Attention all NIH SBIR or STTR Phase II or Phase IIB contract or grant awardees! The Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP) Program funding announcements have just been released, and they present a fantastic opportunity for entrepreneurs and innovators who are ready to take their ideas to the next level.
What is the CRP Program?
The CRP program is designed to provide technical assistance and support for late-stage development to businesses previously awarded NIH SBIR or STTR Phase II or Phase IIB contracts or grants from one of the participating NIH Institutes or Centers within the last 36 months. The program is split into two categories:
PAR-23-219: SBIR/STTR Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP) Program Technical Assistance and Late Stage Development – Clinical Trial Not Allowed
PAR-23-220: SBIR/STTR Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP) Program Technical Assistance and Late Stage Development – Clinical Trial Required
CRP policies
If you are looking for technical assistance only, be sure to use PAR-23-219. However, if you require clinical trials, you should apply for PAR-23-220. It’s worth noting that all applicants must submit a new application (Type 1), regardless of whether the Phase II award is active or has ended.
The standard resubmission policy applies if applicants have a qualifying Phase II application. The CRP program is an excellent opportunity for businesses to take their ideas to market and receive the support they need to do so. If you’re an NIH SBIR or STTR Phase II or Phase IIB contract or grant awardee, it’s definitely worth considering. Those with additional questions for the program officer can email SEEDinfo@NIH.gov for further details.
Next steps
The next receipt dates are A) Tuesday, September 5, 2023; B) Friday, January 5, 2024; C) Thursday, April 4, 2024. This means that now is the time to begin preparing your application and ensure that it’s competitive. You might already be behind the curve if the following is not completed if you are aiming for the first deadline of September 5th.
| Your Tasks | Complete on OR before | Details | |
| September 5th deadline | January 5th Deadline | ||
| SAM.gov Entity Registration/Renew | Wednesday, July 5, 2023 | Saturday, November 4, 2023 | It takes ~6 weeks to validate and could be the difference between submitting on time or at all. As you may know, no other registrations are possible until you receive confirmation of an “Active” status before submitting an application on any federal platform. |
| Login.gov verification linked to SAM | Wednesday, July 5, 2023 | Saturday, November 4, 2023 | Some participating agencies require you to complete an identity verification process. Identity verification is the process where you prove you are you – and not someone pretending to be you. You only need to verify your identity once for your Login.gov account. After you verify your identity with Login.gov for one government application, you don’t need to do it again for other government applications that use Login.gov and require identity verification. |
| Potential Pre-application Requirements | Monday, July 17, 2023 | Thursday, November 16, 2023 | Take note of any pre-application requirements as there may be an approval process that could take a couple of weeks. |
| Agency-Specific Platforms – Registrations | Monday, July 17, 2023 | Thursday, November 16, 2023 | Not all agencies use the same platform. Some use grants.gov, while others use Research.gov or other platforms. Take note of any unique platforms that may take time to verify your identity. |
| Agency-Specific Platforms – Registrations | Monday, July 17, 2023 | Wednesday, December 6, 2023 | Some funding opportunities have additional certificates or certifications that you have to turn in with your grant application package. Check your funding opportunity for those requirements. |
E.B. Howard Consulting’s contract window and the CRP
As a reminder, any applicants seeking proposal preparation help from E.B. Howard Consulting must finalize a contract no less than 45 calendar days ahead of the deadline.
| Our Timeline | Complete on or before | Details | |
| September 5th deadline | January 5th Deadline | ||
| Cutoff for taking on this Proposal | Friday, July 21, 2023 | Tuesday, November 7, 2023 | We will not take on this proposal after this date. No exceptions |
| Complete NDA | Friday, July 21, 2023 | Tuesday, November 7, 2023 | Engage with us before this date, so we can complete all paperwork |
| Completed Service Agreement | Friday, July 21, 2023 | Tuesday, November 7, 2023 | Engage with us before this date, so we can complete all paperwork |
| Onboarding To Take Place | Friday, July 21, 2023 | Tuesday, November 7, 2023 | Engage with us before this date, so we can complete all paperwork |
| 100% Complete Proposal | Tuesday, August 29, 2023 | Thursday, December 14, 2023 | The proposal will be completed 7 days ahead of 9/5, OR 22 days ahead of 1/5. |
Good luck, and we wish you all the best with your applications!
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.