Quantum Tech One of 10 Tech Focus Area of Interest to SBIR ‘Special Topics’ Awards
(InsideDefense.com) The Small Business Innovation Research program will begin accepting proposals next month to fill a new commercial solutions opening for AFWERX special topics.
A notice posted on Federal Business Opportunities says vendors can submit bids between Sept. 24 and Oct. 23. It announces changes to the program, including a reduction in the RAPID matching ratio from 4:1 to 2:1 for companies receiving their first SBIR phase II award.
Quantum technology is one of the 10 technology focus areas of interest.
The program allows contractors to propose their own ideas.
Companies are eligible for three types of contracts. Phase I awards are usually worth $50,000, with a three-month performance period for research and development to prove the feasibility and commercialization potential of the proposed effort.
Phase II awards are made according to vendors’ phase I results and worth $25,000 to $1.5 million for six to 24 months of work on a prototype. SBIR also gives companies an option to apply directly to phase II.
For phase III contracts, proposers must secure funding from the private sector or a non-SBIR government source to transition prototypes into products for sale in military or private sector markets.
