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SBIR/STTR ALERTING SERVICE * April 3, 2009
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The SBIR/STTR Alerting Service is a free service that provides bi-weekly notification of SBIR and STTR solicitation announcements, news and information, and Internet resources relevant to the SBIR/STTR programs. This service is provided by the Economic Development Office of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL).
Back issues of the SBIR Alert are available at www.pnl.gov/edo/opportunities/sbir.stm. Subscription instructions appear at the end of this newsletter.
NEWS IN THIS ISSUE
-- DOT and DHS DNDO Solicitation Deadline Reminders
-- EPA SBIR Factsheet and Solicitation Topic Areas
-- NASA SBIR/STTR Quarterly Newsletter Launched
-- USDA SBIR Impact - March 2009 Posted
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SBIR/STTR NEWS AND INFORMATION
-- DOT and DHS DNDO Solicitation Deadline Reminders
Proposals in response to the Department of Transportation (DOT) 2009 SBIR Phase I solicitation must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. EST on April 15, 2009. Proposals must be a PDF file and submitted online via the SBIR Proposal Submit form at http://www.volpe.dot.gov/sbir/current.html.
Proposals in response to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) FY09.1 SBIR Solicitation are due 2:00pm Eastern on April 20, 2009. Note that this receipt date was changed from April 6, 2009 in an amendment announcement that appeared in the on the Federal Business Opportunities (http://www.fedbizopps.gov) website on March 28th (see https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=118ce30bdaee2da9e8163cf3bcf7fee2&tab=core&_cview=1).
-- EPA SBIR Factsheet and Solicitation Topic Areas
After the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) opened their SBIR Phase 1 Solicitation on March 19th, they posted the following notice on their website:
‘EPA has revised its SBIR Factsheet (PDF) to more clearly convey the EPA and NSF SBIR Opportunities that are currently available. Both agencies have SBIR Phase 1 opportunities currently available through open RFAs. NSF opportunities have been enhanced with "stimulus funding".
The information originally provided in this special announcement said:
"Stimulus (PDF) opportunity for support of Environmental Technologies through NSF."
This may have lead our web site users to believe that EPA was offering SBIR opportunities funded by the stimulus package. EPA's SBIR Phase 1 RFA is now open, and we anticipate issuing a total of $1.8 M in awards, however those awards will be funded by our standard SBIR funds. The increased environmental technology funding opportunities using stimulus funds are only available through NSF.
The previous "Stimulus (PDF)" link on our SBIR page originally linked to a factsheet that referenced “stimulus package”, i.e., American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 funds that are available to small businesses. That original factsheet may not have clearly conveyed that these funds are available through the NSF SBIR program, not the EPA SBIR Program.’
A portion of the SBIR factsheet (http://es.epa.gov/ncer/sbir/2009factsheet.pdf) appears below:
‘The EPA SBIR Program supports small businesses in developing new environmental technologies. EPA anticipates the total funding that will be available for Phase I projects issued under this RFA will be $1.8M. EPA anticipates tight competition for these limited funds. A total of $70,000 is available in funding for each EPA Phase I award.
EPA’s current SBIR solicitation includes topics in two areas, GREEN BUILDINGS and EPA TECHNOLOGY NEEDS. There are 10 subtopics in these areas: Green Building Materials and Systems, Innovation in Manufacturing, Nanotechnology, Greenhouse Gases, Drinking Water and Water Monitoring, Water Infrastructure, Air Pollution, Biofuels and Vehicle Emissions Reduction, Waste Management and Monitoring, and Homeland Security.'
-- NASA SBIR/STTR Quarterly Newsletter Launched
The first issue of a new SBIR/STTR quarterly newsletter, The Concept,’ published by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was recently posted on their SBIR/STTR website (http://sbir.gsfc.nasa.gov/SBIR/SBIR.html).
NASA indicates that ‘the purpose of The Concept is to provide information of interest to our NASA SBIR/STTR awardees, small business concerns, and university and high-tech industrial communities. The newsletter includes NASA SBIR/STTR news, events, informative articles and contact information for general program inquiries, as well as pointers to Web sites for the latest technical information on NASA mission programs.’
Highlights of this first issue include
- Opportunity for Enhancement funding
- NASA Mentor Protégé Program
- Tracking Infusion with InXitu Inc. and Combustion Research and Flow Technology
- Tips on Success From Technology Infusion Managers
NASA expects to release their SBIR 2009 Phase I Solicitation on July 7, 2009.
-- USDA SBIR Impact - March 2009 Posted
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently posted the March 2009 issue of SBIR Impact on their SBIR website (http://www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/sbir/sbir.html). SBIR Impact is a quarterly newsletter for small businesses interested in the USDA-SBIR program and for institutions and organizations that support the small business community and rural America.
In addition to interesting company profiles in the ‘Impacts’ and ‘In the News’ sections, the newsletter includes the following Program Updates:
FY2009 Proposals
Phase I panels are complete and funding recommendations have been made. Project directors who submitted proposals will receive word via phone or e-mail about their status of their proposals. If you submitted a FY 2009 Phase I application and have not been informed about the status of your proposal, contact us at .
FY2010 Phase I Request for Applications
The next USDA-SBIR Request For Applications (RFA) is tentatively scheduled to be released early June 2009, with a closing date in early September 2009, for phase I proposals. All FY2010 proposals must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov.
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CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS
NATIONAL
11th Annual NIH SBIR/STTR Conference, Omaha, NE, June 30-July 1, 2009. This year’s annual conference, hosted by the Nebraska Business Development Center, will focus on “Transforming Medicine Through Innovation.” It encompasses two full days of in-depth information about the NIH SBIR and STTR programs including funding opportunity identification, application preparation and electronic submission, post award administration, and transitioning into the marketplace. The agenda, registration, and other conference information are available at the conference website: http://nbdc.unomaha.edu/SBIR/NIHconference/home.htm#. For more information, contact Lisa Tedesco at 402-554-6270 or .
2009 Fall National SBIR Conference, Sparks, NV, November 2-5, 2009. The conference will bring together federal program administrators from all of the SBIR participating agencies, venture capital and angel investors, large companies, secondary market and traditional lenders, university and federal laboratory representatives and other experts who provide assistance or are interested in doing business with early-stage ventures. Participants will also hear presentations by SBIR award winners who have successfully commercialized their research, and learn about opportunities while networking with peers involved in innovation. For more information, visit https://www.cisweb1.unr.edu/cxs/CourseListing.asp?master_id=1542&master_version=1&course_area=CON&course_number=129&course_subtitle=00, or contact Dr. Fritz H. Grupe at 775-813-7407 or .
REGIONAL
SBIR Phase I Solicitation Workshop, Sparks, NV, April 8, 2009. This workshop will address information on how to win grants under the Environmental Protection Agency’s SBIR programs at EPA and the US Department of Transportation (DOT). Meet with James Gallup, SBIR manager for EPA and Joseph Henebury, SBIR Manager at DOT, to find out about their technology needs and funding opportunities. For more information, visit http://www.nsbdc.org/education/calendar/, or contact Dr. Fritz H. Grupe at 775-813-74070, or .
Kentucky Innovation and Entrepreneurship Conference, Louisville, KY, April 8, 2009. Learn from invited Federal Program Managers (NIH, NSF, USDA) about current federal funding opportunities. Hear experts in energy innovations, and biodegradable and renewal resources. Share your experience and problems with a panel of technology transfer experts. Discover the latest news on R&D carried out in the area. Network and find potential opportunities to collaborate. For more information, visit http://ksef.kstc.com/, or contact Mahendra K. Jain at 859-246-3230.
SBIR/STTR 101 - Introduction and Overview, Location TBA, April 14, 2009. This half-day workshop covers the SBIR/STTR program basics, including: program purpose; eligibility; and sources of funding. The course is targeted to a broad audience that is still exploring the SBIR/STTR program. It is designed to provide enough information for attendees to determine if they would like to seriously pursue proposal development. For more information, visit http://www.bioconsultants.com/training_schedules.html, or contact Biotechnology Business Consultants at 734-930-9741 or .
1st Annual Indiana SBIR & STTR Conference, Indianapolis, IN, April 14-15, 2009. This conference will be very valuable for anyone that owns or is operating a small business and is interested in high tech research and development. During the conference, there will be presentations, panel discussions and one-on-one sessions (by request only) conducted with the following representatives: Programs Managers from NIH, USDA, DARPA, NAVY, NSF and Air Force; Jim Greenwood, Greenwood Consulting; Kris Parmelee, Parmelee Consulting; John Dement, NSWC Crane Technology Engagement Office. For more information and to register, visit http://www.in.gov/iedc/361.htm, or contact DeAnn Reinhart at 812-384-3530.
* SBIR/STTR Conference, Indianapolis, Indiana, April 14-15, 2009. Greenwood Consulting will offer sessions that provides an SBIR/STTR overview; Phase 2 proposal prep advice; guidance on cost proposals; and suggestions on commercialization of SBIR/STTR technologies. For more information, visit www.in.gov/iedc/361.htm.
Licensing Your Innovation: Knowledge and Skills to Net the Best Deal, Bozeman, MT, April 15, 2009. Material to be covered includes learning the language of licensing, recognizing your IP value, getting ready to deal, negotiating a license, marketing your IP and managing and leveraging your license. For more information, contact Gloria O’Rourke at or 406.490.0462.
SBIR Introduction & Grantmanship Overview, RTP, North Carolina April 16th. For more information, visit http://www.sbtdc.org/events/sbir/workshops2009/, or contact John Ujvari at .
SBIR/STTR Phase I Proposal Writing, Jonesboro, Arkansas, April 21. This workshop is for early-stage, first-time, or previously unsuccessful writers of Phase I proposals. The eight-hour workshop covers all 11 federal agencies that participate in SBIR and STTR. Instructor is Sharon Ballard of EnableVentures, Inc., a multiple-SBIR awardee and entrepreneur with extensive experience as an entrepreneurial coach. To register, call (501) 683-7700 or go to http://asbtdc.ualr.edu/sbir. For more information, contact Mildred Holley at .
SBIR/STTR Proposal Preparation Workshop DoD Focus, Detroit, MI, April 23, 2009. This one day session provide detailed instruction on proposal preparation, including both technical and commercialization plans and proposal submission procedures. Differences between agencies are addressed. Core principals of preparing fundable SBIR/STTR proposals are stressed. For more information, visit http://www.bioconsultants.com/training_schedules.html, or contact Biotechnology Business Consultants at 734-930-9741 or .
* Phase 1 Proposal Preparation Workshop, Salt Lake City, Utah, April 28, 2009. The SBIR-STTR Assistance Program (SSAP), a USTAR initiative, and the Miller Business Resource Center at Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) Miller Campus welcomes Jim Greenwood, SBIRSTTR expert for an intense one day workshop. This workshop will provide an overview of the SBIR/STTR programs, and clarify their differences and similarities. It will also provide a simple but effective four-step process for developing a competitive Phase 1 SBIR or STTR proposal, and offer an opportunity to critique a sample Phase 1 proposal, learn its history, and find out the benefits (and limitations) of sample proposals. For more information or to register, visit www.innovationutah.com/sbir.html, email , or call 801.957.5249 or 801.957-5239.
DCAA/DCMA Government Contractors Compliance Conference
DCAA/Cost Accounting Seminar, Denver, CO, April 28, 2009. For more information, visit www.gov-con.us/seminars_feb_ca.html, or contact Carie Fay at 303 800-9115 or .
QuickBooks® /Indirect Rate Dev/Incurred Cost Poposal Workshop, Denver, CO, April 29, 2009. For more information, visit www.gov-con.us/seminars_feb_ca.html, or contact Carie Fay at 303 800-9115 or .
SBIR/STTR Proposal Preparation Workshop, Ann Arbor, MI, April 28-29, 2009. This two-day workshop combines the SBIR/STTR 101, Proposal Preparation, and NIH Electronic Submission Workshops into a two-day intensive workshop. This is targeted to life science companies, covering DOD, NSF and NIH, with detailed emphasis on NIH. For more information, visit http://www.bioconsultants.com/training_schedules.html, or contact Biotechnology Business Consultants at 734-930-9741 or .
SBIR/STTR Phase I Grant Proposal Course, Pomona, CA, May 7, 2009. This one-day, 8 hour intensive course provides an overview of the SBIR and STTR funding process and helps individuals prepare to write a comprehensive grant proposal. For more information, visit http://www.ceu.csupomona.edu/courses/dynamic_content/certificates/default.aspx?certid=2073, or contact Rebecca Pang at or 909-869-4495.
NSF SBIR/STTR Phase II Grantee Conference 2009, Baltimore, MD, May 18-21, 2009. This conference will showcase awardees to potential industrial strategic partners and Venture Capital (VC) investors, and provide opportunities for networking between grantees and one-on-one interactions with NSF Program Directors. This conference will highlight advanced technologies including biotechnology, information technology, electronics, materials, manufacturing and chemical processing implemented by SBIR/STTR Grantees. For more information, visit http://www.nsf.gov/events/event_summ.jsp?cntn_id=112081&org=IIP, or contact Amanda E. Morris at (703) 292-7055, or .
* Phase 1 & Phase 2 Proposal Preparation Workshops, Washington DC Area, May 20-21, 2009. Day 1 of this event will provide an overview of SBIR/STTR, recommendation for preparing a solid Phase 1 proposal to any SBIR/STTR agency, and an examination of a real Phase 1 proposal. Day 2, will focus on the Phase 2 portion of the SBIR/STTR program. This 2nd day workshop will cover the basics of Phase II, how it differs among the various agencies, how to prepare the Phase II proposal, and what should be covered in the commercialization discussion in the Phase II proposal. For more information or to register, contact Robert Brooke at or visit http://www.cit.org/events/index.html.
SBIR Phase II Workshop, Little Rock, Arkansas, July 9, 2009. This workshop is designed specifically for companies that have received at least one SBIR Phase I award and are confident they will be invited to submit a Phase II proposal. This eight-hour course provides entrepreneur-authors with specific exercises and interactive feedback to help them plan and then complete each section of a Phase II SBIR/STTR proposal. Instructor is Sharon Ballard of EnableVentures, Inc., a multiple-SBIR awardee and entrepreneur with extensive experience as an entrepreneurial coach. To register, call (501) 683-7700 or go to http://asbtdc.ualr.edu/sbir2. For more information, contact Mildred Holley at .