Amy Behrman
NAVAIR Technology and Intelligence Office

The Naval Aviation Advanced Hearing Protection Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) ‘topic’ is one of the first SBIR topics endorsed by the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program, and the first to go on to Phase III, where non-SBIR (non-government) capital is used to pursue commercial applications for SBIR projects.

“Going first always has a few more roadblocks, but the dedicated ‘hardy’ are delivering a better product to the Fleet,” said Carol Van Wyk, NAVAIR SBIR program manager. “We assembled a team of technical, programmatic, prime contractor and Air Force contacts to successfully pull this off…with a lot of educating along the way.”

Hearing protection is one of a range of technology topic areas managed by NAVAIR’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. According to Van Wyk, some of the larger focus areas include improved structures, situation awareness, maintenance, and health management – over 50 percent of which address cost reduction.

“SBIR provides fresh sources to our defense acquisition pool, by assisting small technology firms in performing research and research and development (R&D) projects that stimulate technological innovation and strengthen our nation’s industrial base,” added Van Wyk.
Established in 1982 by the Small Business Innovation Development Act (Public Law (PL) 97-219) and recently extended to 2008, SBIR fosters and encourages participation by minority and disadvantaged persons in technological innovation, and increases the commercial application of DoD supported research and R&D.
Through NAVAIR’s SBIR program, research and R&D topics are identified, vetted and released for competitive bid through a very streamlined acquisition process.

The Program uses a three-phase structure. The first phase determines the scientific merit, technical merit, and feasibility of ideas submitted in response to an SBIR Program solicitation. The second phase develops a prototype or process. During the third phase, non-SBIR capital is used to pursue commercial applications of the research and R&D. Most specifically, it is used to insert R&D projects into Naval Aviation systems.

The NAVAIR SBIR office is currently managing 220 Phase I contracts (each representing about $70,000 with a $30,000 option over a 6 month period); 150 Phase II contracts (averaging 24 months at about $750,000 each); and 40 phase III contracts (varying from $100,000 to $40 million).

According to Van Wyk, around 40 percent of NAVAIR’s Phase I companies have never done an SBIR with the government before, and of those, over 50 percent make it to Phase II.

Benefits for the Fleet

“The Advanced Hearing Protection topic is among the first group of topics to utilize NAVAIR’s new SBIR process, which focuses on increased program involvement,” said Van Wyk. “Among that same group of companies is Multispectral Solutions, which is teaming with Raytheon to provide the Navy with a wireless intercommunication system. NAVAIR’s Aircrew Systems Program Office (PMA-202) endorsed this work, and PMA 209 (Air Combat Electronics) is working to provide its benefits to multiple platforms.”

According to Van Wyk, every topic goes in with a vision of benefiting the Fleet, but SBIR projects are unique, in that they are research programs, which carry an inherent element of risk.

“When an SBIR technology makes it to the Fleet, it always has a least one champion behind it and often a whole team of supporters – ranging from program and technical representatives to prime contractors and the Fleet.

In an effort to increase Fleet participation in the program, NAVAIR has recently instituted a process to ensure input and direction from the Commander Naval Air Forces (CNAF) and Commander Fleet Forces Command (CFFC) are reflected in SBIR topic selection. The goal is to increase the number of SBIRs that respond directly to fleet needs and increased readiness; and to develop metrics that capture CNAF/CFFC involvement and SBIR impact to the Fleet.

It’s no wonder why the Services are interested in helping small companies succeed. Their business model is one of continuous innovation, rapid prototyping, speed, agility, and cost consciousness – the very principles of military transformation.

For more information on NAVAIR’s SBIR program, visit http://www.navair.navy.mil/sbir/ or contact Carol Van Wyk at (301) 342-0197. For information on Navy SBIR, access http://www.navysbir.com/.