The Department of Defense (DOD) is seeking proposals for an Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) Focused Open Topic. The purpose of this open topic is to bring potentially valuable small business innovations to the Army and expand the relevance of the Army SBIR program to firms who do not normally compete for SBIR awards. The topic accepts both Phase I and Direct to Phase II submissions. Phase I proposals are accepted for a cost up to $250,000 for a 6-month period of performance, while Direct to Phase II proposals are accepted for a cost up to $2,000,000 for a 24-month period of performance. The research areas of focus include synthetic data generation, data validation and verification, AI risk mitigation, large language models, retrieval augmented generation, and collaborative AI technologies. Phase I submissions require a 5-page technical volume, an 8-slide commercialization plan, and a statement of work outlining deliverables. Phase II submissions require a 10-page technical volume, a 5-page feasibility documentation, an 8-slide commercialization plan, and a statement of work. During Phase II, firms must produce prototype solutions that are practical and feasible to operate in edge and austere environments. Phase III focuses on the maturation of the technology to TRL 6/7 and the production of prototypes to support further development and commercialization. The Army will evaluate each product in a realistic field environment and provide solutions to stakeholders for further evaluation. The submission deadline is March 31, 2025. For more information, visit the solicitation link.