The 2012 Department of Defense (DoD) Beyond Phase II Conference – Registration Now Open

The Beyond Phase II Conference showcases the SBIR Program's Phase II awardees' technologies and provides a forum for commercialization opportunities. The event brings together current SBIR Phase II companies, key technology and acquisition personnel from government and industry to enable the transition of SBIR-funded research and development into products for military, government and private sector commercial markets. This event is the only national SBIR event focusing on transitioning advanced SBIR research and development into commercialization opportunities. The Conference will take place at the JW Marriott Indianapolis, Monday - Thursday, September 10 - 13, 2012. For more information, click on the following link: https://www.beyondphaseii.com/

(Posted 04/26/12)

Announcement of FY 2012 TCRP Projects for Potential Contractors – Revised

The research projects to be undertaken by TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) as part of its Fiscal Year 2012 activities have been revised based on a funding reduction to the program. The revised announcement provides information on the changes made to the slate of projects previously announced in November 2011. Requests for Proposals related to the individual projects are expected to be issued starting in May 2012. http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/166812.aspx

(Posted 04/13/12)

NEXT GENERATION RAIL SUPPLY CHAIN

Connecting rail OEMs and manufacturers interested in becoming suppliers to support of intermodal transportation in the U.S.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) formed a partnership to leverage agency capabilities to ensure the development of a domestic supply base to support intermodal transportation in the United States. A Request for Proposal (RFP) will be released in the first quarter of 2012. UPDATE: The anticipated release date for a Request for Proposal (RFP) is now scheduled in Late-April 2012. For more information, click on the following link: http://www.nist.gov/mep/rail.cfm

(Posted 04/13/12)

Rural Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge

The Rural Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge leverages existing financial and technical assistance resources from 13 federal agencies and bureaus to spur economic growth in rural areas in approximately 20 regions to be selected through a competitive inter-agency grant process. The Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) announcement will open from March 8, 2012 to May 9, 2012.

The Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge offers a combination of $15 million in funding from four agencies and technical assistance resources from nine additional agencies and bureaus. This opportunity will support customized solutions targeted to address the gaps and opportunities specific for individual regions by strengthening linkages to self-identified, high-potential industry clusters in competitively selected rural regions across the nation and across all sectors. Funds awarded to the winning applicants can be used to support and accelerate a range of projects including improving rural communities' capacity and ability to undertake projects related to housing, community facilities, or economic and community development along with creation of regional linkages that connect communities with innovation clusters and regional opportunities leading to job creation, expanded markets, and economic growth. For more information please click on the following link: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RuralJobsAccelerator.html

(Posted 04/13/12)

USTPO and NIST Unveil New IP Awareness Assessment Tool

The new Intellectual Property Awareness Assessment Tool developed by NIST MEP in collaboration with the US Patent and Trademark Office is now available for use. The tool is designed to guide business owners and inventor to consider critical intellectual property issues by providing customized menu of topics specific to their needs. The tool will also allow access to educational material developed by the USPTO. The IP Tool addresses Trademark, Copyright, Patent, Trade Secret, Licensing, International Rights, Strategies and IP asset Tracking. Once the simple assessment is completed the user gains access to a customized menu of educational materials on intellectual property developed by the USPTO and information on additional resources that offer helpful assistance. The intent is to help smaller manufacturers establish and employ an informed strategy to create value and protect their valuable IP assets. The tool is available on USPTO's website.

Carroll Thomas Martin
carroll.thomasmartin@nist.gov
301-975-5031

(Posted 04/13/12)

Virginia SBDC Innovation Commercialization Assistance Program (ICAP) for Clean Tech, Modeling & Simulation

An Innovation Commercialization Assistance Program (ICAP) to assist Virginians who are commercializing innovations in [Clean Technologies/Modeling & Simulation] is being offered by the Virginia Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) Network at George Mason University. ICAP, funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration. For more information, click on the following link: http://smartregion.org/2012/03/virginia-sbdc-innovation-commercialization-assistance-program-icap-for-clean-tech-modeling-simulation/

(Posted 03/30/12)

Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) Now Accepting Funding Proposals

TRB's Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) has released its annual program announcement that solicits funding proposals for the upcoming review cycles. The announcement explains the IDEA programs, describes the types of eligible projects and their funding structures, suggests general areas for which IDEA proposals can be submitted, and provides guidelines and forms for submitting proposals.

Safety IDEA proposals for the next review cycle are due April 1, 2012. Transit IDEA proposals for the next review cycle are due May 1, 2012. NCHRP Highway IDEA proposals for the next review cycle are due September 1, 2012.

The IDEA programs provide start-up funding for promising, but unproven, innovations in surface transportation systems. The programs' goals are to seek out and support new transportation solutions that are unlikely to be funded through traditional sources.

Top 3 Things Selection Committees Are Looking For in IDEA Proposals:
1. Innovation -- Emphasize the innovation. Say it first, say it fast, and make it clear. What problem does your project address? How is your solution better than current practice?
2. Benefits -- Describe the expected benefits. Why is this project worth investing in?
3. Science -- Stick to the science. Be sure the research approach is sound and sensible.

http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/166553.aspx?utm_medium=etmail&utm_source=Transportation%20Research%20Board&utm_campaign=TRB+E-Newsletter+-+03-06-2012&utm_content=Customer&utm_term=

(Posted 03/06/12)

USA National Innovation Marketplace

USA National Innovation Marketplace is a digital hub with over 1,300 members. The intent of the site is to help companies, communities, colleges & citizen inventors increase innovation speed & decrease risk by accelerating innovation supply chain connections. To access the site, click on the following link:

http://innovationsupplychain.com/usa/

(Posted 02/10/12)

Government Contracting Classroom and New Contracting Courses

The Office of Government Contracting & Business Development is pleased to introduce the Government Contracting Classroom (www.sba.gov/gcclassroom) and a new 3-part series of contracting courses.

The GC Classroom is an online training destination, within SBA's Website, where small businesses can acquire the confidence and know-how to participate in the federal contracting space. The GC Classroom Classroom features free, online training modules, covering multiple topics that are all self-paced and designed to help small firms benefit from the more than $500 billion in federal contracts awarded annually. Included in the initial classroom offerings is the new 3-part contracting series. Additional contracting-focused training modules are planned, as well as accompanying support materials, such as downloadable workbooks to reinforce course instruction. The GC Classroom is a work-in-progress and will evolve over time to become a comprehensive contracting resource for small businesses.

The new online contracting series is called Government Contracting 101, Parts 1-3. Each part is uniquely represented in a separate module and is distinctly designed to expand a firm's knowledge base about federal contracting.

Part 1 is foundational and provides an overview of federal contract markets as well as a description and discussion about all major small business contracting programs.

Part 2 is designed to help small firms understand how the government buys goods and services. It details the contracting methods and standardized procedures used by agency contracting officers.

Part 3 is about how to sell to the government. This part, which is both comprehensive and realistic, is all about marketing. It walks small businesses through the basics and describes and discusses marketing directly to agencies, using procurement vehicles, and importantly, how to track and find contract and subcontract opportunities.

You can learn more about the GC Classroom by visiting the GC Classroom at www.sba.gov/gcclassroom

(Posted 02/07/12)

U.S. DOT Small business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program Success Stories

Four new DOT SBIR Program success stories have been posted on the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) website:
http://www.sbir.gov/success-stories-by-agency/128

The success stories feature SBIR projects funded by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). Since its inception, the DOT SBIR Program has provided incentive funding to small businesses to translate their innovative ideas into commercial products that address key transportation problems. These innovations are the primary source of new technologies that can provide improve the safety and efficiency of the nation's transportation network. The SBIR Program has helped spawn successful commercial ventures that not only improve the transportation network, but also create jobs, increase productivity and economic growth and enhance our nation's global competitiveness. The DOT SBIR Program is administered by the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center).

(Posted 01/20/12)

The FAA National Small Business and IT Shared Services Partnership & Training Conference

Procurement Opportunities, Strategic Alliance, Customer Focus
July 16-19, 2012
Atlantic City, New Jersey

View Flyer

(Posted 12/20/11)

Small Business Administration (SBA) launches new web portal for SBIR/STTR Programs.

The new SBIR.gov is here! With a comprehensive database, robust search engine, user-friendly designer, and useful new content, the new SBIR.gov will help small businesses that are part of or may become part of the SBIR or STTR programs,

http://www.sbir.gov

(Posted 09/27/11)

Department of Energy (DOE) 'America's Next Top Energy Innovator' Begins Today

Starting today and until December 15, start-up companies can apply for one of the Department of Energy's thousands of unlicensed patents for greatly reduced cost and paperwork.

The Department of Energy's 17 national laboratories currently hold more than 15,000 patents and applying for them usually costs between $10,000 to $50,000 and months of paperwork. But now, as part of the 'America's Next Top Energy Innovator' challenge, start-up companies can submit a business plan and use this template agreement to obtain up to three patents from a single lab for $1,000.

The challenge is part of the Obama Administration's Startup America Initiative to accelerate high-growth entrepreneurship throughout the nation. "Our goal is simple," said Secretary Chu, "unleash America's innovation machine and win the global race for the clean energy jobs of the future."

The challenge is part of the Obama Administration's Startup America Initiative to accelerate high-growth entrepreneurship throughout the nation. "Our goal is simple," said Secretary Chu, "unleash America's innovation machine and win the global race for the clean energy jobs of the future."

And while all innovative companies are an inspiration and critical to America's future growth, only a handful can be America's Next Top Energy Innovators.

In a year, we'll showcase the start-up companies -- who make the most progress toward executing their business plan and commercializing their new technology -- at the premier annual gathering of clean energy investors and innovators around the country, the 2012 ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit.

If you're interested, you can peruse the available technologies on the Department's Energy Innovation Portal and read answers to the most frequently asked questions here.

(Posted 05/04/11)

2011 DOT SBIR Solicitation, Recommendations

Visit Previous Solicitations, 2011 US DOT SBIR Program Solicitation to see recently posted Phase I Recommendations. (Posted 02/25/11)

SBIR 2.0 - Innovative Improvements Supporting Innovative Entrepreneurs

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program will undergo a series of improvements in the coming months to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the overall program. Together, these improvements will represent a new and improved SBIR, or as we are calling it, "SBIR 2.0"

SBIR 2.0 will make the program more entrepreneur-friendly to ensure entrepreneurs have the support they need to do what they do best - innovate and create jobs. By leveraging best practices among the 11 agencies who participate in SBIR and strengthening performance measurements to ensure effective operation government wide, SBIR 2.0 will produce better results for the program.

SBIR 2.0 improvements will include:

• Setting the target time-frame between selection of a proposal and award to an applicant at less than 60 days for all agencies. The program will work to standardizing contracts and share best practices to enable faster turnaround times.
• Building a "one-stop-shop" web portal with all solicitation topics available and searchable with current announcements and news that will allow entrepreneurs to find what they need in one place - instead of having to sift through 11 different agency sites for solicitations.
• Evaluating opportunities to clarify and simplify data rights for the Federal Government and entrepreneurs.

• Expanding bridge financing programs - with a focus on Phase II matching programs. Currently, matching funds from just 4 SBIR agencies contribute over $40M per year in SBIR monies, leading to over $100M per year in matching funds from other investment sources in Phase II companies. The program will encourage more SBIR agencies to leverage their SBIR funds to encourage third party investment. Additionally, the Department of Energy has announced $30M in new funding for Phase III with money not previously a part of the SBIR allocation.
• Expanding use of the SBIR program to facilitate technology transfer from federal labs. NIST initially piloted using the SBIR program to encourage commercialization of intramural research, and this innovative approach to technology transfer is now expanding. The National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Navy, the National Institutes of Health, and the Department of Transportation have committed to fund targeted innovations from Federal intramural labs to enhance their commercialization prospects through the SBIR program.
• Encouraging agencies to issue joint solicitations to work together to streamline topics for applicants and address areas of national priorities. NIH, DHS, DARPA, NSF and USDA are participating in a joint SBIR Phase I solicitation for robotics topics closing on December 20, 2010. The FOA features more than 50 topics to which small businesses can respond. These type of joint solicitations encourage agencies to work together to streamline topics for applicants and address national priorities.

• Implementing common performance metrics across the SBIR agencies to clearly define commercialization and innovation successes for agencies and individual companies.
• Sharing performance data publicly, consistent with the Administration's priorities on transparency and open government.

For additional background on SBIR 2.0, please see the Frequently Asked Questions.

(Posted 07/13/10)