The Army has sustained a strong history of supporting contract awards to small business firms that fall into the socio-economic category of small disadvantaged businesses (SDB). The success of awards to these firms has come through various methods and as prime and subcontracted dollars. These methods include 8(a) set-asides, small business set-asides through the other socio-economic categories, and through unrestricted competitions. We have searched out these firms for the wealth of capabilities they bring to the table at fair and reasonable prices, in support of the Army mission, and the needs of the Warfighter. Army awarded $8.70B contract dollars to SDBs in FY16, $8.85B contract dollars in FY17, and is moving upward towards that mark in FY18. Another area in which SDBs have excelled is in the Army’s Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer Programs. Army awarded $51.72M to SDBs in FY17, and is moving upward towards that mark in FY18. SDB is the second largest socio-economic category in which these types of awards were made. Additional information on the program can be found in the SBIR/STTR Program Manager section.

 As we continue to move forward, our message to these firms and to all small business firms is that the Army is looking for those firms with capabilities which can ensure that our Army is the Greatest in the World. We are looking for firms that have capabilities that support: Readiness, Modernization, Reform, Innovation, Lethality, and a commitment to Army Values.

If you would like more information, please send us a message using the form below and we will be happy to help.

HISTORICALLY UNDERUTILIZED BUSINESS ZONES (HUBZONE)

The Department of the Army is committed to expanding opportunities for small businesses located in Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZone) to compete for prime and subcontracting contracting opportunities within the Army acquisition process. As HUBZone firms expand their capabilities, they also increase their ability to help fulfill the Army's priorities of Readiness, Modernization and Reform in support of the Warfighter. The HUBZone program gives procuring activities the authority to set acquisitions aside for exclusive competition among HUBZone small businesses.

The HUBZone program was enacted into law as part of the Small Business Reauthorization Act of 1997 for the purpose of providing federal contracting assistance to qualified small business concerns located in areas that historically suffered from low employment or low-income levels. The program is designed to empower those communities. The other objectives of the program include achieving the government-wide three-percent goal of total prime and subcontract awards to HUBZone small business, supporting the growth of HUBZone firms through outreach and technical assistance, and establishing procedures for collecting data on prime and subcontract awards to HUBZone concerns.

The Army has identified this program as a special focus. As a result, OSBP has hosted several outreach events to promote the HUBZone program and continue to participate in such outreach events hosted by other federal and industry organizations. As a result, in fiscal year 2019, the Army awarded nearly $2.4 billion to HUBZone firms. The Army continues its commitment to the HUBZone small business community by consistently awarding more than $1 billion in prime contracts to HUBZone firms annually.

HUBZone program qualifications

To qualify for the HUBZone program, your business must:

• Be a small business
• Be at least 51-percent owned and controlled by U.S. citizens, a Community Development Corporation, an agricultural cooperative, a Native Hawaiian organization, or an Indian tribe
• Have its principal office located in a HUBZone
• Have at least 35 percent of its employees live in a HUBZone

You can find the full qualification criteria in Title 13 Part 126 Subpart B of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). You can also get a preliminary assessment of whether you qualify at the SBA’s Certify website.

If you would like more information, please send us a message using the form below and we will be happy to help.

The Department of Army is committed to expanding opportunities for Veteran-Owned Small Businesses and Serviced-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSB/SDVOSB) to compete for prime and subcontracting contracting opportunities within the Army acquisition process. As VO/SDVOSBs expand their capabilities, they also increase their ability to help fulfil the Army priorities of Readiness, Modernization and Reform in support of the Warfighter. The SDVOSB program gives procuring activities the authority to set acquisitions aside for exclusive competition among service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses. Sole-source awards can be awarded if certain conditions are met.

The other objectives of the program include achieving the government-wide three-percent goal of total prime and subcontract awards to SDVOSB, supporting the growth of VOSB/SDVOSB firms through outreach and technical assistance, and establishing procedures for collecting data on prime and subcontract awards to VOSB/SDVOSB concerns.

Strategic Plan for Increasing Opportunities for VOSB/SDVSOBs
The Office of Small Business Programs has a six-component strategic plan to increase contracting opportunities for SDVOSBs:

• Increase the SDVOSB base by identifying and developing companies that possess the capability and capacity to meet the full spectrum of Army acquisition requirements.
• Increase sole source and restricted competition contracting opportunities for SDVOSBs through extensive market research and innovative acquisition strategies.
• Educate Army leadership, acquisition professionals, and SDVOSBs through a modular, turn key training program that utilizes state of the art delivery methods.
• Maintain strategic partnering relationships with DoD/ODA organizations, Federal Agencies and VSOs.
• Leverage all small business programs to maximize contracting opportunities for SDVOSBs.
• Foster prime and subcontracting opportunities through joint ventures and teaming arrangements.

Strategies for Increasing Opportunities for VOSB/SDVSOBsThe Army developed a team to train our acquisition professionals on the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003, which established a procurement program for small business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans. The concept is to provide our contracting officers with detailed information about the law and to address specific questions and issues. We also want to introduce them to available resources.

Through Oak Grove Software, a SDVOSB, the Army Office of Small Business Programs developed a training presentation that is posted on the office website. Defense Acquisition University (DAU) is using the presentation as a model for developing an SDVOSB training module for acquisition professionals.

If you would like more information, please send us a message using the form below and we will be happy to help.

The Army OSBP Women-Owned Small Business Program Helps to help provide a level playing field for women business owners. The government limits competition for certain contracts to businesses that participate in the women’s contracting program for industries WOSB are underrepresented. Some contracts are restricted to economically disadvantaged women-owned small businesses (EDWOSB). The SBA maintains a list of those eligible industries and their NAICS codes. Businesses can still compete for contract awards under the other socio-economic programs in which they qualify for.

Eligibility Requirements for WOSB Contracting Program:

• Be a small business
• Be at least 51% owned and controlled by women who are U.S. citizens
• Have women manage day-to-day operations and also make long-term decisions

Eligibility Requirements for EDWOSB:

• Meet all the requirements of the women’s contracting program
• Be owned and controlled by one or more women, each with a personal net worth less than $750,000
• Be owned and controlled by one or more women, each with $350,000 or less in adjusted gross income averaged over the previous three years
• Be owned and controlled by one or more women, each $6 million or less in personal assets

If you would like more information, please send us a message using the form below and we will be happy to help.

Our fiscal year 2017 DoD Prime Contractor Directory identifies large prime contractors that are required to establish subcontracting plans with goals. The list includes company names, prime contract numbers, contract periods of performance, NAICS codes, company points of contact (POCs), POC phone numbers and POC email addresses. You can use this directory to find the contact information of prime contractors for potential subcontracting opportunities. The directory is generated from data contained in Individual Subcontract Reports (ISRs) reported by prime contractors in the Electronic Subcontracting Reporting System (eSRS) and data contained in the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS).

All contracts with "N/A" listed for periods of performance are Indefinite-Delivery-Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contracts that have task orders with their own periods of performances; the task orders are not listed; only the IDIQ contract.

Information courtesy of DoD Office of Small Business

For more information, please visit the Subcontracting for Small Business webpage under the Department of Defense Office of Small Business Programs or send us a message using the email below and we will be happy to help.

Subcontracting (defense.gov)

The SBIR/STTR programs provide Army access to technology that helps meet mission needs and provide “seed” funds to small businesses in the development of their technology. The objective of the programs is to stimulate technological innovation, to meet federal research and development (R&D) needs, to foster and encourage participation in innovations and entrepreneurship by socially and economically disadvantaged persons, and to increase private sector use of innovations derived from federal R&D funding. In the case of STTR, another objective is to foster technology transfer through cooperative R&D between a small business and a research institute.

There are 3 phases of the SBIR/STTR programs. Phases I and II are funded with program funds, but Phase III is funded with other funds (a federal contract, a subcontract, a commercial contract, angel investors, or venture capital).

• Phase I, Feasibility: a study that determines scientific, technical merit and feasibility of a selected concept. Award of up to $100k for up to 6 months of effort, with an option for up to $50k for an additional 4 months.
• Phase II, Prototype: a continuation of the R&D that culminates in a well-defined, deliverable prototype. Award is for up to $1M for up to 2 years of effort. SBIR allows for Phase II enhancement, an option for up to an additional $500k to increase the Technical Readiness Level (TRL) of the technology. There is no Phase II enhancement for STTR, but awardees are eligible for a 2nd Phase II award.
• Phase III, Commercialization: work that derives from, extends, or logically concludes efforts performed under Phase I or II. The objective is to pursue commercial application of the technology.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research and Technology (DASA(R&T)) is responsible for the SBIR/STTR Programs, but our office serves as a liaison for program inquiries.

By clicking below, you can find out about competitive, awards-based programs and identify the top emerging technical solutions to meet critical Army priorities to modernize our world-class Army and get life-saving technology into the hands of our Soldiers.

www.armysbir.army.mil

If you would like more information, please contact the Army OSBP Front Desk at 703-697-2868.

Army OSBP’s role is to conduct outreach to HBCU and MSI about the prime and subcontracting opportunities for Army contracts and how they can, through R&D and business infrastructure training and support, make a difference in the capability of other small businesses and the warfighter. Army OSBP leverages other organizations’ outreach events by presenting about the above prime and subcontracting opportunities at those events.

The DoD’s Office of Diversity Management and Equal Opportunity (ODMEO) hosts an outreach event 3 times each year called “Pentagon to the People.” It is one of our primary HBCU/MSI outreach events. Army Materiel Command’s (AMC’s) Office of Diversity Management conducts outreach to HBCU/MSI. Army Research Lab (ARL) recognized the contributions that HBCU can make to the Army’s R&D needs, not only in the SBIR/STTR programs. It conducts outreach to HBCU/MSI through its Office of Technology Integration and Outreach Division.

HBCU/MSI are still entities for which Army Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) desires to conduct outreach to encourage consideration of contracting and other opportunities.

• HBCU/MSI can compete for full and open contract actions.
• HBCU/MSI can participate in the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program by entering into an agreement with a small business to conduct applied Research and Development (R&D) on topics identified in the program. Under the STTR program, the Principal Investigator (PI) may be an employee of the HBCU/MSI research institute.
• HBCU/MSI may participate in the Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program as a subcontractor to a small business by providing R&D resources such as labs, interns, and other resources.
• HBCU/MSI can provide support as a subcontractor to an Army mentor under the DoD Mentor-Protégé Program (MPP) by providing business infrastructure support identified in the Developmental Assistance Plan (DAP) in a Mentor-Protégé Agreement (MPA) or by providing technology transfer in that MPA, such as certification training. DoD mandates that at least 5% of a reimbursable MPA be subcontracted to an HBCU/MSI, Small Business Development Center (SBDC) or a Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC).

The Mentor-Protege Program (MPP) was established November 5, 1990 (Public Law 101-510) as a pilot program but has been reauthorized by Congress through FY 2026. This program provides incentives to major DoD contractors to furnish eligible small business concerns with assistance designed to expand their footprint in the defense industrial base. The Mentor-Protégé Agreement (MPA) consists of business infrastructure developmental assistance and technology transfer. Example of Developmental Assistance include activities like Human Resources training, Business Development, Capture Management and Proposal Development training, or training on implementing a DCAA-compliant accounting system. Technology transfer can include implementation of quality management systems, certifications, or it can work on specific technology that provides a benefit to an Army program manager, Program Executive Office (PEO) or a Commander.

Types of Mentor-Protégé Agreements:

• Reimbursable: reimburses mentors for allowable mentoring expenses, up to $1M/year for up to 2 years.

• Credit: provides small business subcontracting credit to the mentor for the socioeconomic categories of the protégé using a multiplier (4X for direct labor costs; 3X for subcontracts, and 2X for other direct costs [ODCs]); Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) administers credit agreements.

• Hybrid: provides small business subcontracting credit for 1 year and reimburses for an additional year. DCMA administers the credit portion, and we jointly manage the reimbursable portion with DCMA.

Solicitation process:

The solicitation process is a 2-step process:

• 1) a call for white papers that describe the technology transfer along with an endorsement from a PM, PEO, or Commander stating that the technology transfer addresses one of their top priorities.

• 2) a request for proposal (RFP) by invitation to only those Mentor-Protégé (MP) teams whose technology transfer the Army wish to pursue.

NEW: Significant changes made to the Program in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY 2023 (Section 856).

• DoD Mentor-Protégé has been made permeant!
• Codification of the DoD MPP: 10 USC 4902 from 10 USC 4901 note
• Initial agreement length changed from (2) to (3) years. Still able to extend to (5) years for "unusual circumstances"
• Additional forms of assistance by Mentor personnel added. (Added manufacturing and test evaluation as a form of assistance.
• Modified mentor firm eligibility. level of contracts and subcontracts awarded in previous FY lowered to $25M (from $100M).
• Established the "Protégé Technical Reimbursement Pilot Program"
• Require OSBP to conduct independent review of the program at least once every (3) years.
• Added new definitions. Affiliation, Small Business Concern, Small Business Concern owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, and subcontracting participation goals.
• Post awarded reporting increased from (2) to (5) years for Protégé.

Note: Amendments made by the FY23 NDAA shall not apply with respect to any agreement entered into prior to enactment of FY23 NDAA.

Project Spectrum:

The Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) has launched Project Spectrum (http://www.projectspectrum.io) as the definitive platform for cybersecurity information, resources, tools, and training for small businesses that are part of the defense and national security supply chain. Protégé’s will be assessed upon program entry and receive training to meet NIST SP 800-171 evaluations requirements or achieve Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification.

The Indian Incentive Program (IIP) is a Congressionally-sponsored program that provides a 5 percent rebate to a prime contractor on the total amount subcontracted to an Indian-Owned Economic Enterprise or Indian Organization in accordance with DFARS Clause 252.226-7001. Through the generation of subcontracts, the IIP serves as an economic multiplier for Native American communities. DoD prime contractors with a subcontract worth $500,000 or more that contains the DFARS clause are eligible for incentive payments. Information courtesy of DoD Office of Small Business

Eligibility

For Native American businesses, two requirements must be met in order to participate in the IIP:

1. 51% Native American/Alaskan/Hawaiian Ownership

• Indian ownership of the subcontractor or supplier cannot constitute less than 51 percent of the enterprise.
• DFARS 252.226-7001

1. Federally Recognized Tribal Enrollment

• Native American: The subcontractor or supplier must be owned by a federally recognized tribe or a member of a federally recognized tribe.
• Native Alaskan: The subcontractor or supplier must be owned by a "native," "native village" or "native group" (including corporations organized by Kenai, Juneau, Sitka, and Kodiak) as defined by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.
• Native Hawaiian: The subcontractor or supplier must be owned by a recognized Native Hawaiian as defined by 25 USC 4221(9).

For more information, please visit the Indian Incentive Program webpage under the Department of Defense Office of Small Business Programs, or contact the Army OSBP Front Desk at 703-697-2868.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the average time frame for receipt of the 5% rebate once you have submitted the paperwork?

The average time frame for receipt of the 5% rebate depends on many factors including availability of FY funds, number of requests awaiting funds before yours, incomplete requests (requests lacking Indian-Ownership documentation, tribal affiliation, invoice summary sheet, etc.), and other factors. Due to the recent popularity of the program, it is probable that there will be an extensive wait between request submittal and payment.

If the $20 million of appropriated IIP funds is expended before my request is funded, will I have to resubmit another request?

All complete and eligible IIP requests not funded in the fiscal year that they were submitted will be rolled over to the next fiscal year.

Should the Subcontractor, Prime Contractor, or Contracting Officer notify OSBP in advance of making this rebate request to ensure that money is set aside?

No. Rebate requests that arrive in the OSBP office are processed on a first-come first-served basis. Incomplete requests will not be processed until all required documentation is received.

Is there a time limit on filing "claims" under the Indian Incentive clause?

The Prime may request the insertion of DFAR Clause 252.226-7001 and file for the incentive payment any time during the life of the contract. The present 5% rebate program started in FY97. Claims may go back to that period if the contract is open and performance is being made by the Prime. Once the contract is closed, the claim cannot be filed.

I own a Native-American, Native Alaskan, or Native Hawaiian business. Am I eligible to participate in the Indian Incentive Program?

If you are a business owner, you must be a member of a federally recognized Native American tribe, as listed in Federal Register: August 11, 2009 (Volume 74, #153, Notices), a "Native" as defined by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act 43 USC 1602(b), or Native Hawaiian as defined by 25 USC 4221, Sec 9. You must possess 51% of more ownership of the firm. If there is more than one owner, each eligible Native American/Alaskan/Hawaiian, in combination, must equal 51% or more ownership. If the firm is owned and controlled by a tribe or a native village or native group (including corporations organized by Kenai, Juneau, Sitka, and Kodiak), the "Indian" or "Native" entity must be recognized by the Federal Government as eligible for services from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) in accordance with 25 USC 1452(c).

If I meet the eligibility requirements for the Indian Incentive Program and want to participate in the program, what should I do next?

You should first research potential contractors. You may want to explore research methods for doing business with the Department of Defense. Research current DoD Prime Contractors that might make a good match for your products and services. See recent Contractors who have participated in the Indian Incentive Program. Market your firm well. Be sure to plan ahead and have your certification documents ready (federally recognized tribal /Native Alaskan affiliation and proof of 51% ownership) to submit to your Prime.