This document has been archived. Title: Dear Colleague Letter: SBIR/STTR and ERC Collaboration Opportunity (SECO) Date: 02/24/10 Replaced: NSF 09-009 NSF 10-023 Dear Colleague Letter: SBIR/STTR and ERC Collaboration Opportunity (SECO) MEMORANDUM Date: January 4, 2010 To: NSF Small Business Innovation Research Grantees (SBIR/STTR) Engineering Research Center (ERC) Directors From: Dr. Kesh Narayanan, Division Director Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships (ENG/IIP) and Dr. Allen Soyster, Division Director Engineering Education and Centers (ENG/EEC) Re: SBIR/STTR and ERC Supplement Opportunity for Collaborations (SECO) Dear Colleagues: The purpose of this letter is to announce an opportunity for grantee collaborations between IIP's Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) program and EEC's Engineering Research Center (ERC) program to accelerate innovative research and technology advances to the market place. The goals of this effort are to provide a mutually beneficial research and commercialization platform where SBIR/STTR companies can perform collaborative research with ERC faculty, researchers, and graduate students that strengthens the capacity of their firms and/or speeds the translation of ERC advances to the market place. The purpose of this DCL is to open the doors for SBIR/STTR companies to benefit from the innovative and leading-edge research performed at ERCs and for the ERCs to benefit from the role of small firms in carrying out research to speed research results into commercial products. Two options are provided for grantees to consider when submitting supplement requests. These options include: Option 1: Active SBIR/STTR initiated collaborations - with either an active or a self-sustaining, graduated ERC (Submitted as a supplement request to the active SBIR/STTR grant). Option 2: Active ERC initiated collaborations - with any already-established small R&D firm that meets the "small business" eligibility requirements as defined by the SBIR program (Submitted as a supplement request to the active ERC grant). Similar Opportunities to Consider: Although this DCL is for supplemental proposals to existing grants or cooperative agreements only, opportunities exist for all small companies (ERC-members, non-ERC affiliated companies, and companies spun off by students/faculty in ERCs) to submit a Phase I SBIR/STTR proposal with ERC participation. Students, faculty, and other entrepreneurs are encouraged to explore the opportunities outlined on [1]http://www.nsf.gov/eng/iip/sbir in forming new strategic partnerships and companies that can spur innovation. This opportunity is implemented through the current Small Business Innovation Research Program Phase I Solicitation as announced on http://www.nsf.gov/eng/iip Intent to Submit a Supplement Request Deadline: A letter of intent to submit a supplement request is requested by March 15, 2010, and will include a statement of the goals and purposes of the award and the names of the partnering small business firm/ERC. The letter of intent must be emailed to [2]rdasgupt@nsf.gov and to [3]djackson@nsf.gov . Supplement Proposal Deadline: Supplement requests must be submitted via FastLane on or before April 15, 2010 (5 p.m. submitter's local time). Document Replaced: This document replaces [4]NSF 09-009 . Eligibility for SBIR/STTR Initiated Collaborations: Only companies with active NSF SBIR/STTR Phase II and Phase IIB awards are eligible to directly apply to the SBIR program under Option 1. An active SBIR/STTR awardee is one with an NSF award which has not yet expired. In addition, the company is only eligible to apply when an active or self-sustaining, graduated ERC participates in the collaborative research project. A potential list of SBIR/STTR members can be viewed using the NSF award search tool at [5]http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/tab.do?dispatch=4 and confining the search to Element Code 5373 or 1591 for awards. Details about the award and PI are viewable by clicking on the award number. Eligibility for ERC Initiated Collaborations: Only NSF ERCs with active awards are eligible to apply directly to the Engineering Research Centers program for Option 2. An active ERC awardee is one with an NSF award which has not yet expired. An active ERC is only eligible to apply when an already-established small R&D firm participates in the collaborative research project. Definition of Graduated: Eligible self-sustaining, graduated ERCs under this opportunity are defined as ERCs in the Class of 1990 or later that are listed in the attachment. This listing is the result of a survey that determined if graduated ERCs were self-sustaining or not. Estimated Number of Awards: Approximately 20 supplement awards will be made to grantees. Anticipate Funding Amount: Total program funding is $4,000,000.Supplement awards may be made for up to 24 months and up to $200,000 each pending the availability of funds. DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLABORATION OPPORTUNITY blue line This collaboration opportunity seeks to form partnerships between small businesses and ERCs that will leverage NSF's investments in SBIR/STTRs and ERCs to speed innovation. The Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer program stimulates entrepreneurship in this country through government support for research in small business. These small firms often need additional research to commercialize their products. The agility of small companies to respond to market conditions and opportunities have the potential of providing substantial commercialization advantages. The Engineering Research Centers program creates a culture in engineering research and education that links discovery to technological innovation through transformational fundamental and engineered systems research in order to advance technology and produce engineering graduates who will be creative U.S. innovators in a globally competitive economy. These partnerships are expected to lead to one or both of the following outcomes: * ERC generated research will be more quickly translated into the marketplace through collaboration with an SBIR/STTR awardee or small R&D firm. * The capability of an SBIR/STTR awardee or small R&D firm to achieve its product goals will be strengthened through the research capacity of an ERC. Supplement Proposal Preparation Instructions: Supplemental funding requests must be submitted through FastLane as a supplement to either the active SBIR/STTR grant (option1), or the active ERC grant (option 2). In either case, the supplement request must contain a letter of endorsement from both the ERC director and the SBIR/STTR or small R&D firm president or CEO. For active SBIR/STTR initiated collaborations (option 1), SBIR/STTR firms with current NSF awards must submit the supplement request with an active ERC or a self-sustaining, graduated ERC participating in the research collaboration. The total amount of the budget for the supplement must not be more than $200,000 including the sub-award. If the grantee is an STTR Phase II company, the sub-award budget to the ERC must be a minimum of 30% and a maximum of 60% of the total supplemental amount that is not to exceed $200,000. If the grantee is an SBIR Phase II company, the sub-award budget to the ERC must not exceed 50%. For active ERC- initiated collaborations (option 2), ERCs must submit the supplement request with a small R&D firm participating in the research collaboration. This request must be submitted as a supplement by an Engineering Research Center that is supported by the ERC Program. The lead organization is the lead institution of the ERC and the small R&D firm will be a sub-awardee to the lead institution. The total amount of the budget for the supplement must not be more than $200,000 including the sub-award. The sub-awardee budget to the small R&D firm must be a minimum of 30% or a maximum of 60% of the total supplemental amount that is not to exceed $200,000. Supplement Proposal Format and Page Limits (Project Description not to exceed 10 pages): * Project Summary including the Intellectual Merit and Broader Impact (one page limit). * Description of the innovation and objectives and how the partnership will achieve one or both of the outcomes defined above * Rationale for collaboration including tasks to be performed * Plan for student Involvement * Future commercialization plan Proposed budget & budget justification- the proposed budget must include sufficient funding for travel to a possible one-day workshop at NSF. It is important that this workshop be attended by three persons from the research collaboration team: one representative from the ERC, one from the SBIR/STTR or small R&D firm, and at least one student. Include the following in the supplementary documentations: * Endorsement letter from both the ERC Center Director and the SBIR/STTR or small R&D firm president or CEO. * Biographies of the SBIR/STTR or small R&D firm PI and senior staff (not to exceed 2 pages total) * Biographies of the ERC PI and co-PI (not to exceed 2 pages total) * Post-doc mentoring plan (if post-docs are proposed) Special Submission Instructions: Option 1: For active SBIR/STTR initiated collaborations, the SBIR/STTR firm will submit the proposal as a supplement request and must e-mail the SBIR ERC coordinator, Rathindra (Babu) DasGupta, at [6]rdasgupt@nsf.gov , after submitting the proposal through FastLane. The email must provide the proposal number. Option 2: For all active ERC initiated collaborations, the ERCs will submit the proposal as a supplement request and must email the SBIR ERC coordinator: Deborah Jackson at, [7]djackson@nsf.gov after submitting the supplement request through FastLane. The email must provide the proposal number. Supplement proposal requests not following these instructions will be returned without review. Call the FastLane Help Desk at 1-800-673-6188 or e-mail [8]fastlane@nsf.gov for user support concerning supplement submissions. The FastLane Help Desk answers general technical questions related to the use of the FastLane system. When contacting FastLane, inform the technician that you are required to apply for this opportunity as a supplement. Review: Supplemental funding requests submitted in response to this opportunity will be reviewed externally through mail and/or panel review. Special Reporting Requirements: Plans for monitoring and assessment may include such elements as: * Semi-annual reports from SBIR/STTR firms with awards from this DCL * Semi-annual reports from ERCs with awards from this DCL * Annual Grantee Conference * Post-award monitoring through site visits to small business * Post-award monitoring through site visits to the ERC * External evaluation Additional Information: * Rathindra DasGupta, IIP Program Director, ERC SBIR Coordinator, telephone: (703) 292-8353, email: [9]rdasgupt@nsf.gov * Deborah Jackson, EEC Program Director, telephone: (703) 292-7499, email: [10]djackson@nsf.gov * Barbara Kenny, EEC Program Director, telephone: (703) 292-4667, email: [11]bkenny@nsf.gov For questions related to the use of FastLane and details of how to submit a request for supplemental funding contact: FastLane Help Desk, telephone: 1-800-673-6188; e-mail: [12]fastlane@nsf.gov Attachment for Engineering Research Centers Graduated, Self-sustaining Engineering Research Centers by Technology Cluster -- as of February 2010 Biotechnology and Health Care * ERC for the Engineering of Living Tissues, Georgia Tech (lead) -1998 to 2008* * Center for Computer-Integrated Surgical Systems and Technology, Johns Hopkins University (lead) - 1998 to 2008 * Biotechnology Process Engineering Center, MIT - 1985 & 1995 to 2005 * Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University -1990 to 2001 * VaNTH ERC for Bioengineering Educational Technologies, Vanderbilt University (lead) - 1999 to 2007 * Engineered Biomaterials ERC, University of Washington - 1996 to 2007 Energy, Sustainability, and Infrastructure * Advanced Combustion Engineering Research Center, Brigham Young University/University of Utah -1986 to 1997 * Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research, The University at Buffalo (lead) - 1997 to 2007 * Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center, University of California at Berkeley (lead) -1997 to 2007 * Mid-America Earthquake Center, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (lead) -1997 to 2007 * Center for Advanced Technology for Large Structural Systems, Lehigh University -1986 to 1997 * Offshore Technology Research Center, Texas A&M/University of Texas -1988 to 1999 Micro/Optoelectronics, Sensing, and IT * Center for Neuromorphic Systems Engineering, Caltech -1995 to 2006 * Data Storage Systems Center, Carnegie Mellon -1990 to 2001 * Microelectronics Packaging Research Center, Georgia Tech -1995 to 2006 * Center for Compound Semiconductor Microelectronics, Illinois -1986 to 1997 * Center for Computational Field Simulation, Mississippi State -1990 to 2001 * Integrated Media Systems Center, University of Southern California -1996 to 2007 * Center for Power Electronics Systems, Virginia Tech (lead) -1998 to 2008 Manufacturing and Processing * ERC for Environmentally Benign Semiconductor Manufacturing, University of Arizona (lead) - 1996 to 2006 * Engineering Design Research Center, Carnegie Mellon University - 1986 to 1997 * Center for Advanced Engineering of Fibers and Films, Clemson University (lead)- 1998 to 2008 * Particle Engineering Research Center, University of Florida - 1995 to 2006 * Systems Research Center, University of Maryland - 1985 & 1994 to 1997 * ERC for Reconfigurable Manufacturing Systems, University of Michigan - 1996 to 2207 * Center for Interfacial Engineering, University of Minnesota - 1988 to 1999 * ERC for Net Shape Manufacturing, Ohio State University - 1986 to 1997 *Period of funding by NSF as an ERC References 1. http://www.nsf.gov/eng/iip/sbir 2. mailto:rdasgupt@nsf.gov 3. mailto:djackson@nsf.gov 4. http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf09009 5. http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/tab.do?dispatch=4 6. mailto:rdasgupt@nsf.gov 7. mailto:djackson@nsf.gov 8. mailto:fastlane@nsf.gov 9. mailto:rdasgupt@nsf.gov 10. mailto:djackson@nsf.gov 11. mailto:bkenny@nsf.gov 12. mailto:fastlane@nsf.gov