December 3, 2004
Wyoming SBIR/STTR Initiative (WSSI) Newsletter
No. 29-04
(Past Newsletter Issues)
This biweekly newsletter is published by the Wyoming SBIR/STTR Initiative (WSSI). Please visit our website at www.uwyo.edu/sbir for complete program information (including links to participating federal agencies, support agencies, conferences, archives of this newsletter, etc.) Contact jillkline@vcn.com to be added to or removed from the Distribution List for this newsletter.
SOLICITATION COUNTDOWN
Wyoming Phase 0: due 5:00 p.m., 1/1/05; 29 days
NIH SBIR/STTR (Grants) (including CDC, FDA): due 12/1/04; 11 days
NSF SBIR/STTR: due 12/8/04; 5 days
DOE SBIR/STTR: due 12/13/04; 14 days
DoD SBIR SBIR/STTR: due 1/14/05; 42 days
DOC-NOAA: due 1/19/05; 47 days
Other NIH Deadlines
CONTENTS
1.0 SBA Publishes Final Ruling: Small Business Size Regulations for SBIR
2.0 Update On HSARPA SBIR Release
3.0 Abandoned Coal Mine Land Research Program - 2005 Call for Proposals Announcement
4.0 One Time Opportunity For Reduced Price NxLeveL Entrepreneurial Training
5.0 Upcoming Conferences/Trainings/Seminars/Workshops
6.0 Competition Tip: Follow Up Now!!!
7.0 Acknowledgements And Publication Information
1.0 SBA PUBLISHES FINAL RULING: SMALL BUSINESS SIZE REGULATIONS FOR SBIR
The Small Business Administration published its final ruling regarding small business size and the SBIR Program in the Federal Register. The final rule provides that an SBIR awardee must meet the following requirements:
1. it must 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);
2. or it must be a for profit business concern that is at least 51% owned and controlled by another 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.
This rule does not change the size standard requiring that an SBIR awardee, together with its affiliates, have no more than 500 employees. Because SBA received a large number of comments concerning ownership of SBIR Program participants by Venture Capital Companies, SBA will issue an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking additional information this issue.
This rule is effective January 3, 2005.
For further information contact: Carl Jordan, Office of Size Standards, at (202) 205 6618, or Edsel Brown, Assistant Administrator for Technology, at (202) 205 6540. You may also email questions to sizestandards@SBA.gov. A complete copy of the ruling is available on the Federal Register web site.
This article originated from SBIRworld web site.
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2.0 UPDATE ON HSARPA SBIR RELEASE
The Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency (HSARPA) will be pre-releasing the FY-05.1 solicitation "very soon" but the actual date is still unknown. However, SBIR Gateway learned that they will adjust the official opening and closing dates to compensate for the delayed release date. This is especially important because this FY-05.1 solicitation will be the first HSARPA SBIR that will allow you to contact the solicitation's Topic Author, or Topic Point of Contact (TPOC) prior to
the official opening of the solicitation. This procedure is similar to the model used by the DoD.
Continue to watch the HSARPA web site for its release.
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3.0 ABANDONED COAL MINE LAND RESEARCH PROGRAM - 2005 CALL FOR PROPOSALS ANNOUNCEMENT
The University of Wyoming request proposals for research in the area of abandoned and/or active coal mine land reclamation. The Abandoned Coal Mine Land Research Program (ACMLRP) is the result of the 1989 agreement between the University of Wyoming and the Abandoned Mine Land Division of the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
The ACMLRP is intended to stimulate applied research and development projects related to underground and surface mine reclamation techniques, in order to increase transfer of information on state-of-the-art technology and to increase the exchange of research information and expertise between the academic, state agency, engineering, mining, and construction communities.
All of the policy functions of the ACMLRP are under the supervision of a steering committee, which is chaired jointly by the Administrator of the DEQ Land Quality Division and the University's Vice President for Research. The steering committee includes representatives from State and Federal agencies, the University and the community colleges, and companies involved in mineral extraction. The steering committee provides policy direction for the ACMLRP and identifies the research priorities in accordance with the provisions of the applicable regulations. A technical review committee makes recommendations of projects for funding, with the approval of the DEQ.
Research activities related to abandoned and/or active coal mine land reclamation in the technical areas listed below may be considered under the ACMLRP for 2005. The ACMLRP is primarily an applied research program; however, the members of the steering committee recognize that occasional basic research or technology transfer projects may have considerable merit and these are not precluded from Consideration. (Individual topics are listed under each technical area in the RPF)
Controlling the Invasion of Cheatgrass to Achieve Postmining Land Use on Reclaimed Coal Lands
Sulfur Cycling in Coal Mine Backfill Environments
Reclamation Success on Coal Mine Lands
Nutrient Cycling Status in Reclaimed Mine Land Soils
It is anticipated that proposals funded under this program will lead to improved understanding of current reclamation problems/practices or lead to the development of new techniques or mine reclamation and/or water quality control methods.
Application packets for this Call for Proposals are available from the Office of Research, 1000 E. University, Department 3355, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, e-mail afaxon@uwyo.edu or you may phone 307/766-5353 or 766-5320. The application packet may also be obtained on the Research Office web site: http://www.uwyo.edu/research/IFO.htm
The Abandoned Coal Mine Land Research Program Call for Proposals has a closing date of February 18, 2005.
This program is subject to the affirmative action requirements that are prescribed by Executive Order 11246 (as amended), Section 202; by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended), Section 503; by the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (as amended), Section 402 (38 USC 2012).
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4.0 ONE TIME OPPORTUNITY FOR REDUCED PRICE NXLEVEL ENTREPRENEURIAL TRAINING
Introducing a one-time offer to
take NxLeveL Entrepreneurial Training Online
as a beta-test participant.
Just $150! (includes all books and fees)
Dates: Begins Week of January 24, 2005, Ends April 29, 2005
Registration Deadline: January 11, 2005
Cost: $150 (includes textbook, resource guide and workbook, online fees).
Beta Test: Once the online class is finalized through NxLeveL, it will be offered at the full price of $350. In consideration for the reduced price ($200 savings), participants will be asked for thoughtful and helpful feedback on how the course works for them.
Online: This class will be taught completely online. You will need a computer, Internet connection and email account. Microsoft Word and Excel recommended.
Space is Limited, register early.
Instructors: Bob Wolverton has been a business owner for two decades. He has owned a newspaper, a freelance photography and writing business and a consulting business. Bob was one of the original authors of the NxLeveL textbooks. He is finishing his Doctor of Education degree at the University of Wyoming. His specialty is distance delivery of educational materials. He is working for the NxLeveL Foundation of Salt Lake City, Utah, to bring the popular NxLeveL courses to the Internet for a national audience. Kim Vincent is a Certified Business Counselor for the Wyoming Small Business Development Center. Kim has more than 15 years of marketing and small business experience. Kim earned her B.S. in geology from the University of Michigan and received an MBA and a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Wyoming. She is a certified instructor for NxLeveL Entrepreneurial Training Course and an adjunct faculty member (teaching marketing) at the University of Wyoming. Kim is one of the owners and financial officer for Elk Mountain Herbs, Inc. and the Herb House, Inc.
Questions? Contact Justin - 307-766-3505 or 800-348-5194
Link here for a REGISTRATION FORM
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5.0 UPCOMING CONFERENCES/TRAININGS/SEMINARS/WORKSHOPS
5.1 MAMTC OFFERS "ORGANIZING YOUR ORGANIZATION" SEMINAR DEC 9
Organizing Your Organization: The Building Blocks of 5S: Sort, Set In Order, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain is coming to CASPER, December 9!
Plan to attend this MAMTC sponsored event if you would like to learn the quick, easy way to keep your facility functioning better. Putting the 5S System into practice is the efficient, effective way to improve your workplace environment - and ultimately, your PROFITABILITY! At this seminar you will learn how to: - Improve work quality
- Decrease changeover time and downtime
- Reduce storage costs and cycle times
- Achieve standardization
- Improve safety
- Boost employee morale
Why You Should Attend
Whether you've already experienced productivity problems due to disorganization in your facilities, or simply want to prevent them from occurring, this one-day seminar will give you the expert guidance and support you need.
In fact, ORGANIZING YOUR ORGANIZATION is the best hands-on 5S system training available in the the region. That's because it's presented by the Mid-America Manufacturing Technology Center (MAMTC), a leading resource in Lean Enterprise practices and procedures. The leader for this valuable seminar was carefully selected from MAMTC's staff of professional engineers and will draw from years of in-the-field experience to share unique insights into the speedy and successful implementation of Lean systems such as 5S.
To register or for additional information contact Nancy Fallas in the State MAMTC office by phone at 800-343-1423 or email nfallas@uwyo.edu
5.2 AG TECHNOLOGY SHOW SEEKS AG INVENTORS
BILLINGS, MT -- Ag Inventors can now sign up for the 3rd Annual Ag Inventors Contest to be held during the Ag Technology Show January 13 - 15, 2005 in Billings, Montana at the Holiday Inn Trade Center. The contest is open to inventors who have an idea, an innovation or an invention that has a farm and or ranch application, and is commercially viable and original.
There is no cost to enter and the deadline for entry to the contest is December 3, 2004. "A jury committee will select 7 finalists out of all of the entries submitted to the show organizers. The inventor finalists will be invited to display their idea or invention at the three day tradeshow free of charge," said Cynthia Berst, tradeshow producer. "A panel of 5 judges will select the $1,000 Top Inventor Award and show attendees can vote for their favorite inventor for the People's Choice Award."
Berst is hosting the Ag Inventors Contest during the Ag Technology Show, a regional farm & ranch tradeshow, because of the valuable exposure for the inventors. "The contest finalists gain tremendous access to manufacturing and marketing companies and to the various government agencies that assist them how to turn their innovation into a viable business." said Berst.
The winners of the Ag Inventors Contest 2004 were Fred Davison of Highwood, MT who won the $1,000 Top Inventor Award for his E-Z Reach Gate Winch. The People's Choice Award was given to Kent Granmoe of Glendive, MT for his Hydraulic Pressure Relief Tool. "The contestants came from all over Montana and Wyoming and all of them received great exposure with an article about the Ag Inventors Contest and their idea in their hometown newspapers," explained Berst about the benefits of contestants entering the contest.
A complete set of inventor rules and entry forms can be obtained by interested inventors by writing to Cynthia Berst, Bright Cat Productions, PO Box 20044, Billings, MT 59104-0044 or by calling (406) 855-5765 or by email brightcatproductions@yahoo.com.
"This is going to be another fantastic tradeshow and inventor's contest," said Berst. "Farmers, ranchers, exhibitors, attendees - everyone will have an opportunity to see the newest, latest and greatest innovations that are up and coming or already in the marketplace today at the tradeshow."
The Ag Technology Show 2005 is the place to be if you're in the farming and ranching community for both Ag buyer and seller. The show will be opening at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 13, 2005 and closing at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 15, 2005. Exhibitors and attendees come from a large regional area and both admission and parking are free.
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6.0 COMPETITION TIP: FOLLOW UP NOW!!!
Winning SBIR competition consists of a sequence of steps that position the small business to submit a winning proposal. Like building blocks, these steps build on one another to form the basis for capturing an award. They may include understanding the agency solicitation process, networking, talking to the customer, assembling a team, developing strategies and approaches, and writing the proposal. It is important that these steps be accomplished at a reasonable tempo so that the value of previous steps taken does not atrophy in supporting subsequent steps.
Emotion is an important part of the SBIR competition process. Events that generate high "spirit" for an innovation and the subsequent competition process will wither if not nurtured by steady progress across the stepping stones to a high quality proposal. Too often, delay and lack of adequate follow-up activity extinguish the "spark" generated for an SBIR project. "Strike while the iron is hot" applies to the SBIR competition process.
Attendance at a National SBIR Conference can create many "sparks" for SBIR projects. There's an air of excitement at the conference as new relationships are established with agency personnel and others, new opportunities for capturing SBIR funds for specific innovative projects became apparent, and encouragement to proceed may be received from fellow attendees.
When the conference is over, entrepreneurs must get back to business. And they must follow-up with the "pick and shovel" work of proceeding to the next steps in the SBIR competition process before the "spark" goes out. These steps might include customer follow-up, fleshing out concepts, putting together teams, developing detailed approaches and work plans, and generating commercialization strategies. As you will likely hear at a National SBIR Conference, persistence and commitment is key to successful SBIR competition. FOLLOW-UP NOW!!!
This competition tip first appeared in the August 31, 2000 issue of the Wyoming SBIR Newsletter. Follow this link to a complete set of Competition Tips.
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7.0 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND PUBLICATION INFORMATION
TO BE ADDED TO OR REMOVED FROM THE DISTRIBUTION LIST FOR THIS NEWSLETTER, SEND NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER, AND EMAIL ADDRESS TO jillkline@vcn.com.
Prepared by: Jill Kline, WSSI Outreach Coordinator, 307.682.2660 or toll free in Wyoming, 866.703.3280, jillkline@vcn.com, and Gene Watson, WSSI Program Manager, 307.742.7162, ewatson@wyoming.com.
This newsletter is published every other week as part of the Wyoming SBIR/STTR Initiative (WSSI). The mission of the Initiative is to increase the number of federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program awards to Wyoming. The Wyoming Business Council (WBC) funds the initiative which is administered by the University of Wyoming Research Office. Please contact Jill Kline (see contact information above) with your comments.
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