Department of War
Interested in partnering with DoW? Each DoW Service and Component develops innovation opportunities aligned with mission priorities and critical technology areas — including SBIR/STTR, OTAs, BAAs, and other defense innovation pathways.
Services
Department of Defense
Interested in partnering with DoD? Each DoD Service and Component develops innovation opportunities aligned with mission priorities and critical technology areas — including SBIR/STTR, OTAs, BAAs, and other defense innovation pathways.
Unlocking success in PHI & PHII
We support your company throughout the entire process.
Phase I
Phase I is focused on concept development and feasibility.
- Fully understanding the end user’s problem.
- Clearly articulating how your innovative solution meets the warfighter’s needs.
- Demonstrating the technical feasibility of integrating your solution into the end user’s mission .
- Conducting customer discovery to identify additional stakeholders.
- Period of Performance: 6 months (SBIR) and 1 year (STTR).
- Award Maximum: $75K (SBIR) and $250K (STTR)
- Contract Focus: Conducting Technical Feasibility
- Deliverables: Preliminary & final reports
- Preparation: Phase II application
- Objective: Secure a DAF Customer & End User’s signed Customer Memorandum for the Phase II proposal
- Period of Performance: 3 months
- Award Maximum: $75K (SBIR) and $110K (STTR)
- Contract Focus: Conducting Technical Feasibility
- Deliverables: Preliminary & final reports
- Preparation: Phase II application
- Objective: Secure a DAF Customer & End User’s signed Customer Memorandum for the Phase II proposal
- Identify the Right Opportunity: We help you assess your project’s fit and select the most suitable SBIR/STTR solicitation. DoD usually has two deadlines per year, we preprare your project to be submitted in one of those.
- Secure Registrations: We guide you through the process of obtaining all necessary registrations, including SAM.gov, to ensure you’re eligible to apply.
- Proposal Writing: Our dedicated team—consisting of a scientific writer and a Senior Innovation Consultant—works closely with you to craft a compelling and compliant Phase I proposal.
- Proposal Submission: We manage the entire submission process to make sure everything is delivered accurately and on time.
- Prepare for Phase II: For DoD proposals, we support you in identifying and securing a DoD stakeholder (end customer) required to advance to Phase II.
Phase II
Phase II supports prototype creation and further research. Funding is contingent on the results of Phase I and the scientific, technical, and commercial potential of the proposed Phase II project.
In-depth project analysis
Assistance in developing the work plan
Writing and submission of the Phase II proposal
Pre-award activities
Relationship management support with Federal Program Managers before and during Phase II
Setup and support with the Payment Management System
Accounting support throughout Phase II
Refine and Expand Your Proposal
Demonstrate Technical Maturity
Strengthen Stakeholder Relationships
Develop a Commercialization Strategy
- Position for Phase III Transition
- Period of Performance: 21 months
- Award Maximum: $1.25M
- Performance Period: 18 months of technical work and 3 months for final reporting.
- Contract Focus: Commercialization
- In some cases, if a technology or concept is sufficiently developed, a Phase I may be unnecessary. In such instances, a company may opt for Direct-to-Phase II (D2P2).
- Phase II vs. D2P2: Phase II contracts through AFWERX can be obtained in two ways:
- Following a successful Phase I award and completion
- Through a Direct-to-Phase II (D2P2) process when a company has the necessary support and funding to bypass Phase I.
Defense Opportunities beyond SBIR
We support companies navigating different defense pathways to unlock the right opportunities.
