FIRST RF CORPORATION — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: N222-112
FIRST RF CORPORATION — SBIR Phase I award from Department of Defense.
Phase I SBIR feasibility signal
- Phase I awards fund proof-of-concept work. For capture teams, they mark early interest from Department of Defense in a technical approach.
- Watch for Phase II follow-ons from the same firm/topic family — that conversion path is where budgets and transition pressure rise.
- Obligated amount $139,911. Cross-check similar awards in the same agency and technology tags for going-rate context.
- Topic code N222-112 links this award to a solicitation family — search the same topic stem for incumbents and recompete timing.
- Amount
- $139,911
- Agency
- Department of Defense · Navy
- Program / Phase
- SBIR · Phase I
- Topic
- N222-112
- Solicitation
- 22.2
- NAICS
- —
- Place of performance
- CO
- Period
- 2022-11-07 → 2023-05-09
Description
The 1.5 MHz to 35 MHz HF band supports a variety of functions (including ionospheric characterization and over-the-horizon communications) with relatively little infrastructure. The large antenna sizes required present a significant challenge that has prevented the adaptation of HF systems on small platforms. Small, low free-board maritime craft have an extremely small footprint and require a miniaturized antenna that minimizes SWaP, is optimized for the proximity of seawater, and supports a variety of waveforms. FIRST RF’s solution approaches the problem from a systems perspective through the combination of three unique technologies to optimize the antenna type for the platform, compensate for the environment, and provide the required bandwidth. This multi-pronged approach eliminates the reliance on diminishing returns offered by a single-technology solution.