The Army's SBIR Open Topic for AI/ML

A New SBIR Funding Program

The Army has launched an exciting new Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program focused on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML). Unlike traditional SBIR programs that target specific innovations, this initiative seeks to identify and promote diverse AI/ML technologies that the Army may not yet realize it needs. This approach mirrors the Air Force's AFWERX program, asking the private sector to propose solutions to various challenges. It’s a humble yet strategic move: the Army acknowledges its limitations in predicting future needs and turns to the innovative capabilities of small businesses. Essentially, the Army is saying, "We don't know what we need to stay competitive in this space... but we bet the small business tech industry does. Show us what you can do for us, and if we are convinced, we'll fund your R&D now and maybe become a customer later."

Army SBIR Open-Topic for AI/ML Overview and Key Dates

Release Date: June 11, 2024

Open Date: August 12, 2024

Application Due Date: September 17, 2024

This SBIR program is open to both Phase I and Direct to Phase II submissions, providing opportunities for businesses at different stages of development to participate.

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Funding Stages and Amounts

• Phase I: Up to $250,000 for a 6-month period of performance.
• Phase II or Direct to Phase II: Up to $2 million for a 24-month period of performance.

Essentially, the Army is saying, "We don't know what we need to stay competitive in this space... but we bet the small business tech industry does. Show us what you can do for us, and if we are convinced, we'll fund your R&D now and maybe become a customer later."

Sub-Topics in AI/ML

The Army's SBIR open-topic for AI/ML is an "open" program however, there are six focus areas including:

1. Synthetic Data Generation: Creating data applicable to specific situations without direct measurement, including visual, textual, video, geospatial, and sensor data.
2. Data Validation and Verification: Developing techniques to secure data in contested spaces against tampering and manipulation.
3. AI Risk Mitigation: Identifying and mitigating operational and supply chain risks in AI through model provenance and access control.
4. Large Language Models (LLM) and RF Signal Detection Models: Improving implementation, construction, and testing of LLM and RF signal detection models.
5. Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG): Enhancing generative AI models' accuracy and reliability through RAG techniques.
6. Collaborative AI Technologies: Enabling communication between autonomous systems over extended ranges.

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Submission Requirements

Phase I:

• Technical Volume: 5-page document for initial selection.
• Commercialization Plan: 8-slide presentation.
• Statement of Work: Outline of intermediate and final deliverables.
• Post-Phase I Deliverables: Feasibility study assessing technical readiness and commercial applicability.

Direct to Phase II:

• Technical Volume: 10-page document,
• Feasibility study: 5-page feasibility study.
• Commercialization Plan: 8-slide presentation.
• Statement of Work: Outline of deliverables during Phase II.
• Post-Phase II Deliverables: Prototype solutions, technology transition, and commercialization plan.

Army SBIR and AI/ML Investments

The Army SBIR Program partners with small businesses and Army customers to drive innovation in line with Army priorities. Annually awarding over $350 million to innovative small businesses, the Army has placed major emphasis on AI/ML solutions.

In fiscal year 2024 alone, the Army's SBIR program invested nearly $102 million in active AI projects, supporting about 75 small businesses nationwide. These initiatives aim to integrate small businesses into the Army’s broader AI pipeline through targeted funding.

Benefits of the SBIR Program

The SBIR program offers numerous benefits to small businesses, including:

1. 0% Equity Taken: U.S. federal agencies offer SBIR funding without taking any equity.
2. Access to Funding: Substantial financial support for research and development.
3. Potential Customers: Funding agencies are often interested in potentially becoming clients. It can start with a grant and eventually lead to a contract with a very big customer!

Why Choose Akela Consulting?

Akela Consulting is a boutique SBIR firm dedicated to guiding small businesses through the complexities of the SBIR process. Our expertise includes:

• Identifying Funding Opportunities:?We identify as many programs that fit your commercialization plan and then apply to them systematically, tailoring the narrative around your technology to speak each agency's language and highlight their pain points.
• Proposal Development: Assisting in crafting compelling and compliant proposals.
• Diverse Agency Approach: Akela takes a diverse approach and doesn't just work on one funding program.
• Commercialization Strategies: Developing robust plans to transition innovations to market for you submission.

We help our clients maximize their chances of securing SBIR funding and successfully bringing their innovative technologies to market.

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