Additional information on the Wickman Spacecraft and Propulsion Company can be found on their website: www.space-rockets.com

The HSARPA pre-release is very much like that of the DoD; starting with this FY-05 offering, HSARPA will allow the small business to directly contact the SBIR topic's technical point of contact during the pre-release stage only. On or after January 20 direct contact will no longer be permitted however, the small business can submit written questions to faq@hsarpasbir.com. The questions will be answered and posted electronically for general viewing to the HSARPA website, www.hsarpasbir.com.

Six technical topics are listed in Section 8 of the HSARPA solicitation. The topics are:

H-SB05.1-001: ADVANCED SAMPLE PROCESSING OF LIQUID, OR SOLID OR AEROSOL SAMPLES, OR A COMBINATION OF TWO OR THREE TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Biological Sensors, Biological Defense Countermeasures

H-SB05.1-002: IMPROVED SPECTROSCOPIC GAMMA RAY DETECTORS TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Radiological

H-SB05.1-003: IMPROVED HIGH PURITY GERMANIUM COOLING MECHANISMS TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Radiological

H-SB05.1-004: LOW COST UNDERWATER THREAT DETECTION SYSTEM TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Critical Infrastructure Protection, Borders and Transportation Security, Maritime

H-SB05.1-005: INNOVATIVE LESS-LETHAL DEVICES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TECHNOLOGY AREAS: State and Local

H-SB05.1-006: SMART CONTAINER / SMART CARTON SYSTEM TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Border Watch, Container Security, Borders and Transportation Security

Details about this event can be found on the DCAA website: www.acceltech.csupomona.edu/workshops/FIN100.asp

The SBIR Gateway has put together a timeline highlighting the events of 2004 that impacted the SBIR/STTR landscape.

Link here to view the timeline!

6.1 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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6.2 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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6.3 THE INNOVATIVE EDGE - SBIR COLORADO'S FOURTH CONFERENCE FEB. 15-16


SBIR Colorado has assembled an impressive group of speakers, presenters and network facilitators for their fourth SBIR/STTR conference, The Innovative Edge, to be held in Denver on February 15 & 16, 2005. This conference is designed to stimulate and encourage the proper use of these programs. There will be 24 networking tables dealing with issues such as intellectual property management, marketing to the high- tech industry, how to become an SBIR company incubator, and much more. The SBIR and STTR programs represent the largest source of early-stage funding for high-tech start-up companies in the US. These congressionally mandated federal programs provide more than $2 billion every year to small, for-profit companies to carry out leading-edge high- risk research and grow their businesses. More than 40% of these funds are awarded to companies with 10 or fewer employees and much of the money goes to companies with just 1-3 employees. Nearly 1/3 of the awards go to first- time winners every year.

Even though Colorado has historically received 4-6% ($45- $75MM) of the total SBIR/STTR funds and ranks 4th in the nation in terms of total dollars awarded, these programs are still not well- understood or well- used by the majority of the emerging business and technology community as a means to effectively advance technology from universities, national laboratories and small businesses into a commercialization path.

Here's the beauty of the SBIR program. The SBIR grants and contracts (not loans or equity investments) pay for research, innovation & general business needs and at the same time do not dilute ownership in any way. And although these programs are highly competitive there are tricks of the trade that can help convert those ideas into reality.

Sponsorships and trade show booths are now available. Click here (http://sbircolora do.org/sponsor.htm) for more information on how to help support this event that will help bring out tomorrows knowledge-based jobs and cutting-edge technologies.

Please register at secure.airbase1.com/sbircolorado/enroll_form.htm. Or for additional information contact: Kim Keating - info@sbircolorado.org Phone: 303-427-5226

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6.4 2005 SPRING NATIONAL SBIR/STTR CONFERENCE


Scheduled for March 7-10, 2005
Hilton Omaha - Omaha, Nebraska
For more information, visit the National SBIR/STTR Conference Center Web Site: www.SBIRworld.com

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This competition tip first appeared in the September 29, 2000 issue of the Wyoming SBIR Newsletter. Follow this link to a complete set of Competition Tips.
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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.