The solicitation for the Public Health Service (PHS) for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Contract Proposals [PHS 2004-1] was released August 1, 2003. The closing date for this solicitation is November 14, 2003. For more information and a complete copy of the solicitation, visit http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/sbir.htm

In partnership with the NASA's Mission to Planet Earth and Space Sciences Enterprises, the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization seeks to identify High-Tech Small, Disadvantaged, and Women-owned Small Businesses capable of participating in NASA's most complex High-Tech work in designated technical areas that directly relate or support the Enterprises program and mission. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU's) and Other Minority Institutions (OMI's) are encouraged to participate. These firms will be highlighted as future contractors and subcontractors to the Enterprises Lead Centers - Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), Greenbelt, MD, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Pasadena, CA, respectively. The Semi-Annual Science Forum will serve as a platform for senior agency officials to become aware of the presence of these firms in critical technical areas. In addition, it will serve as an opportunity for top prime contractors to consider these firms for subcontracting, teaming, or mentoring opportunities. Essentially, these Forums create a "rare high-level marketing opportunity" for small firms. It puts them in front of key management, technical, and procurement personnel descried as "hard to get to". The Forum is held twice annually. It is held once a year by the GSFC, Lead Center for Mission to Planet Earth, and the JPL, Lead Center for Space Science. Advanced Technologies in Targeted Areas: Spacecraft hardware, Sensors, Instrument Technology, Earth Observing Satellite (EOS) Technology, Remote Sensing, Space and Ground Communications, Electrical, Mechanical and Systems Engineering, Lasers, Data and Information Technology, Telecommunications, Earth and Space Science Research.

How to apply: All small firms interested in participating in the Forums should submit a brief statement of corporate capabilities that SPECIFICALLY address the targeted areas. Four to five firms will be selected. There is no special format; however, it should contain no more than ten pages total. Please be sure to include a contact name, address, pone, fax and e-mail address. The next Forum will be hosted by GSFC on Thursday September 18, 2003, between 1:00 and 3:30 pm. The deadline for submission of corporate capabilities is Friday, August 15, 2003. Firms selected to make presentations will be notified within 30 days. Please forward corporate capabilities to: Ms. Olivia T. Gunter, Associate Small Business Specialist, NASA/GSFC Mail Code 210, Greenbelt, MD 20771. For further information, please contact Ms. Gunter at (voice) , (fax) , or email: NASA OSDBU Home Page: http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/codek NASA Acquisition Internet Service: http://prod.nais.nasa.gov NASA/GSFC Procurement Home Page: http://genesis.gsfc.nasa.gov/procure.htm For information on the JPL Forum, please contact: Mr. Lamont Hames, Program Manager, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization; ; or ; email: .

Full synopsis available at the Federal Business Opportunities website: http://www.eps.gov/spg/NASA/GSFC/OPDC20220/NASA%2DSNOTE%2D030715%2D001/Synopsis.html.

NASA has released its SBIR and STTR 2003 Program Solicitations. A copy of the solicitation can be found at http://sbir.nasa.gov/SBIR/sbirsttr2003/solicitation/index.html including proposal preparation instructions and requirements, method of selection and evaluation criteria, submissions forms and certification, and research topics for SBIR and STTR.

Also located at the NASA SBIR/STTR website is the Phase I Proposal Submission Electronic Handbook to help you prepare and submit proposals using a paperless process. It is recommended by NASA to start using the Handbool early in the proposal submission process. The electronic submission of your proposal must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, September 09, 2003. No paper copies should be submitted. To submit a proposal electronically, you must register online first.

The solicitations close September 9, 2003.

The Fiscal Year 2004 USDA SBIR Program Solicitation was released June 27, 2003. Small businesses with research capabilities in several areas, including agriculture, aquaculture, nutrition, wildlife, and similar topics, are encouraged to apply.

The closing dates for this solicitation are August 29, 2003 for Phase I and February 5, 2004 for Phase II. To view a full copy of the solicitation and the required application forms go to http://www.reeusda.gov/sbir/ProgramSolicitation.htm.

Power Point presentations from the 5th Annual NIH SBIR/STTR Conference (June 2nd - 3rd) are now available at the NIH Office of Extramural Research Small Business Funding Opportunities website. Presentations focus on the "nuts and bolts" of the NIH SBIR/STTR Program, as well as product commercialization. Complete copies of the presentations can be accessed at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/sbir.htm.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has proposed to revise its small business size regulations to allow a small business that is owned and controlled by another business concern to be eligible for funding agreements under the SBA's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program. The proposed rule does not change the size standard requiring that an eligible small business concern, with its affiliates, have no more than 500 employees. The rule proposes to modify the small business eligibility requirements so that the SBIR awardee must meet one of the two following additional criteria: It must either be a for-profit business concern that is at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more individuals who are citizens of, or permanent resident aliens in, the United States (as the regulations currently require); or it must be a for-profit business concern that is 100% owned and controlled by another for-profit business concern that is itself at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more individuals who are citizens of, or permanent resident aliens in, the United States. Comments must be received on or before July 7, 2003. Upon request, the SBA will make all public comments available. The rule is available at http://www.sba.gov/size/indexwhatsnew.html#sbir-pr and http://www.regulations.gov/. Full synopsis available at the Federal Business Opportunities website, http://www.eps.gov/spg/SBA/OOA/OPGM/Reference%2DNumber%2DSBIR%2D06%2D04%2D2003/listing.html.

The solicitation for the Department of Defense (DOD) for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Proposals 2003.2 was released May 1, 2003. Proposals will be accepted beginning July 1, 2003 and the closing date for this solicitation is August 14, 2003. For more information and a complete copy of the solicitation, visit http://www.acq.osd.mil/sadbu/sbir/solicitations/sbir032/index.htm

The 2003 SBIR Phase I Grant solicitation for the Department of Education was released April 4, 2003. There are two priorities under this solicitation. The first priority, from the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS), supports research designed to integrate individuals with disabilities into society, employment, independent living, family support, and economic and social self-sufficiency. This priority includes six invitational priorities that address innovative research in technology to address the needs of individuals with disabilities and their families. The second priority, from the Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE), asks applicants to implement research that focuses on achieving the purposes of part A of Title VI of the Higher Education Act - International Education Program. The closing date for this solicitation is June 3, 2003 and grant applications (e-Applications) for Phase I Grants can be found at http://e-grants.ed.gov/egWelcome.asp For more information on the Grant Application Package and award limits, please visit the Department of Education SBIR Website at http://www.ed.gov/offices/IES/SBIR.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released four SBIR solicitations on March 27, 2003 as follows:

• SBIR Program Solicitation No. PR-NC-03-10275, available at http://es.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/current/sbir_phase1.html.
• SBIR Special Solicitation - Air Pollution Monitoring, available at http://es.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/current/sbir_phaseI_air.html.
• SBIR Special Solicitation - Safe Buildings and Water Security, available at http://es.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/current/sbir_phaseI_safe.html.
• SBIR Special Solicitation - Technology Solutions for Western USA Environmental Problems, available at http://es.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/current/sbir_phaseI_western.html.

The 2003 SBIR Contract solicitation for the Department of Education was released March 5, 2003. The topic under this solicitation, Development or Adaptation of Computer or Virtual Training-Based Instructional Materials That Will Assist Elementary and/or Secondary School Personnel to Plan For and Respond to Various Types of Disasters, has a Phase I award limit of $75,000 and Phase II awards relating to this topic will be for periods up to two (2) years in amounts up to $300,000. The closing date for this solicitation is May 5, 2003 and a complete copy of the solicitation may be accessed at http://www.eps.gov/spg/ED/OCFO/CPO/ED-03-Q-0003/listing.html. For more information, please visit the Department of Education SBIR Website at http://www.ed.gov/offices/IES/SBIR.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued two presolicitation announcements. The EPA contemplates awarding approximately 5 fixed price contracts under the SBIR Program, Special I for Safe Buildings and Water Security, and approximately 10 fixed price contracts under the SBIR Program, Special I for Technology Solutions for Western USA Environmental Problems, during Fiscal Year 2003.

The solicitation for the Special SBIR Phase I solicitation for Safe Buildings and Water Security will be available on or about March 27, 2003 and proposals will be due on May 23, 2003. Topics for this solicitation are: A. Improved Detection Technologies for Biological and Chemical Agents; B. Early Warning Security Systems; C. Alternative Water Treatment Technologies; and D. Building Decontamination Systems. You can access the presolicitation announcement at http://www.eps.gov/spg/EPA/OAM/CMD/PR-NC-03-10274/SynopsisP.html.

Both solicitations will be available on the Internet at the EPA Website: www.epa.gov/ncer/sbir.

The Department of Defense (DoD) has named Mr. Jeff Bond as the Acting DoD SBIR/STTR Program Administrator. Mr. Bond has almost 20 years of experience within the government R&D community and served as SBIR/STTR Program Manager at the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (now called the Missile Defense Agency - MDA) for five and a half years. For more information about the DoD SBIRS/STTR program, visit the DoD Website at http://www.acq.osd.mil/sadbu/sbir.

The Department of Defense (DoD) will reopen their 2003.1 SBIR Solicitation for receipt of new proposals and modifications to those previously submitted. Proposals will be accepted beginning 6:00 AM EST, March 4, 2003 and the solicitation will close 6:00 AM EST, March 25, 2003. Previously submitted proposals DO NOT need to be resubmitted if the proposal is complete, you do not wish to revise it, and it was submitted in accordance with the solicitation instructions. All proposals must be submitted via the DOD SBIR website at http://www.dodsbir.net/submission. Proposals submitted after the deadline will not be accepted. For more information and a complete copy of the solicitation, visit the DoD website at http://www.acq.osd.mil/sadbu/sbir.

The 2003 SBIR/STTR solicitation for the National Science Foundation (NSF) was released February 28, 2003. NSF has different dates for different topic areas. Information-Based Technologies (IT) and Electronics (EL) topics open on February 28, 2003, proposals will be accepted starting May 12, 2003, and these topics close on June 12, 2003. The Advanced Materials (AM) and Biotechnology (BT) solicitation topics will be released October 1, 2003 and close January 20, 2004. For more information and a complete copy of the solicitation, visit the NSF website at http://www.eng.nsf.gov/sbir.

The Department of Education has issued a presolicitation announcement concerning the release of their upcoming SBIR solicitation. The solicitation will be issued on or about March 5, 2003 and the anticipated closing date is May 5, 2003. You can access the presolicitation notice from the Fedbizopps Website at: www.eps.gov/spg/ED/OCFO/CPO/ED-03-Q-0003/SynopsisP.html . You can also check the Department of Education SBIR Website at: www.ed.gov/offices/IES/SBIR.

The 2003 SBIR solicitation for the Department of Transportation was released February 14, 2003. The closing date for this solicitation is May 1, 2003. The nine topics in this solicitation are included in the SBIRworld SBIR/STTR Solicitation Search, and the entire solicitation is available at: http://www.volpe.dot.gov/sbir/.

Over the past several months, there have been a number of organizational changes and restructuring initiatives across the Department of Education. One outcome of these events was the archiving of the former Department of Education's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program's website. Today (February 5, 2003), the Department of Education launched their new SBIR website. The new location for the site is: http://www.ed.gov/offices/IES/SBIR. Most of the information from the former website has been updated or revised. It includes the following categories:

What's New

• highlights information on FY 2003 Program Announcements and SBIR Conferences.

About SBIR

• furnishes general background information on the SBIR program;
• provides hyperlinks to the recent "SBIR Policy Directive;"
• identifies participating ED Program Offices and Award Levels; and,
• presents Historical Statistics on the ED SBIR Program.

Application

• FY 2003 Grant and Contract Solicitation dates and access information.

Awards

• This section is under transition and redevelopment.

FAQs

• Frequently Asked Questions and answers to reflect recent changes resulting from the SBA SBIR Policy Directive.

SBIR Links

• to the other SBIR Agency Programs;
• pertinent ED Program Offices and Grant and Contract information;
• prominent SBIR Resource Portals; and,
• Related Federal Technology Policy, Research, and Servers websites.

Contacts

• Useful names, addresses, phone numbers and emails for persons to assist you within the Department of Education.

They are also working to transition the popular "SBIR State Support Entities" component of their old website. Once completed it will be added to the "Links" section of the site.

The 2003-2 SBIR/STTR solicitation for the Department of Health and Human Services was released January 16, 2003. SBIR and STTR research topics are included for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and SBIR research topics are included for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Closing dates are as follows:

For more information and a complete copy of the solicitation, visit the NIH website at http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/sbir.htm.

The 2003 SBIR solicitation for the Department of Defense was released January 2, 2003. Proposals will be accepted beginning March 3, 2003 and the closing date for this solicitation is April 16, 2003. For more information and a complete copy of the solicitation, visit the DoD website at http://www.acq.osd.mil/sadbu/sbir/.

The 2003 SBIR solicitation for the Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) was released November 1, 2002. The closing date for this solicitation is January 15, 2003. For more information and a complete copy of the solicitation, visit the NIST website at http://patapsco.nist.gov/ts_sbir/.

The Department of Energy released its 2003 SBIR solicitation October 15, 2002. Proposals will be accepted beginning October 15, 2002 and the closing date for this solicitation is January 14, 2003. For more information and a complete copy of the solicitation, visit http://sbir.er.doe.gov/sbir/Solicitations/FY%202003/contents.htm

The 2003-1 SBIR solicitation for the Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) was released October 15, 2002. Proposals will be accepted beginning October 15, 2002 and the closing date for this solicitation is January 15, 2003. For more information and a complete copy of the solicitation, visit http://www.rdc.noaa.gov/~amd/sbir.html

The solicitation for the Department of Defense (DOD) for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Proposals 2003.1 was released October 1, 2002. Proposals will be accepted beginning December 2, 2002 and the closing date for this solicitation is January 15, 2003. For more information and a complete copy of the solicitation, visit http://www.acq.osd.mil/sadbu/sbir/solicitations/sbir031/index.htm