Supporting Small Businesses from Award to Transition

Technical and Business Assistance (TABA) Program Scope

The TABA program provides SBIR & STTR awardees with additional, no-cost resources under to accelerate technology transition and commercialization. Specifically, TABA funding helps small businesses minimize technical risks, solve engineering challenges, protect intellectual property, and screen for foreign involvement including:  

* Newly approved TABA Services starting in 2026 

TABA Opportunities

The Army offers TABA for many SBIR and STTR topics and may provide up to $6,500 per Phase I project and up to $50,000 across Phase II projects per firm for eligible TABA requests.  These amounts are in addition to the maximum award funding guideline listed for each SBIR|STTR topic. Eligibility for TABA will be written in the CSO and component instructions for each solicitation release.  TABA funding is not guaranteed and is based upon the review of the services requested and the available TABA budget. Proposers may choose one of the following options: 

1. Firm–Selected Vendor — firms that choose their own provider or choose to leverage TABA For internal workforce development and staffing must include the proposed cost and justification in their SBIR|STTR proposal submitted through DSIP. 
   • Proposers/Offerors may request to contract TABA services through one or more TABA providers or through funding used to hire new or augment staff, or direct staff to conduct or participate in training activities consistent with the goals listed in 15 U.S.C.§638(q)(1).  If selecting to utilize your own TABA provider, the proposed TABA amount must be included in the DSIP Cost Volume (Volume 3) and can be in addition to the maximum funding limitation for the associated SBIR|STTR topic, and details of TABA request must be included in Supporting Documents (Volume 5) as described in the CSO and component instructions for each solicitation release.   
2. Army-Preferred Vendor(s) — firms that do not submit TABA funding requests with their DSIP proposal package, or are denied TABA requests will have the opportunity to apply for TABA services from an Army-preferred vendor following selection for award.
   • Proposers/Offerors that do not receive TABA funding with their award, may still apply for up to $6,500 per Phase I project and up to $50,000 across Phase II projects for assistance services.  Costs for using the Army’s preferred provider(s) does not need to be included in the DSIP cost proposal (Volume 3).  If approved, this funding is provided directly from the Army SBIR|STTR Office to the Army’s preferred provider(s) to perform the assistance agreed upon. Participation is voluntary, and application instructions are provided upon selection.  The Army’s preferred provider(s) and the current services they are offering can be found below.   

Army’s Preferred Provider Services and Timeline 

Current Army Preferred TABA Providers: 

FedTech – a Deep Tech commercialization partner provides TABA services to assist with commercialization strategies, establish business foundations, and position your firm for lasting market success.  Primary services include:    

• Access to a network of scientists, engineers, and technologists focused on commercialization and transition considerations such as protected supply chain management, advanced manufacturing and process/product/scaling. 
• Assistance with intellectual property protections, including legal considerations, intellectual property rights, patent filing, patent fees and licensing considerations. 
• Commercialization and technology transition support such as market research, market validation, development of regulatory or manufacturing plans, and brand development. 
• Regulatory support such as product domain regulatory planning and regulatory strategy development.