The Department of Defense, specifically the Army, is inviting proposals for the "Mobile Sustainment Tools Open Topic" under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. This opportunity seeks innovative solutions for deployable tools and devices designed to function effectively in remote environments with limited infrastructure, focusing on advanced lifting solutions, field-ready engineering systems, and communication technologies. The initiative aims to enhance operational capabilities and logistical support for military personnel in resource-scarce locations, ensuring strategic advantages in contested environments. Proposals for Phase I are due by September 4, 2024, with funding available up to $250,000 for a performance period of 6-12 months. Interested parties can find more information and submit proposals through the official SBIR website.

## Description

This topic accepts Phase I proposals submissions for a cost up to $250,000 for a 6–12-month period of performance.&nbsp;This solicitation seeks proposals for a suite of deployable tools and devices, engineered to operate optimally in remote environments with limited infrastructure. The proposals should focus on the following research areas that address the challenges of practicality, durability, adaptability, and operational superiority in contested and/or resource-scarce environments:&nbsp;Advanced Lifting Solutions:&nbsp;Hydraulic and Mechanical Innovations: Research into ultra-lightweight materials and advanced mechanical designs for manual hydraulic lifts and portable mechanical jacks. Focus on developing high-strength alloys or composite materials that decrease weight while maintaining or increasing load-bearing capacity. Additionally, explore novel mechanical linkages that enhance leverage with minimal user effort.&nbsp;Air-Powered and Modular Lifting Technologies: Development of intelligent control systems for air-powered lifting bags and compact modular lifting platforms. Investigate the integration of sensors and automated feedback mechanisms to adjust and stabilize lifting forces dynamically, ensuring precision and safety across uneven surfaces.&nbsp;Field-Ready Engineering Systems:&nbsp;Collapsible Structural Designs: Focus on collapsible lightweight cranes and deployable clean rooms, using advanced composites and modular construction techniques that allow for rapid assembly/disassembly, easy transportation, and resilience under harsh conditions.&nbsp;Protection and Operational Efficiency: Development of wearable devices for electro-static discharge protection and blue light scanning that enhance safety and data security. Research should include innovative materials and digital encryption technologies that are robust and effective in protecting users and securing data in field conditions.&nbsp;Communication and Process Optimization Technologies:&nbsp;Translation and Dual-Communication Systems: Create translation technologies that handle both verbal and written technical data, designed for real-time communication between joint forces. Focus on AI-driven language processing tools that are efficient and adaptable to diverse military and civilian use cases.&nbsp;Environmental Safety in Maintenance Operations: Innovate safer, more efficient methods for de-painting and painting that minimize environmental impact and exposure to hazardous materials. Research should aim at developing new materials and application techniques that are both effective and compliant with strict military specifications.&nbsp;Each proposed solution must demonstrate how it can be integrated into systems that fit within an Internal Airlift/Helicopter Slingable Container Unit (ISU) (Approx. 400 cubic feet), or able to be safely secured in such a container. Proposals must address the novel aspects of each technology, ensuring they are designed to meet the specific needs of field personnel operating under extreme conditions and contribute to enhanced strategic capabilities in contested and/or resource-constrained environments.&nbsp;Benefits of partnering with LEAD: LEAD operates under 10 USC 2474 as a designated Center of Industrial and Technical Excellence for Air Defense &amp; Tactical Missile Ground Support Equipment and Mobile Electric Power. This designation allows for establishing public-private partnerships that align with LEAD's core competencies, as long as they do not interfere with National Defense Priority Programs. LEAD has ample production space to support various mechanical, electronic, and fabrication projects. The facility can handle everything from large trailer beds to intricate circuit card repairs and is equipped with sophisticated machinery such as multi-axis mills, water jets, and laser cutters. LEAD's capabilities are broad, spanning automotive repairs, heavy metal fabrication, and more.

## Objective

This solicitation aims to equip our forces with technology that enhances their operational capabilities and logistical support, allowing them to maintain a strategic advantage even in the most resource-scarce locations. Proposals should address the ease of deployment, energy efficiency, and the ability to perform under extreme conditions. This initiative aims to source and develop robust and versatile equipment that enhances the strategic capabilities of field personnel without relying on traditional support systems, thereby ensuring operational readiness and effectiveness in diverse and resource-constrained settings.

## Phase I

Companies will complete a feasibility study demonstrating the firm&rsquo;s competitive technical advantage relative to other commercial products (if other products exist) and develop concept plans for how the company&rsquo;s technology addresses Army modernization priority areas. Studies should clearly detail and identify a firm&rsquo;s technology at both the individual component and system levels, provide supporting literature for technical feasibility, highlight existing performance data, showcase the technology&rsquo;s application opportunities to a broad base of customers outside the defense space, a market strategy for the commercial space, how the technology directly addresses the Army&rsquo;s modernization area as well as include a technology development roadmap to demonstrate scientific and engineering viability. At the end of Phase I, the Army will require the company to provide a concept demonstration of their technology to demonstrate a high probability that continued design and development will result in a Phase II mature product. 

## Phase II

Produce prototype solutions that Soldiers can easily operate. Firms will provide these products to select Army units for further evaluation by the Soldiers. In addition, companies will offer technology transition and commercialization plans for the Department of Defense and commercial markets. 

## Phase III: Dual Use Applications

Complete the maturation of the company&rsquo;s technology developed in Phase II to TRL 6/7 and produce prototypes to support further development and commercialization. The Army will evaluate each product in a realistic field environment and provide small solutions to stakeholders for evaluation. Based on Soldier field assessments, companies will update the previously delivered prototypes to meet the final design configuration. Disaster relief operations, field construction in rural or undeveloped areas, forestry and agricultural heavy lifting, emergency medical setups in disaster zones, off-grid construction projects, wildlife research and conservation efforts, archaeological digs in remote locations, search and rescue missions, oil and gas exploration in isolated areas, humanitarian aid delivery in conflict or disaster-stricken regions. Other Use Cases: Manual Hydraulic Lifts: Easy-to-use, hand-operated hydraulic systems for lifting heavy equipment or supplies without the need for power. Portable Mechanical Jacks: Small, foldable jacks that can be manually operated to lift equipment or vehicles, requiring minimal technological input. Collapsible Lightweight Cranes: Manually assembled cranes made from advanced composites that are lightweight yet capable of lifting heavy loads; moderately complex. Compact Modular Lifting Platforms: Platforms that can be assembled from compact modules to support or elevate heavy equipment require precision engineering. Air-Powered Lifting Bags: Requires more sophisticated technology to create controlled lifting force using compressed air, ideal for sensitive or uneven lifting surfaces. Deployable clean rooms that can be expanded based on mission requirements Electro-static Discharge protection for workers Blue light scanning wearable devices that will scan and store data for later secure transmission Translation technologies that consume both verbal and written technical data and can accommodate dual communication for joint force work Enablers for de-painting and painting operations that ensure artisan safety from exposure to hazards, meet MILSPEC requirements and eliminate or minimize hazardous material creation

Mobile Sustainment Tools Open Topic

SBIR Opportunity Analysis

SBIR Documents

Related SBIR/STTR Opportunities

Opportunity Snapshot

Key Dates