SBIR CATALYST’s contract structure will offer up to five small businesses multiphase funding opportunities starting in FY24. The five awards will include any combination of Phase II ($15 million), Direct to Phase II ($15 million), or Sequential Phase II ($15 million), or Phase II Enhancement ($14 million) awards.
Phase II, and Direct to Phase II and Sequential Phase II contracts will include $1 million in SBIR funding each during the base award period. To receive a Phase II, or Sequential Phase II, or Phase II Enhancement contract, the small business contractor must have executed the base award no earlier than FY20. Sequential Phase II Enhancement awards will also require the small business to have the matching investment at the time of award, and therefore, will not include a base award.
Following the initial base award — or the matching investment for Sequential Phase II Enhancement selectees — businesses can leverage Army SBIR CATALYST enhancement funds for their Phase II projects worth up to $7 million in SBIR capital, $3.5 million in integrator financing and up to $3.5 million from Army transition partners.
This 2:1:1 funding ratio provides small businesses with a potential $15 million investment, driving the total FY24 contract pool up to $75 million among the five small businesses. Via Army SBIR CATALYST’s new funding and submission process, the program will leverage this capital to buy down risk for the Army’s larger, more scalable acquisition profile in FY24 and beyond.