The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced the release of its 2010 SBIR Phase I solicitation. $45,000,000 will be available for 200-300 awards. These competitive research awards will be capped at $150,000 per award. Companies must outline how they will utilize these funds to conduct a 6-month feasibility study. Companies must prepare proposals that will address subtopics found under each of these main Topics:
Successful proposers will conduct R&D on projects that provide evidence of a commercially viable product, process, device, or system AND/OR meet an important social or economic need. All projects should have High potential commercial payback and High-risk efforts.
For more details and proposal preparation instructions, refer to the NSF solicitation.
All proposals will be due before 5:00 PM on Thursday, December 3rd (the registration process, necessary before you submit your proposal, might take a few weeks–Start early!).
If you recall, last month we announced that the incubator model in Atlanta (and Georgia) was changing. The SBIR Assistance Program for Georgia was merged into the newly expanded ATDC (Advanced Technology Development Center). This new relationship has enabled (and will continue to enable) more Georgia companies and researchers to learn about SBIR and STTR as well as expose those seeking SBIR/STTR funding to additional resources/assistance outside of SBIR/STTR.
In a move that will help foster the awareness of the full range of services ATDC offers, the SBIRGA.com blog will be incorporated with ATDC’s existing blog and portal. You do not need to do anything differently on your part if you don’t want to. You will still be able to to read the SBIR/STTR posts by going to SBIRGA.com or you can go directly to the ATDC section dedicated to SBIR (http://www.atdc.org/sbir). We hope, though, you WILL stop and take a look at all the services and opportunities provided at ATDC as there might be additional services which could help your business.
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.
Once again the SBIR program has been saved by Continuing Resolution (CR). The House passed the Senate’s CR S.1513 which will postpone the program until September 30, 2009. Debates on the merit of VC involvement, increased award amounts and Phase III programming will continue.
Stay tuned …
Did you know that if you are submitting an SBIR or STTR to the NIH in response to a PA (program announcement) that you can request your grant be reviewed by a specific study section? In fact it's encouraged.
NIH SBIR and STTR grants are reviewed by Special Emphasis panels coordinated by the Center for Scientific Review. To take a look at the current SBIR Special Emphasis panels go
here. Use the cover letter component to request the most appropriate study section and one or more appropriate funding Institutes or Centers.
This reduces the burden on NIH staff and affords you the best chance at determining your own fate.
The Department of Defense released two solicitations for its
sub-agencies: one is an SBIR solicitation and one is an STTR solicitation. SBIR proposals will be ONLY accepted from the
2009.3 solicitation topics and STTR proposals will ONLY be accepted from the
2009.B solicitation topics. For more
information and proposal preparation details, please carefully read the
appropriate solicitation.
The DOD will begin accepting proposals on August 24th
and will close at 6:00 AM on September 23rd. Prior to August 24th
you may (and are HIGHLY ENCOURAGED) to contact the matching Topic Manager for
the topic that fits your technical expertise to ask additional technical
questions not outlined in the topic itself. To search specifically for DOD topics, visit
the DOD search engine.
The NIH has announced it has once again contracted with Foresight Science and Technology to provide 50 SBIR Phase I awardees with Technology Niche Analyses (TNA™). Only FY09 or FY10 SBIR awardees are eligible to apply. Each company is only eligible for one assessment even if you have received multiple awards. The earliest start date for Group A is July 27th.
Each TNA™ will examine the commercial potential and market for the product/service being developed using NIH SBIR funds. This report can be beneficial in identifying partners, investors or customers.
As previous
reported both the Senate and House have passed bills reauthorizing both the
SBIR and STTR programs. However, there
are significant differences in the two bills.
Unlike last year, the House appears more willing to compromise with the
Senate. Reports are that “good faith”
negotiations are ongoing. Due to
procedural rules, a deal must be reached by next Tuesday, July 28th,
for the bill to obtain final approval by both the House and the Senate before
the July 31st expiration of the current Continuing Resolution. So we are down to the wire again, but hopeful
that a reasonable bill will be passed and everyone will know what the rules are
going forward. Stay tuned for the final
results!
The Senate passed S.1233 today. With the House bill that passed last week, we now have two possible bills with three possible solutions:
- The House and Senate reach a compromise and then send the bill onto the President for his signature into law
- The House and Senate do not reach a compromise before the July 31st deadline but decide to temporarily continue through a Continuing Resolution. In this case, we would start the process all over again at a future date
- The House and Senate do not reach a compromise, there is no provision for a continuing resolution, and thus, the SBIR program dies.
Let's think positive and hope that the first option happens. If not, the second option would not be ideal, but it would be a better than the 3rd option.
The senate bill was passed with some amendments, including a requirement for better metrics and reauthorizing both programs for an eight-year period.
Hopefully, in the next week or two the House and Senate will reach a compromise and with the addition of President Obama's signature, we will have a reauthorized program.
Stay tuned!