NCMA DC is excited to announce a new webinar taking place on Thursday, February 26 at noon- Unlocking America’s Seed Fund: A Guide to SBIR, STTR, and TABA for Small Business Innovation. Tiffany Hixson and Steven Pomykalski of Baker Tilly will be our presenters. Attendance is limited to 100, so please register early!
The federal acquisition landscape is rapidly changing, driven by evolving national security demands, accelerating technological competition, and increasing pressure to adopt innovative commercial solutions. In this environment, the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs, along with supplemental Technical and Business Assurance (TABA) funding, are more essential than ever. They provide a structured pathway for small businesses to develop, mature, and transition cutting‑edge technologies that the government increasingly relies on but cannot source through traditional procurement channels.
Authorization for the SBIR and STTR programs under the Small Business Act expired on September 30, 2025, and is currently under discussions for re-authorization. As agencies face shrinking R&D budgets, rising scrutiny over program performance, and mandates to engage non‑traditional vendors, this webinar will review how SBIR/STTR funding serves as a critical mechanism for injecting innovation into the federal ecosystem.
This session will explore how:
SBIR/STTR remain critical sources of non‑dilutive funding for innovation
Agencies are increasingly focused on commercialization and transition
Policy changes and reauthorization debates are reshaping the landscape
TABA funding is becoming essential for competitive proposals and successful transition
MEET THE SPEAKERS:
Tiffany Hixson is Director at Baker Tilly. Tiffany is a distinguished federal acquisition leader with more than 35 years of experience spanning category management, program transformation, and enterprise procurement strategy. She previously served as the Assistant Commissioner for the Office of Professional Services and Human Capital Categories at GSA, where she oversaw a $70B+ portfolio that included OASIS, OASIS+, MAS, HCaTS, and the GSA SmartPay programs. Throughout her career, Ms. Hixson has held key leadership roles as the federal professional services category manager and as an executive within multiple federal agencies’ acquisition organizations. Under her leadership at GSA, professional services programs achieved record growth in agency participation and advanced collaboration across GSA, OMB, and major federal agencies to streamline procurement. She is also recognized for leading the creation of major GWACs and MACs - including the OASIS+ contract vehicle - which now serves as a cornerstone of professional services acquisition across the federal government.
Steven Pomykalski is a Senior Consultant in Baker Tilly’s Government Contractor Solutions (GCS) team, where he supports federal contractors across a broad spectrum of regulatory, compliance, and pricing matters. His experience includes DFARS Business Systems Compliance, designing and analyzing indirect cost and tailored rate structures, developing complex FAR 15 proposals, pursuing and maintaining Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) contracts, and acquisition of Tier 3, Best-in-Class (BIC) contract solutions (OASIS+, Alliant 3, NASA SEWP VI, etc.). During his tenure at Baker Tilly, Steven has worked with clients across a diverse range of industries, including professional services, healthcare, information technology, and cybersecurity.