercial applications.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Department of the Navy SBIR/STTR Programs administer federal R&D funding programs that award Phase I, Phase II, Direct to Phase II, and Phase III contracts to domestic U.S. small businesses developing dual-use defense technologies for Navy and Marine Corps applications. The programs distribute solicitations through monthly Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs) published on the Defense SBIR/STTR Innovation Portal (DSIP), supporting topics across hypersonics, directed energy, microelectronics, quantum science, trusted AI and autonomy, advanced materials, integrated sensing and cyber, and renewable energy generation and storage. Wraparound commercialization and transition support is provided through Navy Catapult, Navy STP, DON SEC, and Navy Launch.

Product overview

The Department of the Navy SBIR/STTR Programs is a government funding agency that administers two complementary small business innovation programs: SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) and STTR (Small Business Technology Transfer). The programs fund research and development across multiple Navy commands including NAVAIR, NAVSEA, ONR, NAVWAR, MCSC, and SSP. Supporting infrastructure includes specialized programs like Navy Catapult, the Navy SBIR Transition Program (STP), the SBIR Experimentation Cell (DON SEC), and NAVY Launch. The Defense SBIR/STTR Innovation Portal (DSIP) serves as the primary submission and management platform. To date, the Navy has funded over $11 billion to commercialize SBIR/STTR technologies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Navy Catapult: A select program within the Navy SBIR/STTR ecosystem focused on accelerating certain technologies.
• Navy SBIR Transition Program (STP)
• SBIR Experimentation Cell (DON SEC)
• NAVY Launch

Products and services

• Navy SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) Program Funds research and development projects from domestic U.S. small businesses to address Department of the Navy technology needs across Phase I (feasibility, up to ~$300,000 over 9-12 months), Phase II (prototype development via Firm Fixed Price or Cost-Plus Fixed Fee), Direct to Phase II (bypass Phase I for firms with prior R&D), and Phase III (commercialization) awards. Issues conventional topics, Direct to Phase II topics, and Commercial Solutions Openings (CSO) Open Topics.
• Navy STTR (Small Business Technology Transfer) Program Funds cooperative research between domestic U.S. small businesses and research institutions to facilitate technology transfer from academic and research settings into commercial and defense applications. Issues Phase I and Phase II STTR topics with mandatory research-institution partnership requirements, sourced from ONR, NAVAIR, NAVSEA, and SSP commands.
• Navy Catapult A select program within the Navy SBIR ecosystem focused on accelerating promising SBIR technologies with high potential for transition to Phase III and operational use by the Navy and Marine Corps.
• Navy SBIR Transition Program (STP) Program that helps Navy SBIR Phase II awardees navigate the transition from research to commercialization or military deployment, providing resources, guidance, and access to the Virtual Transitions Marketplace (VTM) where awardees connect with Navy program offices, Program Manager Offices (PMEs), and acquisition professionals seeking deployable technologies.
• SBIR Experimentation Cell (DON SEC) Department of the Navy SBIR Experimentation Cell that conducts experimentation events connecting SBIR/STTR Phase II awardees with Navy operational commands and program executive offices to accelerate technology maturation, evaluation in operational environments, and transition.
• NAVY Launch Intensely focused program for Navy SBIR Phase II awardees to explore, define, and implement commercialization strategies, including virtual Commercialization workshops and Private Capital Forum events that connect awardees with private investors and venture capital for commercial scaling.
• Defense SBIR/STTR Innovation Portal (DSIP) DoD-wide portal for SBIR/STTR submissions, topic Q&A, and proposal management. Hosts BAA documents, Topic Q&A functionality, proposal submission, and selection notifications for all DON SBIR/STTR topics. Also hosts the Volume 7 foreign affiliations disclosure form required for all submissions. Operated by the Defense Digital Service.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $11 billion funded to date for SBIR/STTR technology commercialization
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature12 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCSC participates in the DON SBIR/STTR programs as a topic-issuing command, defining capability gaps and funding Phase I/II contracts for technologies addressing Marine Corps mission requirements. MCSC topics appear in each DON BAA release.
• Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAVAIR is a primary issuing command for DON SBIR/STTR topics across aviation, weapons, and avionics domains, supporting programs including APKWS, AARGM, and advanced air launched systems.
• Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAVSEA issues topics covering ship hull systems, maritime structural health monitoring, submarine systems, and naval engineering solutions through the DON SBIR/STTR program.
• Office of Naval Research (ONR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerONR serves as the science and technology arm of the DON, issuing topics across advanced materials, hypersonics, quantum science, directed energy, AI/ML, and ocean/meteorological systems.
• Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAVWAR issues Open Topic CSO solicitations focused on resilient communications and assured position, navigation, and timing (APNT), using Other Transaction (OT) agreements for accelerated prototyping.
• Strategic Systems Programs (SSP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSSP issues SBIR topics in support of strategic systems programs including advanced sensors, lasers, and quantum technology for national security applications.
• Defense SBIR/STTR Innovation Portal (DSIP) / Defense Digital ServicecoreTechnology or IntegrationDSIP, operated by the Defense Digital Service, is the primary digital platform for all DON (and DoD) SBIR/STTR proposal submissions, topic discovery, Q&A, and selection notifications.
• SBIR.gov / SBAcoreTechnology or IntegrationThe SBA administers the federal SBIR/STTR Policy Directive governing all DON SBIR/STTR programs. SBA's May 2023 SBIR Policy Directive (updated) sets eligibility, proposal, and disclosure requirements.
• Navy Technology Transfer ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNavy Technology Transfer (TT) is a complementary resource enabling small businesses and entrepreneurs to collaborate with the Navy through technology licensing, patent licensing, and Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs), separate from SBIR funding.
• SBIR Experimentation Cell (DON SEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDON SEC (formerly Navy SEC) conducts experimentation events connecting SBIR/STTR Phase II awardees with Navy operational commands and program executive offices to accelerate technology maturation and transition.
• Navy SBIR Transition Program (STP) / Virtual Transitions Marketplace (VTM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTP provides structured commercialization support to Phase II awardees, while the VTM platform connects awardees with Navy program offices, PMEs, and acquisition professionals seeking deployable technologies.
• NAVY Launch ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAVY Launch provides commercialization strategy workshops and Private Capital Forum events connecting Phase II awardees with private investors and venture capital for commercial scaling.
• Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDCSA administers facility and personnel security clearance requirements for classified SBIR/STTR Phase II and Phase III efforts, as required for advanced topics in signals, photonics, and directed energy.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• DOE SBIR/STTR Programs: Department of Energy's SBIR/STTR programs funding R&D across DOE national laboratories and applied energy topics. Comparable as a federal small-business R&D funding mechanism with overlapping topics in advanced materials, photonics, and quantum.
• Defense Innovation Unit (DIU): DoD organization focused on accelerating commercial technology adoption into military use. Comparable as an alternative DoD small-business/commercial-tech engagement channel that competes for similar dual-use technology vendors.
• DARPA SBIR/STTR Programs: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's small-business R&D program funding high-risk/high-reward research. Comparable as a DoD small-business funding channel, but with a fundamentally different mission focus on breakthrough vs. incremental naval capabilities.
• Army SBIR/STTR Programs: U.S. Army's SBIR/STTR funding program administered through the Office of the Secretary of the Army. Sister program within DoD funding small-business R&D for Army-specific capability gaps (ground vehicles, soldier systems, tactical networks).
• NSF SBIR/STTR Program (America's Seed Fund): National Science Foundation's SBIR/STTR program funding deep-tech small-business R&D. Comparable as a non-DoD federal SBIR funding channel, often used by dual-use small businesses that could also apply to DON SBIR/STTR topics.
• Missile Defense Agency (MDA) SBIR Program: DoD component SBIR program funding small-business R&D for missile-defense technologies. Overlaps with DON SBIR/STTR topics in directed energy, hypersonics, and radar/sensing domains.
• U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) SBIR: DoD component SBIR program focused on special-operations-peculiar technologies. Comparable as a sister DoD SBIR program competing for the same small-business applicant pool on overlapping tactical technology topics.
• NASA SBIR/STTR Program: NASA's SBIR/STTR program funding small-business R&D for space technologies. Sister federal SBIR program with thematic overlap in advanced materials, propulsion, sensors, and autonomous systems.
• DHS SBIR Program: Department of Homeland Security SBIR program funding small-business R&D for homeland-security applications. Operates under the same SBA Policy Directive and offers an alternative federal funding channel for dual-use small-business technologies.
• Air Force SBIR/STTR Programs: The U.S. Air Force's counterpart SBIR/STTR program, operating under the same SBA Policy Directive but funding different service-specific technology priorities (aerospace, space, directed energy). Most direct peer by structure and mandate to the DoN SBIR/STTR program.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/donsbir
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/donsbir

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Department of the Navy SBIR/STTR Programs