Immersive Training Guide

VR and simulation training for the military, government, healthcare and business

How government buying works for immersive training

Last updated

A short guide to the contracting routes that come up most often when buying immersive training. It is general information, not legal or contracting advice; a contracting officer decides what applies.

1. SBIR and STTR: Phases I and II

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs fund American small businesses to do research and development on agency needs; STTR adds a partnership with a nonprofit research institution. Eleven agencies take part. Phase I tests feasibility; Phase II continues the work. Public Law 119-83, enacted April 13, 2026, extended both programs through fiscal year 2031.

2. SBIR/STTR Phase III: what the statute says

Under 15 U.S.C. 638(e), Phase III is work that derives from, extends or completes earlier SBIR/STTR awards, funded from outside the SBIR/STTR programs. Under 638(r)(4), agencies and prime contractors shall, to the greatest extent practicable, treat SBIR/STTR awards as meeting competition requirements and issue Phase III awards, including sole-source awards, to the developing firms without further justification.

3. SBIR/STTR Phase III: what the Policy Directive says

SBA's Policy Directive says the Phase I and II competitions satisfy federal competition statutes, so an agency is not required to hold another competition for a Phase III award. If a Justification and Approval is required, stating that the work is a Phase III award authorized by 15 U.S.C. 638(r)(4) is enough. Phase III has no limit on number, duration or dollar value, and small-business size limits do not apply.

4. GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS)

GSA's Multiple Award Schedule lets federal and other eligible buyers order commercial products and services at pre-negotiated prices, organized by Special Item Number (SIN). Training SINs include 611430 (professional and management development training, which may use simulators), 611512 (flight training), 611710 (educational support services) and 333318TDTM (off-the-shelf training devices, including simulators). IT training is SIN 611420.

5. Blanket purchase agreements (BPAs)

A BPA is a simplified way to fill repeat needs by setting up "charge accounts" with qualified sources (FAR 13.303-1). Agencies can also set up BPAs under any GSA schedule contract to fill repetitive needs. FAR 8.405-3 favors multiple-award BPAs, and a single-award BPA over $150 million requires a written head-of-agency determination.

6. Other Transaction Authority (OTA)

Under 10 U.S.C. 4022, DoD can use other transactions, agreements that are not FAR-based procurement contracts, for prototype projects directly relevant to its personnel's mission effectiveness or its systems. Each requires one of: significant participation by a nontraditional defense contractor or nonprofit research institution; only small businesses or nontraditional defense contractors as significant participants; at least one-third non-federal cost share; or a senior procurement executive's written finding of exceptional circumstances.

7. OTA follow-on production

A prototype other transaction can lead to a follow-on production contract or transaction without new competition if competitive procedures were used to select the participants and the prototype was successfully completed. DoD's OT Guide says this option is unavailable when the earlier work was a research OT or a FAR-based contract, and recommends noting possible follow-on production in the prototype agreement.

8. OTA consortia

Many prototype OTs go through consortia: groups of traditional and nontraditional companies, nonprofits and academia focused on a technology area, often run by a consortium manager. GAO found consortia received nearly two-thirds of DoD's prototype OTA obligations in fiscal years 2019-2021. The Training & Readiness Accelerator II (TReX II), formed in 2022, responds to Army modeling, simulation and training requirements.

9. IDIQ contracts

An indefinite-quantity contract, often called IDIQ, sets a minimum and maximum quantity for a fixed period, and the government places orders as needs arise. FAR 16.504 tells contracting officers to prefer multiple awards. Under multiple-award contracts, each holder generally must get a fair opportunity to be considered for every order above the micro-purchase threshold (FAR 16.505).

10. Commercial Solutions Openings (CSOs)

A CSO is a DoD general solicitation, authorized by 10 U.S.C. 3458, that selects commercial products, services or nondevelopmental items through peer, technical or operational review; it counts as competitive procedures. Awards are fixed-price and treated as commercial. A December 2025 amendment allows follow-on production contracts, including sole-source, subject to approval rules. Under DFARS 212.70, CSO notices are posted on SAM.gov at least annually.

11. DLA Tailored Logistics Support (TLS)

DLA Troop Support's Tailored Logistics Support programs are standing contracts through which customers order commercial equipment, with vendors competing on each order. Programs cover Special Operational Equipment (SOE), Fire and Emergency Services Equipment, Maintenance, Repair and Operations, and AbilityOne base supply items. Training is allowed only as an incidental service tied directly to in-scope supplies and ordered with them, and not under the AbilityOne program.

12. Ordering through DLA TLS

For SOE and fire and emergency equipment, a customer registers and submits an order request to DLA Troop Support. The contracting officer checks each line item against contract scope and asks vendors for quotes. The customer returns funding information; DLA obligates funds and authorizes the vendor, who ships. Items can go unawarded if out of scope, noncompliant with domestic-sourcing rules such as the Berry Amendment, or not fairly priced.

13. Micro-purchase threshold and purchase card

The micro-purchase threshold is generally $15,000 (FAR 2.101, FAC 2026-01), with higher limits for contingency and emergency purchases and lower ones for some construction and service work. The Governmentwide commercial purchase card is the preferred way to buy and pay for micro-purchases and can also place orders under existing contracts when they allow it.

14. Registering in SAM.gov

Vendors generally must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) when they submit an offer or quote. Exceptions include micro-purchases made and paid with the purchase card, some classified contracts, and some contracts awarded by deployed or overseas contracting officers. SAM.gov is also the governmentwide point of entry where federal contract opportunities are posted.

15. AFWERX and SpaceWERX

AFWERX, the Department of the Air Force's innovation arm powered by the Air Force Research Laboratory, runs an SBIR/STTR program that funds emerging technologies for Air Force and Space Force needs. SpaceWERX, an AFWERX division, is the Space Force's innovation arm and lists SBIR/STTR Phase III among its programs. DoD SBIR/STTR proposals are submitted through DoD's online submission site.

16. Buying notes by category

Each category page has its own notes on how buying works for that kind of training.

Sources

  1. Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program Policy Directive (effective May 3, 2023). U.S. Small Business Administration, May 3, 2023. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  2. About. U.S. Small Business Administration (SBIR.gov). Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  3. 15 U.S.C. 638: Research and development. Office of the Law Revision Counsel, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  4. 15 U.S.C. 631: Declaration of policy (notes: Short Title of 2026 Amendment). Office of the Law Revision Counsel, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  5. Multiple Award Schedule. U.S. General Services Administration, October 20, 2026. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  6. FAR 13.303-1 General (Blanket purchase agreements). Acquisition.gov (Federal Acquisition Regulation, FAC 2026-01), March 13, 2026. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  7. FAR 8.405-3 Blanket purchase agreements (BPAs). Acquisition.gov (Federal Acquisition Regulation, FAC 2026-01), March 13, 2026. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  8. 10 U.S.C. 4022: Authority of the Department of Defense to carry out certain prototype projects. Office of the Law Revision Counsel, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  9. Other Transactions Guide, Version 2.0. Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (copy hosted by ARPA-H), July 2023. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  10. Other Transaction Agreements: DOD Can Improve Planning for Consortia Awards (GAO-22-105357). U.S. Government Accountability Office, September 20, 2022. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  11. Notice Pursuant to the National Cooperative Research and Production Act of 1993 - Training & Readiness Accelerator II. U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division (Federal Register, via govinfo), June 13, 2023. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  12. FAR 16.504 Indefinite-quantity contracts. Acquisition.gov (Federal Acquisition Regulation, FAC 2026-01), March 13, 2026. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  13. FAR 16.505 Ordering. Acquisition.gov (Federal Acquisition Regulation, FAC 2026-01), March 13, 2026. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  14. FAR 2.101 Definitions. Acquisition.gov (Federal Acquisition Regulation, FAC 2026-01), March 13, 2026. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  15. 10 U.S.C. 3458: Authority to acquire innovative commercial products and commercial services using general solicitation competitive procedures. Office of the Law Revision Counsel, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  16. DFARS Subpart 212.70 - Defense Commercial Solutions Opening. Acquisition.gov (DFARS Change 5/7/2026), May 7, 2026. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  17. Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support Construction & Equipment (C&E): Tailored Logistics Support Programs (briefing). Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support (briefing hosted by the U.S. National Response Team). Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  18. DLA Troop Support Plans to Greatly Expand Special Operations Equipment (SOE) Tailored Logistics Support (TLS) Program. Soldier Systems Daily, November 6, 2018. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  19. FAR 13.201 General (Actions at or below the micro-purchase threshold). Acquisition.gov (Federal Acquisition Regulation, FAC 2026-01), March 13, 2026. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  20. FAR 13.301 Governmentwide commercial purchase card. Acquisition.gov (Federal Acquisition Regulation, FAC 2026-01), March 13, 2026. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  21. FAR 4.1102 Policy (System for Award Management). Acquisition.gov (Federal Acquisition Regulation, FAC 2026-01), March 13, 2026. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  22. About Us - AFWERX. AFWERX (Department of the Air Force; Air Force Research Laboratory). Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  23. SBIR/STTR Overview - AFWERX. AFWERX (Department of the Air Force; Air Force Research Laboratory). Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  24. About SpaceWERX. SpaceWERX (U.S. Space Force; AFWERX). Retrieved October 21, 2026.