BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La —
In the era Great Power Competitiontechnology remains key to maintaining a competitive edge in our nation’s defense. However, many small businesses continue to struggle to integrate their technology solutions into the Department of Defense (DOD).
As stated by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin in DoD Small Business Strategy 2023“If the Department does not work to reverse the decline in small business contracting, the industrial base that equips our military will be weakened.”
This trend is slowly reversing thanks to new organizations in Barksdale Air Force Base like Air Force Global Strike Command The A5N Division, known as the Commercial Capabilities Integration and Transition (CCIT) Division, along with efforts from Air Force Installation Contracting Center Enterprise Sourcing Flight 767, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), and AFLCMC Bomb Directorate.
Partnership opportunities like this are made possible thanks to Air Force Small Business Program Office leveraging DoD’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs to harness the talent of our nation’s small technology companies.
Formed in 2023, CCIT forges a historic relationship between small business innovators and the Department of Defense. The division’s work ensures $26 million Strategic Funding Enhancement Award (STRATFI) for AFGSC in August 2023, the first funding award of this size for the command. This award was achieved through AFWERXthe innovation branch of the Department of the Air Force (DAF) supported by the Air Force Research Laboratory.
The funding allows the team to create a collaborative framework between command and commercial companies, such as this example with Outerlink Global Solutions, a Shreveport-based aviation communications company. Outerlink’s high-speed satellite communications technology, called Iridium Certus (IRIS), has proven critical impulse to B-52 Stratofortress fighter aircraft communication skills.
The Commercial Capabilities Integration and Transition Division has secured a total of $240 million in AFGSC external funding contracts to date for 70 modernization technologies from U.S. small businesses, with an additional $74.3 million in pending contracts for 13 additional bonus technologies. The division attributes its success to its collaboration with cooperating organizations across the DAF, including the 767th ESF.
Innovative small businesses like Outerlink need good, mutually beneficial contracts to bring their technology to the DAF. This is where the Airmen of the 767th ESF step in to lead the rapid development of capabilities and resource priorities, becoming a driving force for the DAF modernization effort. The flight provides expert contract support to deliver and manage all above-the-wing acquisitions for AFGSC. These same Airmen accomplish this daunting task while also managing a $1.2 billion portfolio in 24-hour support for long-range precision global strike operations, including the nation’s bomber fleet and the ground-based portion of the nuclear triad.
“The 767th serves as the intermediary between CCIT, AFWERX and the contractor to ensure compliance with SBIR policies and that all organizations involved receive the greatest benefit,” said Mark De La Rosa, 767th ESF contracting officer and flight chief.
This collaboration increased aviation contracting activity by 860%, increasing from five SBIR actions to 48 actions in fiscal year 2024 alone.
“By creating local standards and procedures, the 767th ESF has simplified communications with CCIT, reducing acquisition time frames exponentially,” De La Rosa said.
Since October 2023, the 767th ESF team has successfully executed 18 SBIR actions quickly and accurately. With 17 other initiatives underway, the team claims to have completed them several months ahead of the specified AFWERX schedule. The creation of custom templates and standardization of tool development are ways the team has been able to streamline the increasing demands of research and development.
It should be noted that the team processes First Phase I Special Topic for AFGSC with 12 awards made 30 days ahead of schedule, paving the way for future Phase II and III contract opportunities.
“Of the 118 pre-awards and awards we have to date, 41 are CCIT SBIR (34.75%). That’s a total of $17.4 million in awards and $150 million in pre-awards,” said Capt. Jessica Cleaver, 767th ESF contracting officer and technology acquisition manager. “As we work to bridge the gap between ideas and reality through contracting, we also work to bridge the gap between organizations to make the process as seamless as possible.”
The next challenge lies in adapting the acquired commercial technology to a secure Air Force platform, where AFLCMC and the Bomber Directorate provide project management expertise to translate the theoretical process into real-world integration. Both entities work closely with CCIT and the 767th ESF to enable them to put this cutting-edge capability into the hands of warfighters.
Leveraging a variety of small business solutions requires insight into the local economy. To this end, CCIT also works closely with its Louisiana-based consultants—Small Business Consulting Corporation, BRF, and the Entrepreneurial Accelerator Program (EAP) to address modernization needs quickly, locally, and with an eye for quality. EAP helps new startups in north Louisiana by nurturing innovation right in Barksdale’s backyard. The contract between AFGSC and Outerlink was negotiated in part because of long-standing relationships with these local entrepreneurial champions.
“EAP’s expertise is in accessing emerging companies and determining their viability, strengths, weaknesses and threats,” said EAP executive director Dave Smith. “This commercial focus contributes to CCIT by helping to ensure the initiative selects technologies developed by companies that have business plans that can gain enough traction for their commercial projects to see them contribute to the [Air Force Global Strike Command] complete.”
Additional companies based in Louisiana introduced to AFGSC by CCIT including Praeses, Archem, and BetaFlix, providing local and affordable modernization capabilities while creating jobs for the broader Louisiana community. In 2023, Archem was awarded a Small Business Innovation & Research Phase II award to research and develop advanced fuels and fuel additives for the B-52 Stratofortress.
“Barksdale AFB and Global Strike Command are tremendous drivers of economic activity,” said Archem CEO Alex Burke. “It’s a win-win situation for everyone. There are so many stories of technology sitting idle for too long and companies closing down while waiting for budget cycles or other missed opportunities. The investment is coming at the right time for us to put our advanced chemistry and people to work.”
Joint efforts between CCIT and key organizations such as the 767 ESF, AFLCMC, and AFLCMC Bomber Directorate have driven a wave of promising small business commercial technology adaptations to ensure the U.S. remains a leader in defense technology.
“The relationship between the Department of the Air Force, industry, and academia will continue to be strong, enabling the rapid development and integration of commercial technologies to support our national security,” De La Rosa said.
