Acquisition & Contracting Pathways

Other Transaction Authority (OTA) Consortia
FAR-Based Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contracts
Commercial Data & Technology Marketplaces

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Each pathway is tailored to different mission needs, funding environments, and operational timelines.

Hidden Level is a member of multiple Department of War OTA consortia, including:
Aviation & Missile Technology Consortium (AMTC)
Expeditionary Missions Consortium (EMC2)
National Security Technology Accelerator (NSTXL)
Naval Surface Technology and Innovation Consortium (NSTIC)
National Advanced Mobility Consortium (NAMC)

Consortium membership does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Hidden Level is available on the following Commercial Data Marketplaces.

Grist Mill Exchange

While Hidden Level is not directly listed on DLA contract vehicles, our solutions can be made available through them. We work with partners and contract holders to ensure streamlined procurement and flexible acquisition pathways for our customers.

Whether supporting early-stage prototyping, scaled operational deployment, or commercial data acquisition, Hidden Level aligns acquisition strategy with mission urgency.

Our multi-pathway approach ensures customers can engage through the mechanism that best fits their technical, operational, and funding requirements.

For federal agencies seeking to transition proven innovation into operational use, SBIR Phase III is often the most efficient acquisition path. Rather than restarting the procurement process for a capability with established technical maturity, demonstrated performance, and prior government investment, an agency may be able to build directly on prior SBIR work, saving time and money while meeting current high demands for proven detection technology.

Hidden Level has successfully executed prior SBIR/STTR Phase I and SBIR D2P2 efforts focused on scalable drone detection, passive sensor networking, real-time UAS detection, and streaming detection capabilities for government missions. This work has advanced from early technical development into more mature, operationally relevant capability, including Drone Detection at Scale, subscription-based real-time UAS detection, and Hidden Level’s Power in the Sky (PITS) methodology – positioning the company to support follow-on and fielding efforts.

When a follow-on effort derives from, extends, or completes prior SBIR work and is funded with non-SBIR dollars, Phase III can provide a clear path forward. Hidden Level can help agencies support that path by clearly documenting the technology lineage, showing continuity from prior efforts, and organizing the materials needed to support award. When that connection is well established, Phase III can preserve continuity, reduce procurement friction, shorten time to execution, and accelerate transition of proven capability into mission use.

What Establishes Phase III Eligibility — and Why That Matters

• A Phase III effort must derive from, extend, or complete prior SBIR or STTR work, including prior Phase I, Phase II, or Direct-to-Phase II efforts. That continuity allows the government to build on proven work rather than start over.
• A Phase III effort must be funded with non-SBIR dollars. That gives the government flexibility to use the funding source that best supports mission need, acquisition strategy, and timing.
• The follow-on scope should remain tied to the prior technology lineage. Maintaining that continuity supports a cleaner acquisition path, and helps reduce the disruption, delay, and relearning that can come from a new competition.

Why Phase III Can be the Fastest, Lowest-Friction Path to Mission Use

• Phase III can provide a faster path to mission use by building on capability already demonstrated under prior SBIR work.
• It offers flexible funding options. Phase III efforts may be funded with non-SBIR sources, including procurement, operations and maintenance (O&M), Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E), and other available agency funds, giving the government practical options to move forward without unnecessary delay.
• It can reduce procurement delay and administrative burden when the new effort is a logical continuation of earlier work, helping agencies move more quickly from development to deployment.
• It supports continuity across follow-on development, production, deployment, and operational support, which can lower transition risk.
• It also improves return on prior government investment by extending technology the agency has already funded, reviewed, and matured, rather than restarting with a new performer.
• For DoW efforts, relevant SBIR data-rights assertions should be reviewed early in the process. Addressing those issues up front helps keep the award path clear, protects the government’s prior investment, and reduces contracting friction

How Hidden Level Supports Phase III Execution

• Hidden Level helps agencies clearly connect a new requirement to prior SBIR work through a well-supported lineage narrative, relevant award numbers, technical milestones, and delivered outcomes that show how the follow-on effort derives from, extends, or completes the earlier work.
• We help streamline award support documentation for the contracting team by organizing readiness evidence, test results, prototype performance, transition artifacts, data-rights assertions, and cost or price proposals.
• We leverage a deep knowledge of the technology, performance history, and transition path to reduce procurement friction, preserve continuity, and avoid the delay, duplication, and risk of protest.
• By building on proven SBIR-funded work, agencies can protect prior government investment and accelerate delivery of mission-ready capability through a practical, lower-risk acquisition path.

Validate the Phase III Contracting Path Early

Engage your government contracting office early to validate the Phase III contracting approach, confirm required documentation, and align on agency-specific award procedures.