"Selectable - Not Funded"...the real Joint SBIR Opportunity
It was a great weekend at SXSW here in Austin, and a really healthy discussion on a wide range of innovation topics at Capital Factory's events. Of the many interesting items that got discussed, to which I will have subsequent articles covering, was one I wanted to highlight of interest in a "Joint Open Topic SBIR" program across the DoD. The interesting thing about this concept is that many people forget or simply don't know that, despite only the combined Air Force and Space Force SBIR program offering an Open Topic solicitation currently (Navy starting in summer 23), there has always been the availability to utilize any SBIR/STTR selection or award by any federal organization. Let's take a look at the direct language from the AF/SF SBIR program covering everyone's favorite example of what does this mean..."Selectable - Not Funded".
"At the completion of technical evaluation, proposed efforts are considered based on their importance to Air Force and DoD Programs. This provides a ranking to which available funding is then applied until exhausted. Those proposals above the funding cut line are “Selectable – Funded”; those below it are “Selectable – Not Funded. While those determined “Selectable – Not Funded” are not typically funded with AF SBIR money committed to the specific topic, they are available for “adoption” by other AF organizations or DoD components for award with their funding by their supporting contracting office." (https://www.afsbirsttr.af.mil/FAQs/)
I have highlighted the most important text in the description. The key point being that once selected or awarded in any SBIR or STTR program, that selectee or awardee can be utilized for contract action by any federal organization. The only difference between funded and not funded in an award selection is simply rather or not that proposal ALSO receives RDT&E funding from the soliciting organization for phase 1 or 2 as applicable. The initial selection is the key aspect that is often overlooked/misunderstood, in that any selection under the SBIR/STTR program provides the government with the completion of all relevant open competition requirements for issuance of a sole source contract award to that company for the designated proposal.
The underlying point here is any Open Topic solicitation through any federal organization SBIR program is a gateway to all other federal organizational use. We actually don't need a "Joint" Open Topic program, because we already have open use of any selection through all programs. What's been wildly underutilized is the cross marketing of existing selections and awardees from the AF/SF Open Topic SBIR program to other DoD and federal partners. So if you are a company with a SBIR/STTR selection or award, go market your tech to other DoD and Federal organizations. If you are a DoD or Federal organization, you are missing out on a whole range of capability if you aren't shopping around for other service and federal partner SBIR/STTR capabilities that meet your needs.
