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| About WSSI | About SBIR/STTR | Getting Started | Wyoming Award Winners | News & Events |
| 1.0 SBA EXTENDS COMMENT PERIOD FOR VC PARTICIPATION AND SMALL BUSINESS SIZE STANDARDS The SBA announced that it is extending for 60 days, the comment period for their Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM), which requested comments on issues related to SBA's effort to restructure its small business size standards. This 60 day extension is because SBA agrees with the public's view that an extension is necessary to afford interested parties more time to thoroughly review the issues described in the ANPRM and prepare their comments. The previous deadline of February 1, 2005 is extended to April 3, 2005. Although the ANPRM addresses a wide range of small business size standard concerns, the issue most germane to SBIR interests is the Participation of businesses majority-owned by Venture Capital Companies in the SBIR Program. In brief: The SBA is seeking public comments on whether it should provide an exclusion from affiliation for venture capital companies (VCC) in size determinations for eligibility for the SBIR Program. Under such a policy, VCCs that invest in SBIR participants would not be considered affiliates of the SBIR participant and their size would therefore not be included in determining the size of the participant. For complete details visit the SBIR Gateway Easy ANPRM Reference at www.zyn.com/sbir/sba/SBAANPRM04-1.htm. You may submit your comments to SBA, identified by RIN 3245-AF22 by any of the following methods:
Comments must be received on or before April 3, 2005. Link here for more information provided by the SBIR Gateway... return to CONTENTS |
| 2.0 NSF EPSCoR AND SBIR PROGRAMS OFFER FREE REGISTRATION & TRAVEL SUBSIDY TO NATIONAL SBIR CONFERENCE IN OMAHA, NEBRASKA The National Science Foundation EPSCoR and SBIR Programs are providing support and incentives to the NSF EPSCoR states for the upcoming National SBIR Conference that will be held in Omaha, Nebraska March 7 - 10. Wyoming small businesses and entrepreneurs interested in attending the conference should contact Jill Kline, WSSI Outreach Coordinator for additional information (contact info. below) as soon as possible since only five (5) slots are currently available. Priority will be given to small business representatives. The $350 conference registration fee will be covered by the NSF EPSCoR program and Wyoming EPSCoR will reimburse 50% of travel expenses. Ground transportation will be available from Laramie. Additional conference information is available on the Conference web site: http://www.sbirworld.com/omaha/ Contact: Jill Kline |
| 3.0 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. return to CONTENTS |
| 4.0 SEMINAR PROMOTES SET-UP REDUCTION FOR MANUFACTURERS Courtesy UW News Service The Mid-America Manufacturing Technology Center (MAMTC) will present a seminar Wednesday, Feb. 9, in Casper, focused on reducing set-up time and increasing productivity and profits for manufacturers. The seminar, "Setting up for Success," will be offered from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the University of Wyoming Outreach Building, 951 N. Poplar. Registration is $250 for individuals or $225 each for a group of three or more. Lunch is provided. For registration information call (888) 649-4333, e-mail registrations@mamtc.com or visit www.mamtc.com. MAMTC is a leading resource in Lean Enterprise practices and procedures. The seminar will cover set-up reduction strategies and techniques needed to shorten lead times, reduce inventory and material waste, minimize defects, lower space requirements, boost productivity and gain flexibility. MAMTC, a statewide manufacturing assistance program, is headquartered at the University of Wyoming with branch offices located in Casper, Cheyenne, Gillette, Powell, Riverton and Rock Springs. MAMTC's field engineers are manufacturing technical and environmental experts who 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. For more information about MAMTC, call (307) 766-4812. return to CONTENTS |
| 5.0 HSARPA MODIFIES SBIR FY05.1 SOLICITATION The Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency (HSARPA) has posted its final FY-05.1 SBIR Solicitation. The final solicitation contains modifications from the pre-released version and applicants are encouraged to read the final solicitation thoroughly. (Section 5.9, Technical Data Rights, and Topic H-SB05.1-006 have been modified.) The Final FY05.1 SBIR Solicitation is located at www.hsarpasbir.com/SolicitationDownload.asp. The HSARPA FY05.1 Solicitation Topics are: H-SB05.1-001 ADVANCED SAMPLE PROCESSING OF LIQUID, OR SOLID OR AEROSOL SAMPLES, OR A COMBINATION OF TWO OR THREE Since the HSARPA solicitation is now open, communication with the topic point of contact is no longer permitted however, you can submit written questions to faq@hsarpasbir.com. Questions will be answered and posted electronically for general viewing to the HSARPA website, www.hsarpasbir.com. return to CONTENTS |
| 6.0 TECHLINK HAS NEW WEB ADDRESS TechLink is funded primarily by the Department of Defense and NASA to link companies with federal laboratories for technology licensing, joint research, and technology transfer. While licensing of DoD technologies for commercial applications is a key objective, special emphasis is placed on transition of technology to support the warfighter as well as on technology infusion to support NASA’s missions. As part of its overall mission for the Department of Defense, TechLink provides specialized support for companies in this region's EPSCoR states in developing DoD SBIR or STTR proposals, and in transitioning new technologies to Defense use. These assistance programs emphasize planning for Defense technology transition, which is a top priority for DoD and a prerequisite for success in the DoD SBIR/STTR programs. Through its close working relationship with numerous DoD labs and centers, TechLink can also assist companies in developing technology partnerships with Defense labs that facilitate greater long-term success. Learn more by visiting TechLinks new web site. (www.techlinkcenter.org/sbir) return to CONTENTS |
7.0 UPCOMING CONFERENCES/TRAININGS/SEMINARS/WORKSHOPS
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
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 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.
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
Scheduled for March 7-10, 2005
Come Learn How To Sell Your Products & Services To A Multibillion Dollar Market!
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? 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 For more information contact Jeff Sneddon, U.S. Small Business Administration 307-261-6515 or Lisa Wagner, Wind River Development Fund 307-335-7330
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. |
| 8.0 COMPETITION TIP: STRIVE FOR PRESENTATION SIMPLICITY!!! A SBIR proposal is a story aimed at convincing reviewers and award selection officials to "buy" the proposed innovation. It is vital that the proposal story is easy for reviewers and selection officials to understand. Simplicity is important to achieve this. Proposal stories woven with complexity and obscured by details make it difficult for reviewers to easily grasp the essence of concepts being presented. It is unlikely reviewers will dwell on a proposal for extended periods of time to ferret out the story line, and certainly unreasonable to expect them to do so. Consequently, "nuggets" in the proposal may not be apparent to reviewers. As in the old adage, the focus may be too much on individual "trees," and the view of the "forest" obscured. Striving for simplicity in presenting key concepts will help reviewers see the "forest" in the proposal. Simplicity in proposal presentation does not mean presenting simple concepts. Rather, the goal should be to present complex concepts and details in the simplest possible way - and to present maximum detailed information without obscuring the overall picture. How can one achieve simplicity in proposal presentations? Judiciously conceived and prepared graphics are key to conveying the proposal message - e.g., sketches, pictures, graphs, bar and pie charts, flow diagrams, tables and other illustrations. Many will remember the experiment performed by Richard Feynman to show the cause of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. To illustrate that O-rings failed at low temperature, he simply dipped an O-ring into a flask of cold fluid, and demonstrated its subsequent brittleness after exposure to the low temperature. This was a very simple, yet very convincing "illustration" of the problem. The primary courier of the proposal message is the written word. The goal must be to convey a clear and complete picture of the proposal story in the simplest way possible. This takes hard work, especially for those who are not accomplished technical writers. Multiple critical review cycles, assembly of a qualified team to prepare the proposal, and proposal schedule discipline all are key to conveying the proposal message simply. Keep the proposal story simple to gain a competitive edge!!! This competition tip first appeared in the June 18, 1999 issue of the Wyoming SBIR Newsletter. Follow this link to a complete set of Competition Tips. return to CONTENTS |
| 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. |