Small Business Opportunities

NSRP’s Advanced Shipbuilding Enterprise program and associated industry cost share fund most of the R&D targeted on the Strategic Investment Plan requirements, but NSRP actively seeks to leverage other work and funds. The Office of Naval Research and shipbuilding Program Executive Offices have been particularly supportive through its Small Business and Shipbuilding Initiative programs.

Small Business Innovative Research Program

This program is designed to apply innovative ideas from small businesses to specific research and development needs of the Navy. ONR, NAVSEA and PEO Ships, in cooperation with NSRP, at times include specific research topics that support the NSRP Strategic Investment Plan in their SBIR solicitations. Since the sponsoring organization funds these proprietary projects directly and manages the contracts, the requirements for sharing results are not the same as NSRP-funded projects; however, the results of these projects are intended to be commercialized by the small companies and available for sale industry-wide.

Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)

This program funds cooperative research and development between small companies and research institutions to address the needs of the Navy. The Office of Naval Research (ONR), in cooperation with NSRP and drawing on the NSRP Strategic Investment Plan, at times includes a specific research topic on Technology for Shipbuilding Affordability in STTR solicitations. These projects were jointly funded by ONR and NSRP. Since they are proprietary, the requirements for sharing results are not the same as NSRP-funded projects; however, the results of these projects are intended to be commercialized by the small companies and available for sale industry-wide.

For information on previously funded SBIR and STTR projects, click here.

For more information on DoD Small Business Programs as well as solicitation information, click here.

Shipbuilding Initiative (SI)

This program is a cooperative effort between ONR and NSRP to connect the shipbuilders’ needs, as identified in the NSRP Strategic Investment Plan, with the technical capabilities of the Navy ManTech Centers of Excellence (COE). ONR funds these projects directly to the COEs and manages the contracts. Implementation by shipyard team members is a key feature of the Shipbuilding Initiative.

For information on previously funded Shipbuilding Initiative projects, click here.