The Department of War (DoW) Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) announced the launch of LYNX, a new digital platform designed to strengthen supplier readiness, improve visibility into business capabilities, and expand participation across the defense industrial base. Registration is now open at www.lynxconnect.io for businesses seeking to connect with mission-aligned partners and opportunities. Businesses begin by creating a company profile and completing an initial assessment to establish a readiness baseline and identify next steps.

“LYNX turns readiness into action,” said Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy Michael Cadenazzi. “It’s designed to help companies present their capabilities clearly, prioritize the right steps, and move toward mission-aligned opportunities with greater speed and confidence.”

LYNX is built for new entrants, small businesses, non-traditional suppliers, and growing defense contractors that have strong technical capabilities but face challenges navigating defense requirements, readiness expectations, and partner discovery. For many companies, the barrier to entry is not innovation or expertise, it is understanding how to move from capability to credible participation in mission-aligned opportunities.

LYNX is a platform designed as a comprehensive suite that empowers businesses to navigate the complex government contracting landscape with greater confidence and precision. The platform also benefits the Department by addressing long-standing challenges such as limited visibility into supplier readiness and fragmented pathways to engagement. LYNX creates a shared environment where companies can demonstrate readiness and DoW can more effectively identify, assess, and engage suppliers aligned to priority mission and technology needs.

“LYNX reflects OSBP’s commitment to reducing barriers to entry and expanding participation across the defense industrial base,” said James Mismash, Director of Small Business Programs. “By providing a common framework for readiness and capability, LYNX supports faster engagement, smarter collaboration, and more resilient supplier growth.”

Through LYNX, companies can present their capabilities with confidence, assess readiness across key dimensions, and receive Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML)-informed roadmaps that help focus investment on actions most likely to advance defense participation. At the same time, the platform improves discovery and connection which enables more precise partner matching and opportunity alignment tied to mission and technology priorities.

LYNX supports supplier readiness and Department priorities by helping companies to:

• Increase visibility with a credible company profile that is easy to build, update, export, and share
• Clarify readiness through in-depth assessments that identify needs and prioritize actions
• Turn goals into execution using AI/ML-informed roadmaps aligned to business objectives
• Accelerate discovery of teaming partners and opportunities through advanced search and AI-driven matching
• Pursue more strategically by evaluating opportunity fit against capabilities and readiness
• Build capability and confidence through training resources and access to expert support

LYNX is part of DoW’s broader effort to improve visibility into supplier capabilities and support industrial base growth in priority technology areas. Register now at www.lynxconnect.io.

About the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy (OASW(IBP)) 

The Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy (ASD IBP) works with domestic and international partners to forge and sustain a robust, secure, and resilient industrial base enabling the warfighter, now and in the future. 

About the Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) 

The Department of War Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) expands small business participation in defense acquisition by reducing barriers, accelerating pathways, and connecting companies with mission needs.