Small Business Administration
The Small Business Administration (SBA) maintains and strengthens the nation's economy by enabling the establishment and viability of small businesses. SBA works to ignite action so small businesses can confidently start, grow or recover. SBA continually helps small business owners and entrepreneurs pursue the American dream by providing counseling, capital and contracting expertise.
SBA's Contracting Assistance programs help small businesses qualify for exclusive, set-aside and sole-source contracts, partner with established contractors, and receive mentoring and educating to learn how federal contracting works.
SBA's Resource Partners are around the country and provide training, opportunities, and funding to small businesses.
Office of Naval Research
The Office of Naval Research (ONR) is tasked with discovering, developing, and delivering new technology and capabilities for the the Navy and Marine Corps. The ONR Office of Small Business Programs is an advocacy and advisory office responsible for ensuring that small businesses participate in ONR's acquisition program as prime contractors and subcontractors.
ONR provides Funding Opportunities for businesses with ground-breaking ideas, pioneering scientific research, novel technology developments and first-class support services.
The Department of the Navy
The Department of the Navy Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) fosters acquisition opportunities through policy, advocacy, and counseling, and where small businesses can best support Sailors, Marines, and their families.
The Navy Mentor-Protégé Program (MPP) enhances the capabilities of disadvantaged small businesses (protégés) to be able to successfully compete for prime contracts and subcontracts by partnering with large companies (mentors) under individual, project-based agreements.
The Navy's SBIR and STTR programs address the needs and areas of interest to the Navy through technological innovation.
NavalX is an innovation and agility cell established to inspire and empower the naval workforce, in connection with defense ecosystem partners, to rapidly deliver high-impact capabilities to the Navy and Marine Corps.
Department of Defense
DoD OSBP also provides a wealth of information about cybersecurity compliance for small businesses to work with the government.
DoD launched Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) 2.0 to safeguard sensitive national security information from cyberattacks. CMMC 2.0 allows self-assessment for some requirements, applies priorities for protecting DoD information, and reinforces cooperation between the DoD and industry in addressing evolving cyber threats.
The DoD Mentor-Protégé Program helps eligible small businesses develop technical capabilities and expand their footprint in the defense industrial base (DIB) by partnering with larger, more experienced companies.
- The DoD MPP Portal gives mentors and protégés easy access to everything needed to track and maintain partnerships.
DoD SBIR and STTR programs support scientific excellence and technological innovation through investment in critical American priorities to accelerate capabilities to the military.
The APEX Accelerators program, formerly known as the Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAP), provides education and training to ensure that businesses become capable of participating in federal, state, and local government contracts.
Additional Information and Resources
The Small Business Advisor helps entrepreneurs obtain financing, start a business, market to the government, and file taxes.
Project Spectrum helps small- and medium-sized businesses improve cybersecurity readiness, resiliency, and compliance.
Blue Cyber is dedicated to arm small businesses with the latest cybersecurity best-practices.
The Cyber AB is the official accreditation body of the CMMC ecosystem and the sole authorized non-governmental partner of the DoD in implementing and overseeing the CMMC conformance regime. The Cyber AB exists to further the successful implementation of CMMC within the DIB in order to reduce digital risk to DoD supply chains and contractor support infrastructure.
SeaPort-NxG is the Navy's contract vehicle for acquiring support services.