New 2005 Wyoming SBIR/STTR Initiative brochures are now available. Call or email Jill Kline to request your supply! (866-703-3280 or jillkline@vcn.com)

Up until the formal opening date of March 15, 2005, proposers may talk directly with the Topic Authors to ask technical questions about the topics. On or after March 15, direct communication between proposers and topic authors is not allowed. At that point in time, proposers may submit written questions about solicitation topics through the SBIR/STTR Interactive Topic Information System (SITIS), at www.dodsbir.net/sitis/. All SITIS questions and answers are posted on the web site. The DoD STTR solicitation is available at: www.acq.osd.mil/sadbu/sbir/solicitations/sttr05.

It is not unusual for the DoD may make changes to their STTR solicitation and/or add or delete topics up until the official opening date of March 15, 2005. It is highly recommended to monitor DoD solicitation and web site for changes.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has released their FY-2006 SBIR/STTR solicitation (NSF 05-557) and will begin accepting proposals after May 8, 2005 with a closing of June 8, 2005 at 5:00 p.m. (proposer's local time). NSF will not accept proposals prior to May 8, 2005.

Electronics (EL)

Security Technologies (ST)

The NSF expects to fund 150 awards; approximately 25 will be STTR awards (pending availability of funds). The anticipated funding amount is $17,500,000 with approximately $15,000,000 for SBIR and approximately $2,500,000 for STTR (again, pending availability of funds).

NSF has regulations unique to its agency and requests that you read the program specifications and solicitation thoroughly prior to submission

The NSF solicitation is now available at: www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf05557.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) contemplates awarding approximately 40 fixed price contracts under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program, Phase I, during Fiscal Year 2006. EPA projects opening their solicitation Opens March 24, 2005 with a closing date of May 25, 2005. You can access the solicitation when it is available at: www.epa.gov/ncer/sbir/ or www.epa.gov/oam/rtp_cmd/.

EPA FY-2005 SBIR Topics for Solicitation #PR-NC-05-10246 include:

1. Management of Poultry and Other Animal Feeding Operations;
   
2. Drinking Water and Detection of Lead Service Lines;
   
3. Pollution Indicators for Beaches and Recreational Waters;
   
4. In-Situ Cleanup of Contaminated Sediments;
   
5. Management of Wastes from Hard-Rock and Coal Mining;
   
6. Monitoring and Control of Air Pollution;
   
7. Environmental Protection of Tribal Reservations and Alaska Native Villages;
   
8. Reducing Low Level Area-Wide Soil Contamination;
   
9. Alaska Oil and Gas Management Tools;
   
10. Hazardous Waste Management;
    
11. Hazardous Waste Monitoring;
    
12. Solid Waste Recycling;
    
13. Waste Gasification;
    
14. Innovation in Manufacturing;
    
15. Nanomaterials;
    
16. Pollution Prevention;
    
17. Water and Wastewater Management;
    
18. Green Buildings;
    
19. Safe Buildings;
    
20. Drinking Water and Wastewater Security; and
    
21. Computational Toxicology.

Complete details are available on the National SBIR/STTR Conference Center Web Site: www.SBIRworld.com/omaha

If you would still like to attend, ground transportation is available out of Laramie. Contact Gene Watson via email at ewatson@wyoming.com ASAP

7.1 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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7.2 SENATOR ENZI HOSTS FREE TWO-DAY INVENTOR'S CONFERENCE: FROM YOUR GARAGE TO THE ASSEMBLY LINE


If you have ever had an idea for an invention, but didn’t know how to turn that invention into a real product, or if you are simply interested in the invention process, you are invited to join Senator Mike Enzi in Riverton for the second annual "Inventor’s Conference: From Your Garage to the Assembly Line." Senator Enzi will host this FREE two-day workshop at the Holiday Inn on March 17 and 18, 2005. A no-host lunch will be provided. Dean Kamen, inventor of the first wearable drug infusion pump and other cutting edge technologies, will be the key note speaker. The conference will also feature other exciting speakers and informative discussions that will show you how to take your idea and create a product that could earn you enough money to send you into a higher tax bracket. The response to the first inventor’s workshop in Gillette last year was overwhelming. Senator Enzi is excited about this opportunity to help creative Wyomingites capitalize on their ideas to bring in cash and looks forward to seeing you at the second annual inventor’s conference.

If you plan on attending, or need more information, please contact Senator Enzi’s Gillette office at (307) 682-6268 or Robin Bailey at robin_bailey@enzi.senate.gov.

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7.3 SBIR/STTR PHASE I & PHASE II PROPOSAL PREPARATION WORKSHOPS, GRAND FORKS, ND, APRIL 20-21


This event begins with Jim & Gail Greenwoods most popular workshop in which they cover the basics of SBIR/STTR, then describe a simple but effective four-step process for developing a competitive Phase I proposal. Attendees will have the opportunity to review and discuss as a group a real SBIR/STTR Phase I proposal. On the second day, the Greenwoods will cover the basics of Phase II, how it differs from agency to agency, a process for developing a Phase II SBIR or STTR proposal, and alternative paths for commercializing an SBIR/STTR technology. This will be great event for someone who wants to get fully indoctrinated into the SBIR/STTR programs and how to apply for funding to both Phase I and Phase II. For more information or to register, contact stephanie_blair@und.nodak.edu.

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This competition tip first appeared in the July 2, 1999 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.