What is SBIR?What is SBIR?

SBIR is a federal program where small businesses SBIR is a federal program where small businesses compete for up to $670,000 to research, develop and compete for up to $670,000 to research, develop and commercialize a new technology.commercialize a new technology.

A legislated federal research & development set-aside for A legislated federal research & development set-aside for small high-technology firmssmall high-technology firms

A way for government to use the innovation & efficiency of A way for government to use the innovation & efficiency of small high-technology firms and research institutions assist small high-technology firms and research institutions assist in accomplishing agency missionsin accomplishing agency missions

SBIR BiddersSBIR Bidders

Average size of participating firm is 12 personsAverage size of participating firm is 12 persons Approximately 20% are lone individuals wanting to start Approximately 20% are lone individuals wanting to start

their own companytheir own company

So which agencies?So which agencies?

National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationNational Aeronautics and Space Administration Department of DefenseDepartment of Defense Department of EnergyDepartment of Energy National Institutes of HealthNational Institutes of Health National Science FoundationNational Science Foundation Department of AgricultureDepartment of Agriculture Environmental Protection AgencyEnvironmental Protection Agency Department of TransportationDepartment of Transportation Department of CommerceDepartment of Commerce Department of EducationDepartment of Education

Three Phase ProgramThree Phase Program

Phase I Phase I evaluates the technical feasibility or proof-of-evaluates the technical feasibility or proof-of-concept. Awards are up to six months for amounts concept. Awards are up to six months for amounts up to $70,000. up to $70,000.

Phase IIPhase II expands on the results of and further expands on the results of and further pursues the development of Phase I. Awards are up pursues the development of Phase I. Awards are up to two years in amounts up to $600,000.to two years in amounts up to $600,000.

Phase IIIPhase III commercializes the results of Phase II and commercializes the results of Phase II and requires use of private or non-SBIR federal funding.requires use of private or non-SBIR federal funding.

DetailsDetails

NASA SBIR 2003 Phase I SolicitationNASA SBIR 2003 Phase I Solicitation– Solicitation Period: July 7 - September 9, 2004Solicitation Period: July 7 - September 9, 2004

Phase I submitted proposals to awards = 8:1Phase I submitted proposals to awards = 8:1 Approximately 40% of Phase 1 proposals are selected Approximately 40% of Phase 1 proposals are selected

down to Phase IIdown to Phase II

2003 SBIR Solicitation2003 SBIR Solicitation

Participating under (Participating under (Lead Center - ARCLead Center - ARC))– E3.01 Automation and Planning E3.01 Automation and Planning

The Automation and Planning Subtopic solicits proposals that allow either The Automation and Planning Subtopic solicits proposals that allow either spacecraft or ground systems to robustly perform complex tasks given high-level spacecraft or ground systems to robustly perform complex tasks given high-level goals with minimal human direction. Technology innovations include, but are not goals with minimal human direction. Technology innovations include, but are not limited to: limited to:

– 1) automation and autonomous systems that support high-level command abstraction; 1) automation and autonomous systems that support high-level command abstraction; – 2) efficient and effective techniques for processing large volumes of data (commonly 2) efficient and effective techniques for processing large volumes of data (commonly

available on the Internet) into useful information; available on the Internet) into useful information; – 3) intelligent search of large, distributed data archives, and data discovery through 3) intelligent search of large, distributed data archives, and data discovery through

searches of heterogeneous data sets and architecture; and searches of heterogeneous data sets and architecture; and – 4) automation of routine, labor intensive tasks that either increase reliability or 4) automation of routine, labor intensive tasks that either increase reliability or

throughput of current process throughput of current process

2003 SBIR Solicitation2003 SBIR Solicitation

Participating under (Participating under (Lead Center – ARCLead Center – ARC))– E3.02 Distributed Information Systems and Numerical SimulationE3.02 Distributed Information Systems and Numerical Simulation

This subtopic seeks advances in tools, techniques, and technologies for This subtopic seeks advances in tools, techniques, and technologies for distributed information systems and large-scale numerical simulation. distributed information systems and large-scale numerical simulation.

The goal of this work is to:The goal of this work is to:– create an autonomous information and computing environment that enables NASA create an autonomous information and computing environment that enables NASA

scientists to work naturally with distributed teams and resources to dramatically reduce scientists to work naturally with distributed teams and resources to dramatically reduce total time-to-solution (i.e., time to discovery, understanding, or prediction), total time-to-solution (i.e., time to discovery, understanding, or prediction),

– vastly increase the feasible scale and complexity of analysis and data assimilation, and vastly increase the feasible scale and complexity of analysis and data assimilation, and – greatly accelerate model advancement cycles. greatly accelerate model advancement cycles.

Advantages of SBIRAdvantages of SBIR

Small firms Small firms CANCAN win win No debt incurredNo debt incurred Alternative to venture capitalAlternative to venture capital Attracts future venture capitalAttracts future venture capital Establishes a sole-source marketing position with Establishes a sole-source marketing position with

governmentgovernment

. . . more advantages. . . more advantages

Retain full rights to inventions and dataRetain full rights to inventions and data Retain all cash (no payback requirements)Retain all cash (no payback requirements) Each Agency provides a specific “shopping list” for Each Agency provides a specific “shopping list” for

small firmssmall firms Provides credibility to winning companiesProvides credibility to winning companies Fund innovative, high risk, early stage projectsFund innovative, high risk, early stage projects Offers a simplified route to obtaining federal R&D fundsOffers a simplified route to obtaining federal R&D funds Procedures are less complex than regular federal Procedures are less complex than regular federal

procurementprocurement Failure only expends your time, not your cashFailure only expends your time, not your cash

Expense of Money Expense of Money Risk of Project Risk of Project

Venture Venture CapitalCapital

DebtDebt

SalesSales

SBIRSBIR

SBIRSBIR

Venture CapitalVenture Capital

DebtDebt

SalesSales

Higher

Lower

Who QualifiesWho Qualifies

Employ <500 people, including affiliatesEmploy <500 people, including affiliates Must be organized for profitMust be organized for profit Small business must be independently owned and Small business must be independently owned and

operated in the United States by U.S. citizens or operated in the United States by U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens permanent resident aliens

The PI is considered key to the success of the effort; The PI is considered key to the success of the effort; therefore, a PI's involvement with the project must be therefore, a PI's involvement with the project must be substantialsubstantial

The PI must be primarily employed by the small The PI must be primarily employed by the small business at the time of contract award business at the time of contract award

SBIR as a Transition VehicleSBIR as a Transition Vehicle

Can SARP researchers use SBIR as a transition vehicle?Can SARP researchers use SBIR as a transition vehicle?– Quick answer = YESQuick answer = YES

All SBIR funded research must begin with the Phase I feasibility All SBIR funded research must begin with the Phase I feasibility study, so…study, so…– Cannot propose to simply transition previously funded SARP researchCannot propose to simply transition previously funded SARP research– Research must be a new and unproven extension of previous workResearch must be a new and unproven extension of previous work

Must meet SBIR criteriaMust meet SBIR criteria

Technology CriteriaTechnology Criteria

Must be in program solicitation Must be in program solicitation (No unsolicited proposals)(No unsolicited proposals)

Must have a potentially profitable commercial applicationMust have a potentially profitable commercial application Must be useful to a government agencyMust be useful to a government agency

Protecting intellectual propertyProtecting intellectual property

Inventions & designs can be protected with patentsInventions & designs can be protected with patents Technical dataTechnical data Computer softwareComputer software Writings that can be protected with copyrightWritings that can be protected with copyright Government gets royalty free useGovernment gets royalty free use Data is not published until 4 years after completion of Phase IIData is not published until 4 years after completion of Phase II

ProposingProposing

All proposals are submitted electronically via the InternetAll proposals are submitted electronically via the Internet Proposals are screened for administrative completeness and then Proposals are screened for administrative completeness and then

sent to the managing NASA Center for technical reviewsent to the managing NASA Center for technical review

Evaluation CriteriaEvaluation Criteria– Scientific/Technical Merit and FeasibilityScientific/Technical Merit and Feasibility– Experience, Qualifications, and FacilitiesExperience, Qualifications, and Facilities– Effectiveness of the Proposed Work PlanEffectiveness of the Proposed Work Plan– Commercial Merit and FeasibilityCommercial Merit and Feasibility