ITA is Working to Increase Usage of Small Business Innovation Research Programs to Address Complex Issues

ITA International (ITA) is working to increase its usage of Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) programs to address complex issues and develop solutions for government customers, “In The Arena.”

SBIRs are highly competitive opportunities that are used across various government agencies for small businesses to perform research and experimental or developmental work. At the Reagan National Defense Forum held Dec. 4, 2021,?Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin made it a priority to increase the use of SBIRs, “…we’re doubling down on our Small Business Innovation Research program,” said Austin. “This program helps fuel American firms to pursue R&D [Research & Development] tailored to the Department’s [Department of Defense/DOD] unique tech requirements. And so far this year, we’ve awarded funds to more than 2,500 small businesses working on groundbreaking tech.”

Chief Executive Officer of ITA Mike Melo acknowledges ITA’s support for SBIR use. “The U.S. government has invested over $94 million in SBIR tools and research owned by ITA since 2017 to do exactly what Secretary of Defense Austin is asking,” said Melo. “I think we’re leading the charge in creating innovative solutions, technology and rapid contracting that will allow our government customers to become more agile and responsive to warfighters operational requirements.”

According to Terry Rydz in a recent?NextGov article about SBIRs, “Defense leaders are bogged down by legacy systems and worried about countering increasingly technologically advanced adversaries. Many hope that focusing on SBIR contracting will help the DOD leap closer to the speed of relevancy.”

Currently, ITA has four SBIR Phase III contracts.?The first was awarded November 2018 by Naval Air Systems Command, based on an ITA-developed integrated suite of data analytics tools. Also known as?The Arena Toolkit,?these data analytics tools are used to develop solutions comprised of subject matter expertise, data analytics and a system-of-systems approach to build models which evaluate global security, stability operations and sustainability initiatives.

Following that award, in September 2019 the Naval Sea Systems Command?selected ITA to support the Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center (MARMC). MARMC also leverages?The Arena Toolkit, to enable end-users at various levels to make time-sensitive, critical path-focused and data-informed decisions.

In September 2021, ITA’s work with MARMC was recognized by the?House Armed Services Committee’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Report?as the way to commercialize products developed under the SBIR program: “The committee is particularly impressed?with how the Mid-Atlantic Regional?Maintenance Center has?leveraged previous Department of Defense?Small Business Innovation Research?investments in Data Analytics to drive?improved performance in the ship?maintenance process.”

ITA was awarded a SBIR phase III,?five-year, $50 million contract?by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) in August 2020 to support the U.S. Air Force in consolidating and modernizing electromagnetic spectrum operations at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.

“I believe the work we’re doing with the Air Force’s 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing at Eglin is a model of success when it comes to SBIRs,” said Melo. “We’ve been able to accelerate innovation and deliver valuable solutions to automate and integrate electromagnetic spectrum data.”

Most recently,?ITA was awarded a SBIR phase III, five-year, $100 million contract?by GSA to implement data driven tools to enhance warfighting, training and decision-making for the Air Force, DOD and other federal agencies.

“We move at the speed of business to ensure mission success for all of our government customers,” said Melo. “SBIRs are the vehicle that allows us to provide a large variety of technical solutions and help customers make data informed decisions — that will one day prove to be a model of excellence for all of government.”

About ITA International

ITA International is a global service provider leveraging subject matter expertise, data analytics and technology ensuring mission success for customers, “In The Arena.” Headquartered in Newport News, Virginia, ITA International employs more than 300 ITAers operating around the globe.