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Three Phase Program
In both SBIR and STTR programs, companies apply first for a Phase I award of up to $100,000 to test the scientific, technical, and commercial merit and feasibility of a particular concept. This phase usually lasts about 6-9 months. If Phase I proves successful, the company may be invited to apply for a two-year Phase II award of up to $750,000 to further develop the concept, usually to the prototype stage. Proposals are judged competitively on the basis of scientific, technical, and commercial merit. Following completion of Phase II, small companies are expected in Phase III to obtain funding from the private sector and/or non-SBIR government sources to develop the concept into a product for sale to private sector and/or government markets.
Solicitations
Companies are able to find out what grant and contract awards are available to apply for through solicitations. These regularly released SBIR & STTR solicitations list all the research topics for which various government agencies are seeking Phase I proposals. These solicitations also contain detailed information on the parameters of the SBIR and STTR programs and how to submit a proposal.
For example, the U.S. Department of Defense, which does about half of all SBIR/STTR projects, issues three SBIR solicitations and one STTR solicitation each year, according to the following approximate schedule:
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Proposals Accepted Starting |
Proposal Deadline |
Contracts Awarded |
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SBIR
FYxx.1 |
Approx. Nov. 1 |
Approx. Dec. 15 |
Approx. Jan. 15 |
Approx. May 15 |
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SBIR
FYxx.2 |
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Approx. June 15 |
Approx. July 15 |
Approx. Nov. 15 |
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SBIR
FYxx.3 |
Approx. Aug. 1 |
Approx. Sept. 15 |
Approx. Oct. 15 |
Approx. Feb. 15 |
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STTR
FYxx |
Approx Feb. 1 |
Approx. March 15 |
Approx. April 15 |
Approx. Aug. 15 |
Other programs and agencies have similar solicitations schedules. To see a current list of all SBIR and STTR solicitations, go to one of the following websites: www.SBIRHelpDesk.com lists and connects to all official websites of all current solicitations. www.zyn.com/sbir is an excellent SBIR gateway to all open and past SBIR/STTR solicitations.
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