USSOCOM

The United States Special Operations Command (or USSOCOM) has its headquarters at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. It is the only Unified Combatant Command legislated into being by Congress and is charged with overseeing the Special Operations Component Commands of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force. The Special Operations Forces, or SOF, conduct covert and clandestine missions such as special reconnaissance, counter-terrorism, unconventional warfare and many other special operations.

USSOCOM is a Combatant Command with global responsibilities. A special operator needs to be equipped and trained to work in every environment within the world - in the air, on the land, on the surface of the sea and below the sea. SOCOM has Component organizations of its own that mirror the services - so you will hear mention of the United States Army Special Operations Command (or USASOC), the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), the Marines (MARSOC]), and the Navy Component referred to as the Naval Special Warfare Command (or NSWC).

The logo for USSOCOM is the spear and this symbol is incorporated into the SBIR logo as the letter “I”. The special operators are at the tip of that spear and they require leading edge technology. When SOCOM sends special operators into harm’s way, it wants them to have a technological advantage over their adversaries. As the saying goes, a level playing field is for sports, not war. The USSOCOM SBIR and STTR programs focus exclusively on the needs of the Warfighter. Topics in the SOCOM solicitations are aligned with officially documented programs of record that verify a need for Special Operations Forces.

USSOCOM generally participates in the three traditional DoD solicitation cycles during the fiscal year. Phase I SBIR and STTR awards are for $150,000 and typically last six months. Phase II awards are for up to $1,000,000 and for two years effort. An interesting point is that fifty percent of SOCOM Phase IIs began as non-SOCOM SBIR/STTR efforts. Companies that have relevant Phase I awards from other Agencies are encouraged to take advantage of this cross-Agency option. USSOCOM wants to see leading edge technologies get to Phase II and benefit the special operator. In order to be successful in Phase III, you must understand the requirements of the Program Executive Office (or PEO) that is funding your SBIR award. It is important that you deliver your work on time and on budget – as USSOCOM wants reliable suppliers.

When working with SOCOM there are various avenues that a small business can investigate to determine if SOCOM may have a need for your technology. The Technical Experimentation (or TE) events are held three times a year and provide a unique opportunity for technology developers to interact with the SOF community in a collaborative environment. There is an application process to participate in a TE events. Another opportunity to gain more exposure is through attendance at the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference (or SOFIC), held in May each year in Tampa, Florida. This is where the leaders of SOCOM clarify what they need from industry. A third source is the Engage SOF Office also referred to as the eSOF office. This site is where USSCOM lists capabilities of interest and where companies can submit their ideas and clarify their capabilities. In the links section of this tutorial, you will find the link to eSOF, as well as the other resources mentioned.

In closing, let’s introduce the SOCOM PEOs. The Program Executive Offices are acquisition organizations that reside within the Special Operations Forces Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics Center (or SOF AT&L). Each PEO has a military or civilian official at the helm who has responsibility for directing several Major Defense Acquisition Programs (MDAPs) and non-major system acquisition programs.

PEO-C4 is responsible for Command, Control, Communications, and Computers. It includes enterprise networks transport, tactical comms, as well as Military Information Support Operations.

PEO Fixed Wing is responsible for Special Operations manned and unmanned fixed wing airpower capabilities.

PEO Maritime’s vision is to build unmatched affordable surface and undersea platforms that deliver SOF safely and undetected anytime and anywhere on the globe.

PEO SDA-SOF Digital Applications is a one-stop shop for software-defined capabilities and artificial intelligence applications.

PEO Rotary Wing is responsible for providing the SOF community with the advanced vertical lift capability available to the U.S. military.

SOF-Warrior provides enhanced lethality, mobility, and survivability while performing ground SOF activities across environment conditions.

The Program Executive Office for Special Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Exploitation (PEO-SRSE) is responsible for the acquisition, fielding, and sustainment of intelligence systems for Special Operations Forces. The systems contribute directly to USSOCOM priorities to deter, disrupt, and defeat terrorist threats and sustain and modernize the force in persistent intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance.

PEO Special Operations Forces Support Activity of PEO SOFSA supports the SOF community through the execution of contracting, financial management, and operations oversight to ensure dedicated, responsive, and cost-effective contractor logistics support services.

And finally, PEO Services (PEO-SV) provides the USSOCOM Commander and Acquisition Executive with the leadership to execute and oversee efficient and optimized services acquisition.

To learn more about the USSOCOM SBIR program please look at the Components website. Also be sure to look at the Engage SOF Office site, known as eSOF to learn about how to submit your capabilities and ideas to USSOCOM.