SAM.GOV: The Master Registration
You can register for free! Beware of scams trying to get you to pay for SAM.gov registration! You do not need to pay a company to register your or to “expedite” your registration. Scammers promise to speed up your registration, but this is not true. Gather all the information you’ll need before…
SBIR vs. STTR
Deciding which program — SBIR or STTR — is appropriate for you and your proposal is one of the first tasks when preparing to apply for funding. Each program has its own goal and distinct award structure that support research and development conducted under different circumstances. Understanding…
Writing Your Specific Aims
The specific aims page is a critical page in an SBIR/STTR application. The aims page should be treated as a standalone page from which a reviewer can gain a reasonable understanding of the critical components of the project without reading any other parts of the application. Applicants are only…
The Project Pitch as a gateway for an NSF Phase I SBIR/STTR
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is a great source of funding for many small businesses. However, before you submit a full Phase I SBIR/STTR proposal, your Project Pitch must be approved by an NSF Program Director (PD). In this post, we discuss how to prepare a successful Project Pitch.…
The Phase I scope of work
One of the first steps in your Phase I SBIR/STTR journey is to decide what your small business would like to accomplish over the course of the project. It is important that your scope of work is appropriately tailored for a Phase I submission. If the proposed work is overly ambitious, reviewers…
The SBIR Research Plan
The beating heart of the SBIR/STTR proposal is the Research Plan, a 6-20 page document that describes in detail your product development approach and rationale. While each agency has its own name and suggested organization for this document (see table below), there are some common key features of…
Rigor & Reproducibility in SBIRs
Rigor and reproducibility has been a major topic in biomedical, physical, and social science research as scientists have recognized the importance of thoroughness and independent reproducibility. Beginning January 2019, the NIH began including rigor and reproducibility in grant application…
Letters of Support
SBIR/STTR applicants are encouraged to provide Letters of Support in their applications. For first time applicants, it may not be entirely clear what the purpose of these letters are or how one should go about obtaining them. We will provide some insight into how these letters may be leveraged in…
The SBIR/STTR budget
What budget-related documents are required for Phase I and Phase II proposals? Whether you are submitting a Phase I or Phase II SBIR/STTR proposal, you must provide detailed information on the budget for the proposed work, together with supporting documents that include your justification for the…
Clinical trials and human subjects
Funding through the SBIR/STTR program can be used to support clinical trials of a variety of biomedical technology and products and can be leveraged to obtain regulatory approvals and attract further investments and partnerships. However, before you get ready to send off your application, here are…
Using TABA funds to support commercialization
November 12, 2020 Although the SBIR/STTR program is best known for supporting Research & Development, most SBIR/STTR funding agencies also provide funding for Technical and Business Assistance (TABA) to help companies successfully commercialize their products. The SBIR and STTR Policy…
The SBIR peer review process
It is important to understand the SBIR/STTR review process prior to initiating your SBIR/STTR application, so that you can tailor your proposal to meet all of the review criteria. However, there is not a one-size-fits-all review process, and each government agency has its own method for reviewing…
The NIH Applicant Assistance Program
Are you eligible to receive FREE personalized coaching through the Applicant Assistance Program (AAP) for preparing your next NIH SBIR/STTR application? The National Institute on Aging has a helpful video describing how the AAP helps applicants apply for funding from the National Institutes of…
Multiple submissions: the shots-on-goal strategy
Sometimes a small business has ideas for multiple products or services and has more than one potential research project in the pipeline. For example, if a small business has a drug or molecule that can be applied to treat more than one disease or a platform technology that can be used for more…
SBIR grants vs. contracts
When researching different options to secure non-dilutive SBIR/STTR funding for your company, you have probably noticed that SBIR/STTR funding can be categorized into two types: grants and contracts. In this post, we will help you understand how these are different and where to find out which…