To Advance Knowledge
For Agriculture, the
Environment, Human
Health and Well-being,
and Communities
SBIR
SBIR
SBIR
SBIR
SBIR
Features of USDA SBIR Program
• Award Grants Only
• 12 Topic Areas (Wildlife is discontinued)
• Awards Based on Scientific and Technical Merit
• Ideas are Investigator-Initiated
• Proposals Reviewed by Confidential Peer Review Using
Outside Experts From Non-profit Organizations
• Funds Allocated to Topic Areas in Proportion to Number
of Proposals Received
SBIR
Features of USDA SBIR Program
• Phase I Grants = 8 Months/$80,000
• Phase II Grants = 2 Years/$350,000
• 12 Month No-cost Extension Available
• All Applicants Receive Verbatim Copies of
Reviews
• No Gap in Funding Between Phase I & Phase II
SBIR
Electronic Submission
• Starting in FY 2007 Electronic Submission will be
Mandatory
• Obtain Data Universal Number System (DUNS)
Number
• Register with Central Contractor Registry (CCR)
• Register your Business with Grants.gov
• www.grants.gov/assets/Grants.govRegistration
Brochure.pdf
SBIR
Topic Areas
• Forests & Related • Food Science & Nutrition
Resources • Rural & Community
• Plant Production & Development
Protection - Biology • Aquaculture
• Plant Production & • Biofuels and Biobased
Protection - Engineering Products
• Animal Production and • Marketing & Trade
Protection • Animal Manure
• Soil & Water Resources Management
• Small & Mid-Size Farms
SBIR
Small and Mid-Size Farms
Suggested Subtopics
• New Agricultural Enterprises
• Farm Management
• Natural Resources
• Educational Outreach
SBIR
Small and Mid-Size Farms
• Risk Management Products for Improving Ag Economics
and Environmental Impacts
• Determining the Commercialization Potential for Osha
(Ligusticum porteri)
• Establishing a Viable Organic Goldenseal Production
System for Small Family Farms
• Increasing Rural Impact and Sustainability of Farmstead
Soap Production
• A New Vanilla Industry as a Community Development
Engine
SBIR
Technology Areas Supported by
USDA/SBIR Program
• Information Technology • Genetic Engineering
• Robotics • Material/Coatings
• Electronics • Food Safety
• Biotechnology • Biofuels
• Nanotechnology • Machine Vision
• Microelectro • Precision Agriculture
Mechanical Systems • Engineering
(MEMS) • Physics
• Acoustics • Chemistry
• Remote Sensing
SBIR
Priority Research Areas
Encourage proposals addressing:
• Anti-bioterrorism
• Food Supply
• Crops and Forests
• Livestock, Aquaculture, Wildlife
• Alternative and Renewable Energy
• Agriculturally-Related Manufacturing
Technology
SBIR
Agriculturally-related
Manufacturing Technology
Proposals that focus on innovative new
technologies that will improve
agriculturally-related manufacturing
efficiency are encouraged
SBIR
History of USDA SBIR Funding
Year Budget MM Phase I Phase II
1999 13.30 84/425 32/56
2000 15.56 89/480 36/59
2001 16.25 90/480 37/63
2002 15.70 86/449 39/68
2003 17.74 88/656 38/67
2004 18.18 99/582 38/65
2005 19.20 93/557 40/79
2006 19.17 97/650 32/61
2007 18.13 81/510 ?/70
SBIR
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF USDA SBIR
WINNERS - FY 83-FY 06
CA W NE NC S
CA 221 WA 94 MA 84 MI 70 TX 69
OR 81 NY 61 WI 53 VA 58
CO 73 PA 56 MN 47 NC 48
HI 67 MD 39 OH 42 FL 43
ID 49 NJ 32 KS 41 GA 28
MT 41 ME 29 IN 31 LA 23
AZ 40 CT 29 IL 25 OK 19
WY 29 VT 22 IA 24 TN 18
NM 23 DE 11 ND 24 MS 13
UT 16 NH 10 NE 23 SC 13
AK 11 WV 6 MO 21 KY 13
NV 6 RI 5 SD 17 AL 7
DC 5 AR 7
VI 1
221 530 389 418 360
11.5% 27.6% 20.3% 21.8% 18.8%
SBIR
University and Government
Scientist Involvement in USDA
SBIR Program
Strongly encouraged
Scientists may serve as consultants or receive a subcontract
(limited to no more than 1/3 of Phase I award or 1/2 of Phase II
award) and continue to work full time at their home institution
Scientists may serve as the principal investigator on an SBIR
grant, by reducing employment at their home institution to 49%
for the duration of the grant and if the SBIR research is
performed someplace other than their research lab
It is usually not acceptable for university or government
scientists to serve as consultants and have all the research
done in their lab
SBIR
USDA SBIR REVIEW
PROCESS FOR
PHASE I
• There is a different review panel for each
topic area
• An outstanding research scientist is selected
as topic manager for each review panel
• Proposals undergo initial screening and then
are assigned to the appropriate topic area
SBIR
USDA SBIR REVIEW
PROCESS FOR PHASE I
(Continued)
• Each proposal is sent to four ad-hoc reviewers who
submit written reviews
• Each proposal is read and reviewed by two members
of the review panel and read by a third member
• Based on both the panel and ad-hoc reviews and the
panel discussion, each proposal is ranked, and the
top ranked ones are recommended for award
SBIR
USDA SBIR REVIEW PROCESS
FOR PHASE I (Continued)
• The SBIR program follows the panel
recommendations closely and allocates funds to each
topic area in proportion to the number of proposals
submitted
• Proposals recommended for funding undergo an
administrative review prior to the grant being
awarded
• A panel summary plus verbatim copies of the
reviews, minus the score and name of the reviewer,
are sent to the project director for all proposals,
funded or not
SBIR
Advice for Phase I
• Give us a vision of where you want to be
at the end of Phase II
• Focus Phase I research on critical
enabling factor(s)
• Sell the importance of your project
• Provide detailed experimental plan
• Provide insight into commercial potential
• Show connectivity with the communities
you are intending to serve
SBIR
EVALUATION CRITERIA
• Scientific/technical merit
• Importance of problem to American
agriculture or rural development
• Degree to which Phase I objectives were
met and feasibility demonstrated (Phase II)
• Impact: Local, regional, national, global
• Commercialization potential
SBIR
EVALUATION CRITERIA
(Cont’d)
• Adequacy of research plan
• Qualifications of PD and other key personnel
• Adequacy of facilities
• Qualifications of consultants
• Letters from consultants
• Adequacy of bibliographies for PD and key
personnel and consultants
SBIR
ELEMENTS COMMON TO
SUCCESSFUL PROPOSALS
• Well written, succinct and logical
• Thorough literature review
• Addresses important problem
• Innovative approach
• Well designed and detailed experimental
plan
• If successful, would have good
commercial potential
SBIR
COMMON PROPOSAL
CRITICISMS
• Poorly written and presented
• PD lacks necessary technical expertise
• Insufficient literature review
• Insufficient technical information
• Can not be completed in 8 months
• Inadequate bibliographical information
• Lacks letters from consultants
• Research already done by others
SBIR
COMMON PROPOSAL CRITICISMS
(Cont’d)
• Too vague and unfocused
• Failure to provide vision of Phase II activities
• Poor commercialization potential
• Doubtful economic prospects
• Inadequate detail in experimental plan
• Too much research done at university
• Need to engage consultants to add expertise
SBIR
Solicitation/Proposal Schedule:
FY 2007/2008
• FY 2008 Solicitation will be Released 6/1/07
• Phase I Proposal Deadline Date will be 8/31/07
• Panels Meet in January & February of 2008
• Award Decisions Made by 3/1/08
• Phase I Grant Period will be from 5/1/08 to
12/31/08
• FY 2008 Phase II Deadline Date will be 2/1/08
SBIR
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Small Business Innovation Research Program
Dr. Peter Burfening Dr. Richard Hegg
Animal Production and Protection Animal Waste Management
Dr. Charles Cleland Dr. Suresh Sureshwaran
Forests and Related Resources; Soil Rural and Community Development,
and Water Resources; Aquaculture; Marketing and Trade
Small and Mid-Size Farms
Dr. Dionne Toombs
Dr. William Goldner Food Science and Nutrition
Plant Production and Protection
(Biology and Engineering); Biofuels
and Biobased Products Scott Dockum
Program Specialist, SBIR
SBIR
USDA SBIR HOMEPAGE
www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/sbir
• Program Information
• Solicitation (Request for Applications)
• Technical Abstracts
• Link to SBA and Other SBIR Programs
• Upcoming SBIR Conferences
• Find the Expert (CRIS & ARS)
• PowerPoint Presentation
• Success Stories
SBIR
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Small Business Innovation Research Program
Waterfront Centre, Suite 2312
800 9th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20024
Phone: (202) 401-4002 • Fax: (202) 401-6070
E-mail: sbir@csrees.usda.gov
Web Site: www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/sbir
SBIR
Factors that Improve Chances for
Commercial Success
• High Scientific/Technical Merit
• Good Consultants, CRADA
• Business Expertise
• Phase III Partners
• Marketing Plan
• Commercialization Assistance
Program
SBIR
Success Stories: Capstan Ag Systems,
Inc. www.capstanag.com
Innovation:
Proof that highly accurate
metering of agricultural liquids
through pulsing solenoid valves
is feasible, economic, and
desirable for users.
SBIR
Success Stories: Capstan Ag Systems,
Inc. www.capstanag.com
Impact:
Over 20 million acres are being sprayed
annually using with Capstan designed
systems.
These systems are superior in:
Suppressing exposure to pesticide drift
Aligning application rates with variable
needs within fields
Economizing material
Lessening the probability of excess
nitrogen moving into the water table
SBIR
Success Stories:
Rainbow Organic Farms Company
“SBIR provided the necessary funding to create a new economic future for
our local small family farms”. -- Diana Endicott
SBIR
Success Stories: Rainbow Organic Farms Company
Innovation:
Developed the first USDA ISO
9000 based Quality System
Verification Program (QSVP) for
Good Natured Family Farms
(GNFF) all-natural beef and free-
range poultry raised on local small
family farms.
QSVP model provides
comprehensive standard operating
procedure (SOPs) for identification,
traceability and label claim
verification for production,
processing, and retail sales.
SBIR
Success Stories: Rainbow Organic Farms Company
Impact:
Developed and trademarked ‘Good
Natured Family Farms’ all-natural
branded food product line and
achieved wholesale gross sales in
2004 of 2.5 million dollars.
The 40 Good Natured Family Farms
Alliance members farm over 16,000
acres of farmland.
Recognized for two major awards
including: Kansas City BTG
Environmental Excellence Award and
the National Agriculture Center and
Pilot plant for biodiesel production Hall of Fames’ Farmers Honor Acre
Award.
SBIR
Success Stories: Blue Sky Designs
www.blueskydesigns.us
Innovation:
Developed accessible tent
designs and technologies to
improve access to camping for
people with disabilities and aging
baby boomers.
Eureka’s Freedom Tent
SBIR
Success Stories: Blue Sky Designs
www.blueskydesigns.us
Commercialization:
A licensing agreement was reached with
Eureka! for the Combination Tent/Vestibule
and one of the door designs.
Eureka’s Freedom tent called “top product of
the show” by the Salt Lake Tribune at the
2004 Outdoor Retailer Show.
Three or more additional designs (not
targeted to people with disabilities) will come
to market in 2006.
SBIR
Success Stories: Resodyn
Corporation www.resodyn.com
Innovation:
Developed a unique process for
the conversion of low value
feedstock to biodiesel which can
be produced at costs competitive
to traditional diesel fuel
SBIR
Success Stories: Resodyn
Corporation www.resodyn.com
Impact:
Consistent production of both high
quality biodiesel and a glycerin by-
product
Lowest production costs in the
industry
Competitively priced capital
investments
Elimination of waste water
discharge
Pilot plant for biodiesel production Complete solvent recovery
SBIR
Success Stories: Sleepy Hollow Farm
Innovation:
Development of a USDA National Organic
Program Certified production and processing
system for Hydrastis canadensis (goldenseal).
•Identification of high quality goldenseal germplasm
through DNA fingerprinting.
•Patent-pending process for producing high quality
goldenseal products standardized to not only
chemical markers but also to biological activity.
•Establishment of a network of more than 40 small
farms producing USDA National Organic Program
Certified goldenseal and other medicinal plants.
SBIR
Success Stories: Sleepy Hollow Farm
Commercialization:
Development of research grade goldenseal
products suitable for use in NIH sponsored
clinical studies in partnership with the Institute
for Nutraceutical Research at Clemson
University.
Development of oral care products from
goldenseal in partnership with the University of
Illinois, Chicago, College of Dentistry.
Commitment for additional funding in excess of
$700,000 obtained from Symphony Resource
Group, LLC, Branson, MO.
SBIR
Success Stories: Sleepy Hollow Farm
Impact:
More than 40 small farms are actively producing medicinal plants as a direct
result of this work. Income from production and processing of this material is
projected to exceed $1 million per year by the 2007-2008 harvest.
Development of sustainable production systems for medicinal plants which
results in a reduction of the need for wild collected plants to meet market
demand.
Goldenseal products produced by the system developed by this work are
certifiable for export under Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species (CITES).
SBIR
Success Stories: Sensit Co.
www.sensit.com
Innovation:
Development of a rugged, unmanned sensor
capable of providing high resolution particle
movement without any technical support.
•Provides high resolution measurement with
respect to the threshold of movement of
airborne particles.
•Operates omni-directionally without moving
parts thus eliminating the need for technical or
physical maintenance.
•Operates remotely with low battery power
consumption.
SBIR
Success Stories: Sensit Co.
www.sensit.com
Commercialization:
The sensor is being used worldwide to
monitor the movement of airborne particles
of sand, dirt, snow, ice, and arsenic laden
mine tailings.
Countries where the sensor is currently
being used include New Zealand, the
Antarctic, Beijing, and Madagascar.
SBIR
Success Stories: Sensit Co.
www.sensit.com
Impact:
Approximately 300 Sensit sensors are in
use in the Great Basin area of Keeler,
California. These sensors are providing
data for the largest erosion monitoring
project ever undertaken.
The sensor benefits the scientific
community by providing information
critical to models of erosions and wind
movement.
SBIR