July 1, 2005
Wyoming SBIR/STTR Initiative (WSSI) Newsletter
No. 13-05
(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., 7/1/05; DUE TODAY!
DOD SBIR: due 7/15/05; 14 days
NIH SBIR/STTR (Grants) (including CDC, FDA): due 8/1/05; 30 days
HSARPA: due 8/22/05; 52 days
USDA: due 9/1/05; 61 days
Other NIH Deadlines
CONTENTS
1.0 Wickman Spacecraft & Propulsion Co. Wins Air Force SBIR Phase I
2.0 HSARPA Issues SBIR FY-05.2 Pre-Release
3.0 SBIR Accounting Class Offered In Denver, July 11
4.0 Other NIH Opportunities
4.1 NIH/NIEHS Issues SBIR/STTR RFA: E-learning for HAZMAT and Emergency Response
4.2 NIH/NIMH Reissues SBIR/STTR PA: Pharmacologic Agents and Drugs for Mental Disorders
4.3 NIH Reissues SBIR/STTR PA: Probes for Microimaging The Nervous System
4.4 NIH Reissues SBIR/STTR PA: Development of PET and SPECT Ligands for Brain Imaging
5.0 ACTION ITEM - Attention Wyoming Veteran Owned Businesses!
6.0 UW, WBC Approve New Manufacturing Extension Partnership
7.0 Upcoming Conferences/Trainings/Seminars/Workshops
7.1 7th Annual NIH SBIR/STTR Conference
7.2 National SBIR/STTR Phase II Conference - Beyond Phase II: Ready For Transition
7.3 SSTI’s 9th Annual Conference
7.4 2005 Fall National SBIR/STTR Conference, Albany, NY
8.0 Competition Tip: Deliver A Little Extra Effort!!!
9.0 Acknowledgements And Publication Information
1.0 WICKMAN SPACECRAFT & PROPULSION WINS AIR FORCE SBIR PHASE I
Congratulations to John Wickman of Wickman Spacecraft and Propulsion Company in Casper on their recent DOD Air Force SBIR Phase I award!
Principal Investigator: Mr. John Wickman
Award: $99,679
Title: Small Launch Vehicles (SLV) Technologies
Abstract: Difficulties in using foreign air bases and airspace is constraining the Air Force from striking high-value, time critical targets.  The Small Launch Vehicle (SLV) and Common Aero Vehicle (CAV) that deploys weapons over the target within minutes after being launched from the United States can solve this. The SLV can also be used to launch satellites. Wickman Spacecraft & Propulsion Company is proposing a versatile and low cost SLV that will be air launched from Air Force cargo planes. It uses an innovative solid rocket motor with individually controlled nozzle throats providing real time controllable thrust and steering with a fixed nozzle. With an expansion-deflection exit cone, it has an optimum expansion ratio at all altitudes. The propellant is an environmentally friendly, low cost, phase stabilized ammonium nitrate propellant with a delivered specific impulse equal to ammonium perchlorate propellants. The solid rocket motors are "field" reloadable. Phase I determines the feasibility of this approach while Phase II demonstrates all the enabling technologies.
Learn more about Wickman Spacecraft & Propulsion Company by visiting their website at www.space-rockets.com
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2.0 HSARPA ISSUES SBIR FY-05.2 PRE-RELEASE
The Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency (HSARPA) has issued their FY-05.2 SBIR Pre-Release. The solicitation will officially open and start accepting proposals on July 29, 2005 and close on August 29, 2005 at 4:00pm EST. The term Pre-Release has different connotations depending on the agency, but in the case of HSARPA the pre-release is very much like that of the DoD.
A small business may directly contact the SBIR topic's technical point of contact during the pre-release stage only. On or after August 29, direct contact is no longer permitted but 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.
Following are the six technical topics listed in the HSARPA solicitation.
- H-SB05.2-001 Handheld Biological Detection System
- H-SB05.2-002 Uncooperative Vehicle Stopping Using Nonlethal Methods
- H-SB05.2-003 Distributed Buoy Vessel Detection System
- H-SB05.2-004 Hardware-Assisted System Security Monitor
- H-SB05.2-005 Methods To Determine Structural Stability
- H-SB05.2-006 Portable/Transportable Directional Gamma Ray And/Or Directional Neutron Detectors
Additional information and the FY05.2 SBIR solicitation can be found on the HSARPA web site at www.hsarpasbir.com/SolicitationDownload.asp
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3.0 SBIR ACCOUNTING CLASS OFFERED IN DENVER, JULY 11
The course will cover government regulations, internal controls, government contract accounting procurement process, cost recovery, cost accounting standards (CAS), policies and procedures, and system design. The accounting system and related internal controls for a government contractor are unique and tend to be more complex than those for other businesses. A well-designed accounting system is essential to any business to ensure that key information about the enterprise can be developed and communicated to managers, owners, customers, auditors and others who need accounting data for decision making.
Who Should Attend: Any SBIR/STTR Awardees
Presenters: Mark Henry and Jennifer Velvick
Complete information available at: www.gov-con.us
or contact Jennifer Velvick at 303-327-1542 or info@gov-con.us
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4.0 OTHER NIH OPPORTUNITIES
4.1 NIH/NIEHS ISSUES SBIR/STTR RFA: E-LEARNING FOR HAZMAT AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE
Letter of Intent Due July 22, 2005
This National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) initiative uses the SBIR/STTR and FAST-TRACK mechanism to further the development of Advanced Technology Training (ATT) Products for the health and safety training of hazardous materials (HAZMAT) workers, emergency responders, and skilled support personnel. These products would complement the goals and objectives of the Worker Education and Training Program (WETP). The major objective of the NIEHS/WETP is to prevent work related harm by assisting in the training of workers in how best to protect themselves and their communities from exposure to hazardous materials. There is a need to ensure that learning and training technologies are further developed, field tested and applied to real world situations. It is the intent of this solicitation to support the development of products to support e-collaboration, e-teaching, e- certification, and e-learning in safety and health training for workers engaged in hazardous materials response. The financial support for this initiative comes directly from NIEHS Worker Education and Training Branch SBIR/STTR funds.
A letter of intent is due July 22, 2005 and the closing date for this announcement is August 18, 2005. For more information and a complete copy of the announcement, visit http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-ES-05-003.html.
4.2 NIH/NIMH REISSUES SBIR/STTR PA: PHARMACOLOGIC AGENTS AND DRUGS FOR MENTAL DISORDERS
This National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) initiative solicits Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant applications that propose to develop novel pharmacologic agents for brain research related to mental disorders, including research aimed at discovering new drugs for these disorders. In addition, this PA solicits SBIR and STTR grant applications that propose to take existing, promising compounds, through the next step of drug discovery and development. Finally, this PA also encourages SBIR and STTR grant applications designed to study the effectiveness of novel interventions.
Applications submitted in response to this program announcement will be accepted at the standard application deadlines (April 1, August 1, December 1) through April 2, 2008. For more information and a complete copy of the announcement, visit http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-05-121.html.
4.3 NIH REISSUES SBIR/STTR PA: PROBES FOR MICROIMAGING THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
This program announcement (PA) is a reissue of PA-02-029, which was previously released December 5, 2001, and solicits Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant applications that propose research and development of probes useful in imaging the structure and function of the brain and other parts of the nervous system, with award duration and amounts greater than those routinely allowed under the SBIR/STTR programs. Specifically this PA solicits SBIR/STTR applications that propose research and development of probes that generate signals detectable by one or more imaging modality. Such probes should indicate the structure or function of molecules or subcellular elements of neurons or other cells of the nervous system. Of special interest are applications that propose research and development of novel probes, although significant enhancements of already existing probes are also solicited. Grant applications may propose projects that will result in probes solely intended for use in research or probes that might have clinical utility. It is expected that this initiative will require expertise from a variety of disciplines, including neuroscience, biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, biotechnology, and bioengineering. Moreover, it is anticipated that these types of expertise will be brought together in various combinations in individual proposed projects. Participating Institutes include the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).
Applications submitted in response to this program announcement will be accepted at the standard application deadlines (April 1, August 1, December 1) through April 2, 2008. For more information and a complete copy of the announcement, visit http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-05-120.html.
4.4 NIH REISSUES SBIR/STTR PA: DEVELOPMENT OF PET AND SPECT LIGANDS FOR BRAIN IMAGING
This PA is a reissue of PA-02- 028 released December 4, 2001 and solicits applications under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant programs. This initiative is intended to stimulate the commercial development of novel radioligands for positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging in human brain, and to incorporate pilot or clinical feasibility evaluation in pre-clinical studies, model development, or clinical studies. The NIH institutes listed in this PA are specifically interested in the development of radioligands for molecular targets (e.g., receptors, cell adhesion molecules, intracellular messengers, and disease related proteins) that are of broad interest to the scientific community. These radiotracers will be used for neuroimaging as well as potential biological markers and surrogate endpoints for translational and clinical research, drug discovery and development, and clinical trials. Also appropriate for this PA are applications proposing research and development of new technologies for radiotracer development. Participating Institutes include the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institute on Aging (NIA), and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).
Applications submitted in response to this program announcement will be accepted at the standard application deadlines (April 1, August 1, December 1) through April 2, 2008. For more information and a complete copy of the announcement, visit http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-05-122.html.
5.0 ATTENTION WYOMING VETERAN OWNED BUSINESSES
The Wyoming GRO-Biz office is conducting a state-wide search to identify ALL Veteran-owned businesses in Wyoming. If you are a veteran-owned business, please call toll-free 1-866-253-3300 for details or 1-307-637-5029.
There are government agencies in Wyoming and across the nation that are looking to do business with Veteran-owned businesses. We would like to find all qualifying businesses within the next 90 days!
Please call GRO-Biz for more details. (Government Resources and Opportunities for business - Wyoming's Government Procurement office or PTAC)
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6.0 UW, WBC APPROVE NEW MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP
University of Wyoming Media Relations
Beginning today, July 1, manufacturers in Wyoming will be supported by the newest member of the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST/MEP) -- Manufacturing-Works.
This new organization replaces the MAMTC-Wyoming (Mid-America Manufacturing Technology Center), which served manufacturers in the state for the past 10 years. Both the University of Wyoming and the Wyoming Business Council approved this important change, says William Gern, UW vice president for research. NIST/MEP is part of the federal Department of Commerce.
"Basically the current structure will remain in place, but with the ability to run our own program, we will be able to be more agile with our clients and provide other important benefits to Wyoming's manufacturing and technology business sector," Gern, says.
Manufacturing-Works provides low-cost technical assistance -- mostly through on-site consultation -- to manufacturers in the areas of engineering, operations, management, and marketing. They also conduct seminars, industry roundtables, and objective demonstrations of equipment and software. New areas of focus include Export/Import Bank assistance and OSHA compliance reviews and training. All services are designed to help client manufacturers improve their profitability and business performance. Manufacturing-Works seminar topics include business systems, human resources/workforce development, information systems, lean manufacturing, manufacturing process/operations, marketing, product development, and quality.
The Wyoming MEP also has an environmental impact program with the Department of Environmental Quality and profitable energy and tax audits for businesses program in conjunction with the WBC.
Service to the state is provided through six area centers, all coordinated by Center Director Larry Stewart. The area centers give local field engineers an opportunity to work with businesses based on their individual needs and circumstances. Branch offices are located in Casper, Cheyenne, Gillette, Powell, Riverton and Rock Springs.
The new program is geared toward manufacturers and emerging technologies in rural states, Stewart says.
"It's a program that is devoted to Wyoming manufacturers as opposed to those on the Front Range or Wasatch Front," he says. "Plus, some added emphasis on cooperation between rural areas and rural settings to find suppliers that will work for all of us instead of a supplier that maybe will help Wyoming after it's through helping a large metropolitan area."
It has been almost 10 years to the day since Wyoming initiated its place in a multi-state partnership known as MAMTC, says Stewart, "And we have learned significant things from that relationship. Our goal was to have a significant economic impact for Wyoming businesses, particularly manufacturers. To that end we have identifiable, substantiated impacts."
Stewart says that during the past decade, Wyoming manufacturers have increased sales to nearly $112.5 million; $10 million of increased capital expenditures; and 1,034 created or retained jobs. On a yearly average, that has amounted to more than $10 million in increased sales and more than $5 million in cost savings per year, with an average of 100 jobs retained or added each year.
An additional plan for a consulting network of available experts in highly focused areas of technology to assist and be at the disposable of the engineers of Manufacturing-Works is currently in the "works to aid in this effort of moving forward," Stewart says.
The Manufacturing-Works professional staff under Stewart's direction have manufacturing, technical and environmental experience and provide hands-on consulting services in the areas of quality, process, business systems, marketing, information systems, product development and testing, strategic planning and assessment and value-added agriculture. The majority are registered professional engineers. Manufacturing-Works, which has helped manufacturers in all 23 Wyoming counties since 1995, receives support from the Wyoming Business Council and UW.
Some Manufacturing-Works services are free, usually up to eight hours, Stewart says. All other projects are value-priced based on the individual client needs and ability to pay.
"Experience has taught us that when the client has skin in the game (a fee) he or she is much more likely to follow through on advice, consulting, or development work than if the service is free," he says. "Based on that concept NIST/MEP has been very successful with clients and has many major success stories as a testimony that value-added, thoughtfully priced services leverage clients to their next level of achievement."
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7.0 UPCOMING CONFERENCES/TRAININGS/SEMINARS/WORKSHOPS
7.1 7th ANNUAL NIH SBIR/STTR CONFERENCE
The 7th Annual NIH SBIR/STTR conference dates are now set for July 28- 29,2005. The conference will be held on the NIH campus in Bethesda, MD.
Learn How to Tap into $640 M Reserved Explicitly for Small Businesses Interested in Biomedical/Behavioral Research.
This free two day conference, organized by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will focus on Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) funding opportunities available explicitly to small businesses that have innovative biomedical or behavioral research ideas with commercial potential. This conference will benefit those who are relatively new to the Program as well as those who are more experienced.
This is a must-attend conference if you're interested in the NIH SBIR/STTR program.
Questions? Contact Mark Brown - ConferenceInquiries@mail.nih.gov or 240-632-5618.
7.2 NATIONAL SBIR/STTR PHASE II CONFERENCE - BEYOND PHASE II: READY FOR TRANSITION
The Department of Defense, in association with the Small Business Administration and all 11 SBIR agencies, is sponsoring the 2005 National SBIR/STTR Phase II Conference -- a very special event focusing exclusively on transitioning current Phase II technologies into the military and private sector.
Where: San Diego, California
When: July 11 -14, 2005
Registration Fee: $529
Eligibility: Phase II Invitees - Recent (2002-2004) Phase II SBIR/STTR award winners are eligible to participate in the 2005 National Phase II SBIR Conference.
Prime Contractor, Large Business, Government Acquisition Program, and Venture Capital Firm Invitees - Any prime contractor, large business, government acquisition representative, or venture capital firm who received an invitation is eligible to participate in the 2005 National SBIR Phase II Conference.
Complete information is available on the conference website: http://conference.brtrc.com/sbirconf05/registration/commitment.aspx#
or contact Virginia Hoover at sbirconference@brtrc.com or at 703-205-1522.
This conference will provide a forum to bring together scientist, engineers, and technology decision makers from a wide range of disciplines and environments to discuss all aspects of transitioning SBIR-supported research and development into government and private sector commercial markets. The program will include plenary speakers, focused sessions, pre-arranged 20-minute appointments between SBIR small businesses and representatives from government prime contractors, defense acquisition programs, and other potential end users of the technology, poster papers, and exhibits. These sessions provide the opportunity for small businesses, large businesses and government agencies to discuss their capabilities and needs.
To participate, invited Phase II firms, defense acquisition programs, prime contractors and other large businesses must register on the conference web site and provide information to facilitate matching small businesses with potential end users of the technology to schedule pre-arranged appointments.
There will also be a wide variety of exhibiting opportunities for this event (PH II Technology Poster Sessions, table top exhibits, and full exhibits). The exhibit hall will be a central place of activity during this event.
Advanced Phase II areas that will be discussed include: Legal Issues, Accounting Issues, Marketing Issues, Negotiating Issues, Firm Issues for Growing Companies.
Who are Invited to Attend and Exhibit: · SBIR/STTR small businesses with at least one Phase II award in the last 4 years · Prime contractors · Defense Acquisition program managers · Other government agencies/offices that acquire technology products and services.
Who are Invited to Exhibit only: · SBIR Support Companies · Industry Service Providers (accounting firms, legal firms, etc.)
7.3 SSTI’s 9th ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Investing In A Brighter Future, Building Tech-based Economies
Where: Atlanta, GA, InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta
When: Wednesday, October 19, 2005 to Friday, October 21, 2005
Overview: For a few days this fall, more than 300
of the nation's greatest thinkers and practitioners for building tech-based economies will convene in Atlanta.
Complete information is available on the SSTI's website at: www.ssti.org/conference05.htm. Seating is limited. Register online today to avoid missing this unique opportunity.
What to expect at SSTI’s 9th Annual Conference
- in-depth examinations of some of the best state and regional approaches to cultivate a bright economic future
- unparalleled networking with the right people within the tech-based economic development community
- stimulating dialogue and thought-provoking exchange between great thinkers, old friends and new peers from across the country
- renewed energy and personal resolve to address the challenges of strengthening your state or local economy
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7.4 2005 FALL NATIONAL SBIR/STTR CONFERENCE, ALBANY, NEW YORK
Where: Albany, NY, The Crowne Plaza Hotel Albany City Center
When: Monday, November 14, 2005 to Thursday, November 17, 2005
Description: The National Science Foundation, in association with the Small Business Administration and all 11 SBIR agencies, is sponsoring this 2005 Fall National SBIR/STTR Conference.
Annually, the SBIR and STTR programs provide over $2 billion to small businesses through federal programs to help entrepreneurs take their ideas from conception to reality. This conference will give you the tools you need to obtain part of the $2+ billion available to small business innovators. This conference also provides each participant with multiple opportunities to meet and network with SBIR and STTR Program Managers, and fellow attendees, including SBIR/STTR award winners, speakers, and experts from businesses and the government willing to work with you to move your business ahead.
Who Should Attend: Attendees include SBIR and STTR representatives from the Federal Agencies involved in the programs, sales and marketing professionals, small business owners, entrepreneurs, university researchers, scientists seeking commercialization strategies, venture capitalists, and all small businesses seeking to secure federal funding.
Additional information will be posted as it becomes available. Refer questions to Sharon DelaBarre at sbir@dbamlg.com or 360-683-5742.
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8.0 COMPETITION TIP: DELIVER A LITTLE EXTRA EFFORT!!!
The SBIR competition process can become a bit grueling, especially toward the end of the proposal preparation as the submission deadline approaches. This is especially so for those working through the process for the first time. As one exhausted SBIR proposal "quarterback" said recently after submitting his first proposal, "This is a lot of work!!!" There is a temptation to begin taking shortcuts in these situations, and to say the proposal is "good enough." The result is compromise in proposal quality and chances for a win.
The SBIR competition is very keen - overall, roughly one out of seven or eight proposals is selected for award. So the proposal preparation team must strive for the highest level of proposal excellence to secure the best chance for a win. Small businesses engaging the SBIR Program for the first time frequently underestimate the height of the SBIR competition bar, and are too easily attracted by the "good enough" lure.
The decision on a submitted proposal is binary - 0 or 1, yes or no, win or lose. But the quality of a proposal (and its chances of winning) is virtually continuous ranging from poor to the best. The key in SBIR competition and proposal preparation is to drive the proposal quality to the highest possible level.
Delivering, for example, one additional critical review and rework of the proposal, inserting one revealing graphic, or soliciting a key letter from industry in support of the proposal may swing the binary decision on the proposal from a loss to a win. Many of these "extra efforts" delivered in the course of the competition and proposal preparation process will enable significant improvement in the proposal quality and chances for winning.
The old adage "The difference between mediocrity and greatness is a little extra effort" clearly applies in SBIR competition. So make that "little extra effort" to clear the SBIR competition bar.
This competition tip first appeared in the September 3, 1999 issue of the Wyoming SBIR Newsletter. Follow this link to a complete set of Competition Tips.
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9.0 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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