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.