The US Department of Defense (DOD) Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) and the National Security Innovation Network (NSIN) have signed a memorandum of agreement to collaborate on expanding the country’s national security innovation base. The new partnership links two DOD organisations with a common mission to establish an annual, joint programme plan to leverage OSBP and NSIN resources to achieve shared objectives.
The partnership has been designed to allow OSBP and NSIN to collaborate to develop events and programmes to engage small businesses in the National Technology and Industrial Base. It will also prototype operational concepts related to emerging technologies and accelerate the transition of technologies and services into acquisition programmes and operational use. Additionally, it will support partnership between DOD and academic institutions, commercial firms, accelerators, incubators and non-profit organisations whose missions relate to national security innovation. Finally, the partnership should enhance the capabilities of the DOD in market research, source selection, partnerships with private capital and access to commercial technologies.
“The effects of the past year have demonstrated the importance of small businesses in maintaining a strong supply chain and knowledge base within the national security and technology industrial base,” said Farooq Mitha, OSBP Director. “The partnership between NSIN and OSBP is an important step towards building a resilient industrial base and engaging innovative small companies. In line with President Biden’s Build Back Better (BBB) Recovery Plan, the initiatives developed in conjunction with NSIN will provide new pathways to American manufacturers and small businesses to offer critical emerging technologies to the Department.”
“NSIN and OSBP share a deep belief that the ideas, technologies and talent that are needed to build a robust defence industrial and innovation base exist in small businesses and startups across the country, and must be deliberately engaged in partnership with the Department,” added Morgan Plummer, NSIN Manager Director. “This partnership will combine OSBP’s expertise in leveraging small businesses to close capability gaps for our armed forces with NSIN’s nationwide network of non-traditional problem solvers in the academic and start-up communities to create a holistic way to increase the number of small businesses contributing to the work of the Department of Defense.”
