By Daniel Smoot, Office of Army Innovation Programs, including xTech and the Army SBIR|STTR Program

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Army Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program announces that Solvus Global, LLC is the Army SBIR CATALYST Program’s first fully funded award recipient, earning nearly $16,800,000 for its cutting-edge technology that enhances contested logistics and sustainment capabilities.

In September 2023, Solvus Global secured an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity Project-Based contract to repair and restore long-range precision fire gun barrels. Solvus developed the CINDER Alpha system under the base task order award. The prototype uses cold spray, a high-velocity stream of powder particles that bond with existing materials, to restore the mechanical performance of damaged cannons. The system showcased its capabilities in a lab-based demonstration, highlighting its potential to decrease inventory based on service life requirements, provide cost savings compared to current repair costs and increase readiness upon completion.​

After meeting the program’s requirements, Solvus received a Task Order in January 2025 to further develop its technology. The company secured nearly $8,878,985.96 from investment partners and advanced to the CATALYST Enhancement phase. Solvus will now collaborate with Watervliet & Benet Lab to adapt the CINDER Alpha system for additional gun barrel platforms, aiming to deliver fully fielded assets and conduct live-fire testing.

This accomplishment highlights the program’s mission to foster collaboration between the Army, technology integrators and small business innovators. Through this initiative, the Army SBIR CATALYST Program aims to incentivize Army Program Managers and technology integrators to transition small business technologies into Programs of Record.

Yet, this remarkable achievement marks only the beginning. The Army SBIR CATALYST Program plans to offer nearly $75 million in contract awards to up to five innovators from fiscal year 2024, focusing on groundbreaking technologies in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Energy Resiliency, Contested Logistics and Sustainment, Immersive and Wearables, and Sensors.

Evolution of Army SBIR CATALYST

The Army originally unveiled the Army SBIR CATALYST Program at the October 2022 AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition. As one of five key initiatives to incentivize Army collaboration with industry, the program launched its pilot phase in February 2023, offering up to $75 million in matching funds. During this period, the program invested $5 million in base awards to five small businesses that had previously received an Army SBIR|STTR contract within the past four fiscal years but had not yet received a second SBIR|STTR Phase II for the same project.

Building on lessons from the pilot phase, Dr. Matt Willis, Director of Army Innovation Programs, including xTech and Army SBIR|STTR, announced the Army SBIR CATALYST Program at the October 2023 AUSA Meeting and Exposition. The second iteration expanded the pilot’s efforts and built on the Army SBIR|STTR Program’s existing contract structure to offer small businesses resources for advanced prototype development, testing and transition.

Army SBIR CATALYST’s reinvigorated contract structure required Army transition partners to recommend projects ripe for transition but still in need of additional capital to overcome the “Valley of Death,” the challenging transition phase between developing innovative capabilities, scaling manufacturing and integrating into operational use by the military.

Approach to Funding and Development

The SBIR CATALYST Program uses a gated, milestone-based approach to funding and development. Phase II and Direct to Phase II recipients can receive up to $1,000,000 over a 6-to-12-month period, contingent on presenting a clear, actionable transition plan. The enhancement award follows a 2:1:1 matching fund structure over a 12-to-24-month period, with contributions from government transition partners and integrators.

Each partner can contribute up to $3,500,000, unlocking up to $7,000,000 in SBIR Enhancement matching funds totaling $15,000,000. Firms must provide proof of investments and co-sponsorship, and demonstrate progress in technology development, risk reduction and prototype maturation within their technology ecosystems.

“This groundbreaking SBIR program unlocks untapped potential by making substantial investments and establishing a shared risk structure among small businesses, Army transition partners and technology integrators,” said Dr. Matt Willis, Director of Army Innovation programs, including xTech and the Army SBIR|STTR Program. “Through this program, and with increased Army funding, we mitigate risks while advancing prototype development, testing and transition.”

Driving Innovation Forward

The Army SBIR CATALYST Program has proven its ability to expedite the transition of innovative technologies into practical military applications by providing funding and fostering collaboration among small businesses, Army partners and technology integrators. Prioritizing key technology ecosystems, the program maintains U.S. technological superiority, diversifies the Army’s industrial base, reduces costs and mitigates financial risks. It drives innovation through a shared-risk structure, offering resources for prototype development and facilitating the seamless transition of cutting-edge technologies into military use.

About the Army SBIR|STTR Program

The Army SBIR Program provides Phase I funding for innovators demonstrating commercial viability, feasibility, and technical merit. Firms with mature technologies can advance to Phase II and Direct to Phase II contracts, enabling them to further develop and commercialize their innovations.

The Army STTR Program fosters collaboration by integrating small businesses with universities, federally funded research and development centers, or qualified non-profit research institutions, with small businesses as the prime contractors.

ASA(ALT) leverages innovative technologies to give Soldiers a decisive advantage in any environment by developing, acquiring, fielding, and sustaining the world’s finest equipment and services. For more information, visit the ASA(ALT) web page and follow @ArmyASAALT.

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