The Department of War (DoW, referred to by some as the Department of Defense) is always trying to find new ways to get more federal contractors involved in defense contracts. One of the elements of the DoW which focuses on such is the “Innovation Unit.” Within that unit is now a “Bridge Program” which is hoping to raise the probability of the DoW embracing novel approaches to defense needs while also cutting down on the proverbial red tape which prevented contractors from performing for the DoW in the past, especially regarding security clearance. Let’s dive into some of the ideas and goals of this new Bridge Program.

The DoW Innovation Unit states the Bridge Program is “tasked with raising the probability of adoption by deepening transition” and its job is to “drive a commercial-first strategy to implement novel approaches the Department demands and focus on delivery.” The team assigned to this program “will facilitate co-use classified facilities nationwide, slash cyber authorization timelines by half, and enable agile, end-to-end capabilities for young companies desperate to demonstrate.” This is a lot of words which simply translate to the Bridge Program trying to get more private businesses involved in federal defense contracting, especially technology contractors, so that the DoW can obtain a wider industrial base, through elimination of hurdles that would traditionally slow down acquisitions.

The program will use the Innovation Unit’s portfolio companies as a “test bed” to pilot solutions to problems contractors face after they are awarded a contract. So, currently this program is only offered to the companies which are already Innovation Unit “portfolio companies,” but the plan appears to be to make this program open to other companies across the DoW in the future. The Innovation Unit website doesn’t directly define what “portfolio companies” are, but it can be presumed it is companies who are already on an Innovation Unit pathway or hold some form of Innovation Unit award or work. According to a memorandum posted on the program’s website, within a year, the DoW through this program “will open co-use classified facilities nationwide, slash cyber authorization timelines by half, and enable agile, end-to-end testing capabilities for young companies desperate to demonstrate.” The DoW wants to make “commercial capabilities easily accessible” so the services provided may quickly “transition and scale for the battlefield.”

The program aims to execute a “targeted strategy to eliminate critical bottlenecks—specifically surrounding security clearances, access to classified spaces, technology accreditations, and testing to help non-traditional companies sell and scale commercial solutions within the military.” In pursuit of the goals, the program will focus on the following areas:

• Classified Infrastructure as-a-Service (“CIaaS”).
  • The DoW will evolve how they design, build, accredit and operate classified sites, by “Facilitating a co-work model for on-demand classified sites, systems, and services in over a dozen cities across the country.”
• Commercial Technology Accreditation.
  • The DoW will work on providing an Innovation Unit project risk management framework support to help facilitate rapid authorizations. This would be done by enabling a “cyber secure accreditation of hardware and software systems within weeks, with max utilization of AI technology.”
• Integrated Test Team.
  • The DoW aims to create an “[a]gile testing pipeline that runs developmental and operational test & evaluation concurrently moving critical technologies from prototype to the field with Warfighters in the loop at commercial speed.” This could be achieved through “[a]ccess to iterative test capabilities with the requisite authority to move capabilities into the hands of frontline operators.”

Additionally, the DoW says there are three pathways currently for contractors in the Innovation Unit; at the time of this post one of the three pathways have openings. Those three pathways are: “Pathways through Commercial Solutions Openings (CSO)” (0 openings); “Pathways through Challenges or Commercial Acceleration Opportunities” (1 opening); and the one discussed herein, “Pathways through our Bridge Program” (0 openings). It makes sense that the Bridge Program currently has no openings, since, as stated earlier, they are focusing on current Innovation Unit portfolio companies at first. But the DoW provides a good preview of what to expect, as the DoW writes under “Who’s This Pathway For?”: “The Classified Access to Address Critical Technologies (CLASS ACT) program aims to expand the bench of top secret cleared nontraditional entities with technical capabilities available to the Department of War. This solicitation is seeking entities that help DoW counter unmanned systems in the maritime domain. Entities applying must ensure that each key management personnel has U.S. citizenship.” The DoW then directs those interested in more background to review the CLASS ACT program on SAM. Also on the program’s webpage, it has a “connect with us” option which leads to a company interest form webpage so that companies may express desire to connect with the Innovation Unit of the DoW.

Because this Bridge Program is seemingly in its early pilot stages, it may change some before opening up to additional contractors. But given the focus by DoW with this program on trying to make it easier for contractors to obtain DoW work without having to worry about the large headache that can be facility clearance, contractors can likely expect cutting of red tape around facility clearances to remain a pillar of this program once it opens up to more contractors. However, this program appears to prioritize contractors doing work in the areas the DoW has the most interest in, not just for any type of work. As many contractors know, facility clearance can be quite the task to obtain and upkeep. For many small business federal contractors, that can be a deterrent to pursuing DoW work. As has been discussed many times in federal government contracting, small business contractors are often where the government will find its cutting-edge innovation and best prices. Undoubtedly, many small business contractors would love to work with the DoW to give our warfighters every edge and innovation to protect us all, but the facility clearance items are simply too heavy a lift to consider working with the DoW. This Bridge Program may be a solution to that issue if it proceeds forward as planned. While the program is not currently open to all, interested contractors can send a company interest form through the DoW’s Innovation Unit website and acquaint themselves with CLASS ACT on SAM. We will be sure to keep an eye on this new opportunity avenue for small business contractors at the DoW.

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