Naval Air Systems Command SBIR/STTR Programs

The Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) programs connect acquisition professionals and technologists with industry and nonprofit research institutions. It is NAVAIR’s principal venue for the identification, submission and development of innovative solutions and their transition for use on naval aviation weapons systems or commercialization. Established by Congress in 1982, the SBIR Program provides critical startup funds, accounting for a considerable portion of the Chief Technology Office science and technology portfolio. The STTR Program is the sister program to SBIR. It requires small businesses to partner with a university, a federally funded research and development center or a qualified nonprofit research institution. Technologies developed by small businesses through the SBIR/STTR programs are in response to requests for proposals on technical areas of needs identified by acquisition professionals and technologists and are published in DoW Broad Agency Announcements.

This section contains links to sites that provide additional information on the SBIR/STTR Programs.

Looking to meet with NAVAIR acquisition professionals and technologists?

You can start here by filling out the NAVAIR Industry Engagement and Inquiry Form. 

The DoN SBIR/STTR Programs Office sponsors several showcase events where small businesses can promote their SBIR/STTR-funded technologies and discuss them with NAVAIR decision makers.  They include:

  • Navy STP Innovative Technology Showcase at WEST
  • Sea-Air-Space Conference and Exhibition
  • NAVAIR & NAVSEA Technical Information Exchange Showcase

    For up-to-date information on dates and locations, go to https://navyfst.com/
     
  • DoN Gold Coast (Small Business Procurement event hosted by The San Diego Chapter of the National Defense Industrial Association) https://www.navygoldcoast.org/

Tell others about your accomplishments. Information on NAVAIR's public release process is available below.

The list of materials that must be submitted for review to NAVAIR include (but is not limited to): technical papers, reports, presentations, news releases, videos (with scripts), photographs (with captions), viewgraph presentations (with scripts), Web pages, industry submissions, contract information, etc., and any material (prototypes, samples, etc.,) presented at symposia, conferences and the like.

 

NAVAIR SPR: Taking the Right Steps A guide for industry and academia on how to request public release of information on Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) programs technologies. A Security Policy Review (SPR) is required for ALL materials before they are publicly released. Requests for public release should be submitted at least 60 days before their desired release date. Submission after this date may result in delay of approval. Requests sent via email must be encrypted. You may use DOD Secure Access File Exchange (SAFE) to send materials. (https://safe.apps.mil/) If the business concern cannot access SAFE, send an email to the TPOC or the NAVAIR SBIR/STTR program management office (NAVAIR-SBIR@us.navy.mil) and request a drop-off. You will be sent an email that will give you access. Step 1 - Work with your technical point of contact (TPOC) to get the process started. Request a NAVAIRINST 5720.10 (Public Release Authorization Request) form. Step 2 - Ensure the material for submission does not contain any classified/sensitive information by reviewing applicable Security Classification Guide(s) (SCGs) and Critical Information and Indicator List(s) (CIILs). All NAVAIR materials are, at the very minimum, considered controlled unclassified information (CUI) until they are approved for public release. Please mark and handle them accordingly. For more information on CUI, visit https://www.dodcui.mil/. Contact your TPOC for more information. Step 3 - If information in the material is “owned” by another entity, obtain approval for public release from the entity BEFORE submitting a request to NAVAIR. Step 4 - Fill out and digitally sign the 5720.10 as the Requestor. If the business concern is unable to do so, the TPOC will fill out and sign as the Requestor. Step 5 - Include the technology’s contract number on the 5720.10. Step 6 - Submit the final version of the material and the 5720.10 to your TPOC. • Be prepared to make edits to the m

 

NAVAIR SPR: Taking the right steps A checklist to guide industry and academia when submitting requests for public release of information on Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Programs technologies • Did you contact your technical point of contact (TPOC) to get the process started? • Are you submitting the request at least 60 days before its desired public release date? • Did you ensure the material for submission does NOT contain any classified/sensitive information? • Did you obtain approval for public release from all parties BEFORE submitting a request to NAVAIR? (This is applicable only if information in the material is “owned” by another entity in addition to NAVAIR.) • Did you fill out the 5720.10 properly? • Digitally signed as the requestor • Included the technology's contract number • Are you sending the material to your TPOC using a delivery method with the appropriate security measures? Questions? Contact the NAVAIR SBIR/STTR program management office (navair-sbir@us.navy.mil).

 

Links to fact sheets

This section contains links to sites that provide additional information on the SBIR/STTR Programs.

Looking to meet with NAVAIR acquisition professionals and technologists?

You can start here by filling out the NAVAIR Industry Engagement and Inquiry Form. 

The DoN SBIR/STTR Programs Office sponsors several showcase events where small businesses can promote their SBIR/STTR-funded technologies and discuss them with NAVAIR decision makers.  They include:

  • Navy STP Innovative Technology Showcase at WEST
  • Sea-Air-Space Conference and Exhibition
  • NAVAIR & NAVSEA Technical Information Exchange Showcase

    For up-to-date information on dates and locations, go to https://navyfst.com/
     
  • DoN Gold Coast (Small Business Procurement event hosted by The San Diego Chapter of the National Defense Industrial Association) https://www.navygoldcoast.org/

Click here for a list of SBIR/STTR programs FAQs.

Tell others about your accomplishments. Information on NAVAIR's public release process is available below.

The list of materials that must be submitted for review to NAVAIR include (but is not limited to): technical papers, reports, presentations, news releases, videos (with scripts), photographs (with captions), viewgraph presentations (with scripts), Web pages, industry submissions, contract information, etc., and any material (prototypes, samples, etc.,) presented at symposia, conferences and the like.

 

NAVAIR SPR: Taking the Right Steps A guide for industry and academia on how to request public release of information on Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) programs technologies. A Security Policy Review (SPR) is required for ALL materials before they are publicly released. Requests for public release should be submitted at least 60 days before their desired release date. Submission after this date may result in delay of approval. Requests sent via email must be encrypted. You may use DOD Secure Access File Exchange (SAFE) to send materials. (https://safe.apps.mil/) If the business concern cannot access SAFE, send an email to the TPOC or the NAVAIR SBIR/STTR program management office (NAVAIR-SBIR@us.navy.mil) and request a drop-off. You will be sent an email that will give you access. Step 1 - Work with your technical point of contact (TPOC) to get the process started. Request a NAVAIRINST 5720.10 (Public Release Authorization Request) form. Step 2 - Ensure the material for submission does not contain any classified/sensitive information by reviewing applicable Security Classification Guide(s) (SCGs) and Critical Information and Indicator List(s) (CIILs). All NAVAIR materials are, at the very minimum, considered controlled unclassified information (CUI) until they are approved for public release. Please mark and handle them accordingly. For more information on CUI, visit https://www.dodcui.mil/. Contact your TPOC for more information. Step 3 - If information in the material is “owned” by another entity, obtain approval for public release from the entity BEFORE submitting a request to NAVAIR. Step 4 - Fill out and digitally sign the 5720.10 as the Requestor. If the business concern is unable to do so, the TPOC will fill out and sign as the Requestor. Step 5 - Include the technology’s contract number on the 5720.10. Step 6 - Submit the final version of the material and the 5720.10 to your TPOC. • Be prepared to make edits to the m

 

NAVAIR SPR: Taking the right steps A checklist to guide industry and academia when submitting requests for public release of information on Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Programs technologies • Did you contact your technical point of contact (TPOC) to get the process started? • Are you submitting the request at least 60 days before its desired public release date? • Did you ensure the material for submission does NOT contain any classified/sensitive information? • Did you obtain approval for public release from all parties BEFORE submitting a request to NAVAIR? (This is applicable only if information in the material is “owned” by another entity in addition to NAVAIR.) • Did you fill out the 5720.10 properly? • Digitally signed as the requestor • Included the technology's contract number • Are you sending the material to your TPOC using a delivery method with the appropriate security measures? Questions? Contact the NAVAIR SBIR/STTR program management office (navair-sbir@us.navy.mil).

 

Industry Engagement Opportunities

Technology Areas of Interest list: 1 - Advanced Electronics, 2 - Air Platforms, 3 – Autonomy, 4 - Battlespace Environments, 5 – Biomedical, 6 - Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence, 7 - Counter Improvised Explosive Devices, 8 - Counter Weapons of Mass Destruction, 9 – Cyber, 10 - Electronic Warfare, 11 - Energy and Power Technologies, 12 - Engineered Resilient Systems, 13 - Ground and Sea Platforms, 14 - Human Systems, 15 - Materials and Manufacturing Processes, 16 - Modeling and Simulation Technology, 17 – Sensors, 18 – Space, 19 – Sustainment, 20 - Weapons Technologies

 

Short snippets (30-60 seconds) produced by NAVAIR Command Communications featuring NAVAIR SBIR/STTR technologies

Joint Simulation Environment (A capability with SBIR-technology inputs.)

Navy advances development of Air Force’s new Joint Simulation Environment (Published by NAWCAD)

Marines, Air Force fight as a joint force for the first time in the Navy's Joint Simulation Environment (Published by NAWCAD)

Video:

 

FRCSW Showcases Cold Spray Technology at 2024 DoD Maintenance Symposium (An SBIR-funded technology. Published by FRCSW in February 2025)

Navy’s Unmanned Detect-and-Avoidance Tech Goes Operational (An SBIR-funded technology. Published by NAWCAD in December 2024) Watch here.

Small businesses’ unexplored talents are key to innovation (published August 2024)

CharLES gives engineers clearer picture of potential solutions to engine health issues (published May 2024)

DON showcase brings acquisition professionals, small businesses together (published March 2024)

Ergonomics Enables Longer Sorties, Improves Aircraft Habitability (published December 2023)

Navy to field new hearing protection helmet for extreme noise environments improving safety, readiness (An SBIR-funded technology. Published by PMA-202 in June 2023)

Small businesses are essential to increased capabilities, fleet readiness (published April 2023)

 

 

Short snippets (30-60 seconds) produced by NAVAIR Command Communications featuring NAVAIR SBIR/STTR technologies

Joint Simulation Environment (A capability with SBIR-technology inputs.)

Navy advances development of Air Force’s new Joint Simulation Environment (Published by NAWCAD)

Marines, Air Force fight as a joint force for the first time in the Navy's Joint Simulation Environment (Published by NAWCAD)

Video:

 

FRCSW Showcases Cold Spray Technology at 2024 DoD Maintenance Symposium (An SBIR-funded technology. Published by FRCSW in February 2025)

Navy’s Unmanned Detect-and-Avoidance Tech Goes Operational (An SBIR-funded technology. Published by NAWCAD in December 2024) Watch here.

Small businesses’ unexplored talents are key to innovation (published August 2024)

CharLES gives engineers clearer picture of potential solutions to engine health issues (published May 2024)

DON showcase brings acquisition professionals, small businesses together (published March 2024)

Ergonomics Enables Longer Sorties, Improves Aircraft Habitability (published December 2023)

Navy to field new hearing protection helmet for extreme noise environments improving safety, readiness (An SBIR-funded technology. Published by PMA-202 in June 2023)

Small businesses are essential to increased capabilities, fleet readiness (published April 2023)

 

 

SBIR/STTR Program Manager

Ms. DePriest became Small Business Innovative Research and Small Business Technology Transition Program Manager in February 2022. She is responsible for the management and implementation of DoW, Navy, and Command policy aimed at encouraging innovation by small businesses, technical development and the successful transition of federally funded SBIR Science and Technology products into the Naval Aviation Enterprise. More than 300 companies participate in NAVAIR's SBIR/STTR Programs through multiple solicitations each year.

SBIR/STTR Program Manager

 

Questions? Email us at [email protected].                                                                                                                         Last updated June 2026