Executive Summary
This report analyzes the collective potential of a strategic alliance between Kurb Kars, Digital Adventures Outdoors R Us (DAOS R Us), and Dereticular to pursue and secure federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants.
The combined strengths of these three entities create a uniquely powerful and complete ecosystem for SBIR success. The proposed structure is as follows:
- Kurb Kars is the Primary Applicant and Technology Developer. With its focus on transportation, logistics, and R&D, it is the entity that will perform the core research and innovation.
- DAOS R Us is the Commercialization and Testing Partner. As the end-user with a real-world, rugged operational environment, it provides the critical testing grounds and market validation required by federal agencies.
- Dereticular is the Grant Writing and Strategy Partner. As the grant writing specialist, it provides the expertise to translate the partnership’s technical vision into compelling, compliant, and successful grant proposals.
This three-part structure addresses the three core pillars of a successful SBIR application: a credible R&D entity (Kurb Kars), a clear path to market (DAOS R Us), and a professionally prepared proposal (Dereticular). This report details the most promising grant opportunities and provides a strategic timeline for engagement.
The Kurb Kars / DAOS R Us / Dereticular Partnership: A Model for SBIR Success
For any SBIR application, the roles are distinct but synergistic:
- Primary Applicant (Kurb Kars): Will lead the proposal as the small business concern (SBC) performing the R&D. Kurb Kars will house the Principal Investigator (PI) and the technical team responsible for developing autonomous systems, AI algorithms, mesh networks, and non-satellite GPS.
- Commercialization Partner (DAOS R Us): Will provide a critical Letter of Support for inclusion in the proposal. This letter will detail its role as the real-world testing environment and its intent to be the first commercial customer for the developed technology. This is a powerful de-risking element for any application.
- Proposal Development Partner (Dereticular): Will be contracted by Kurb Kars to manage the grant application process, ensuring the technical narrative is aligned with the agency’s specific requirements, formatting is correct, and all submission deadlines and criteria are met.
High-Priority Agency Opportunities & Timelines
The following agencies represent the most promising sources of non-dilutive funding for this partnership.
1. Department of Defense (DoD)
The DoD’s needs for autonomous logistics in austere, “contested” environments are a perfect match for the partnership’s capabilities. The DAOS R Us operational sites in the Arizona desert serve as ideal, realistic analogues for the challenging environments the military operates in.
- Strategic Alignment: The partnership can directly address the DoD’s need for resilient logistics, autonomous resupply, and medical evacuation (CASEVAC) in GPS-denied, off-road conditions.
- Relevant Research Topics (Based on recent solicitations):
- Autonomous Ground Vehicle Navigation in Complex Terrains: Developing the AI and sensor fusion to allow vehicles to maneuver safely and effectively off-road without human intervention.
- AI for Contested Logistics: Creating a transportation and communication mesh network that allows a fleet of autonomous vehicles to dynamically re-route and share information when primary systems fail.
- Terrestrial GPS for Dismounted Soldiers and Vehicles: Researching and developing a non-satellite positioning system is a top priority for the Army and SOCOM. Kurb Kars could propose to develop the vehicle-borne node in such a network.
- Availability (via DSIP – Defense SBIR/STTR Innovation Portal): The DoD issues three main SBIR solicitations (Broad Agency Announcements or BAAs) per year.
- Typical Cycle:
- 25.1 / 25.A: Pre-releases in late fall, opens for proposals in January.
- 25.2 / 25.B: Pre-releases in spring, opens for proposals in May.
- 25.3 / 25.C: Pre-releases in summer, opens for proposals in September.
- Typical Cycle:
2. Department of Transportation (DOT)
The DOT’s Rural Autonomous Vehicle (RAV) research program and its focus on improving safety and accessibility for underserved populations make it a prime target.
- Strategic Alignment: The Kurb Kars NEMT service, powered by autonomous technology and tested in the DAOS R Us environment, is a perfect case study for the DOT’s rural safety and accessibility goals.
- Relevant Research Topics (Based on recent solicitations):
- Sensor Technology and AI for Rural Environments: Developing systems that can reliably detect and classify hazards unique to rural roads (e.g., wildlife, unpaved road degradation, agricultural equipment).
- Cooperative Driving Automation: Researching vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication systems that form a mesh network, allowing a fleet to share data and coordinate actions in areas with poor or non-existent cellular coverage.
- Accessible Transportation for NEMT: Funding the development of user interfaces, safety protocols, and sensor systems specifically for transporting medical patients in autonomous vehicles.
- Availability (via Volpe National Transportation Systems Center): The DOT typically releases one major SBIR solicitation per year.
- Typical Cycle: A pre-solicitation is often announced in the fall, with proposals due in the following winter. The next cycle would be for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25).
3. National Science Foundation (NSF)
The NSF is the ideal agency for the partnership’s most ambitious R&D goals, such as developing a fundamentally new type of non-satellite navigation. The NSF funds high-risk, high-reward research with the potential to create entirely new markets.
- Strategic Alignment: The NSF is not tied to a specific government mission but is focused on deep technological innovation. A proposal for a terrestrial, proof-of-location based navigation system is a perfect fit. Kurb Kars leads the R&D, and DAOS R Us proves its commercial necessity in off-grid environments.
- Relevant Research Topics (Open Solicitation): The NSF invites proposals in broad technology areas. The partnership’s research fits into several:
- Robotics and Autonomous Systems
- Advanced Networking
- Artificial Intelligence
- Availability: The NSF SBIR/STTR program typically has one annual submission window.
- Typical Cycle: The submission window for proposals often opens in the fall and closes in early spring of the following year.
- Action: A proposal to the NSF must emphasize the deep technological innovation and the massive commercial potential. The partnership with DAOS R Us, facilitated by Dereticular, is the key to demonstrating that potential.
