APFIT — Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies

APFIT, short for Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies, is a DoD procurement funding program that helps technologies move from completed development into initial production. It is run within the Department of Defense research and engineering structure and is designed to bridge the gap between RDT&E completion and operational fielding. Awards run from $10 million to $50 million, and the program is built for small businesses and nontraditional defense contractors whose projects already have a clear DoD need. Companies do not apply directly; a designated government sponsor from a Service, Combatant Command, or Defense Agency must endorse and submit the package. The current structure uses two cycles per fiscal year, and recent awards have averaged above $30 million. The fit is strongest when the technology is at TRL 7 to 9, has pilot or transition evidence, and can support initial production without early-development risk. Review focuses on warfighter impact, sustainment, and broader Department applicability, so applicants need a transition case as strong as the technical one. Projects with cumulative DoD contracts above $500 million, contractor-owned contractor-operated items, or early-stage development are outside the intended lane.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.