The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Technology Commercialization and the National Nuclear Security Administration have initiated a pilot program aimed at simplifying small businesses’ entry into federal contracting. Dubbed “BUILTT for DOE” (Bolstering Underutilized Industry by Leveraging Technology Transfer for DOE), this two-year program, which began Jan. 1, 2026, seeks to provide a low-risk gateway for small businesses interested in working with the government. Led by the Nevada National Security Sites (NNSS), in collaboration with the Kansas City National Security Campus and the Y-12 National Security Complex, BUILTT is poised to transform how specialized technologies are produced to meet government needs.
The BUILTT program’s core innovation lies in its unique approach to technology licensing. Traditional models often burden small businesses with substantial upfront licensing fees and recurring annual maintenance costs which can quickly erode profits, especially for low-volume technologies. Matthew Fritz, manager of the NNSS Technology Partnerships and Intellectual Property office, recognizes this challenge, stating that such fees are impractical for the specialized products essential to the DOE’s mission. BUILTT aims to alleviate this by granting licenses at a substantially reduced cost to companies that can demonstrate more efficient manufacturing capabilities than internal government production. This strategy is designed to lower costs and accelerate acquisition times by converting mission-critical technologies into commercial/government off-the-shelf products.
A significant advantage for small businesses participating in BUILTT is the pre-defined demand for the technologies. Unlike typical commercial ventures where companies develop a product and then seek customers, BUILTT focuses on existing government needs. “In this case, we know that we—the government—will need this technology,” Fritz explains. This means the design work and specifications are already established, and the government is prepared to purchase the product once manufactured. For instance, if the DOE has developed a specialized camera for experiments, it would license the intellectual property to a small business to manufacture and then purchase the cameras directly from that business. This model ensures less risk for the participating companies, enabling more confident financial planning and a stable foundation for growth.
Beyond established demand, BUILTT addresses a critical hurdle for small businesses in federal contracting: the “prior performance problem.” Many businesses struggle to secure their first government contract due to a lack of previous federal experience. Fritz acknowledges this, noting, “The most difficult contract to get is your first one.” By enabling companies to license and sell directly back to the DOE, BUILTT helps them build a track record as government contractors. This newfound credibility can significantly strengthen their proposals for future opportunities, not only within the DOE but also across other federal agencies.
While the program is currently expected to emphasize manufacturing, fabrication, materials and specialized software, the BUILTT team encourages a broad range of small businesses to explore opportunities. The program is open to small businesses that meet Small Business Administration size standards and are in good standing with legal obligations, valuing capability above all else. Fritz encourages potential applicants “not to rule yourself out too quickly,” emphasizing the diverse mission areas of the DOE, which even include human performance technologies.
With the two-year pilot officially underway, specific technology opportunities are anticipated to be announced around September/October, with licensing to follow shortly thereafter. Small businesses interested in participating are encouraged to prepare a clear, one-to-two-page capability statement and email it to TPIP@nv.doe.gov to introduce themselves and articulate their competencies.
This work is supported by funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Technology Commercialization through the Technology Commercialization Fund (TCF). The goal of TCF is to bridge the gap between research and commercial application.The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Technology Commercialization and the National Nuclear Security Administration have initiated a pilot program aimed at simplifying small businesses’ entry into federal contracting. Dubbed “BUILTT for DOE” (Bolstering Underutilized Industry by Leveraging Technology Transfer for DOE), this two-year program, which began Jan. 1, 2026, seeks to provide a low-risk gateway for small businesses interested in working with the government. Led by the Nevada National Security Sites (NNSS), in collaboration with the Kansas City National Security Campus and the Y-12 National Security Complex, BUILTT is poised to transform how specialized technologies are produced to meet government needs.
The BUILTT program’s core innovation lies in its unique approach to technology licensing. Traditional models often burden small businesses with substantial upfront licensing fees and recurring annual maintenance costs which can quickly erode profits, especially for low-volume technologies. Matthew Fritz, manager of the NNSS Technology Partnerships and Intellectual Property office, recognizes this challenge, stating that such fees are impractical for the specialized products essential to the DOE’s mission. BUILTT aims to alleviate this by granting licenses at a substantially reduced cost to companies that can demonstrate more efficient manufacturing capabilities than internal government production. This strategy is designed to lower costs and accelerate acquisition times by converting mission-critical technologies into commercial/government off-the-shelf products.
A significant advantage for small businesses participating in BUILTT is the pre-defined demand for the technologies. Unlike typical commercial ventures where companies develop a product and then seek customers, BUILTT focuses on existing government needs. “In this case, we know that we—the government—will need this technology,” Fritz explains. This means the design work and specifications are already established, and the government is prepared to purchase the product once manufactured. For instance, if the DOE has developed a specialized camera for experiments, it would license the intellectual property to a small business to manufacture and then purchase the cameras directly from that business. This model ensures less risk for the participating companies, enabling more confident financial planning and a stable foundation for growth.
Beyond established demand, BUILTT addresses a critical hurdle for small businesses in federal contracting: the “prior performance problem.” Many businesses struggle to secure their first government contract due to a lack of previous federal experience. Fritz acknowledges this, noting, “The most difficult contract to get is your first one.” By enabling companies to license and sell directly back to the DOE, BUILTT helps them build a track record as government contractors. This newfound credibility can significantly strengthen their proposals for future opportunities, not only within the DOE but also across other federal agencies.
While the program is currently expected to emphasize manufacturing, fabrication, materials and specialized software, the BUILTT team encourages a broad range of small businesses to explore opportunities. The program is open to small businesses that meet Small Business Administration size standards and are in good standing with legal obligations, valuing capability above all else. Fritz encourages potential applicants “not to rule yourself out too quickly,” emphasizing the diverse mission areas of the DOE, which even include human performance technologies.
With the two-year pilot officially underway, specific technology opportunities are anticipated to be announced around September/October, with licensing to follow shortly thereafter. Small businesses interested in participating are encouraged to prepare a clear, one-to-two-page capability statement and email it to TPIP@nv.doe.gov to introduce themselves and articulate their competencies.
This work is supported by funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Technology Commercialization through the Technology Commercialization Fund (TCF). The goal of TCF is to bridge the gap between research and commercial application.