The Department of Education has opened its FY-05 SBIR grants solicitation, consisting of one priority with five invitational priorities (topic areas) proposed by the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services' (OSERS) National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) under CFDA Number 84.133S with awards up to $75,000. The solicitation closes on May 9, 2005.

It is anticipated that ED will fund 17 awards under this program. Under this competition they are particularly interested in applications that address one of the five invitational priorities. The maximum amount in the six-month budget period is $75,000, which includes both direct and indirect costs and fee.

The Invitational Priorities are:

• Development of technology to support access, promote integration, or foster independence of individuals with disabilities in the workplace, recreational activities or educational settings.
• Development of technology to enhance sensory or motor function of individuals with disabilities.
• Development of technology to support transition into post-secondary educational or employment settings for individuals with disabilities.
• Development of accessible information technology including web access technology, unique software, and other systems and devices that promotes access to information in educational, employment and community settings including access to voting technology.
• Development of technology to support independent access to health care services in the community.
  

SBIR projects are encouraged to look to the future by exploring uses of technology to ensure equal access to education and promote educational excellence throughout the nation.

The Department of Education's SBIR procedures are quite different from the other SBIR agencies, and you must study their requirements carefully and follow strict rules in order to submit your proposal. The following links will take you to the information you need:

The Program information: www.ed.gov/programs/nidrr/applicant.html
The Federal Register Announcement: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-4740.pdf
FedGrants.gov Announcement: http://fedgrants.gov/Applicants/ED/HRO/DCMGC/ED-GRANTS-030905-001/Grant.html

Reprinted with permission from www.zyn.com/sbir

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