The Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a new SBIR solicitation, with applications due in mid-September. Until the Funding Opportunity Announcement is officially posted in early August, potential applicants may contact the Technical Topics Managers to discuss the topics.
In an effort to improve commercialization outcomes of the funded projects, the DOE has made several changes to the SBIR/STTR program, which includes adjusting the solicitation release policy, commercialization emphasis and award dollars. Effective with this solicitation, the DOE will now release two solicitations each year. The first will contain topics from the Office of Science, and the second will feature topics from the remaining DOE program offices. Topics will be posted in advance of the issuance of the full solicitation and letters of intent will be required in advance of full proposals, so applicants must plan ahead.
The DOE is also increasing the emphasis on commercialization plans in both Phase I and Phase II. Phase I proposals lacking commercialization plans will be declined without technical proposal review. Phase II commercialization applications will be rated independently of technical merit, and those that receive poor scores on their commercialization plans will not be funded, even if they receive high technical scores. And finally, STTR award amounts will increase to $150,000 for Phase I and to $1 million for Phase II, consistent with maximum SBIR awards. These changes are all detailed in a letter from Manny Oliver, Director of the SBIR/STTR Programs Office within the Department of Energy.
July 29 webinar to discuss changes
The Center for Innovative Technology’s Federal Funding Assistance Program is hosting a July 29th seminar on these changes from 1 to 2:30 p.m. EDT. The featured speaker is Carl Hebron, the DOE’s SBIR/STTR Program Coordinator. The webinar is free, but attendance is limited. You can sign up here.
For more information, review our online resources or join us at an SBIR Circle, held every Thursday at 10:30 a.m. in ATDC room 207 at Technology Square, 75 Fifth St NW.
The Department of Energy (DOE) has added $37 million to the pot for SBIR/STTR Awards ($8.5 million for Phase I awards). This is in addition to the $9 million already allocated to the SBIR/STTR Phase I awards. Thanks the Recovery Act, these additional funds will be awarded to technologies that improve energy efficiency. Topics include:
· Advanced building air conditioning and refrigeration, thermal load shifting, and cool roofs
· Water usage in electric power generation and industrial processes
· Power plant cooling
· Advanced gas turbines and materials
· Sensors, controls, and wireless networks
· Advanced water power technology development
· Smart controllers for smart grid applications
· Advanced solar technologies
· Advanced industrial technologies development
· Advanced manufacturing processes
The deadline is still September 4th, so it will be VERY tight if you were not already planning on submitting (writing a quality proposal and registering for submission CAN take several weeks for first-time submitters). If you are submitting, these funds will allow an increased chance of funding.
Phase I awards are up to $150,000 for a period of six months to demonstrate the feasibility of the ideas that appear to have commercial potential. Read the DOE’s SBIR/STTR solicitation for proposal and submission instructions.
The Department of Energy released its SBIR/STTR combined solicitation. Proposals will be due at 8:00 pm, Friday, September 4th.The emphasis will be on investing clean energy technologies and U.S. jobs. Approximately 60 awards of $150,000 will be made for Phase I feasibility studies.
Topics include:1) advanced building air conditioning and refrigeration, thermal load shifting, and cool roofs; 2) water usage in electric power production and industrial processes ; 3) power plant cooling; 4) advanced gas turbines and materials; 5) sensors, controls, and wireless networks; 6) advanced water power technology development; 7) smart controllers for smart grid applications; 
advanced solar technologies; 9) advanced industrial technologies development; and 10) advanced manufacturing processes
Unlike previous DOE SBIR/STTR, this funding falls under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act which might have additional requirements–read solicitation CAREFULLY. See the DOE SBIR site for application instructions, topic descriptions, and more details.
Waiting for notice of an award can be like watching paint dry. When the funds are critical to your business it is even more painful. We unfortunately have no additional information on the DOE 2009 SBIR Phase II Awards. If you have been notified please let the community know by commenting on this post.
Department of Energy Releases 2009 SBIR and STTR Solicitation
Department of Energy has released their 2009 SBIR and STTR Solicitation. Go to www.grants.gov , click on Apply for Grants, then click on Download a Grant Application Package and enter the Funding Opportunity Number: DE-PS02-08ER08-34
There are 66 Technical Topics in this solicitation.
The deadline for receipt of Phase I grant applications to either program is November 20, 2008, 8:00 p.m. EST