• The Commercialization Pilot Program (CPP) was authorized and created as part of section 252 of the National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2006.
• The statute set-aside 1% of the available SBIR funding to be used for administrative support to transition SBIR developed technologies. Per Chief of Naval Research memorandum, 20% of SBIR funds are dedicated to expand transition funding available to existing Phase II projects.
• The goal of the program is to provide the necessary transition assistance to SBIR firms to allow developed technologies to be integrated into Programs of Record to meet high priority Department of Navy needs.

• Administrative funding is provided by the statutory 1% allocation of SBIR funds and may not be allocated to the researching firm.
• Project funding was not provided by statute; but, it is an initiative of the Navy highlighting its commitment to technology transition. The amount allocated is approximately 20% of the major SYSCOMs SBIR project funds.
• Cost Matching are funds other than SBIR funds provided in support of a transition project. This may include the allocable value of certain in-kind contributions; but, it does not include prior or future expenditures (i.e. outside the transition project period of performance) or those not controlled by the research project manager or his/her research partner. A minimum cost match of 1:2 (non-SBIR to SBIR funding) is required with a goal of 3:4. [SYSCOM sets own requirement.]
• The amount of SBIR funding available for transition (CPP) efforts shall not exceed $1.5 million per firm per topic number.
• The matching funds provided for transition may not be reported as Phase III funding unless they are awarded on a separate contract from all SBIR funds.

• Technology Risk Identification & Mitigation Software (TRIMS) for SBIR is a web based tool that allows companies to perform self-assessments to identify areas of potential risk related to technology transition. Once a self-assessment is completed areas of high or moderate risk can be reviewed to determine what mitigation steps may be available to reduce risk. Willcor is under contract to the Navy to assist companies with the use of TRIMS, performance of independent assessments, and assistance in developing risk mitigation strategies and plans.
• Transition planning requires detailed understanding of the DoD Acquisition Cycle, knowledge of appropriate Program of Record requirements, and significant coordination with acquisition offices and prime systems contractors. Both Willcor and Dawnbreaker are under contract with the Navy to provide assistance to SBIR firms in planning their transition strategies.
• Manufacturing and Production Readiness assessments are designed to determine when and if a firm is ready to begin producing a product. Both Willcor and Dawnbreaker are under contract to assist firms with identifying issues, preparing manufacturing plans, and conducting assessments.
• Technology Readiness Assessments are used to assist firms in determining the development status of their technology (TRL) as well as conformance to requirements. Willcor is under contract to the Navy to provide these assessments.
• Tests and demonstrations are often conditions for acceptance of technology by acquisition offices. Both Willcor and Dawnbreaker are available to assist firms in identifying requirements and finding available equipment and facilities.

• Firms must still meet Phase II eligibility requirements in order to receive assistance under the CPP program.
• In order to participate in CPP, firms must be invited and selected by a Navy SYSCOM CPP manager. [Contact your TPOC/SYSCOM CPP Manager for the process and schedule.]
• The project must address a high priority Navy need which may be demonstrated by its relevance to a planned or existing Program of Record (PoR) or identified Technology Gap.
• The technology being developed must show a clear path to transition as evidenced by acquisition office or PoR/FNC/INP support.
• The time to transition (i.e. inclusion in the PoR/FNC/INP acquisition strategy) must not exceed 48 months.

• Mandatory information includes:
  • Project Title
  • Topic Number
  • Transition Target & Insertion Date
  • Business case including a description of the technology being developed, benefits to the Navy and how SBIR CPP funds will be used
  • Operational Need driving the technology
  • Integration Strategy
  • Risk Assessment
  • List of Planned/Required Testing and Demonstrations
  • Key Metrics for Transitions
  • Impacts to Affordability
  • Major Tasks with associated periods of performance, TRL levels and funding requirements
  • Points of Contact for Firm, PoR, TPOC, and Research Partners
• Signatures are required by:
  • Firm (Optional)
  • Research Partners (Optional)
  • Acquisition Target PM or Designee (Mandatory)
  • TPOC (Mandatory)
  • SYSCOM CPP PM (Mandatory)
  • All Providers of Funding (Mandatory)
• Must be Signed prior to Receipt of Financial Assistance from SBIR CPP funds
• Must be reviewed/updated annually or anytime a major change impacts the validity of the data

• CPP financial assistance awards may be executed as separate stand-alone Phase II contracts or as expansions to existing Phase II contracts under the same topic number. Regardless of which method is used, the statement of work and contract/modification should clearly indicate that the award is made as part of the CPP.
• SBIR CPP funds exceeding $750,000 or periods of performance greater than eighteen months should be segregated as optional efforts.
• Cost matching funds provided from Government sources should be included in the total award value and made a part of the CPP financial assistance award. Cost matching provided from non-government sources should be documented in the TTA and their receipt monitored prior to the commitment/obligation of additional SBIR funds. Non-government cost matching shall not be considered as cost share and not be included in the contract amounts. The failure to meet cost matching commitments is a failure to meet the technical requirements for demonstrating continued transition commitment on the part of project sponsors. This is sufficient justification to decline further SBIR funding of the project.

• Conducted no less than annually to include:
  • Assessment of technical progress and ability to achieve objectives
  • Current TRL and MRL status
  • Ability to complete project on budget
  • Ability to complete project on schedule
  • Need for revisions to TTA and/or work plans
  • Alignment of technology to most current transition target requirements and schedule
• Observation at all tests and demonstrations that are required to certify transition target acceptance
• Final project review to document:
  • State of technology at completion (TRL/MRL/PRL)
  • Acceptance by Transition Target
  • Achievement of Technical, Cost and Schedule goals
  • Lessons learned
  • Firm performance

• Quarterly firms shall submit, to TPOCs via the PM database, a report which includes the following:
  • A summary of technical progress
  • Identification of any significant technical issues that require resolution or were resolved
  • A status of funds report which shows costs incurred to date versus the planned budget and an Estimate at Completion based on the amount of work completed and percentage of funds expended
  • A schedule of work completed compared to the work schedule designed to meet the transition target insertion date
• Annually firms and TPOCs shall provide:
  • Updates to the TTA
  • Updates to the DoD CPP database
  • Updates to Navy PM database
  • Inputs for Congressional Reporting

Return