DAYTON, Ohio (AFRL) - Members from across AFWERX met in person for a process improvement off-site event to focus on making critical changes to the Open Topic program here June 25-26, 2024. The two-day exercise incorporated AFWERX cross-divisional teams to address the solicitation schedule, automation needs and additional requirements.
“AFWERX executes the entire Open Topic program for the Department of the Air Force,” said Col. Elliott Leigh, AFWERX director and chief commercialization officer for the DAF. “With 35% of the AFWERX budget focused on this program, it was important for us to dedicate time and space to identify areas of risk and, in turn, areas for improvement to ensure strategic alignment and recapture essential bandwidth for our team to operate.”
One of the main outcomes from the off- site was an adjustment to the annual Open Topic schedule. For fiscal year 2025 only, three set solicitations will be offered starting with a Phase I in September followed by two Phase IIs and Direct to Phase IIs in February and May 2025.
“Moving to this schedule will allow our teams time in between solicitations for assessment and process improvement that we can incorporate into the next offering,” said Daniel Carroll, AFWERX AFVentures division chief. “By aligning our internal schedule closer to the Department of Defense annual schedule, we also have more flexibility and availability to support emerging DAF needs.”
Those emerging needs will be supported using the new Fiscal Year 2025 DOD Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer schedule, which has established topic pre-release on the first Wednesday of every month.
“Along with our three set Open Topic solicitations, if a government customer has an urgent need, we can work collectively to prepare for the next monthly DOD solicitation,” Carroll said. “We’ve already been able to successfully support this emergent need concept through our Space Ventures programs.”
According to AFVentures, the Open Topic program was created in 2018 as a pilot program “focused on expanding DAF access to new ideas as proposed by industry.”
Since that time, AFWERX has awarded more than 6,400 Open Topic contracts worth $3.76 billion to small businesses using its in-house contracting division, which uses a rapid-paced execution model piloted by the team.
“The private sector, and especially the startup community, is building technologies that have immense potential to give our warfighters an advantage,” Leigh said. “It is our responsibility at AFWERX to scout for these opportunities, award contracts quickly with the potential to make meaningful mission impact, and connect the ecosystem of innovative companies and potential government users in order to enable transitions.”
AFWERX is building an efficient and effective pipeline that delivers innovative technology into the hands of the warfighter, Leigh emphasized.
AFVentures states that the Open Topic program is genuinely open, not limited by industry, technology, or program area, but instead centered on applied research and development.
The congressionally-mandated program seeks dual-use technologies, applicable to both defense and non-defense markets, that have a clear potential to solve a DAF mission need and can prototype under an accelerated schedule.
Outcomes of the June off-site will build on years of steady improvements to the program. Previous improvements include:
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Financial updates - implemented automation for purchase request form creation and forecasting, created a Proof of Funds Augmentee training and program, and reduced the processing timeframe to approximately 10 days
“AFWERX as a whole has made great efforts to improve internal communications, identify process concerns, and clarify priorities,” said Mike Denny, AFWERX Open Topic program manager. “Every enhancement we’ve made to the program directly impacts the efficiency of how AFWERX processes and awards technology submitted by small business companies. This connection at the foundation is critical to having a solidified structure.”
More information on Open Topic solicitations along with other program opportunities such as Specific Topic, Strategic Funding Increase/Tactical Funding Increase and AFWERX Challenge are available at AFWERX.com.
About AFRL
The Air Force Research Laboratory is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space and cyberspace force. With a workforce of more than 12,500 across nine technology areas and 40 other operations across the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit afresearchlab.com.
About AFWERX
As the innovation arm of the DAF and a directorate within the Air Force Research Laboratory, AFWERX brings cutting-edge American ingenuity from small businesses and start-ups to address the most pressing challenges of the DAF. AFWERX employs approximately 370 military, civilian and contractor personnel at five hubs and sites executing an annual $1.4 billion budget. Since 2019, AFWERX has executed over 6,200 new contracts worth more than $4.7 billion to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. For more information, visit: afwerx.com.