AAL works with any company with novel technologies that can solve Army problems. We’re especially focused on companies that have done very little or no work with the DOD before (we call those nontraditionals!). We encourage companies to join our solver network. Our tailored email list will keep you up to date on new opportunities that align with your company's expertise.

You're in the right place! AAL is tasked to find nontraditional and small companies that could potentially bring unique perspectives and new technology to some of the Army’s toughest challenges. We’ll guide you through the entire process from easy to understand solicitations through funding, award, and solution development.

We pull from several different funding sources such as RDT&E, SBIR, and private capital, allowing us to cast a wider net for solution development while improving the odds of companies' success on projects. AAL is part of the Army SBIR family, and created a unique program called SPARTN to unleash the full potential of SBIR as an innovation tool.

With SPARTN you get…

  • Deliverable-based capital
  • Faster time to award notification and contract
  • Better access to Army problems and stakeholders

To get started using the Army's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) funding, check out these links:

There are three main ways to tell us about your technology:

  1. You can apply to one of our open opportunities.
  2. Join our network and tell us what you do. You'll be alerted to AAL's opportunities that align with your business as they become available.
  3. You can apply to our Broad Agency Announcement. It's important to note this method doesn't have dedicated funding attached to it.

You can check back often for new information about current and upcoming projects. Subscribe to our solver network email list, and you’ll receive emails about our latest opportunities tailored to your company's expertise.

We also work closely with other DOD organizations who may have opportunities that align with your technology. Check out their websites here.

Through our transition-minded approach to innovation, we keep Army problem owners in the driver’s seat and empower them through engagement with technical experts, end users, and industry solvers to develop solutions to enhance the performance of project portfolios.

We serve our government partners by…

  • Identifying the most promising solutions and new technologies from a broad, international base of companies
  • Doing the market research and due diligence for you
  • Providing access to multiple funding sources, benefiting budgets and tight deadlines
  • Maintaining consistent alignment of problem and solution through continuous engagements among problem owners, end users, subject matter experts, and industry solvers
  • Offering solution options to capability developers on our time and our dime

AAL has an ever-growing network of cutting edge technology companies who often have never done business with the Army before, bringing new technologies and unique perspectives on the best ways to solve challenging Army problems. Our dedicated Corporate Ventures team actively engages the corporate tech ecosystem in search of the best, most innovative companies in the world.

SPARTN combines Army SBIR funding and AAL's business model to create a program that moves — and pays — at the speed of business. SPARTN is a whole-of-Army approach to innovation that blends government and industry best practices to enable more effective project funding.

The US Army Futures Command (AFC) is a major Army command (a four-star headquarters) that focuses on modernizing the Army's warfighting capabilities, formations, and concepts. Army Applications Laboratory (AAL) is AFC’s innovation organization, connecting the best nontraditional industry solvers to current Army tech problems to get the best technology in the hands of Soldiers faster.

AAL is purpose built to bring innovation to the Army. We are bound by the same rules and laws as all government organizations, however we consistently improve our processes and create effective solution development through our Cohort Program, SPARTN SBIR funding approach, and VERTEX events.

The three red lines in our logo represent industry, government, and academia spurring each other forward to advance bleeding edge technology. Together, we develop stronger solutions that improve the security and effectiveness of Soldiers.

Join our network, and we'll let you know about the next cohort opportunities that align with your company's capabilities.

Our cohorts are connected to the standard solicitation process but vary from traditional solution development. The Cohort Program brings together companies from various disciplines to work together on solving complex Army problems using their respective technological expertise.

Your existing intellectual property (IP) will not be impacted by participating in a cohort. If you are invited to participate, you could be asked to disclose existing IP to the government that will be used, advised of your existing IP rights, and asked to identify what limited-use rights you wish to provide the government. The government cannot disclose SBIR data outside of the government; however, it will have a use right to any new IP that you develop as part of a cohort.

You can join our network email list to stay up to date on open opportunities to work with the Army. This email list will generate communications that align with your company’s selected capabilities, and we won’t spam you.

You can also sign up for our general email list, which provides information about all of AAL's projects, upcoming events, and more.

And you can follow us on LinkedIn, X, and Instagram for more content about current projects, upcoming events, and AAL news.