Small Businesses Secure DHS Phase II Contracts to Prototype New Technologies

The Department of Homeland Security has awarded 15 companies a combined $15 million in Small Business Innovation Research phase two contracts to prototype mission-relevant capabilities over two years. DHS’ SBIR program, managed by the Science and Technology Directorate, allocated roughly $1 million to each awardee.

Dimitri Kusnezov, DHS undersecretary for science and technology, said the program connects his organization with small businesses and encourages innovation. He explained that research, development and innovation equip the department’s frontline workers and protect the United States.

The SBIR program awarded the phase two contracts under 10 topic areas in a December 2021 solicitation.

The selected projects include an automated artificial intelligence distress alert and monitoring system by North Carolina-based Vadum, a broadband push-to-talk interoperability platform by Virginia-based Catalyst Communications Technologies and a mass fatality tracking system by California-based Yotta Navigation.

After the prototyping stage, some projects could receive phase three funding from the private sector or non-SBIR government sources to finalize a product for end-users, DHS said.