If you are one of the many Small Business Concerns that may be eligible for a federal Small Business Innovation Research or Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) grant, there are some things you should know regarding key dates, eligibility, and registration requirements.
Key Dates
With NIH, CDC, FDA and SBIR applications, there are three rounds of application deadlines. This is really great news for those that realize at the last moment they are missing an important element of their proposal. The application deadlines for NIH, CDC, and FDA SBIR are September 5th for round 1, January 5th for round 2, and April 5th for round 3. These applications are accepted annually.
Eligibility
There are some eligibility requirements for this program. Please check the individual NIH, CDC, FDA and SBIR solicitation for any updates or specifics. The general eligibility requirements are that you be some sort of organization or incorporated entity such as an individual proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, joint venture, association, trust or cooperative. You must also be U.S. based and have fewer than 500 employees.
Required Registrations
This is the tricky part for many SBCs. There are 6 mandatory registrations with separate agencies you must complete in order to be eligible. Here are the required registrations in their proper order.
Employer ID Number (EIN) and Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) are the first two registrations you need. These identify you as a tax and business entity. The next is the System for Award Management (SAM). SAM is how you procure your Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code, yet another required ID number. Next comes the SBA Company Registry. Applicants will need to arrach proof of registry to their proposal. You must have a DUNS number to complete this registration. eRA Commons is another requirement. eRA Commons requires organizations to identify a Signing Official (SO) and Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI). Grants.gov is the final registration to complete. Applicants will need to use their DUNS number and SAM registration to complete the Grants.gov registration.
If all of this seems overwhelming, you are not alone and there are plenty of resources to help. The #SBIR website has a complete solicitation for you to look over here.
All the agencies listed above also have email and phone contact information to help applicants complete the process and get their questions answered.
If you are still feeling stuck after reviewing those resources, a call to E. B. Howard Consulting for some expert assistance may be a wise next step.
We work with high-growth startups and organizations that support the startup and innovation ecosystem. We build highly specific non-dilutive funding menus, provide proposal preparation services, and measure outcomes of funding through evaluation. Schedule a consult call with us HERE.