Receiving a rejection after submitting an SBIR/STTR proposal can be disheartening, but it doesn’t have to be the end of your funding journey. In many cases, a thoughtful and well-prepared resubmission can lead to success. Understanding why your proposal was rejected and making targeted improvements is key to strengthening your application for the next cycle.
Step 1: Review and Analyze Feedback
Most funding agencies provide detailed reviewer comments outlining the strengths and weaknesses of your proposal. Carefully review this feedback and identify recurring themes, such as:
- Insufficient Technical Detail: Was your research plan missing specific information on methodology or key milestones?
- Weak Commercialization Strategy: Did reviewers note gaps in your market-entry plan or competitive analysis?
- Misalignment with Agency Goals: Was your project’s focus not aligned closely enough with the agency’s stated priorities?
Taking time to fully understand the feedback is essential before moving forward.
Step 2: Identify Areas for Improvement
Once you’ve reviewed the feedback, create a list of actionable improvements. Common areas for revision include:
- Clarifying Objectives: Ensure your research objectives are clear, measurable, and directly aligned with the funding opportunity.
- Strengthening the Technical Approach: Add more detail to your technical narrative, including timelines, benchmarks, and data collection methods.
- Refining the Commercialization Plan: Highlight partnerships, market demand, and your strategy for scaling your solution.
In some cases, you may need to address reviewer concerns by expanding your team to include additional expertise or by collecting preliminary data to strengthen feasibility claims.
Step 3: Align with Agency Priorities
Agencies fund projects that support their missions and strategic goals. Revisit the solicitation and agency guidance to ensure your revised proposal clearly demonstrates alignment with their priorities. Use language from the solicitation to show that your project addresses specific goals or problem areas.
Step 4: Seek External Feedback
Before resubmitting, consider having external reviewers or experts read your updated proposal. Their perspective can provide valuable insights into whether your revisions address the original feedback effectively. Collaborating with experienced professionals can also ensure that your proposal is coherent, concise, and impactful.
Step 5: Address Formatting and Compliance Issues
Rejections can sometimes result from simple errors such as exceeding page limits, omitting required sections, or incorrect formatting. Double-check that your proposal adheres to all agency guidelines, including registration requirements, document formats, and submission deadlines.
Step 6: Maintain a Growth Mindset
It’s important to view the resubmission process as an opportunity for growth. Rejections often provide valuable lessons that can improve not only your current proposal but also your future submissions. Approach revisions with confidence and a commitment to demonstrating progress.
For many funding opportunities, including NIH R01 and SBIR/STTR grants, resubmissions may have a better chance of being funded compared to new applications. In some instances, the success rate for resubmissions is significantly higher than initial submissions (NIH’s 2020 data for example, which cites resubmits at an 18% success rate compared to 11% for first time applicants).
Step 7: Highlight Changes in Your Resubmission
In your cover letter or introduction, acknowledge the feedback you received and summarize the key changes you’ve made. This shows reviewers that you took their input seriously and made thoughtful adjustments.
Resubmission Success Stories
Many businesses have achieved SBIR/STTR success after an initial rejection by revising their approach and refining their proposals. For example, companies that enhanced their technical milestones or bolstered their commercialization plans have secured significant Phase I and Phase II awards after resubmitting. These successes underscore the importance of persistence and a strategic approach to resubmission.
Preparing for a Stronger Resubmission
The resubmission process requires time, strategy, and attention to detail. By thoroughly addressing reviewer feedback, aligning with agency priorities, and demonstrating your project’s feasibility and potential impact, you can position your application for a successful outcome.
At E.B. Howard Consulting, we support clients in navigating the resubmission process by providing targeted feedback, strategy refinement, and proposal development. If you’re ready to strengthen your resubmission and present a competitive application, contact us today. Let’s collaborate to turn your proposal into a winning submission.
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