Technical Information Services

The Technical Information Services program (PE 0605804N) within the Department of the Navy's Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) budget is designed to support the Navy's technology transfer (T2) activities and related strategic partnerships. The primary objective of this program is to facilitate the transfer and transition of federally developed technologies to the private sector, state and local governments, and academia, as well as to bring external innovations into the Naval Research and Development Enterprise (NR&DE). This is mandated by federal legislation, including the Stevenson-Wydler Act of 1980 and the Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986, which require federal laboratories to actively pursue technology transfer and partnership opportunities.

Technology Transfer - Policy and Strategic Partnerships (Project 0835) is the central line item under this program element. The goal of this project is to provide policy, guidance, and programmatic oversight for all Navy T2 activities. The Department of the Navy Technology Transfer Program Management Office (DoN T2 PMO), under the Chief of Naval Research at the Office of Naval Research (ONR), is responsible for administering these efforts.

The DoN T2 PMO develops and updates T2 policies, manages professional development and training, oversees pilot programs, and ensures compliance with federal mandates. It also maintains the Navy Defense Technology Transfer Information System (NDTTIS) database, which tracks T2 agreements and activities. A key objective of the Technology Transfer - Policy and Strategic Partnerships project is to enhance collaboration between Navy laboratories, industry, and academia.

This is achieved by updating agreement templates, improving transactional efficiency, and supporting the designation of additional Navy labs as T2 entities. The program also coordinates with the Navy's Tech Bridge initiative under NavalX, which fosters regional innovation networks and supports workforce development, economic growth, and technical partnerships at multiple government levels. The DoN T2 PMO acts as the Navy's interface with external stakeholders such as the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).

In fiscal year 2025, the program planned to continue several initiatives, including the execution of new pilot projects to encourage innovative T2 applications, updating and beta testing the NDTTIS database, and supporting the expansion of T2-designated laboratories. The program also aimed to complete the DoN Tech Transfer Strategy to align Navy and Department of Defense (DoD) T2 missions and objectives. These efforts are intended to strengthen the Navy's ability to leverage external technological advancements and to commercialize Navy-developed innovations for broader economic and defense benefits.

Federal Lab Consortium (Project 2296) is another line item within the Technical Information Services program. This project provides the Navy's annual financial contribution to the Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC), as required by federal statute (Title 15, USC, Section 3710(e)(7)(A)). The FLC is a nationwide network of federal laboratories that supports technology transfer and the commercialization of federally funded research. The Navy's participation in the FLC ensures compliance with federal requirements and facilitates broader collaboration and information sharing across the federal research community.

The justification for these investments is rooted in the need to maximize the return on federal research and development expenditures by promoting dual-use commercialization, supporting the warfighter, and stimulating economic growth. By maintaining robust T2 policies and participating in national technology transfer networks, the Navy seeks to ensure that its research outputs have the greatest possible impact both within the Department of Defense and in the broader national innovation ecosystem.

The FY 2026 budget reflects a planned divestment from the Technology Transfer - Policy and Strategic Partnerships project, resulting in a significant funding decrease. This decision aligns with departmental priorities and resource allocation strategies. The accomplishments and objectives outlined for FY 2024 and FY 2025 highlight the Navy's ongoing commitment to technology transfer, partnership development, and compliance with federal mandates during the funded period.