Office of Small Business

The Office of Naval Research's (ONR) Office of Small Business Programs is a small business advocacy and advisory office responsible for insuring that small business, small disadvantaged business, historically underutilized business (HUBZone), veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business and women-owned small business concerns, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Institutions (HBCU/MIs), participate in ONR's acquisition program both as prime contractors and as subcontractors. The office is also responsible for facilitating achievement of the Small Business Program targets.

The office maintains an active outreach program to identify potential Small Business Program participants by attending and participating in government-industry conferences throughout the United States. In addition, the office provides individual and group procurement advisory counseling to the small business community. Procurement advisory counseling includes advice concerning acquisition procedures, information regarding proposed Acquisition, instructions on preparing proposals, interpretation of standard clauses, certifications and representations, obtaining payment, and obtaining financial assistance within the procurement regulations.

A major role in the implementation of the Small Business Program at ONR involves advising and assisting contracting officials and program managers in acquisition planning and reviewing all acquisition for possible Small Business Program set-asides, subcontracting opportunities and subcontracting administration. The office provides assistance to ONR's contracting officials regarding the determination of the acceptability of prime contractor subcontracting arrangements.

New DoD Pilot Program for Employee-Owned Businesses

On October 10, 2024, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) published a final rule to amend the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement to implement Section 874 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY 2022 as amended by Section 872 of the NDAA for FY 2024. The rule took effect on November 25, 2024. The final rule allows the noncompetitive award for certain follow-on contracts to a wholly employee-owned business through an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) that meets the definition of a “qualified business.”

The ESOP Pilot Program that is authorized by section 874 of the NDAA for FY22 as amended is a pilot program to provide opportunities for ESOP companies to participate in the federal contracting process.

To learn more about participating in the pilot program, please review: Pilot Program to Incentivize Contracting with Employee-Owned Businesses

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Links

• Paycheck Protection Program: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program
• Find an investor for your business though a Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) licensed by SBA @ https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/investment-capital
• Loans guaranteed by the SBA @ https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans
• Federal Contracting Resources: https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting
• Find assistance and counseling in your area to start, run or grow your business: https://www.sba.gov/local-assistance/resource-partners/small-business-development-centers-sbdc

Point of Contact

Ellen Simonoff
Director, Office of Small Business Programs
Email: ellen.simonoff.civ@us.navy.mil

Address
Office of Naval Research
Code 57
875 North Randolph Street
Arlington, VA 22203-1995