Small Business Innovation Research to Support Aging Aircraft Priority Technical Areas and Process Improvements (2001) / Chapter Skim
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SBIR Process Improvements
SBIR Process Improvements
Pages 63-78
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From page 63... ...
The committee did not consider all potential SBIR process improvement options and alternatives, but it offers some recommendations for careful consideration by the Air Force. Because only SBIR projects related to aging aircraft were considered, the Air Force will have to determine if these recommendations also apply to other aspects of its SBIR program.
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From page 64... ...
directly in this process and in the acquisition programs is a significant change for the aging aircraft community. The basic strategy for improving Air Force SBIR processes is to change the SBIR topic allocations, the most powerful tool in the whole process.
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From page 65... ...
IMPROVEMENTSINSBIR PROCESSES Table 5-1 SBIR Topic Allocation: New Process (FY02 Organization Program Executive Officials Joint Logistics Weapons Joint Strike Fighter Fighter Bomber Airlift and Trainer Space Command and Control Total Product Centers and Test Centers Product Centers Air Armament Center Aeronautical Systems Center Electronic Systems Center Space and Missiles Center Test Centers Arnold Engineering Development Center Air Force Flight Test Center Air Armament Test Center Total Air logistics centers Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center Ogden Air Logistics Center Warner Robbins Air Logistics Center Total Air Force Research Laboratory Directorates Munitions Air Vehicles Directed Energy Human Effectiveness Information Materials and Manufacturing Sensors Propulsion Space Vehicles Corporate Strategy Total GRAND TOTAL Allocation o 21 10 22 8 47 10 118 6 6 6 6 6 6 42 6 6 6 18 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 60 248 Table courtesy of Air Force Small Business Innovation Research Office.
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From page 66... ...
As might be expected, the current listing of SBIR topics from the ALCs is dominated by aging aircraft issues. These centers have limited direct access to R&D funding, so SBIR program participation is something of a windfall for them, and they have expressed considerable interest in expanding their participation.
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From page 67... ...
Directorate-generated SBIR topics 6 Directorate-generated aging aircraft topics ~ 6 o Product center/PEO-generated 2 4 aging aircraft topics (B-l, B-2, F-16, F-~ 17, C-130, ASC) Total aging aircraft topics (new process)
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From page 68... ...
, managed largely by the ALCs. Most new technologies are for new systems that will be fielded sometime in the future, and transferring them requires AFRL, the product centers, and PEOs employing sequential 3600 Program Element Ending to work together.
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From page 69... ...
These initiatives include the new Navy Aging Aircraft Integrated Product Team, introduced at the 2000 Aging Aircraft. Conference; annual Air Force durability —7
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From page 70... ...
-Selection of SBIR Topics Some representatives of Air Force units that made presentations to the committee felt that because they did not have sufficient control over the SBIR process, they did not plan on using SBIR funds for flight-critical programs. This is easy to understand, because the operating units submit topics for consideration but do not make the final decision on which topics will go forward.
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From page 71... ...
A pool of SBIR funds should be made available on a case-bycase basis to agencies, programs, depots, or laboratones that can document a need for short-term SBIR support. If each agency, command, program, depot, or laboratory that now has six topics available to it were given five topics instead, a pool of topics (and of SBIR funds)
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From page 72... ...
, we will use it." White Paper Process Air Force SBIR program managers do not appear to consider the significant costs involved in preparing an SBIR Phase ~ proposal. Small businesses estimate the current cost at $3,000 to $10,000, a significant investment for a very small business.
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From page 73... ...
White papers would also be easier to handle because they would not require debnefing. From the white papers, the Air Force could request 1,000 Phase ~ proposals per year, from which the 500 most relevant could be selected for awards, at a much lower administrative burden.
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From page 74... ...
SBIR programs are often assigned to the least experienced engineers, who are not aware of the needs of the Air Force, the ALCs, the SPOs, the aging aircraft program, and other relevant programs. At one ALC, the SBIR program manager was the third person assigned to that responsibility in 4 years.
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From page 75... ...
Many small businesses are not fully aware of the needs of the Air Force, and many Air Force personnel are not aware of the capabilities available in the small business sector. Information about the ins and outs of military SBIR programs is lacking, as is personal contact with an anorooriate engineer to avoid blind ~ronosals.
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From page 76... ...
Workshops would lead to better use of SBIR fiends for all participants and establish a dialogue that could lead to solutions to real Air Force needs. In the present system, most Air Force SBIR contract technical representatives do not meet the company until after a Phase ~ award has been made.
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From page 77... ...
Such an appointment will also increase the benefit and recognition to the SBIR program at the various Air Force customer levels.
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