The Small Business Administration administers two unique programs for small business to acquire federal government contracts, the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. Eleven federal departments participate in the SBIR program, and five departments participate in the STTR program, together awarding $2 billion to small high-tech businesses.

One of these departments is NASA.

Now NASA is seeking proposals for its SBIR and STTR programs to create the new technologies that will send the agency to Mars and beyond. The deadline for the two program solicitations is Nov. 29, and selections will be announced in late February 2013.

According to NASA, previous rounds of small business programs have resulted in components for air-traffic control systems, the International Space Station and the Curiosity rover now busy exploring the Red Planet.

The highly competitive SBIR and STTR programs are based on a three-phase award system:

Phase 1, a feasibility study to evaluate the scientific and technical merits of a proposal
Phase 2, which expands on the results of Phase 1
Phase 3, commercialization

For more information about SBIR and STTR solicitations, including how to apply, go to missouribusiness.net/fast/about_sbir.asp or contact your MO SBTDC technology development specialist (http://www.missouribusiness.net/sbtdc/centers.asp).

The Department of Defense issues three SBIR and two STTR solicitations for proposals annually. Each solicitation has a: pre-release, open and close. During the pre-release period the government is not accepting proposals, but small businesses can discuss technical questions directly with the topic authors (contact information available in each topic). Once the solicitation is open, direct questions with the topic authors are no longer allowed, but technical questions may be submitted anonymously through the SBIR Interactive Topic Information System (SITIS).

Accepting Proposals – SBIR FY 2012.3
Deadline September 26, 2012

Here is a link to the solicitation schedule.

Remember when Congress voted to reauthorize the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) programs and the President signed the bill into law back in December, 2011? Implementing laws however, and doing it right, often takes just a little more time.

The programs are important to small businesses, each year providing more than $2 billion of R&D funding to innovative small business across a broad range of technologies.  After a long series of temporary reauthorizations, this reauthorization will last six years, much to the appreciation of all parties involved. (more…)

The Missouri Small Business & Technology Development Centers are offering a variety of classes and workshops targeted to help science and engineering oriented companies. The MO SBTDC technology specialists can help you take your intellectual property from the idea stage to commercialization. Some of the offerings to help those who are tech-savvy but need help with the business side of things are listed below:

• July 23 – FastTrac® TechVenture™
  4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.: online course; 7 session series
  This online course is part of the Kauffman Foundation’s acclaimed FastTrac® TechVenture™ series designed specifically by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs. This intensive seven-session course provides a proven framework and network of connections to help grow a great idea into the next viable innovation. Experienced business coaches and successful entrepreneurs work together to facilitate critical teachings, guide lively small group sessions and share practical experiences to enhance your business. Participants learn with and from peers, creating a powerful network that continues well after the program is complete.

• August 3 – Intellectual Property Workshop
  11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. in St. Joseph
  Led by Mr. Keith Strassner, Director of Technology & Economic Development at MU’s University of Science & Technology in Rolla, the following topics will be explored:
  
  • What patents do need for your business and best practices for filing a patent, plus patent process and costs
  • The newest regulations surrounding patents
  • Copyrights/copyright infringement (what is and what is not protected)
  • Trademarks – costs to file and what is covered
  • Trade secrets – what is included and what legal protection exists

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• August 8 or September 12 – Funding Technology Through SBIR/STTR
  2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. in Fort Leonard Wood
  This class covers the basics for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs that provide government money to small businesses willing and able to perform R&D for the participating government agencies.
  

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• August 24 – Technology Development & Commercialization
  9:00 a.m. – noon in Portageville
  Learn about Federal opportunities to fund new products and the process to get started. Learn about the support network offered by MO SBTDC technology specialists.
  

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• September 6 & 7 – Funding Technology Through SBIR/STTR Boot Camp
  8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m in Columbia
  
  Missouri’s SBIR Boot Camp pairs PIs with professional technical writers and editors in six formal “real time” writing sessions. Past boot camp participants were able to write more than 80 percent of Phase I proposals in just two days, instead of the three to four weeks typically invested in this effort. Registration deadline is Sept. 3, and classes are limited to 30 individuals.

Looking for funding for your technology startup? In this informational workshop, you’ll learn specific tips for preparing a winning Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) proposal to federal agencies. Included will be an overview of the programs, search techniques for finding funding sources, best practices for applying and a summary of the changes to the recent SBIR/STTR rules.

When and where:
Tuesday, April 3, 9am to 12pm
at the Bond Life Sciences Center,
no cost to attend

To register:
Please contact the MU Small Business & Technology Development Center office at 573-882-7096 or email gillos@missouri.edu.

For more information, download this workshop flyer.

SBIR Insider Newsletter Update

Dear SBIR Insider,

I am pleased (a gross understatement) to inform you that SBIR HAS NOW BEEN REAUTHORIZED for a period of 6 years, ending September 30, 2017, and that includes STTR, and what was the Commercialization Pilot Program (CPP), now to be known as the Commercialization Readiness Program (CRP).

This was all done under the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012 (NDAA) HR.1540. All that’s left is for the President to sign the bill into law, and he has said he would.
There are many changes and additions to these programs, many you will probably like, some, perhaps “not so much. What you won’t read in press releases or the main stream press is that the SBIR program was a stone’s throw from being laid to rest.

The fatigue factor from several years of battling for reauthorization, and fighting for 14 continuing resolutions led some powerful forces to question the validity of a program that can’t be reauthorized. “If it can’t be passed, let it die” was the word from one source. And die it would, had there not been serious compromises.
(more…)

The following excerpt is from Rick Shindell’s excellent SBIR Insider Newsletter…

SBIR Insider Newsletter Update
November 17, 2011

Dear SBIR Insider,

Good news, SBIR/STTR/CPP are now extended through December 16, 2011. Both House & Senate have just passed H.R. 2112 which amongst many other things extends SBIR/STTR/CPP through December 16, 2011. The President is expect to sign the bill Friday, when the current CR funding the government expires.

Reading between the lines reveals more good news judging from congressional action on this bill. The major thrust of this bill is to fund Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs through the end of FY-2012 (September 30, 2012).

Rick Shindell
SBIR Gateway
Zyn Systems
40 Alderwood Dr.
Sequim, WA 98382
360-681-4123
rick@zyn.com
www.zyn.com/sbir

This and back Issues of the SBIR Insider are available at www.zyn.com/sbir/insider

Below is some information about an exciting workshop taking place later this month at the Skandalaris Center at Washington University in St. Louis.  Please consider attending.  A full description of the event can be found here:

http://sc.wustl.edu/Events/Pages/diversity.aspx

SUMMARY:

Diversity as a Catalyst for Innovation in the Sciences: Connecting Women and Under-Represented Innovators to Regional Resources

On Monday, July 25, the Skandalaris Center, with support from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Partners for Innovation program, will host a day-long workshop entitled “Diversity as a Catalyst for Innovation in the Sciences: Connecting Women and Under-Represented Innovators to Regional Resources.”

The workshop is a follow-up to a grant from the NSF in 2008. The grant created a number of tools, concepts, and approaches that enhance regional innovation ecosystems. This workshop will broaden their impact by introducing the tools and approaches to under-represented groups. As part of the workshop we will publish and make available online a guidebook of resources available to innovators and entrepreneurs, to connect them to existing innovation support systems in the St. Louis region. The workshop will provide four learning tracks and include multiple opportunities to learn about and connect with resources in the region.

We recommend this workshop for the following groups:

• Women and other under-represented researchers who want to meet others and investigate how their ideas may move forward
• Service providers, innovators, and entrepreneurs who want to support underrepresented groups
• Students who want to learn more about St. Louis scientific startup ventures and regional entrepreneur support systems
• Community members who are part of, or wish to contribute to improving, the region’s innovation ecosystems
  Investors and funders who want to support early stage technology ventures
• Organizations and companies who support diversity
• Executives, mentors, advisors, and other people who might want to advise or join new technology ventures led by underrepresented groups

The following comes from Fred Patterson regarding the latest Continuing Resolution:

To My SBIR Clients and Friends,

The calls you made did help! A lot! Thank you.

The House of Representatives did overwhelmingly vote in favor of extending the SBIR Program through September 30, 2011, the end of the current government fiscal year.

The vote for this twelfth Continuing Resolution in the current string was 387-33 along bipartisan lines, with 12 members not voting. For a complete breakdown on who voted yea or nay, see the information posted on SBIRreauthorization.com.

What this means is that all funds allocated to SBIR, STTR and the DOD’s CPP for this Fiscal Year 2011 should now be released to the Agency contracting and granting offices, and we all can get on with our business.

But this isn’t over. We must get an SBIR Reauthorization bill acceptable to everyone passed by the end of September, so we’ll continue to educate and inform. If your Representative is one of those who voted NO, you should find out why, and get them some information to, hopefully, change their mind.

Here’s the current SBIR/STTR solicitation landscape:
SBIR/STTR PROPOSAL DEADLINES:
CURRENT OPEN AGENCY SOLICITATIONS:
NSF (SBIR): June 10th
DOT (SBIR): June 13th
DHS (SBIR): June 28th
DOD (SBIR): June 29th
NIH/CDC/FDA/ACF (SBIR/STTR): Aug 5th/Dec 5th
ANTICIPATED FUTURE SOLICITATIONS:
DOD (SBIR): Sep 28th/Jan 11th
USDA (SBIR): Sep 1st
NASA (SBIR/STTR): Sep 8th
NIH (SBIR Contracts): Nov 4th
DOE (SBIR/STTR): Nov 15th
NSF (SBIR): Dec 1st
DHS (SBIR): Jan 9th
DOC/NOAA (SBIR): Jan 12th
DOEd (SBIR): Jan 18th
DOC/NIST (SBIR): Jan 28th

For details on these monitor the SBIR Gateway. And, of course, you know where to come for help.

Thanks again for your support of the SBIR Advocacy.

Best regards,

Fred Patterson
The SBIR Coach

Below is information from the newsletter of Rick Shindell about the Reauthorization process for the SBIR/STTR program in Congress. Look for more information to follow on a final reauthorization in the coming few months.

Dear SBIR Insider,

Here’s the news you’ve been waiting for, along with a couple additional items for you.

SBIR/STTR/CPP EXTENDED THROUGH MAY 31, 2011

Your SBIR, STTR and CPP programs are now extended through May 31, 2011. It happened via a continuing resolution (CR), H.R. 366 passed by both House & Senate. The President is anxious to sign it and will do so very quickly. Everything stays “as is” during this extension.

Work will begin soon on SBIR reauthorization in the House. The Senate has theirs pretty much under control.

DOD ISSUES FY-2011A STTR PRERELEASE

The DoD has issued a prerelease of their FY2011.A STTR solicitation with offerings from the Army (34), Navy (39) and MDA (2). The solicitation opens and proposals will be accepted starting February 28, 2011 with a closing date of March 30, 2011 at 6:00am EST.

The STTR program requires the small business to partner with organizations such as universities, contractor-operated federally funded research and development centers ( see www.zyn.com/SBIR/articles/ffrdc.htm for a list) or other non-profit research institutions. (more…)