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Small Business Innovation Research Program Phase I

ID: USDA-NIFA-SBIR-008541 • Type: Posted

Description

The USDA SBIR program focuses on transforming scientific discovery into products and services with commercial potential and/or societal benefit. Unlike fundamental research, the USDA SBIR program supports small businesses in the creation of innovative, disruptive technologies and enables the application of research advancements from conception into the market.

Projects dealing with agriculturally related manufacturing and alternative and renewable energy technologies are encouraged across all SBIR topic areas. USDA SBIR's flexible research areas ensure innovative projects consistent with USDA's vision of a healthy and productive nation in harmony with the land, air, and water. The USDA SBIR program has awarded over 2000 research and development projects since 1983, allowing hundreds of small businesses to explore their technological potential, and providing an incentive to profit from the commercialization of innovative ideas. Click below for more SBIR information

Background
The USDA SBIR program focuses on transforming scientific discovery into products and services with commercial potential and/or societal benefit. The program supports small businesses in the creation of innovative, disruptive technologies and enables the application of research advancements from conception into the market. The program has awarded over 2000 research and development projects since 1983, allowing hundreds of small businesses to explore their technological potential, and providing an incentive to profit from the commercialization of innovative ideas.

Grant Details
The USDA NIFA SBIR program is carried out in three separate phases. This program solicitation is only for the preparation and submission of Phase I applications. The aim of a Phase I project should be to demonstrate technical feasibility of the proposed innovation and thereby bring the innovation closer to commercialization. Phase II applications continue the R&D developed under Phase I to commercialize the innovation. Phase III refers to work that derives from, extends, or logically concludes effort(s) performed under prior SBIR funding, but is funded by sources other than the SBIR Program.

Eligibility Requirements
The USDA offers ten solicitation topic areas that are intended to permit a broad spectrum of eligible and innovative science- and technology-based small businesses to compete for funding. The topics are detailed within this solicitation.

Period of Performance
Phase I awards may not exceed the listed maximum award amount for each Program Code for a period normally not to exceed eight (8) months.

Grant Value
Funding Availability: Approximately $12,000,000

Place of Performance
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I Program is aligned with various USDA Strategic Goals including Maximize the Ability of American Agricultural Producers To Prosper by Feeding and Clothing the World, Promote American Agricultural Products and Exports, Facilitate Rural Prosperity and Economic Development, Strengthen the Stewardship of Private Lands Through Technology and Research, Ensure Productive and Sustainable Use of our National Forest System Lands, Provide All Americans Access to a Safe, Nutritious, and Secure Food Supply.

Overview

Category of Funding
Agriculture
Funding Instruments
Grant
Grant Category
Discretionary
Cost Sharing / Matching Requirement
False
Source
On 9/10/21 the National Institute of Food and Agriculture posted grant opportunity USDA-NIFA-SBIR-008541 for Small Business Innovation Research Program Phase I with funding of $12.0 million. The grant will be issued under grant program 10.212 Small Business Innovation Research.

Timing

Posted Date
Sept. 10, 2021, 12:00 a.m. EDT
Closing Date
Nov. 3, 2021, 12:00 a.m. EDT Past Due
Last Updated
Sept. 14, 2021, 1:41 p.m. EDT
Version
2
Archive Date
Dec. 3, 2021

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants
Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
Additional Info
Applicants for the SBIR Phase I must meet all the requirements discussed in this RFA. Failure to meet the eligibility criteria by the application deadline may result in exclusion from consideration or, preclude NIFA from making an award. For those new to Federal financial assistance, NIFA’s Grants Overview provides highly recommended information about grants and other resources to help understand the Federal awards process.Each applicant submitting an application must qualify as a Small Business Concern (SBC) through registration with the SBA for R/R&D purposes at the time of selection (see definitions in section Part VIII). Failure to meet an eligibility criterion by the application deadline may result in the application being excluded from consideration or, even though an application may be reviewed, will preclude NIFA from making an award.A potential grantee that is a subsidiary must show that the parent company or parent companies are also a small business entity and the parent company or parent companies must provide documentation supporting their small business status (the documentation should be included in, Other Attachments, of the Research and Related (R&R) Other Project Information form as directed by Part IV of this RFA). If the parent company or one of the parent companies is a nonprofit organization, then the subsidiary is not eligible to submit an SBIR application.In addition, the primary employment of the Project Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) must be with the small business concern at the time of award and during the conduct of the proposed research. Eligible primary employment means that more than one-half (51%) of the PD’s/PI’s time is spent in the employ of the small business during the award period of performance. Primary employment with the small business precludes the applicant as a full-time employee with another organization or academic institution. While the PD/PI must work more than one-half (51%) of his/her time for the small business during the entire grant period, there is no time requirement for the PD’s/PI’s work on the proposed research. Prior Federal Employees must provide documentation that post termination requirements from Federal Service has been completed at time of submission.1. SizeAn SBIR awardee, combined with its affiliates, must not have more than 500 employees. The small business concern must be the primary performer of the proposed research effort. In Phase I, a minimum of two-thirds (2/3) of the research or analytical work, as determined by budget expenditures, must be performed by the proposing organization.2. Work in the United StatesFor Phase I, the R/R&D work must be performed in the United States. On rare and unique circumstances, for example, a supply, material or project requirement may not be available in the United States, agencies may allow that particular portion of the R/R&D work to be performed or obtained outside of the United States. Upon award, the Phase I awardee may request an exception as described in the award terms and conditions and submit to USDA NIFA for approval.3. BenchmarkAny company that has received at least 20 Phase I awards, regardless of the awarding agency, during the five-year period (Fiscal Year 2016 through 2021) must have received a minimum of five Phase II awards (25% conversion rate), regardless of the awarding agency, over the same five-year period to be eligible to submit a Phase I application in response to this solicitation. If a company has not received a SBIR award or has received less than 20 SBIR awards, this benchmark requirement does not apply.Duplicate or Multiple Submissions – Duplicate submissions of the same application to more than one topic area are not allowed. “Multiple, distinctive proposals may be submitted in the same grant year. For those new to Federal financial assistance, NIFA’s Grants Overview provides highly recommended information about grants and other resources to help understand the Federal awards process.

Award Sizing

Ceiling
$181,500
Floor
Not Listed
Estimated Program Funding
$12,000,000
Estimated Number of Grants
Not Listed

Contacts

Contact
Joseph Perez Program Analyst
Email Description
If you have any questions related to preparing application content.
Contact Phone
(202) 401-3486
Additional Information
Small Business Innovation Research Program Phase I

Documents

Posted documents for USDA-NIFA-SBIR-008541

Grant Awards

Grants awarded through USDA-NIFA-SBIR-008541

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