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Brochure | March 4, 2026

R&D Small Business Innovation Programs

SBIP brochure image
Small Business Innovation Programs
SBIP brochure image
Small Business Innovation Programs
SBIP Brochure
Photo By: DLA Research & Development
VIRIN: 200924-D-HW629-192

DLA Research & Development's Small Business Innovation Programs aim to resolve warfighter requirements with the scientific excellence and technological innovation offered by the U.S. small business industrial base. The SBIP works to transition innovative technologies and modernize legacy solutions in support of the Department of War Programs of Record.

Small Business Innovation Research
Established by Congress in 1982 to fund R&D by small businesses of 500 or fewer employees. Eleven federal agencies participate in the program.

Small Business Technology Transfer
Established in 1992 to fund cooperative R&D projects by U.S.-based small businesses partnered with non-profit U.S. research institutions. Five federal agencies participate.

Strategic Thrusts

Nuclear Enterprise Support

  • Support NE weapon systems readiness
  • Improve lead time and quality of consumable parts
  • Increase material availability
  • Establish new NE manufacturing capability

Force Readiness & Lethality

  • Improve product performance
  • Modernize manufacturing capability
  • Reduce Warfighter costs
  • Broaden manufacturing industrial base

Supply Chain Innovation & Assurance

  • Reduce logistics costs
  • Maintain a secure and resilient supply chain
  • Mitigate counterfeit risks
  • Adopt best practices to optimize supply chain
  • Bolster domestic supply chain

Project Development

DLA SBIP issues competitive awards (Phase I thru Phase III) based on topics aligned with executive guidance, the National Defense Strategy, Top OUSD R&E Technology Priorities and the DLA Strategic Plan. View topics for proposal: https://www.dodsbirsttr.mil/submissions/login

Phase I Phase II Phase III

Research & Technical Data Engineering & Development

6-12 months

$100K

Product and Manufacturing Capability Development

1-2 years

$1M

Transition to a Program of Record/Technology Integration

No limit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benefits

  • Addressing critical supply chain gaps and security threats through innovative research projects
  • Mitigating single points-of-failure within our weapon systems supply chains
  • Qualifying as new entrants to the industrial base for parts, materials and innovative manufacturing solutions

Partners

  • U.S. Navy •
  • U.S. Air Force
  • U.S. Army
  • U.S. Marine Corps
  • Space Force
  • DLA Weapons Support
  • DLA Troop Support
  • DLA Disposition Services
  • OEMs
  • Private Industry 
  • National Labs

Accomplishments & Ongoing Efforts

  • Enhanced the industrial base with 380+ newly approved NSN sources for 25 weapons systems
  • Awarded 180+ SBIR/STTR contracts, which yielded 150+ SBIR/STTR Phase III technology transitions

Ongoing Efforts: Critical Weapons System Sustainment to include B-2, B-52, ICBM, SSBN and other Nuclear and Space Enterprise Systems • New Source Qualification and Testing • Industrial Base Partnership • Innovative and Additive Manufacturing Solutions • Supply Chain Risk Reduction • Micro-Electronics • Life Cycle Performance, Cost and Energy Consumption Improvement

Contact Us - Logistics.Research@dla.mil