Overview of the SBIR Program
Click on the above for a brief overview. The Small Business Innovative
Reserch (SBIR) program is is a fuderal program for funding innovative
research at small busineeses. It is funded at approximately $1B per
year.
Overview of the STTR Program
Click on the above for a brief overview. The Small Business Technology
Transfer Pilot Program (STTR) is a federal program to fund technology development
and tranfer by small business in partnership with a research institution.
Calendar for SBIR & STTR Solicitations
A calendar of solicitation release and due dates is provided.
Other technology opportunities established for small businesses include: the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), the Environmental Technology Initiative (ETI), and the Energy Related Inventions Program (ERIP).
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program was established by the Small Business Innovation Development Act of 1982. The act has since been amended multiple times to extend the program.
Eleven Federal agencies manage the SBIR competitions. Defense, Health, Energy, NASA and the National Science Foundation make 95% of the awards. The others: Agriculture, Commerce, Education, EPA, HOme Land Security and Transportation have smaller, but technologically equally important programs. There is an SBIR place somewhere (usually several of them) for every technology discipline.
These competitions are merit-based and nonpolitical. Each agency issues lists of technology topics on what it wants research done-for ultimate commercialization in the private sector, or products or services for sale to the government. A "Phase I" competition is open to all small company proposals to achieve a research problem's solution. An award of $35,000 to $100,000 is made for the best proposal. A budget and a work plan go with the proposal designed to test its feasibility. If Phase I is successful, a further two year's of research may be funded at $150,000 to $1,000,.000, depending on the agency. But SBIR "Phase II" is open only to Phase I winners.
The competition for these awards is very vigorous. To win, a small business must be very good at the advanced technologies in which it is engaged.
The Small Business Innovation Research Program is a three phased R&D program designed to harness the innovative capabilities of small firms on behalf of the federal government. It seeks to both development technology for federal use and to spur commercialization of that technology. SBIR consisting of two phases of SBIR funding and a third phase of non-SBIR private sector or other federal funding. Phase I awards extend for 6 months and can be funded for up to $100,000. No more than 33% of an award can be subcontracted. Phase I awards support research projects to evaluate the scientific and technical merit and feasibility of an idea. Only those firms that successfully complete Phase I can compete for Phase II funding to further develop the proposed idea. Phase II awards to further develop the Phase I idea for one or two years. Most Phase II awards are funded for $750,000 or less and no more than 50% can be subcontracted. In order to fairly handle the problem of choosing between proposals of approximately equal scientific and technical merit, where the funds available to agencies do not permit funding all proposals, the law mandates that commitments for follow-on funding from a non-Federal third party for Phase III will be given preference. Phase III is the stage in which an innovation is brought to market by private sector investment and support. As noted, no SBIR funds may be used in Phase III.
The objectives of the SBIR Program
The program is made up three phases:
The Small Business Technology Transfer Research (STTR) pilot program is modelled on the SBIR program. Its objective is to encourage technology transfer through cooperative research between small business concerns and research institutions. The STTR program has the same three phases as SBIR.
Only small businesses and their non-profit research institution partners (non-profit institutions or Federally funded research and development centers) may compete in STTR. Research is to be conducted jointly by a small business concern and its partner. Not less than 40 percent of the work must be performed by the small business concern and not less than 30 percent by the nonprofit research institution.
| Agency: | Release Date: | Closing Date(s): | Release Date: | Closing Date: |
| Department of Agriculture | June 1 | Sept 4 | ** | ** |
| Department of Commerce:
1. NOAA 2. NIST |
Oct 15 Oct 31 |
Jan 14 Jan 30 |
** | ** |
| Department of Defense:
1. DOD First Solicitation 2. DOD Second Solicitation 3. DOD Third Solication 4. DOD Fourth Solication |
Dec 1 May 1 July 1 Sept 15 |
Jan 15 Jun 17 Aug 12 Oct 15 |
Mar 1 |
Apr 15 |
| Department of Education
1. First Solication 2. Second Solication |
Dec 14 Mar 28 |
Feb 14 Jun 1 |
** | ** |
| Department of Energy | Oct 7 | Jan 6 | Oct 7 | Jan 6 |
| Health & Human Services (NIH, CDC, FDA):
1. PHS/NIH (grants) (AIDS related applications due 1 month later) 2. PHS/NIH (contracts) |
Jan 15 Jul 16 |
Apr 1, Aug 1 Apr, Nov 7 |
Jan 15 |
Apr 1, Aug 1, Dec 1 |
| Homeland Security | Jun 14 | Jul 14 | ** | ** |
| Department of Transportation | Feb 17 | May 1 | ** | ** |
| Environmental Protection Agency | Mar 25 | May 25 | ** | ** |
| National Aeronautics & Space Administration | Jul 7 | Sept 9 | Jul 7 | Sept 9 |
| National Science Foundation:
1. IT & ST 2. AM |
Mar 1 Oct 1 |
Jun 9 Jan 20 |
Mar 1 Oct 1 |
Jun 9 Jan 20 |
NOTES:
** These agencies do not curently participate in the STTR program.
