The SBA is requesting comments to be made before the end of January on the issue of changing SBIR program eligibility rules to allow businesses owned and controlled by Venture Capital companies to participate in the SBIR program. It is crucially important that all voices be heard on this issue - go to the these websites for complete information http://www.zyn.com/sbir/articles/SBIREligibility-Busch_11_Nov_2004.htm and http://www.zyn.com/sbir/sba/SBAANPRM04-1.htm. The bulk of the SBAANPRM website deals with SBA issues other than VC SBIR eligibility so patiently scroll down until you come to it - and be sure to submit your comments WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS!

The 2004 SBIR total funding nationwide was approximately $2 billion, $6.67 per capita - Wyoming's per capita fair share total was (6.67 X 500,000) $3.3 million - the actual award total for Wyoming in 2004 was sixteen awards totaling $3.5 million. The breakdown of this total is 10 Phase I awards totaling $810,000, 4 Phase II awards totaling $2,150,000, and 2 NSF Phase IIB awards totaling $543,000. The awarding agencies were; USDA (6), DoD (4), NSF (3), NASA (2) and NIH (1). A detailed breakdown of Wyoming's 2004 Phase 0, Phase I and Phase II awards is available at: www.uwyo.edu/sbir/phase1and2winners.html.

Congratulations to all awardees!

IMPORTANT NOTE - Wyoming received no STTR awards in 2004. All potential program participants should be aware that the proposal/award ratio for STTR Phase I and Phase II submissions is usually significantly more favorable than with SBIR submissions.

Additional information on the Big Horn Valve, Inc. can be found on their website: www.bighornvalve.com

Additional conference information is available on the Conference web site: http://www.sbirworld.com/omaha/
Additional NSF EPSCoR information available at: http://www.ehr.nsf.gov/epscor/
Additional Wyoming EPSCoR information available at: http://epscor-wise.uwyo.edu/

Contact: Jill Kline
Phone: 307-682-2660, Toll Free in Wyoming: 866-703-3280
Email: jillkline@vcn.com

The Volpe National Transportation System Center, (Volpe Center) has announced that the Department of Transportation (DOT) will be releasing their 2005 SBIR solicitation on or about February 15, 2005. The solicitation will be issued through electronic means only on their SBIR site at www.volpe.dot.gov/sbir. No hard copies will be available. The pre-solicitation notice can be found now on the FedBizOpps web site at: www1.eps.gov/spg/DOT/RSPA/VNTSC/DTRS57%2D05%2DR%2DSBIR/listing.html.

7.1 DCAA AUDITS AND FINANCIAL COMPLIANCE WORKSHOP


The Campbell County Care Board is sponsoring the workshop entitled "How to Manage and Keep in Compliance Grant Funded Projects."

This workshop will be held in Pomona California February 2, 2005 and is intended for Phase I and Phase II SBIR Recipients, university professors and staff, researchers, grant and contract administrators, small government contractors and potential government contractors.

Any company or individual with an SBIR or government contract will be audited by the DCAA (Defense Contract Audit Agency). The DCAA has accounting regulations, standards and requirements that can be different than the traditional bookkeeping standards of most businesses. If you are interested in contracting with the government to provide any service or product or have been awarded an SBIR or STTR, this workshop is recommended.

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

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7.2 HOW TO MANAGE AND KEEP IN COMPLIANCE GRANT FUNDED PROJECTS WORKSHOP


The Campbell County Care Board is sponsoring the workshop entitled "How to Manage and Keep in Compliance Grant Funded Projects."

When: Feb. 18, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. & Feb. 19, 8 a.m. - Noon
Where: Gillette, Wyoming, Campbell County Cooperative Extension Service, 1000 Douglas Hwy. (Belle Fourche Room)
Instructor: Scheela Schermetzler of Laramie
Additional information including cost or to register: Call Judy Haselwood at (307) 680-2085 or Sheela Schermetzler at (307)761-2116.


This workshop is designed for individuals or organizations who are anticipating receiving grant funding or have obtained grant funds. Administrators and managers, grant writers, business managers, administrative assistants and secretaries,non-profit organizations, federal and state employees, city and county personnel, police and sheriff departments, and school district personnel. Participants are requested to bring to the workshop specific grant documents. Each participant will receive a workbook and the first edition of the Campbell County Wyoming Administrative Grants Management/Compliance Handbook.

This workshop is designed to understand the key components of grants management and compliance. The following topics will be discussed:


• Planning for the grant funded project
  
• Implementing the project
  
• Ensuring fiscal integrity
  
• Demonstrating accountability
  
• Evaluating the project
  
• Auditing requirements
  
• Solving problems
  
• Terminating and closing out the project

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7.3 A FEW SPACES STILL AVAILABLE 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: was January 11 - a few spaces are still available - call for availability


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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7.4 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://sbircolorado.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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7.5 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/omaha

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7.6 PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALL BUSINESS & NATIVE AMERICAN BUSINESS EXPO
Come Learn How To Sell Your Products & Services To A Multibillion Dollar Market!

Where: The Inn at Lander, Lander, WY
When: March 15, 2005, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Reception following from 5 p.m.-7 p.m.
Conference fee: $25/person (includes lunch & reception)
Why Should You Attend?

• This event will allow you to meet one on one with contracting officers
  
• Increase your knowledge about the government contracting process
  
• A chance to market your business to the U.S. Government and Prime Contractors
  
• Meeting professionals, contractors and small businesses in one place saves time and money
  
• More than 20 Federal and State Government Representatives will be attending
AND

If you'd like to learn more about business opportunities & doing business on the Wind River Indian Reservation, stay a 2nd day for the: 5th Annual Native American Business Expo


Where: The Inn at Lander, Lander, WY
When: March 16, 8 am-5 pm
Expo Fee: $75/person (includes reception & lunch)
Expo location: Rocky Mountain Hall, Fort Washakie


• Workshops will be held throughout the day addressing the business & cultural environment on the reservation.
  
• Visit exhibitors at the vendor hall
  
• Indian-owned businesses will be highlighted
  
• $1,000 in cash will be awarded to a lucky attendee!

For more information contact Jeff Sneddon, U.S. Small Business Administration 307-261-6515 or Lisa Wagner, Wind River Development Fund 307-335-7330

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This competition tip first appeared in the October 13, 2000 issue of the Wyoming SBIR Newsletter. Follow this link to a complete set of Competition Tips.

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.