Two types of SBIR awards
GRANTS: you decide the research and
product to be designed or developed
CONTRACTS: The government decides
the research and general product to fill
their perceived need
The SBIR Contracts Program
is critical to filling small gaps
in scientific research,
development, and education
The SBIR Contracts Program
fills in those scientific areas
where initially there may not
appear to be a big market
(and thus, large private funders
of R&D are not interested)
The SBIR Contracts Program
is the Government’s opportunity
to test the feasibility of potential
products, when no Government
staff are available to do the
investigating
The SBIR Contracts Program
is the Government’s opportunity
to fill an identified scientific
product gap
Hardware product
Software product/database of information
Manual/teaching guide or video product
Scientific instrument
Drug or medication
New treatment or scientific process
The SBIR Contracts Program
is the Government’s opportunity
to…
Fill a company business gap
Create a new business
opportunity area to complement
existing business or create a
unique competitive edge
Strong Advantage…
…for recruiting top technical talent
Alternative work opportunity…
…for creative technical staff
The SBIR Grants Program
requires you to formulate a
unique idea for a product
You need to…
Define the product gap
Identify someone in the Government to provide
general support to your idea
Describe your market
YOU HAVE MULTIPLE SUBMISSION DATES
AND RESUBMIT OPPORTUNITIES
In the SBIR Contracts Program,
the Government formulates an
idea for a product
Government defines the product gap
Government identifies a Project Officer to provide
general support to the concept
You still need to describe your market
In the SBIR Contracts Program,
you have only one
submission date
and opportunity
SBIR Contracts—PROS
Because the projects are Government-
defined, funds are set aside—well-written
methods get funded
If the Government likes the Phase I
product, it is easier to get Phase II funding
SBIR Contracts—CONS
It is sometimes more difficult to identify a
market other than the Government
Government has more say in the design
and nature of final product
Government has more input to the conduct
of the research
Government defines Phase II parameters
BIG CAVEAT
REMEMBER: on any SBIR, the Government
(all agencies) has an exclusive right to get the
final product, in as many copies as it needs for
INTERNAL use only. Thus, if your primary
market is the Federal Government, even if you
have a great product, Phase III sales and
revenues are likely to be very limited!
SBIR Contracts—Steps
Step 1— Quickly identify ideas
that are of interest from the SBIR
Contracts Booklet
SBIR Contracts—Steps
Step 1—Quickly identify ideas that are of
interest from the SBIR Contracts Booklet
Step 2—Conduct a thorough
literature review to support your
concept
SBIR Contracts—Steps
Step 1—Quickly identify ideas that are of
interest from the SBIR Contracts Booklet
Step 2—Conduct a thorough literature review
to support your concept
Step 3—Keep your Phase I
concept and process simple
SBIR Contracts—Big Tip
BIG TIP—
If you have a good idea, but don’t think it is
strong enough for a grant SBIR, find someone in
the Government—who is interested preferably
someone you have worked with—and try to get
them to submit the idea for the Contract Booklet
Government Project Officers are frequently
looking for good contract research ideas!
NOVA’s Experience
Idea came from preliminary work conducted in
research support services
Large numbers of qualitative research interviews
had no easy-to-use coding/extract programs
Audio and video tapes had NO interactive coding
programs
Needed software to make coding/extracting
easier and faster
Voila! AFTER
NOVA’s Experience
Idea came from work with graduate students and
new researchers conducting community-based
research
No practical information available on conducting
community-based research
No existing manuals address cultural issues in
community-based research
Needed a “How To” manual for graduate
students and new researchers
Voila! “Minority Handbook”
SBIR Contracts—Getting Funded
It is easier to get Phase I funding
for contracts than for grants!
SBIR Contracts—Getting Funded
Propose your idea to Government staff
NOW (May/June) to get included in
Contracts Booklet—
Get them excited
about your idea!
SBIR Contracts—Getting Funded
Keep ideas and processes for Phase I
proposals simple and straightforward—
challenging, but doable!
SBIR Contracts—Getting Funded
Our biggest problem getting first-time
funding has been trying to do too much
in Phase I—
Instead, put your great ideas
into your discussion of what you
will do in Phase II
Do’s and Don’ts
DO talk with potential Project Officers about
ideas NOW! (After the SBIR Contract Booklet
is released, as with other contracts, there will
be no opportunity to discuss the ideas)
DO keep your proposed Phase I feasibility
study simple and doable within the 6 months
and $100,000 limits
Perspectives on the Process
Do’s and Don’ts
DO conduct regular progress reviews with your
Project Officer
DO discuss your ideas and plans for Phase II with
your Project Officer
DON’T make a Phase II project out of Phase I—
Prove your feasibility and leave final development
of the proposed product for Phase II