New Initiative Eases Federal Contracts for Small Businesses
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has launched an innovative pilot program to streamline the process for small businesses to secure federal contracts. Known as “BUILTT for DOE” (Bolstering Underutilized Industry by Leveraging Technology Transfer for DOE), this initiative began on January 1, 2026, and is set to run for two years. The program is a collaborative effort led by the Nevada National Security Sites (NNSS) in partnership with the Kansas City National Security Campus and the Y-12 National Security Complex.
BUILTT aims to revolutionize the production of specialized technologies required by the government through a novel approach to technology licensing. Traditional licensing often poses significant financial barriers for small businesses due to high upfront fees and maintenance costs, which can be particularly burdensome for low-volume technologies. Matthew Fritz, manager of the NNSS Technology Partnerships and Intellectual Property office, highlights the impracticality of these costs for essential DOE products. BUILTT addresses this by offering licenses at significantly reduced rates to companies demonstrating superior manufacturing capabilities compared to government production, thus lowering costs and expediting acquisition times.
A unique advantage of the BUILTT program is its focus on existing government demand for technologies. Rather than the typical business model where companies develop products and seek buyers, BUILTT ensures a ready customer—the government. “In this case, we know that we—the government—will need this technology,” Fritz says. This setup reduces risk for the businesses involved, as the government commits to purchasing the product once it is manufactured. For example, if the DOE has developed a specific camera for experiments, it will license this technology to a small business, which will then produce the cameras for government purchase.
Moreover, BUILTT helps small businesses overcome the “prior performance problem,” a common barrier in federal contracting. Many small firms struggle to secure initial contracts due to a lack of previous government experience. Fritz notes, “The most difficult contract to get is your first one.” By allowing companies to license and sell directly back to the DOE, the program helps them build a track record as government contractors, enhancing their prospects for future contracts across federal agencies.
Although the program is expected to focus on areas like manufacturing, fabrication, materials, and specialized software, it welcomes a diverse range of small businesses. Eligible companies must meet Small Business Administration size standards and comply with legal obligations. Fritz advises potential applicants “not to rule yourself out too quickly,” emphasizing the DOE’s broad mission areas, including human performance technologies.
As the pilot progresses, specific technology opportunities are expected to be announced around September/October, followed by licensing opportunities. Small businesses interested in participating should prepare a concise capability statement and send it to TPIP@nv.doe.gov to introduce themselves and outline their capabilities.
This initiative is funded by the DOE’s Office of Technology Commercialization through the Technology Commercialization Fund (TCF), aiming to bridge the gap between research and commercial application.
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