SBIR Impact
- March 2006
SBIR Impact is a quarterly newsletter for
small businesses interested in the USDA-SBIR
program and for institutions and organizations
that support the small business community
and rural America.
In This Issue
Program Update
Topic Focus
Impacts
From the Field
Reminders and Deadlines
Meetings
Subscription
Information
Program
Update
The debut of the USDA-SBIR newsletter in
December 2005 was well-received and we were
very encouraged by the positive feedback.
Consequently, we have expanded our distribution
list to include all former applicants to
the program, for whom we have up-to-date
contact information. Outreach to USDA-SBIR
stakeholders throughout the country is an
important element of our program and this
newsletter serves as one of the primary vehicles
for disseminating critical information to
concerned parties.
Electronic Submission
Our outreach efforts are of particular importance
in the coming months as USDA-SBIR will be
requiring all FY2007 proposals to be submitted
electronically through Grants.gov.
This is a significant change, and applicants
need to be prepared. We are in the process
of developing web-based support for this
transition and more information will be provided
in the June edition of this newsletter. However,
we strongly encourage companies considering
a FY2007 proposal submission to begin the
Grants.gov registration process. The registration
procedure for companies or individuals
intending to submit a grant application through
Grants.gov requires several steps and registration
must be finished prior to submitting a proposal.
This is a one-time registration process;
however, it can take as much as one month
to complete therefore it is critical that
companies begin this process as soon as possible.
DOE/USDA SBIR Energy Summit
The USDA SBIR program, led by CSREES, is
joining the Department of Energy’s
(DOE) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
for the first DOE/USDA SBIR Energy Summit
to be held at ORNL in Tennessee. The event
will provide a forum to help engage the small
business community in the development of
renewable energy technologies.
Specifically, the meeting is aimed at:
- highlighting USDA and DOE SBIR program
alternative and renewable energy-related
research and energy efficiency-related
funding opportunities
- enhancing the ability of public and private
researchers to conduct research on cost
efficient alternative and renewable energy
and energy-efficiency projects
- showcasing the research and collaboration
opportunities available at ORNL and at
regional university partners; and
- engaging interested small businesses
to facilitate the transfer of publicly
supported research results to real world
applications.
- Visit the DOE/USDA
SBIR Energy Summit page for more
information on this upcoming summit including
information on how to register.
Newsletter Changes
In this edition of the USDA-SBIR newsletter,
we have renamed our “Resources” section
to “From the Field.” This change
reflects the inclusion of information and
counsel from the small business development
community. Each edition of the newsletter
will focus on different aspects of SBIR proposals
and grants to provide concrete assistance
to applicants and grantees. We have also
included information from companies that
have received USDA-SBIR grants. The “Impacts” section
provides links to online publications that
highlight USDA-SBIR grant recipients and
their projects. The “Meetings” section
provides information about recent or upcoming
meetings where USDA-SBIR grantees will present
their work. Presenting this information is
a positive step toward building a more cohesive
and self-aware USDA-SBIR community. We encourage
anyone with information they would like included
in future newsletters to contact us at sbir@csrees.usda.gov.
FY2006 Proposals
Phase I panels are complete and funding
recommendations have been made. Project directors
who submitted proposals should have received
word via phone or e-mail about their recommendations.
If you submitted a FY2006 phase I proposal
and have not been informed about the status
of your proposal, contact us at sbir@csrees.usda.gov.
Information about the recommendation status
of a proposal will only be made available
to the project directors and/or authorized
organizational officials. Information about
new grantees will be posted on our abstracts
page as soon as awards are made official,
around May 1. We caution companies that have
been recommended for an award about publicizing
this information before the grant is made
official. Grants are not official until a
thorough administrative review of each recommended
proposal is complete.
The closing date for FY2006 phase II proposals
was Feb. 2. We accepted 60 proposals. Proposal
review is scheduled to begin within the next
month and funding recommendations made by
June 1. We expect grants to be made official
on or around Sept. 1.
FY2007 Request for Applications
The next USDA-SBIR Request For Applications
(RFA) is tentatively scheduled to be released
on June 1, 2006, with a closing date of Sept.
1, 2006, for phase I proposals. As discussed
in the introduction, all FY2007 proposals
must be submitted electronically through
Grants.gov. Note that the registration process
for submitting applications electronically
can take as much as one month to complete,
and registration must be finished prior to
submitting a proposal. If you intend to submit
an application, you need not wait till the
RFA is published but can begin the registration
process immediately.
Top
Topic
Focus
Small and Mid-Size Farms (Topic Area 8.12)
The Rural and Community Development topic
area supports a wide range of projects focused
on the innovative application of technology
to address problems and opportunities in
rural America. USDA-SBIR supports both agricultural
and non-agricultural projects in this topic
area. Since FY2006 agricultural-related projects
have been separated into a new topic area
called Small and Mid-Size Farms. This new
topic area was created from the Rural and
Community Development topic area and therefore
has its strong rural focus.
The Small and Mid-Size Farms topic area
promotes and improves the profitability and
sustainability of small and mid-size farms,
ranches and wood lots (hereafter referred
to as small farms). The vast majority of
farms in this country are small and they
play a vital role in the agricultural sector.
The viability and sustainability of small
farms is important to the U.S. economy and
to the stewardship of our biological and
natural resources. Small farms are also critical
to sustaining and strengthening the leadership
and social fabric of rural communities.
FY2006 research supported four main areas:
- New Agricultural Enterprises -
cultivation of alternative and specialty
crops, production of specialty animal species
and innovative ways to market these farm
products.
- Farm Management - improvements
in farm management and farm safety, development
of new risk management tools and innovative
ways to promote agro-tourism.
- Natural Resources - development
of new farming methods that enable more
efficient use of natural resources with
particular emphasis on the development
of more sustainable farming practices.
- Educational Outreach - development
of new tools and information material to
ensure that new generations of small farmers
have access to the resources they need
to operate their small farms on a sustainable
and profitable basis.
Several projects have been supported in
the past through the Rural and Community
Development topic area with a small and mid-size
farms focus. Examples of such projects that
have achieved some commercial success can
be found on our SBIR
Success Stories page.
Top
Impacts
In the News
Arbuckle Ranch, Inc. has been working on
the development of a native seed harvester
and was recently showcased on in the Montana
Manufacturing Center’s Forward Focus
newsletter (page 3).
The Hawaiian
Vanilla Company has received two USDA-SBIR
grants to help it develop a local vanilla
industry, plus considerable media attention.
Forests
Concepts has received several USDA-SBIR
grants supporting its work maximizing the
use of forest products. Their wood-based
erosion control material, WoodStraw™,
was recently mentioned in the King County,
WA, recycling newsletter (Partners in Brief).
USDA-SBIR Success Stories
The following USDA-SBIR Success Stories
were added to our Web site during the previous
quarter:
Aquaculture (Topic Area 8.7)
Plant Production and Protection (Topic Area
8.2)
See
all USDA-SBIR Success Stories.
Identifying and acknowledging the positive
impact of SBIR-funded projects has benefits
for the SBIR program, the companies that
are showcased, and companies that are interested
in submitting program proposals. By increasing
the awareness of these projects, we help
ensure continued support for the program,
encourage interest in the highlighted companies,
and provide applicants concrete examples
of the nature and quality of projects that
the program funds. Projects are selected
as USDA-SBIR Success Stories only through
updates from companies about commercialization
activities. Therefore, companies that have
received a USDA-SBIR grant and have moved
the research and development forward into
commercialization are encouraged to contact
us at sbir@csrees.usda.gov to
discuss adding your success story to the
USDA-SBIR web site.
Top
From
the Field
Finding a Mentor (Dr. Chris Busch)
Winning in any highly competitive arena
requires careful preparation and diligent
execution of a plan. Just as in “championship” athletic
performances, the SBIR competition requires
serious commitment and discipline to arrive
in the winners circle. Moreover, just as
top athletic performers have coaches, SBIR
applicants can often benefit from the counsel
and advice of a mentor. Although potentially
useful for all companies, mentors are particularly
important for those companies who are new
to the process and need help in making critical
decisions.
High-quality SBIR mentors will help put
in place best practices for the SBIR competition
(e.g., clear conveyance of concepts in the
proposal in a compelling way, inclusion of
all pertinent information in the proper part
of the proposal, and multiple and critical
draft proposal reviews). Similarly, they
will help avoid common pitfalls in proposal
preparation. Examples include: lack of graphics,
unclear descriptions, and proposal preparation
schedule slip (resulting in a crunch near
the end of the process, and consequent proposal
quality compromise).
Working with a high-quality mentor who “knows
the ropes” of SBIR competition at the
targeted agency is an efficient and effective
way of preparing for winning an SBIR grant.
However, it may not always be obvious who
can serve as a mentor in the process or what
qualities make a good mentor. Past or current
SBIR grantees generally are excellent SBIR
mentors because they have “been there
and done it,” and many are eager to
help newcomers. State and university SBIR
outreach personnel may be sources of e07/25/2007ivate consultants also provide
SBIR mentoring services that may be beneficial;
however, there is a wide range in the quality
of available SBIR mentors.
Some questions to keep in mind when thinking
about a mentor:
- In what specific areas do you need assistance?
- What are realistic expectations for a
mentor?
- Does the person have adequate time available
to be an effective mentor, and is he/she
willing to make the necessary commitment?
- Will I be able to learn from the mentor
about the SBIR competition process in addition
to receiving assistance for a specific
SBIR proposal preparation?
- What experience does this person have
in assisting companies in preparing successful
SBIR proposals?
- Is this person able to think beyond the
proposal at hand and see how the grant
in question fits with your overall business
plan?
- Does he/she have experience with contract
agencies/ grant agencies?
- Is the person able to provide adequate
guidance on intellectual property issues?
- Is this person willing/able to provide
references for companies with whom they
have worked? (for paid consultants)
This article was submitted by Dr. Chris
Busch. Dr. Busch received his Ph.D in mechanical
engineering from the University of California,
Berkeley in 1965. In 1975 he founded Spectron
Development Laboratories and served as its
President until he retired in 1991. In recent
years Dr. Busch has been very active in SBIR
outreach efforts, especially to small rural
states. He started the Wyoming SBIR Initiative
and has worked closely with SBIR programs
in Montana and Idaho. He also provides consulting
services to entrepreneurs, technology-based
small businesses and other organizations
with the aim of building successful enterprises.
He has been actively involved in past efforts
to reauthorize the SBIR program.
Top
Reminders
and Deadlines
FY 2005 Phase I Grants
Many FY2005 phase I grants expired Dec.
31, 2005. For those companies whose grants
expired on that date, final technical reports
are due to our office by March 31 (90 days).
These reports must be sent electronically
to sbir@csrees.usda.gov.
For more information on reporting requirements
and the steps necessary to close out a grant,
please see SBIR
Grantee Resources.
Quarterly Financial Reports (SF-272)
Reports are required even if you have not
spent any grant funds during a given quarter.
Failure to submit reports in a timely manner
will result in a hold placed on your PMS
account and you will not be able to withdraw
funds until the delinquent report(s) have
been submitted and the hold lifted by the
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
USDA-SBIR program staff does not have access
to this system and cannot remove any holds
placed on the system by DHHS. If you have
questions about these reports or need help
in completing them, you can contact Vivian
Hughes (301-443-9181) at PMS who handles
the USDA-SBIR account. Questions can also
be sent to the general PMS
help desk.
Changes in Contact Information
Each grantee must provide the SBIR office
with current contact information. Because
correspondence between USDA-SBIR staff and
grantees is conducted almost exclusively
via e-mail, correct e-mail addresses are
critical. Although maintaining this information
is only explicitly required for the duration
of the grant, we encourage all prior grantees
to maintain contact with our office. Please
send changes in contact information to sbir@csrees.usda.gov and
include either the proposal or grant number
for all projects to which the change applies.
Please note, e-mail addresses also need
to be updated with the Department
of Health and Human Services’ Payment
Management System.
Acknowledging SBIR Funding
Proper acknowledgement of CSREES funding
in published manuscripts, presentations,
and press releases is important for the success
of the USDA-SBIR program. We specifically
ask that you use the following language to
acknowledge this support:
This project was supported by the
Small Business Innovation Research program
of the USDA Cooperative State Research, Education,
and Extension Service (CSREES), Grant Number
(Insert Grant Number Here).
We strongly encourage you to acknowledge
CSREES funding in interviews and articles
that feature your company and work that has
been supported through our program. This
acknowledgement is beneficial for both the
USDA-SBIR program and the companies with
whom we partner.
Finally, we ask that you use the CSREES
logo on your PowerPoint presentations or
posters at meetings. Please contact sbir@csrees.usda.gov for
a high quality image file of our logo.
Top
Meetings
Upcoming Meetings -
SBIR Staff
The next SBIR national conference
is May 15-18, 2006, in Louisville, KY. Dr.
Charles Cleland is currently scheduled to
attend that meeting and will be available
to meet with you or another individual representing
your company throughout the conference. Detailed
program information and updates are available
at the Conference
Web Site. In addition, expert help will
be available at the conference on topics
ranging from proposal preparation to successful
commercialization. Besides the various seminars
that are offered, you will have the opportunity
to meet one-on-one with representatives from
the 11 different Federal Agencies that have
SBIR programs.
Dr. Cleland will also be at
the following meetings in the coming months.
Please visit the links provided for more
information about these conferences.
- Tri-State
SBIR Conference, Roanoke, VA, March 21-23,
2006.
- 2006 Maine SBIR Meeting, Portland, ME,
June 13, 2006.
Dr. William Goldner, USDA-SBIR
National Program Leader, will be participating
in:
Dr. Goldner will also be giving
a presentation on the USDA SBIR Program as
it relates to agricultural biotechnology
at the:
Andrew Wilson, the USDA-SBIR
program specialist, will be presenting at
the upcoming fifth annual Wyoming
SBIR/STTR Initiative (WSSI) Conference.
The conference will be held Wednesday April
19, 2006, at the Cheyenne Holiday Inn. A
full day of sessions will include presentations
by federal and state SBIR support organizations
as well as workshops for both rookies and
veterans to sharpen their SBIR competition
skills.
Recent and Upcoming
Meetings - USDA-SBIR Grantees
ChK Group, Inc. participated
this past February in a USDA Water Conference
held in San Antonio, TX and presented a poster
on their SBIR-related research entitled “Filters
to Provide Potable Water from As-Contaminated
Waters”.
Sleepy Hollow Farm in Dalton,
GA, will host its 3rd
Annual Enhancing Small Farms Profitability
with Medicinal Plants Workshop Saturday,
May 13, 2006. The workshop is designed for
farmers or landowners looking for ways to
produce revenue from idle land or those who
just have a desire to learn more about medicinal
plants.
An important element of the
USDA-SBIR program is national, regional,
and state meetings in which SBIR national
program staff participates. These events
help prospective applicants learn more about
the SBIR program and receive guidance about
developing a competitive SBIR proposal. Companies
with on-going USDA-SBIR grants often attend
these meetings to provide updates on project
status and to get advice on preparing phase
II proposals.
In addition to providing information
about recent and upcoming meetings where
SBIR staff is present, we would like to include
information about trade shows, conferences,
and scientific meetings where USDA-SBIR funded
companies are exhibiting or presenting work
related to their SBIR project. Send information
to sbir@csrees.usda.gov.
Top
Subscription
Information
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USDA SBIR Newsletter releases, send a message
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