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May 2008
Vol 8, Issue 4 |
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| Phase 1 Proposal Training, June 12 | |
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| Southeast Conferences | |
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| SBIR Reauthorization Update | |
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| Open Solicitations | |
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| Proposal Writing Tip | |
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 John
UjvariSBTDC Statewide Program Specialist |
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Orlando - National SBIR Conference: May 27-30, 2008
Atlanta - NIH National Conference: July 22-23, 2008
H.R.5819 which reauthorizes the SBIR program for two years was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday, April 23rd by a 368-43 vote. H.R. 5819 now moves to the Senate for its consideration,
Several significant changes to the program are present in the bill, including a tripling of the sizes of SBIR and STTR Phase I and Phase II awards; a requirement of agencies to issue at least two solicitations for proposals each year; the ability for companies to apply for a phase II award without having received a phase I award and to win sequential Phase II awards for the same project; and more.
The entire text of H.R.5819 is available from the Library of Congress Thomas website. Summaries of the bill have been included in the April 23rd issue of the State Science and Technology Institute (SSTI) Weekly Digest and the April 23rd edition of the SBIR Gateway SBIR Insider.
Contents courtesy of Richard Fowler & Gary Spanner of the SBIR Alerting Service
Solicitations: Open and Soon to be open
At present NIH, NSF, DHS, DOT have open solicitations.
A complete calendar of agencies with open solicitations is available at: www.zyn.com/sbir/scomp.htm
Agencies with solicitations to be released soon are available at: www.zyn.com/sbir/scomp.htm#future
SBIR Proposal Writing Basics: Explain Yourself
Gail & Jim Greenwood, Greenwood Consulting Group, Inc.
Copyright © 2008 by Greenwood Consulting Group, Inc.
Whether it's a Phase 1 or 2 proposal, the first section of the SBIR/STTR proposal typically is called something like "identification and significance of the problem or opportunity." This is a great opportunity to get the reviewer excited about and committed to your project. Unfortunately, most proposers blow that opportunity.
According to JoAnne Goodnight, the SBIR/STTR Program Manager for National Institutes of Health, "It doesn't matter how good the approach is, how innovative the idea is, how great the PI/team is, or how excellent the research facilities are if what you are proposing lacks significance or has no relevance to our mission of improving human health."
Given that, let's talk this month about what ought to be discussed in the significance section, and what too many proposers do instead.
We refer to the significance as the "so what" issue. Okay, there's a problem, and you have an innovative solution and you have the resources to see if that solution will work, but "so what" if it works? What benefit comes from it? Why should anyone care? Why should a reviewer choose this project over others? And why should taxpayer dollars support this effort?
Significance can come in several forms... read more
