Small Business Innovation Research - MDA

The Small Business Innovation Research - MDA program, identified as Program Element (PE) 0605502C in the Department of Defense budget, is administered by the Missile Defense Agency (MDA). Its primary objective is to foster innovative research and development by small businesses, in accordance with Public Law 106-554 and Public Law 107-50. These laws mandate a competitive process for small businesses to propose and develop technologies with both defense and commercial applications. This supports the broader goals of the Missile Defense System and national economic growth.

The program aims to identify and nurture dual-use technologies that can benefit both the Department of Defense and the private sector. Dual-use is defined as technology that has the potential for future private sector investment, which can help reduce the development time and cost of new missile defense capabilities. The MDA manages the competition, awards, and contract oversight, ensuring that selected projects align with the agency's strategic technology needs.

For fiscal year 2024, funds were transferred from other program elements in accordance with the SBIR and STTR Extension Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-183). The budget justification notes that funds are transferred into this program element in the execution year, with planned execution amounts in future years subject to final appropriations.

The Small Business Innovation Research - MDA program supports a range of critical technology areas as identified by the Office of the Secretary of Defense (Research & Engineering) SBIR/STTR Office. These areas are categorized into three groups: Seed Areas of Emerging Opportunity, Effective Adoption Areas, and Defense-Specific Areas.

Seed Areas include biotechnology, quantum science, future generation wireless technology, and advanced materials. These represent emerging fields with significant potential impact on missile defense. Effective Adoption Areas focus on technologies where there is already vibrant commercial sector activity, such as trusted artificial intelligence and autonomy, integrated network systems-of-systems, microelectronics, space technology, renewable energy generation and storage, advanced computing and software, and human-machine interfaces. By leveraging commercial advancements, the MDA seeks to accelerate the adoption of cutting-edge solutions for defense applications.

Defense-Specific Areas are tailored to the unique needs of missile defense and include directed energy, hypersonics, and integrated sensing and cyber. These areas are critical for maintaining technological superiority in missile defense capabilities and addressing emerging threats. The program's investment in these areas is intended to ensure that the MDA can rapidly integrate innovative solutions into its systems.