Dear Colleague Letter: Supplemental Opportunity for Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Community College Research Teams (Phase IICC)

MEMORANDUM

Date:	May 7, 2010
To:	NSF Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Grantees
From:	Kesh Narayanan, Division Director Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships (IIP)
	David A. Ucko Acting Division Director Division for Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings (DRL)
	Caesar Jackson, Acting Division Director Division of Human Resource Development (HRD)
Re:	Supplemental Opportunity for Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Community College Research Teams (Phase IICC)

Dear Colleagues:

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, in collaboration with the Division for Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings (DRL) and the Human Resources Division (HRD), invites all active SBIR/STTR Phase II grantees to participate in a supplemental funding opportunity.

The goals of this supplemental program are to:

Undertake research with high potential economic pay-off
Promote partnerships between small business and community college researchers
Increase participation of underrepresented groups in both academic and small business research by encouraging careers in science and engineering

Through this supplemental program, small businesses will gain access to faculty and students capable of contributing to the scientific research conducted by the small business while faculty and students will gain experience by working on research projects that lead to commercial products and processes. It is anticipated that this research collaboration will lead to continued partnership between the academic institutions and small business firms, which represent the largest employer of scientists and engineers.

OVERVIEW OF WORK TO BE ACCOMPLISHED: The Small Business Community College Research Teams Supplement (henceforth referred to as SBIR/STTR Phase IICC) will award research supplements to existing SBIR/STTR Phase II grantees that are able to host a research team from a community college. This supplement opportunity is intended to further SBIR/STTR Phase II research and facilitate progress toward their grant goals while providing a substantial scientific research experience for the community college research team.

Community Colleges (CC): Are non-profit institutions of higher education characterized by a two year curriculum that leads to an associate degree.

Community College Research Teams: Must consist of at least one community college faculty member and at least one community college student. (Teams with additional students or faculty are highly encouraged if supported within the standard award amount.) Faculty at community colleges interested in identifying SBIR/STTR Phase II grantees should consult the NSF interactive award search system (https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/). In the text box labeled Search Award for enter “SBIR Phase II” or “STTR Phase II” and check the box for Active Awards Only.

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

Organization Limit: Only currently funded SBIR/STTR Phase II grantees are eligible to submit requests for supplemental funding under this initiative.
PI Eligibility Limit: The Principal Investigator must be the PI of an active SBIR/STTR Phase II award.
Limit on Number of Proposals: None

Deadline Dates: There are two deadlines for Phase IICC supplemental requests, March 17th and October 17th, annually.

AWARD INFORMATION

Awards will be made as supplements to active SBIR/STTR Phase II awards;
The maximum supplemental award amount is $40,000;
Seventy-five percent of the supplement is required to be used as a sub-award to the community college;
Twenty-five percent of the supplement is available to the SBIR/STTR firm (including overhead);
Thirty (30) awards are anticipated per year; and
Awards are subject to the availability of funds.

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUEST PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

Supplemental Request Preparation Instructions: Requests must be submitted according to the instructions for submitting supplemental funding requests (https://www.nsf.gov/eng/iip/sbir/Supplement/step_instructions.jsp).

The project description is limited to 5-10 pages; single spaced, and must include the following components:

Clear description of the project activity including a section describing the connection of the research with the community college team;
Justification of the funds requested, with a supporting budget; and
Identification of key personnel who will lead the effort at the small business and at the community college.

Budgetary Information: Budgets for SBIR/STTR Phase IICC supplemental funding request may not exceed $40,000. 75 percent is required to be used as a sub-award to the community college and 25 percent for the SBIR/STTR firm including overhead. It is expected that $1,200,000 will be available each Fiscal Year for this supplemental funding, pending availability of funds.

Document Replaced: This document replaces NSF 06-008.

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUEST REVIEW INFORMATION

Requests for supplemental funding submitted in response to this Dear Colleague Letter will be jointly reviewed by National Science Foundation program officers in the Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships, Directorate for Engineering, the Division for Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings (DRL) and the Human Resources Division (HRD), Directorate for Education and Human Resources.

CONTACT PERSONNEL

Questions about this letter should be directed to your program officer in the Division of Industrial Innovations and Partnerships, Directorate for Engineering or Dr. Gerhard L. Salinger, gsalinge@nsf.gov; (703) 292-5116, Division of Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings (DRL), and Dr. Marilyn Suiter, msuiter@nsf.gov; (703) 292-5121, Directorate for Education and Human Resources.

Here is the list of IIP SBIR/STTR program officers:

Program Director	Telephone	Email Address
Cheryl F. Albus	(703) 292-7051	calbus@nsf.gov
Errol B. Arkilic	(703) 292-8095	earkilic@nsf.gov
Gregory T. Baxter	(703) 292-7795	gbaxter@nsf.gov
Ian M. Bennett	(703) 292-8655	ibennett@nsf.gov
Juan E. Figueroa	(703) 292-7054	jfiguero@nsf.gov
Muralidharan S. Nair	(703) 292-7059	mnair@nsf.gov
Benaiah Schrag	(703) 292-8323	bschrag@nsf.gov
Ruth M. Shuman	(703) 292-2160	rshuman@nsf.gov
Grace Jinliu Wang	(703) 292-2214	jiwang@nsf.gov
M. Josephine Yuen	(703) 292-5332	jyuen@nsf.gov

OTHER SUPPLEMENTAL OPPORTUNITIES OF INTEREST

All active SBIR/STTR Phase II grantees are invited to participate in other supplement opportunities available at: https://www.nsf.gov/eng/iip/sbir/Supplement/phase_II.jsp

Kesh Narayanan, Division Director, IIP/ENG
David A. Ucko, Acting Division Director, DRL/EHR
Caesar Jackson, Acting Division Director, HRD/EHR