From the Experts: Essential Info for DoD SBIR/STTR Proposers
BBCetc's Michigan SBIR/STTR support program was honored to welcome Richard McNamara, NAVSEA SBIR Transition Manager, and Jonathan Leggett, NAVSEA SBIR Outreach Coordinator, to a recent DoD Proposal Prep workshop in Ann Arbor, MI. Throughout the session and during their brief about the NAVSEA SBIR program, McNamara and Leggett offered advice for applicants to consider as they pursue Phase I, II and III opportunities with organizations such as NAVSEA. Here are four useful tips from the presentation:
 Keep the stated needs of your DoD client first and foremost in your proposal. NAVSEA and other Syscoms (System Commands) have specific, well identified cross-cutting priorities where they focus their R&D spending. The specific topics in the SBIR/STTR solicitations are linked directly to those NAVSEA needs and must be evaluated by proposal reviewers as offering a high likelihood of addressing those problems to receive funding. They are always looking for products/processes that reduce risk, solve obsolescence, introduce competition and improve performance. Remember, it's all about them.
 Know your customers. Your customers and end users will include sailors/warfighters as well as the Naval labs and technical experts. Depending on your technology, they may also include prime contractors or lower tier suppliers. Develop a flexible and appropriate business model to engage these various customers at all levels.
 Keep your POC (Point of Contact) engaged throughout the project.
Your POC serves as your independent technical expert regarding the needs and requirements of your customers, as well as serving as your advocate with the government. Maintain regular contact and provide timely updates--keep the relationship active throughout the process.
 Don't forget that Phase IIs (and sequential Phase IIs) can be granted at any time after completing your original Phase I or Phase II. Even if your Phase I or Phase II project from ANY agency did not progress beyond that Phase, DoD has begun to "reach back" and grant a regular or sequential Phase II award without time limitations. So if you've had a prior award (even many years ago), consider new or renewed applications as an opportunity for the procurement office to provide additional SBIR/STTR funds without further competition. This allows them to move forward with technologies that have already been at least preliminarily proven.
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Can Your Team Deliver? Biosketches Tell Reviewers You're Up to the Job
With National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Defense  (DoD) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) SBIR/STTR deadlines coming up in the next few months, many of our clients are in the process of finalizing their technical teams and putting together their biosketches.
Biosketches are key for reviewers to gauge the technical breadth of your team and its capacity to complete the project. At BBCetc we've seen summary statements, debriefings and criticisms of proposals denied funding because the team's skills were lacking or were not properly detailed. So now is a good time to collect your technical team's biosketches and ask how do they measure up?
The biosketch, unlike a resume or CV, should be tailored to meet specifics required by the agency. Depending on the agency, the style, format and information presented will change. Typically biosketches have the name of the person, their function/role on the project (as opposed to the role in the company only), their education, their relevant experience, products, publications, patents and other contributions to science. Some agencies are more tolerant than others of using a non-specific format. Read the solicitation to be sure of what is expected and follow the specified format. Read on
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Lockheed Martin DoD Topics of Interest
Lockheed Martin has released a list of DoD SBIR 2016.2 solicitation topics of interest its personnel. The list is intended to help connect companies with Lockheed Martin technical points of contact to explore opportunities for partnership and innovation.
If your firm has an interest in a topic, is considering submitting a proposal and would like to seek Lockheed Martin's support through an endorsement, sponsorship and/or partnership opportunity, contact the individuals listed next to the appropriate topic to ensure adequate time for letter approvals. View list
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More Funding Opportunities
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Agency
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Title
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FOA #
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Posted/Due Date
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NIH/NIDA
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Extracelluar Vessicle Tools, Technologies & Products for Neuroscience Research
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SBIR
STTR
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4/22/2016
Due 11/22/2016
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NIH/NIDA
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Use of mRNA for an HIV Envelope Vaccine
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4/19/2016
Due Stnd Dates thru 4/6/2019
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DoD/SOCOM
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US SOCOM BAA for Extramural Biomedical R&D
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BAA (not SBIR)
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4/15/2016
Final Due 4/14/2017
LOIs required
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Air Force Research Interests Off. of Scientific Research
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BAA (not SBIR)
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5/7/2015 (until superceded)
Rolling due date
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Don't Miss BBCetc Workshops at the National SBIR/STTR Conference
If you're going to the conference, be sure to attend the Mon., May 23, workshops presented by BBCetc team members, Michael Kurek, PhD, and Becky Aistrup. Becky will present Phase II SBIR/STTR Proposal Preparation which addresses key elements of writing a competitive Phase II proposal including the concept of managing your Phase I SBIR/STTR to get to Phase II. Michael will provide an SBIR Overview which will review Agency types and missions, grants vs. contracts, project phases, topics, assistance, references, tools, innovations - and how to make the most of the National SBIR/STTR Conference. Both workshops will be presented twice on March 23, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 1 to 4 p.m. More information and registration
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who we are
BBCetc is nationally recognized for its expertise in helping technology-based entrepreneurs win federal funding through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs and use it strategically to propel growth. BBCetc capabilities include:
- Commercialization Planning
- Research Grant Assistance
- SBIR/STTR Training (Course Catalog)
- Grants/Contracts Management
- Tech-Based Economic Development Programs
734-930-9741
Copyright © 2016 BBC Entrepreneurial Training & Consulting, LLC
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Onsite
SBIR/STTR 101 Introduction & Overview
Proposal Prep Essentials for NSF, DoD, DoE and USDA
SBIR 101
(Lunch & Learn)
(5:30-7 p.m.)
SBIR 101 & Grants Management Workshop
SBIR/STTR Proposal Prep for NIH
Navy Forum for SBIR/STTR Transition, May 16-18
National Harbor, MD
SBIR/STTR National Conference, May 23-25
Washington D.C.
(see story at left)
18th Annual HHS SBIR/STTR Conference, Nov 15 - 17 Orlando, FL
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HHS/NIH Omnibus (released soon)
Closes Sep 5
Closes Jan 8, 2017
Closes June 16
Closes June 20
Opens May 23, Closes June 22. Talk to your TPOC until May 22!
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The SBA has announced its 2016 Growth Accelerator Fund competition for accelerators and other entrepreneurial ecosystem models to compete for monetary prizes of $50,000 each, totaling $3.95 million. New this year, SBA is partnering with several U.S. agencies (NIH, NSF, DoED, USDA) to provide additional prizes to accelerators that assist entrepreneurs in submitting SBIR/STTR proposals.These additional prizes will help achieve the individual mission of each agency's SBIR/STTR programs by assisting entrepreneurs in submitting proposals (NIH, NSF, DoED) as well as provide a mechanism to support small businesses in conducting research to develop and to evaluate technology products in rural communities (USDA).
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"There's lots of bad reasons to start a company. But there's only one good, legitimate reason, and I think you know what it is: it's to change the world." - Phil Libin, CEO of Evernote.
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