Tulsa Community Foundation

Purpose: the Purpose of This Grant Is to Expand Access to the Green Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) Certification for Startups and Firms by Providing Staffing, Equipment, and Technical Expertise for a First-of-its-kind Collaboration Among Global Autonomous Systems Industry Groups and Applied Research Institutions. This Grant Will Also Increase the Ability for Local and National Autonomous Systems Startups to Participate in Research, Business, and Contracting Opportunities With the National Security and Defense Communities. Activities to Be Performed: Launch and Scale Collaboration by Finalizing Administrative Setup and Establishing Necessary Processes to Lower the Cost of Green Uas Certification. Promote National Visibility of and Engagement With the Tech Hub Community, Especially With Defense Innovation Stakeholders. Develop and Execute a Strategy to Expand Federal Contracting Opportunities for Innovative Autonomous Systems Startups by Lowering Traditional Administrative Barriers and Engaging With Government and Defense Innovation Communities. Expected Outcomes: Facilitate Engagement With Defense Innovation Stakeholders Through Various Interactions and Community Events, Contributing to the Establishment and Visibility of a Robust Defense Innovation Community, Including Entities Such as National Security Innovation Network (nsin), Defense Innovation Unit (diu), and Air Force Research Laboratory (afrl). Track the Number of Companies Receiving Assistance and Achieving Certification, and Measure the Success of Partnerships Formed, Such as Sbir Contracts and Collaborations Between Department of Defense (DOD) Entities and Tech Hub Startups or Incumbent Firms. Assess the Formal Participation of Companies in New Structures and Evaluate the Impact of These Structures on Enabling Projects, Including Contracts, Sbirs, and Awarded Funding. Intended Beneficiaries: the Hub Will Provide Local and National Autonomous Systems Startups and Firms With Staffing, Equipment, and Technical Expertise. These Firms Will Benefit From Access to Necessary Processes to Lower the Cost of Green Uas Certification While Participating in Research, Business, and Contracting Opportunities With the National Security and Defense Communities. Subrecipient Activities: Hire Staff to Assist With Green Uas Certifications. Convene Monthly Leadership Updates and Quarterly All-hands Check-in Meetings. Accelerate Intake and Processing of Applicant Companies Establish a Bi-annual Program to Spotlight Participants, Emphasizing Small Businesses.