The DoD SBIR 2005.3 solicitation has been pre-released at www.dodsbir.net/solicitation. During the pre-release period, which ends on September 14, you may contact the topic authors directly (contact information is listed with the topic) to ask technical questions about specific solicitation topics. The DoD will begin accepting proposals on September 15, 2005 and will close to proposals on October 14, 2005 at 6am EST. Plan ahead and submit your proposal early to avoid the risk of website inaccessibility due to heavy usage on the final day.

Technical Q&A through SITIS
Once DoD begins accepting proposals on September 15, 2005, no further direct contact between proposers and topic authors is allowed, but proposers may submit written questions through the SBIR Interactive Topic Information System (SITIS), in which the questioner and respondent remain anonymous and all questions and answers are posted electronically for general viewing. SITIS closes to new questions on October 1, 2005. All questions and answers will be posted through October 14, 2005. All proposers are advised to monitor SITIS at www.dodsbir.net/sitis during the solicitation period for questions and answers and other information relevant to the topic under which they are proposing.

DoD SBIR Help Desk
If you have any questions please contact the DoD SBIR Help Desk at 866-724-7457 or by email at sbirhelp@brtrc.com.

The SSTI Weekly Digest Funding Supplement is a listing of funding opportunities (OTHER THAN SBIR) offered by the federal government, foundations, and other agencies. Although the Supplement is not exhaustive, the opportunities listed in each week's issue do provide application information, eligibility criteria, and submission deadlines and collectively offer a glance at what is available.

The latest issue of the Funding Supplement is available at: www.ssti.org/Digest/supplement.htm and includes additional opportunities from the US Department of Agriculture, Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, Environmental Protection Agency, NASA, the National Science Foundation, as well as Foundation Funding Opportunities.

Classes will be held in the following locations:

Cheyenne, starts September 6
To register or for additional information contact Inge Hubband at (307) 632-6141 or 1-800-348-5208.

Gillette, starts September 6 OR Sheridan, starts September 12
To register or for additional information contact Linda Calhoun at (307) 682-5232 or 1-888-956-6060.

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5.0 UPCOMING CONFERENCES/TRAININGS/SEMINARS/WORKSHOPS 5.1 SBIR/STTR PHASE II PROPOSAL PREPARATION WORKSHOP AND ONE-ON-ONE CONSULTATIONS SBIR/STTR Phase II Proposal Preparation Workshop and One-on-One Consultations, Los Alamos, New Mexico, August 30-31, 2005. This workshop is for the more advanced attendee, such as someone who has a Phase I and wants to move on to the Phase II (or someone who is thinking of applying for Phase I, and wants to have good feel for the overall SBIR/STTR program before they do). This workshop covers important topics like the vast differences between the agencies when it comes to Phase II requirements and expectations, recommendations for preparing a Phase II proposal (including most common mistakes we see made in Phase II proposals), and a discussion of technology commercialization as it applies to SBIR/STTR projects. On the 31st, attendees have an opportunity to meet individually with the workshop instructors to discuss any aspect of the SBIR/STTR programs, including proposal strategy, cost proposals, and topic/agency selection. Contact clow@lanl.gov for registration information or to sign up for the 1-on-1's. return to CONTENTS 5.2 STATE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE'S (SSTI) 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. Some will seek better ways to commercialize innovations coming out of their universities and businesses. Some will want methods to improve the delivery of their entrepreneurial assistance or research grant programs. Some will question the direction - or even existence - of our national innovation policies and research funding priorities. Some will look for new approaches, new thinking for increasing local access to risk capital. All of them will find answers in Atlanta - at the premier professional development event of the year for the tech-based economic development community. The only question remaining is will you be among them? 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 return to CONTENTS 5.3 LICENSING YOUR INNOVATION: DEVELOPING THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO NET THE BEST DEAL CAN YOU NEGOTIATE THE BEST DEAL? - There's more to licensing your innovation than you might think. Plan to attend: October 4, 2005, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. MonTEC, 1121 E. Broadway, Missoula, MT Workshop presenter Marti Elder is a seasoned licensing agent and commercialization consultant who, as principle of her Bozeman-based company, has worked with clients in Montana, throughout the nation and internationally. Elder will guide workshop participants through the licensing process by sharing her expertise on a range of topics, including: Why you need to learn the language of licensing. How to get ready to deal. How to negotiate a license. How to manage your license. Complete workshop information is available at: sbir.state.mt.us/Licensing or contact Linda Brander @ (406) 841-2749 or lbrander@mt.gov. return to CONTENTS 5.4 REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR NATIONAL FALL SBIR CONFERENCE IN ALBANY, NY, NOVEMBER 14-17 Whether you are new to the Program, have received your first Phase I, or are a multiple award winner, the sessions offered in Albany this Fall will help you enhance your participation in the SBIR/STTR Program. Sessions will focus on information you need in order to take Your Concept all the way through the Program to Commercialization. Tips on how to Leverage Resources to make the most of Your Potential will be provided during the three tracks of programming. Complete conference information is available at: 2005 National Fall Conference The Advance Full Registration Fee, received by October 25, is $350. Registrations received after October 25 and On-Site will be $425. In addition to Full Conference Registration, one or multiple-day Registrations are available, as are discounts for multiple attendees (3 or more) from a single small business (less than 500 employees). Please note that pre-Conference registration will close on Tuesday, November 1. After this date, registration will only be available On-site in Albany. Link here for additional Conference Fees and Registration information. Link here for hotel accommodation information. return to CONTENTS

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6.0 COMPETITION TIP: PROJECT MANAGEMENT SKILLS!!! SBIR awards provide key enabling opportunities for growing a successful commercial business centered on one or more technology innovations. Capitalizing on these awards requires effective project management to optimally move innovations along the path toward commercialization. SBIR opportunities frequently are squandered because the host small businesses are not prepared to "manage" SBIR awards. Real-life examples include cases where the virtually all of the project funds have been expended, and little of the proposed work has been performed. Less extreme but still severely damaging to small businesses are cases where SBIR project mismanagement fails to position the project for successful entry into the next Phase of the project, leading to the demise of a promising innovation. There are many examples where mismanagement compromises project success and handicaps growing small businesses. Effective project management achieves stated project objectives within cost and schedule constraints. Project management execution finds solutions for difficulties encountered; exploits opportunities to perform tasks more efficiently and to yield more information with available resources; and nurtures communications among performing team members and the customers. Effective project management focuses on details, while maintaining a "big picture" perspective to insure optimal positioning for successfully entering the next phase. The value of effective project management sometimes is discounted by members of a project team as extraneous to their efforts, and perhaps not all that important anyway. They may choose to focus instead the details of their technical work. But like an excellent quality assurance program, the project management is most effective when performing team members "buy in" and "take ownership" of the process. Give effective project management high priority. The success of the project and the small business enabled by it!!! This competition tip first appeared in the September 24, 1999 issue of the Wyoming SBIR Newsletter. Follow this link to a complete set of Competition Tips. return to CONTENTS

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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. return to CONTENTS