Last time we wrote, we reported that the House and Senate conference committee would try to find a compromise between their two versions of the SBIR/STTR reauthorization legislation. It is four months later, and guess what?  Same news--the Congress is still working on such a compromise. The good news is that the Congressional committees over the Dept of Defense got tired of waiting, and have enacted a one-year reauthorization of the DOD SBIR/STTR program. The rest of the 10 participating agencies continue to plod along, putting out SBIR/STTR solicitations and making awards, while waiting for Congressional action on the reauthorization. Therefore, until we hear otherwise, it will be "business as usual"--agencies requesting proposals, small firms like yours proposing exciting, innovative solutions to pressing health, energy, aerospace, and defense applications problems, and the agencies awarding Phase 1 and 2 grants and contracts. (NEWS FLASH: Congress, as we speak, is doing yet-another "continuing resolution" to keep the SBIR/STTR programs alive through April 30, 2010) 

 

If you want a chance at an SBIR/STTR award, you need to come forward with a strong proposal in these competitive programs.  That's where we come in, with our training workshops for Phase 1 and Phase 2 proposal preparation, cost proposal preparation and government accounting, and SBIR/STTR technology commercialization. Our upcoming workshop schedule appears below. 

 

Before we get into the training schedule, let us first remind you of the Federal agencies that have Phase 1 proposal due dates in the next several months.  Those agencies with an asterisk (*) next to their name will be accepting both SBIR and STTR proposals on the dates shown.

 

Agency                                                   Solicitation          Proposals                   Website
                                                               Available                Due

 

Dept of Transportation FY10.2                 ~Feb 15, 2010    ~Apr 15, 2010    http://www.volpe.dot.gov/sbir/  

Environmental Protection Agency              Mar 19, 2010      ~May 20, 2010   http://epa.gov/ncerqa/sbir/index.html 

 

National Science Foundation SBIR          ~Mar 15, 2010     ~June 15, 2010    http://www.nsf.gov/eng/oii/about.jsp 

Dept of Defense, FY10.2                           Apr 21, 2010     Jun 23, 2010      http://www.acq.osd.mil/osbp/sbir 

 

Now, let's talk about those upcoming training events:

1.  PHASE 2 PROPOSAL PREPARATION WORKSHOP, ORLANDO, FLORIDA, FEBRUARY 11, 2010. This workshop is aimed primarily at Phase 1 SBIR/STTR winners who want to transition their awards into a much larger Phase 2 contract or grant, but it also will benefit service providers helping SBIR/STTR applicants. The workshop covers Phase 2 basics, significant differences among the agencies in their Phase 2 expectations, a recommended approach to preparing your Phase 2 SBIR/STTR proposal, and commercialization. For more information or to register, contact jhenkel@mail.ucf.edu.

 

2.  SBIR/STTR Phase 1 AND  Phase 2 Proposal Preparation,  and Commercialization OVERVIEW Workshops, SANTA FE & ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, FEBRUARY 24-25, 2010.  We start in Santa Fe on the 24th, when we will present our most popular workshop on preparing the Phase 1 SBIR/STTR proposal. This workshop starts with an overview of the programs and how they are evolving, and continues into a logical four step process for developing a competitive Phase 1 proposal.  February 25th will be in Albuquerque, and will consist of an abbreviated Phase 2 proposal preparation workshop (addressing Phase 2 basics, and a recommended four-step process for preparing a Phase 2 SBIR/STTR proposal) and an abbreviated SBIR/STTR Commercialization workshop. For more information or to register, go to http://techventures.org/events/calendar-of-events/2010/02/sbir-sttr-game-plan-2-day-workshop/ .

 

3.  SBIR/STTR Phase 1 Proposal Preparation,  and SBIR/STTR TECHNOLOGY COMMERCIALIZATION Workshops, Stillwater, Oklahoma, March 16-17, 2010.  On Day 1, we will present our most popular workshop on preparing the Phase 1 SBIR/STTR proposal, which starts with an overview of the programs and how they are evolving, and continues into a logical four step process for developing a competitive Phase 1 proposal. It includes an opportunity for attendees to review an actual Phase 1 proposal, discuss its strengths and weaknesses, and then learn its history and what can (and cannot) be gleaned from sample proposals.   On Day 2, we will offer our latest workshop, in which we delve into the mysterious world of commercializing SBIR/STTR technologies. We will not give you an MBA degree in a day, but will introduce you to many of the concepts that you need to be thinking about, and making decisions on, before you (a) try to write a credible commercialization plan for a Phase 1 or 2 proposal, and (b) take steps to commercialize your project. Commercialization, or Phase 3, is where you make money in an SBIR/STTR project, so don't underestimate the importance of this effort!  Besides, SBIR/STTR proposals with great technology, super researchers and a compelling agency or societal need are not being awarded if the commercialization vision is hazy, vague, and/or wishy washy. To register for this powerful pair of workshops (or even just one of them), contact sroberts@ocast.state.ok.us.  

 

5.  HANDS-ON SBIR/STTR COST PROPOSAL WORKSHOP, GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA, May 7, 2010.  We always do things a little bit differently at the Home of the Florida Gators, and put a special twist on our training. This time, we are taking our exciting (?) SBIR/STTR cost proposal & government accounting workshop, and giving attendees a chance to draft their own SBIR/STTR cost proposal during the event. No big deal, right? Well, here's the big deal: that hands-on effort will begin with attendees estimating an indirect rate/overhead rate/G&A rate/F&A rate for their company.  Without that rate, your SBIR/STTR cost proposal will not be credible (i.e., you can't defend it with a straight face when the Government asks where it came from).  Those who do not want the hands-on component are welcome to attend and see an example of how one company estimated its rate.  For more information or to register, contact cbrown11@ufl.edu. 

 

6.  SBIR/STTR Phase 1 Proposal Preparation Workshop, Sarasota, Florida, May 13, 2010.  Did we mention this is our most popular workshop? That is because it is chocked-full of information for newcomers to SBIR/STTR and veterans alike. A strong overview of the SBIR/STTR programs is where we start, and then we take you through a simple but comprehensive four-step process for developing a credible and competitive Phase 1 proposal. As a group, we review an actual SBIR proposal and critique it using the tools you learned during the day. Florida residents will learn about the state's "Phase 0" program that can help reduce the cost of preparing a Phase 1 proposal.  For more information on the workshop or to register, contact dandrews@edcsarasotacounty.com. 

 

7.  SBIR/STTR Phase 1 Proposal Preparation Workshops, Missoula & Bozeman, Montana, May 19-20, 2010.  So the Sarasota workshop sounds good, and the timing is right, but Florida is not a convenient location for you?  Then join us on either the 19th in Missoula or the 20th in Bozeman, Montana. In addition to the topics listed above (strong overview of the SBIR/STTR programs, four-step process for developing a credible and competitive Phase 1 proposal), each day's discussion  will include a comparison of research done by the private sector in an SBIR/STTR project with research in a university environment. For more information or to register, contact marymcmahon@mt.gov.  

 

8.  SBIR/STTR Phase 1 Proposal Preparation Workshop, Philadelphia area, Pennsylvania, May 24, 2010.  Okay, so both the Sarasota and Montana workshops look great, but still can't make those locations on those dates? Then how about our Phase 1 workshop, which perhaps we mentioned is our most popular, in the greater Philadelphia area in late May?  The agenda looks very much like the one in Sarasota, except we will talk about the support services available in Pennsylvania for SBIR/STTR applicants. Your point of contact for this event is clydes@wharton.upenn.edu.  

 

 

 

 

OTHER UPCOMING SBIR/STTR WORKSHOPS & EVENTS:

SBIR/STTR Road Trip, Santa Fe & Albuquerque, New Mexico, Late Summer 2010 (tentative)