US Military Program Targets Transitioning Technologies
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) issued a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) on May 28, 2014 seeking proposals under the Rapid Innovation Fund (RIF) program to transition innovative technologies that resolve operational challenges or save costs into existing acquisition programs.
The RIF Program is a Congressionally-mandated program, currently authorized from FY11 – FY15 and managed by the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD). OSD’s goal for the program is to “stimulate innovative technology from small businesses that resolve operational challenges or other critical national security needs and transition the technology into defense acquisition programs.”
RIF facilitates innovative technologies that show a clear transition path to fielding the technology into existing defense acquisition programs.
There is a two-step selection process. The BAA will list the technology areas of interest for each participating component, instructions for submission of white papers, and source selection criteria. Subsequent RIF proposals will be invited based on the evaluation results of the white paper submission.
Those selected for RIF awards may receive up to $3 million in funding, with a period of performance 24 months or less.
“RIF is a point of entry for small business to win research and acquisition contracts with the Navy. It bridges the gap between science and technology (S&T) and Small Business Innovation Research (or SBIR) program investments and acquisition.” said Bob Smith, Acting Director, Disruptive Technologies with the Office of Naval Research, and the Navy’s program manager for RIF.
“Bring us your innovative and mature technologies, because we have funding to conduct the final development, testing, evaluation, and integration necessary to transition to existing programs of record,” Smith said.
For additional information on BAA postings, focal points, and milestones, please go to the Defense Innovation Marketplace - http://www.defenseinnovationmarketplace.mil/RIF.html
