Getting Started with an SBIR: Tips & FAQs

Answer: SBIR/STTR Phase I proposals are often funded earlier than the businesses would be funded by investors because the program is interested in developing innovative ideas, which involves taking some risks. Phase I may involve pulling together the technology as a product. If the concept is still just science and there isn’t a clearly identified product for Phase I, however, it is not ready to be an SBIR. A mistake that junior investigators may make is to drift away from the product in the application. The program officer can offer feedback on the specific aims page prior to submission of the full proposal and let you know if it is a timely submission.

Answer:

The government issues funding opportunity announcements FOAs that describe details that vary by the government agency. They are published on each agency’s website. Examples include:

• Omnibus Solicitation, which is one of the funding opportunity announcements (FOAs), describes the NIH SBIR/STTR grant funding opportunities for support of small businesses having technical ability to do research that meets the missions of their agencies on the topics described in the document. The NSF is interested in innovative science with the potential for commercial success and does not have specific products they wish to support.

• The government agencies, including the NIH, also contract with businesses, both small and large, for produce a specific product that they need. See NIH Grants & Funding: Contracts: The list of potential SBIR contracts is published annually; see SBIR Contracts.

Be sure to read FOA’s carefully to find the following information:

• Does the institute or center you feel is a good fit for your research participate in this FOA?
• Note any eligibility and budget restrictions.
• Understand the responsiveness criteria, application instructions, and review criteria.
• Note the name of the FOA’s program official and contact them regarding program questions.
• Contact the FOA’s grants management specialist assigned with questions about budget or grants policy.

Answer:

There are three groups of officials involved in the NIH Extramural Team. Contact the first group first:

• Program Officials/Officers – Manage porfolios of grants – provide programmatic, scientific, and technical advice. Contact them prior to submitting your proposal.
• Scientific Review Officers – Responsible for review of proposals – provide programmatic, scientific, and technical review.
• Grants Management Specialist – Responsible for completion of business management requirements of a funded grant, evaluate applications for compliance with administrative content, negotiate and prepares grant awards, help you interpret administrative policy.