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Dear Prospective SBIR/STTR Applicant,
The deadline for submitting applications to grants.gov for the DOE SBIR/STTR Phase I Release 2 Funding Opportunity (DE-FOA-0003202) is Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
We wanted to provide some important last-minute advice:
- Don’t forget to include your Phase I Commercialization Plan in Field 7 of the Research and Related: SBIR/STTR Information Form. Question 7 of the form will accept the Commercialization Plan attachment for a Phase I grant application submission after selecting DOE as agency and Phase I as application type. Applicants that fail to include a Phase I Commercialization Plan will be administratively declined. An example of the Phase I Commercialization Plan can be found on this webpage: https://science.osti.gov/sbir/Applicant-Resources/Grant-Application
- The requirements for marking protected information have changed. You can no longer use the proprietary data markings you have used in previous applications. Please visit here for details.
- Verify your SAM registration has not expired or will not expire prior to submitting your Phase I proposal. If this registration is not active, you will not be able to submit your Phase I application through Grants.gov. If you have any questions about SAM, please contact the helpdesk at: https://sam.gov/content/about/contact or 1-866-606-8220.
- Don’t start the submission process on the evening of March 12. We see a number of applicants fail to properly submit their application by the deadline when they begin the process on the evening of the last day. Regarding the selection of the period of performance for Phase I grants and wanted to provide the following guidance:
Every grant and project are different. Awardees need to make sure that the appropriate work is performed, and data is collected for your project during the Phase I period of performance to support your Phase II application. Periods of performance also need to fit into the overall schedules/timelines for the project and company. You may select a project period from 6 to 12 months, with most applicants selecting from 9 to 12 months. Four important considerations for selecting a Phase I period of performance:
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Phase II applications are due approximately 9.5 months after your grant start date. You will want to complete any critical R&D during the first 9 months of your grant to ensure those results are reflected in your Phase II application.
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Funding your R&D between the end of your Phase I project and the start of Phase II. Picking a period of performance of 12 months may reduce the funding gap between Phase I and Phase II if you have not already spent your funds by the time of your Phase II application.
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Participating in Phase Shift I for SBIR Phase I. Phase Shift I is encouraged for all awardees and is scheduled within 6 months from the grant start date. This exploration of a product-market fit requires a commitment that will need to be balanced with your R&D schedule.
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Technical and Business Assistance (TABA) services (provided through your selected vendor or the DOE vendor) can only be provided during the grant’s period of performance. If you desire receiving commercialization plan support services until the time you submit your Phase II application, you need to select a period of performance for your grant that extends up to and/or beyond the Phase II application submission date. If you plan to use your own third-party vendor for TABA services, you MUST include an additional $6,500 in your budget, budget justification and a letter of commitment from the TABA provider with your submission.
The Office of SBIR/STTR Programs
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