The Department of Defense announced topics in its 2010.A STTR pre-solicitation today. There are 30 Army Topics and 45 Navy Topics in this solicitation. Companies may review the topic lists found in the solicitation or utilize the DOD Topic Search engine to search specific details of a topic.
The STTR requires a partnership with a non-profit Research Institute (usually a university, but not always). The Research Institute must be subcontracted for at least 30% of the work, but not more than 60% of the work. Start early to build an appropriate relationship with the researcher and to develop a research agreement with the Research Institute.
Proposers are HIGHLY encouraged to make contact with the topic’s Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) prior to February 23rd to confidentially ask technical questions not found in the topic description (contact information for each TPOC is found in the topic description). After this date, questions may be asked publically in the DOD’s SITIS system. Final proposals are due no later than 6:00 AM on Wednesday, March 24th.
Have you checked out the SBIR/STTR Help Documents located under the “RESOURCES” tab of this ATDC site? Maybe you’ve heard about SBIR/STTR in passing, but you still are not exactly sure what these programs are or who qualifies. Maybe you think you qualify, but you can’t remember all the details of the programs. Your first step should be to review the documents on this Resource page. Some documents will give you general overview SBIR/STTR information, others list samples, participating agencies, and proposal preparation guidance.
This information might help you decide if these highly-competitive federal programs are right for your company. IF after reviewing, you think your company qualifies, and you are interested in learning more, meet with one of the ATDC Startup Catalysts specializing in SBIR/STTR during their Office Hours for further discussion:
Connie Ruffner
John Mills
Julie Collins
NOTE: We will be adding more documents/help in the future, so check back for new additions.
Four seasoned SBIR/STTR recipients will relay their experiences in obtaining SBIR/STTR funding. On October 21st, the ATDC Brown Bag Panel Discussion will allow you to glean from their knowledge.
Hearing about the SBIR or STTR award process is one thing, but hearing from someone who actually went through the process (and was successful), is even more beneficial. SBIR/STTR Awards can provide your company with up to $850K to conduct research. Why not learn how others have done it and reap valuable knowledge from their experiences? Come hear them relay how they did it, problems they had, and things they wish they had known. Don’t forget to bring your questions too!
Panelists:
- Karol Hatzilias is the President, ShapeStart Measurement Systems, Inc. Phase 1 and 2 SBIR grant from the Navy.
- Nikil Jayant is a Chaired Professor in the School of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Georgia Tech, a Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar, and Co-Founder of VQLink. Phase 1 and 2 SBIR grants from NSF.
- Ron Garmon is CEO of VueLogic. VuLogic has received Phase 1 and 2 NSF SBIR funding.
- Thanh Doan is Vice President of Operations at Vivonetics. SBIR and STTR awards from NIH.
Please note: This is a FREE event (for ATDC Members only), therefore it is a TRUE Brown Bag – meaning, bring your own lunch. If you forget to pack one before you walk out of the house, there are plenty of great restaurants in Tech Square to patron just before you enter this program.
Not an ATDC member? Join now!
SBIR and STTR awards are sometimes described as “free government money”. People hear this and immediately start lining up with their hands out. Not so fast. Just because the money doesn’t have to be repaid (like a loan), it doesn’t mean that it is automatically given to every person who wants it. Before you too jump in line with your hand out, make sure you qualify—no need to spend a lot of time, only to find out down the road that you are ineligible.
First, SBIR and STTR awards are for businesses—not individuals. Even then, they are not appropriate for every business. The awards are intended for serious, risky research with a high potential for commercial success—meaning, customers will actually pay you money for your innovative, end-product. Obtaining an award is a competitive process—make sure you CAN submit before you spend time preparing a proposal. So what are these qualifications? Well, here is a list of the minimum qualifications—specific agencies might have additional qualifications or expectations:
- Business is set up For-Profit
- No more than 500 employees in the business (including all affiliated entities)
- Satisfy ownership issues of the business:
- Business must at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more individuals who are U.S. Citizens or U.S. Permanent Resident Aliens
OR
- Business must be at least 51% owned and controlled by another small business that satisfies the above “a” requirement
- Business and proposed research location must be in the U.S.
- The Principal Investigator (PI) must be credentialed (education and experience) in the area of research that the business is proposing—must demonstrate on paper that he/she can lead a formal research study
- The PI must be employed fulltime (usually at least 51%) by the company (NOTE: sometimes for STTR, the PI can be employed by the company OR the partnering Research Institute)
- The proposed research must address a specified agency topic or area of research interest outlined by the soliciting agency—unsolicited proposals are NOT accepted.
Those are the minimum qualifications. If you DO qualify and you DO have an innovative idea that can realistically advance the mission of an agency, then submitting a proposal might be appropriate for your company. Talk to one of the ATDC Startup Catalysts specializing in SBIR (Connie Ruffner, Julie Collins, or John Mills) for more details.
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 NSF has released its 2010 STTR solicitation. Proposals may not exceed a $150,000 budget or a 12-month timeframe to conduct a Phase I feasibility study. Proposals are due November 17th at 5:00 PM.
This solicitation has one topic: "Multi-Functional Materials (MM)" with 4 subtopics:
A. Bio-inspired Materials and Systems (BMS)
B. Materials for Energy Generation and Storage (ME)
C. Materials for Sustainability (MS)
D. Nanostructured Materials (NM)
E. Smart Materials and Structures (SMS)
Proposals must address one of these subtopics. Instructions and proposal details can be found in the solicitation. Note: For STTRs, a company must subcontract with a non-profit research institute for 30-60% of the research.
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.