Sharon R. Morrow

Sharon R. Morrow serves as the SB Liaison for SBIR/STTR, playing a critical role in bridging federal research and development priorities with innovation from small businesses. In this capacity, she facilitates the transition of cutting-edge scientific and technical solutions from Phase I and Phase II SBIR/STTR awardees into federal procurement pipelines, ensuring alignment with agency mission needs. Her work centers on identifying high-potential technologies, guiding small businesses through federal contracting pathways, and promoting compliance with statutory requirements under the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs. She typically handles non-commercial research and development acquisitions, often structured as sole-source or competitive SBIR/STTR awards, with a strong emphasis on early-stage technological maturation. While specific contractor relationships are not publicly enumerated, Sharon collaborates extensively with small businesses engaged in federally funded R&D, particularly those with SBIR/STTR awards. Her partnerships are characterized by early engagement, mentorship, and strategic alignment with agency innovation goals rather than traditional vendor contracting. She fosters relationships with startups and emerging firms navigating the federal ecosystem, helping them transition from grant-funded research to contract-based delivery. Sharon demonstrates a pronounced commitment to small business participation, with 88% of her acquisitions conducted without set-asides and 12% structured as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. Her approach reflects a preference for leveraging the SBIR/STTR program as the primary vehicle for small business engagement, rather than traditional socioeconomic set-asides like 8(a) or HUBZone. This underscores her focus on innovation-driven procurement over socioeconomic categorization. Her procurement activity is concentrated in NAICS 541712 (R&D in physical, engineering, and life sciences) and 541990 (other professional, scientific, and technical services), with additional emphasis on management consulting and training services. She specializes in procuring advanced research, prototyping, and technical advisory services across engineering, biophysical sciences, and applied technology domains, supporting the federal government’s investment in next-generation scientific capabilities.