SBIR Links

WWW.SBIRWORLD.COM
WWW.ZYN.COM/SBIR

These SBIR gateway sites provide links to SBIR and STTR information. Additional information about individual agencies is available below.

This page provides links to many sites where SBIR and STTR program information can be found.  It is important to understand the purpose of the programs in general and why the federal government has continuously funded SBIR since 1983 and STTR since 1992. 

SBIR is a highly competitive program that encourages small business to explore their technological potential and provides the incentive to profit from its commercialization. By including qualified small businesses in the nation's R&D arena, high-tech innovation is stimulated and the United States gains entrepreneurial spirit as it meets its specific research and development needs.

Since its enactment in 1982, as part of the Small Business Innovation Development Act, SBIR has helped thousands of small businesses to compete for federal research and development awards. Their contributions have enhanced the nation's defense, protected our environment, advanced health care, and improved our ability to manage information and manipulate data.

General SBIR Information

SBA Online

General SBIR Information is provided on SBA's Office of Technology web site. This page includes descriptions of the SBIR and STTR programs, and awards and statistics.

It also includes a Handbook for SBIR Proposal Preparation.

For New York State companies, there is a NYS SBIR/STTR Guidebook
that can be downloaded in pdf format from the TDO menu.

Individual Agency Sites for SBIR and STTR

The federal SBIR program was created in 1982 to stimulate technological innovation, use small business to meet federal R&D needs, and increase private sector commercialization derived from federal R&D. The federal STTR Program, established in 1992, is modeled on the SBIR program and similar objectives. It also serves to encourage technology transfer through cooperative research between small business concerns and non-profit research institutions. Commercialization of SBIR and STTR technology is required, however, specific requirements vary by agency.


Eleven federal agencies participate in the SBIR program:

Five federal agencies participate in STTR program:

Additional Small Business Links from the Navy
Look here for additional small business links

The U.S. Small Business Administration serves as the coordinating agency for the SBIR and STTR programs (http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov/sbir).

 

Useful Documents for Proposal Preparation

The New York State SBIR/STTR Guidebook (http://www.tdo.org/files/SBIR_guide.pdf) was developed for use in workshops for New York State companies. It provides information that is similar to the SBA handbook, but is intended to parallel the topics discussed in workshops across New York State.

The SBA Proposal Preparation Handbook is a useful guide to general aspects of the SBIR program across all ten participating agencies. It was prepared by the U.S. Small Business Administration as a general guide but does not include individual agency solicitation information.

 

SBIR and STTR Award Links

Tech-Net Database (searchable for SBIR and STTR)

http://tech-net.sba.gov/tech-net/search.html

 

SBIR awards can be found at the following sites:

SBIR Awards for 1993-1998 and State Statistics for 1997-2002:
http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov/sbir/indexsbir-sttr.html#sbirawards

 
STTR awards can be found at the following sites:

STTR Awards for 1993-1998 and State Statistics for 1997-2002:
http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov/sbir/indexsbir-sttr.html#sttrawards

 

Recent Awards by Individual Agency:


Department of Commerce

Awards 1999-2003, abstracts 1996-2003, state statistics 1994-2003:
http://patapsco.nist.gov/ts_sbir/awards.htm

 

Department of Defense

Abstracts and awards data (1997-2003), SBIR statistical profile (1983-2003), STTR statistical profile (1994-2003):
http://www.acq.osd.mil/sadbu/sbir/awards/index.htm

Air Force Awards:
 http://www.sbirsttr.net/afsbir/

Army Awards:  
http://www.aro.army.mil/arowash/rt/sbir/phase1&2.htm

Chemical and Biological Defense Awards:
http://www.aro.army.mil/arowash/rt/cbdsbir/index.htm

DARPA Awards (Phase I):  
http://www.darpa.mil/sbir/#Phase%20I%20awards

MDA Awards (searchable):
http://www.winmda.com/scripts/asp/past_awards.asp

National Geospatial Intelligence Agency Awards:
http://www.nga.mil/portal/site/nga01/index.jsp?epi-content=GENERIC&itemID=13886591e1b3af00VgnVCMServer23727a95RCRD&beanID=1629630080&viewID=Article

Navy (searchable):  
http://www.navysbir.com/database.htm

Department of Education
(FY 2000-2001 and searchable 1983-2000)
http://www.ed.gov/offices/OERI/SBIR/awards.html

Department of Energy
(Abstracts and Awards FY 2002 (Phase II), FY 2000 and 2001 (Phase I and II)):  http://sbir.er.doe.gov/sbir/Awards_Abstracts/award_Abstract_main.htm

Department of Homeland Security
http://www.hsarpasbir.com

Department of Transportation
http://www.volpe.dot.gov/sbir/overview.html

Environmental Protection Agency (FY 1998-2001)
http://es.epa.gov/ncer/sbir/sbirlist.html

NASA (SBIR: FY 1999-2001, STTR: FY 1998-2001)
http://sbir.gsfc.nasa.gov/SBIR/awards.htm

NIH (FY 1996-2002)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/sbir.htm#data

NSF
https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/servlet/A6RecentWeeks

(Community of Science searchable database):
http://login.cos.com/loginForm?request_uri=http%3A%2F%2Ffundedresearch%2Ecos%2Ecom%2F

USDA (FY 1996-2001 Phase I and II)
http://www.reeusda.gov/sbir/

 

SBIR and STTR Program Managers

If you need to contact any of the SBIR and STTR program managers, you can find them listed at the following site.
http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov/sbir/indexcontacts-reps.html

 

SBIR and STTR Solicitation Schedules

A chart with solicitation information for all agencies is found at the following sites:
http://www.win-sbir.com/schedule.html
http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov/sbir/mastersch.pdf

 

Defense Topics

Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) Web The DTIC Small Business Program provides tech transfer opportunities and comprehensive technical information support to small, high-tech companies.

The Dept. of Defense (DOD) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) solicitations foster participation by small firms in high-tech research and development to address Department needs. Firms with 500 or fewer employees, owned and operated for profit in the United States are eligible to participate. A system of competitive awards enables small businesses to develop innovative solutions to a wide variety of DoD requirements. Except for the reservation of limited rights by the government, rights to products and processes resulting from SBIR and STTR remain with the small company.

The maximum dollar value that the agency will fund in a Phase I SBIR is $100,000. This does not include NAVY which has Phase I for $70,000 and a bridge contract for $30,000. The maximum dollar value that the agency will fund in a Phase II SBIR is $750,000.

 

Army Research SBIR/STTR - The Department of Defense (DoD) SBIR and STTR programs funds over $1 billion each year in early-stage R&D projects at small technology companies -- projects that serve a DoD need and have commercial applications. These programs fund technology development at an earlier stage than the private sector generally does.

Air Force SBIR/STTR - Research efforts address a broad range of topics identified by the Air Force in an agency solicitation. The proposal required to win a contract is kept short and simple and the contracting process is streamlined to minimize the administrative burden on the SBIR participant. Contract winners are chosen on competitive merit by an agency's technical and scientific experts.

Office of Naval Research The Office of Naval Research (ONR) coordinates, executes, and promotes the science and technology programs of the United States Navy and Marine Corps through universities, government laboratories, and nonprofit and for-profit organizations. It provides technical advice to the Chief of Naval Operations and the Secretary of the Navy, works with industry to improve technology manufacturing processes while reducing fleet costs, and fosters continuing academic interest in naval relevant science from the high school through post-doctoral levels.

Missile Defense Agency If you can conceive of a function for your best new technology for a missile defense role, MDA is probably interested. MDA, however, does not fill its immediate engineering, science or technology needs from SBIR. This agency wants high risk, high payoff technology where the risks can be reduced to conventional R&D investment grade within 2 to 3 years using less than $1 million.

DARPA Small Business Support Center DARPA actively supports a number of special assistance programs that have been established to ensure equality in Federal procurements. These include various types of preference programs, such as small business and small disadvantaged business set-asides, programs exclusively for minority-owned companies, and other forms of assistance generally designed to help organizations that otherwise might not be able to compete for government contract awards. These programs are monitored and managed by the Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (SADBU) Office within the Office of Administration and Small Business (OASB) at DARPA. All firms are encouraged to become familiar with, and take advantage of, any of the special assistance programs for which they qualify.

 

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Topics

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)  The maximum dollar value that the agency will fund in a Phase I SBIR is $70,000 and in a Phase I STTR is $100,000. The maximum dollar value that the agency will fund in a Phase II SBIR is $600,000.


Health and Human Services Topics

Dept. of Health and Human Services (NIH HHS) Advice on SBIR and STTR Applications for the National Institutes of Health and for other units within the Department of Health and Human Services is described on this web site.

National Institute of Health (NIH). Begun as a one-room Laboratory of Hygiene in 1887, the National Institutes of Health today is one of the world's foremost biomedical research centers, and the Federal focal point for biomedical research in the U.S.  The maximum dollar value that the agency will fund in a Phase I SBIR is $100,000. The maximum dollar value that the agency will fund in a Phase II SBIR is $750,000. However, special sections may be eligible for increased awards, including biotechnology and nanoscale science.


Homeland Security Topics

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology division serves as the primary research and development arm of the Department, utilizing our nation's scientific and technological resources to provide federal, state and local officials with the technology and capabilities to protect the homeland. The topics in these solicitations include as examples: chemical and biological sensors, surveillance sensors and personal monitoring devices, computer modeling tool for vulnerability assessment of U.S. infrastructure, marine asset tag tracking system, ship compartment inspection devices, across-domain attack correlation technologies, innovations for municipal water purification, techniques for concealed weapons or explosive detection at a distance, innovative cooling garments for first responders, among others.

The SBIR solicitation for the Department of Homeland Security opened on November 14, 2003 and closed December 15, 2003 for their SBIR FY04.1 solicitation. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology directorate made 66 small business awards to small business firms located in 23 states. These 66 firms received a total of $6.5 million, with individual firms each receiving up to $100,000 for a period of six-months. In Phase I, awardees will define the scientific, technical, and commercial merit of a particular concept. Firms whose concepts prove successful in Phase I, may be invited to apply for a two-year Phase II award not to exceed $750,000 and 24 months to further develop the concept, usually to the prototype stage. A second solicitation, SBIR FY04.2 closed in July 2004. Their most recent SBIR solicitation is located here.

 

National Science Foundation

National Science Foundation (NSF) The primary objective of the NSF Program is to increase the incentive and opportunity for small firms to undertake cutting-edge, high risk, high quality scientific, engineering, or science/engineering education research that would have a high potential economic payoff if the research is successful. The proposed research must be responsive to the NSF program interests stated in the topic descriptions of this solicitation.  The maximum dollar value that the agency will fund in a Phase I SBIR is $100,000 for 6 months. The maximum dollar value that the agency will fund in a Phase II SBIR is $500,000 with a new suplemental award made to eligible SBIR Phase II grantees for a maximum of $250,000. NSF STTR Phase II awards are not eligible for Phase II B funding.

 

Agriculture Topics

U.S. Department of Agriculture The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) invites science-based small business firms to submit research proposals under their program solicitation. Firms with strong scientific research capabilities in any of the topic areas described are encouraged to participate. USDA will support high-quality research or research and development (R&D) proposals containing advanced concepts related to important scientific problems and opportunities that could lead to significant public benefit if the research is successful.

USDA New SBIR releases Information about the USDA SBIR Program Solicitation topics are described on the USDA web site. USDA recently added a new topic area on Wildlife and are encouraging people to submit proposals dealing with bioterrorism and homeland security as it applies to rural communities.

 

Wildlife deals with all wild land animals, birds, and fish (freshwater and estuarine but not marine).  Proposals dealing with deer that are being raised for venison should go to Animal Production and Protection but if they deal with wild deer populations they would go to Wildlife.  In addition, proposals dealing with farm-raised trout would go to Aquaculture while ones dealing with wild populations of trout would go to Wildlife.  As with all USDA topic areas, the ideas are investigator-initiated.  This means that applicants are free to propose whatever they want so long as they can make a convincing case that their proposal fits in a particular topic area. 

 

Bioterrorism and homeland security is not going to be a separate topic area. Rather, USDA is encouraging people to submit proposals that deal with these subjects because this is an important national priority.  Proposals dealing with security of rural communities would go to the Rural and Community Development topic area.  In the case of bioterrorism, however, the proposals could go to several different topic areas depending upon the subject area.  For instance, if a proposal deals with an animal disease such as foot and mouth disease it would go to Animal Production and Protection, if it deals with food safety issues it would go to Food Science and Nutrition, and if it deals with water quality it would go to Air, Water and Soils.

The maximum dollar value that the agency will fund in a Phase I SBIR is $70,000 - $80,000. The maximum dollar value that the agency will fund in a Phase II SBIR is $300,000.

  

Transportation Topics

Department of Transportation SBIR Info The Volpe Center directs the Department’s SBIR Program due to its extensive background in innovative programs such as technology transfer, cooperative R&D agreements, outreach projects involving a cross-section of the transportation community, and technical assistance to state and local governments, as well as private organizations. The SBIR Program Office at the Volpe Center directs all activities required under the SBIR law and executes the policy established by the Small Business Administration.  The maximum dollar value that the agency will fund in a Phase I SBIR is $100,000. The maximum dollar value that the agency will fund in a Phase II SBIR is $750,000.

Education Topics

Department of Education - The Department of Education makes SBIR awards as contracts. The maximum dollar value that the agency will fund in a Phase I SBIR is $60,000. The maximum dollar value that the agency will fund in a Phase II SBIR is $300,000. This agency does allow a firm to include a reasonable fee or profit in its Phase I cost proposal. Solicitations are published once per fiscal year. It is not possible for a company to get non SBIR funding from this agency to perform Phase III work. Advance payments or progress payments are not negotiable with this agency. Companies are not required to have a commitment for funding Phase III before the agency will consider them for a Phase II award. This agency's SBIR program is aimed primarily at either research or development projects. This agency's SBIR solicitation topics are very specific. The Phase I solicitation comes out in January and are due at the agency in March. The agency anticipates notifying winners of Phase I awards in June or July. The agency does not allow companies to contact technical representatives about the SBIR Phase I topics once the solicitation is released. Approximately 9% of the Phase I proposals received by the agency result in Phase I awards. Approximately 39% of the Phase I awards made by the agency result in Phase II awards.

Environmental Topics

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) The Small Business Innovation Research ( SBIR) Program is an important part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) research and development efforts and helps the Agency to achieve its overall mission to protect human health and the environment. Through the SBIR Program, EPA makes awards to small, high-tech firms for research and development of cutting-edge technologies. The Program is intended to spawn commercial ventures that improve our environment and quality of life, create jobs, increase productivity and economic growth, and improve the international competitiveness of the U.S. technology industry. The maximum dollar value that the agency will fund in a Phase I SBIR is $70,000. The maximum dollar value that the agency will fund in a Phase II SBIR is $225,000. The period of performance for a Phase II is typically 15 months. EPA also offers up to $100,000 and one additional year as phase II options for firms with third party financing for accelerating comercialization or for technologies accepted into the EPA Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) Program.

 

Department of Energy Topics

Department of Energy DOE's solicitation contains topics in technical areas such as the following: Basic Energy Sciences, Biological and Environmental Research, High Energy and Nuclear Physics, Fusion Energy Sciences, Computational and Technology Research, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Nuclear Energy, Fossil Energy, Environmental Management, and Nonproliferation and National Security. Each year about 40 topics are allocated among the technical areas in proportion to their contributions to the budget; the funds are placed in a common pool, and applicants are selected competitively for award on scientific and technical merit. DOE's SBIR program offers two additional features: (1) It provides for uninterrupted funding between Phases I and II for those awardees that choose to submit their Phase II applications a short time before the end of their Phase I grants. Funding continuity has been provided to these awardees for fourteen consecutive years. (2) To aid awardees in seeking follow-on funding for Phase III, DOE has sponsored a Commercialization Assistance Project for the past six years which has provided individual assistance in developing business plans and in preparation of presentations to potential investment sponsors. In the 1993 project, awardees made presentations to about 55 sponsors from venture capital firms and large corporations. Half of the companies that completed the 1991 and 1993 projects have already received a total of $50 million for commercialization of their SBIR research. In addition, these companies have increased sales from their SBIR work by more than $40 million. The maximum dollar value that the agency will fund in a Phase I SBIR is $100,000 for 9 months. The maximum dollar value that the agency will fund in a Phase II SBIR is $750,000. Chances for funding may be better if the actual Phase II request is between $500,000 and $750,000. Second year Phase II funding is contingent on the demonstration of adequate progress.

 

Department of Commerce Topics

NOAA/OAR/ORTA Office of Research and Technology Applications ORTA's SBIR functions are DOC-wide. They are to prepare, coordinate, and disseminate the annual program schedule; recommend Phase 1 and Phase 2 funding limits and number of awards for each; obtain research topics from NOAA scientists; prepare and distribute the annual DOC solicitation; manage the proposal process (through evaluation, selection, and award phases); monitor the Phase 1 and Phase 2 review process; hold de-briefings for offerors; and chair Phase 1 and Phase 2 selection meetings of the DOC SBIR Working Groups. In addition, ORTA prepares selection packages and their documentation, acts as the Contracting Office's Technical Representative for Phase 1 contracts, maintains a DOC/SBIR data base, and represents DOC at National and Federal SBIR conferences.

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) This Web site contains a list of R&D topics from two agencies of the Department of Commerce, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)  The maximum dollar value that the agency will fund in a Phase I SBIR is $75,000. The maximum dollar value that the agency will fund in a Phase II SBIR is $300,000.

 

Revised 11/8/04 MSS

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