Issue 2, January 10th,
2001
Mississippi EPSCoT Program
The University of
Mississippi
208 Vardaman Hall,
University 38677-1848
Phone: (622) 915-3177
Fax: (662) 915-1129
E-mail: vrsulliv@olemiss.edu
Web page: http://www.olemiss.edu/projects/epscot
The Mississippi EPSCoT program (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Technology) is a state wide, non-profit program consisting of a partnership with the Mississippi Research Consortium (MRC) and grants by the United States Department of Commerce and the Small Business Administration. The University of Mississippi acts as the lead partner working in conjunction with the University of Mississippi Medical Center, University of Southern Mississippi, Mississippi State University, and Jackson State University.
Contents:
1. Mississippi
SBIR Outreach Conference
2. EPSCoT
Request for Proposals
3. Reauthorization
of SBIR/STTR program
4. Patent, Licensing & Intellectual Property Info
5. SBIR
Schedule
6. Related
Agencies and Websites
1. Mississippi SBIR Outreach Conference
The Mississippi SBIR Outreach Conference was held in Jackson December 8th, 2000. With over 55 attendees and 12 speakers the conference provided information on the MS EPSCoT program and SBIR Outreach opportunities. Also speaking were representatives from other state and regional and federal programs, which may be of assistance to Mississippi’s small businesses.
Speakers included: Pat Brown, Associate Director of Sponsored Programs University of Mississippi; Vic Sullivan, MS EPSCoT Project Coordinator; Joe Graben, Business Development Specialists, USM; Chris Deaton, Chief Executive Officer. & Dr. David Wertz, Chief Technical Officer of WOMBAT Technologies International, Inc.; Bob Lantrip, Manager of Technical Services, MS SBDC; Will Wilkins, MS Law Research Institute; Kim Marshall, Associate Professor of Marketing, JSU; Wayne Dulaney, Field Engineer, MMEP; Greg Hinkebein, CEO, MS Enterprise for Technology and Allen Branson, VP for Business Development for the Enterprise Corporation of the Delta.
For Information on future conferences or the latest EPSCoT or SBIR updates please visit the EPSCoT Web page at http://www.olemiss.edu/projects/epscot.
2. EPSCoT Request for Proposals
REQUEST
FOR PROPOSALS (REVISED)
Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Technology
(EPSCoT)
Mississippi SBIR/STTR Support Program
SBIR/STTR
Phase 0 Program
Announcement Date: December
6, 2000
Due Dates: February
15, 2001
Award Dates: March
15, 2001
Program
Objective:
The objective of the SBIR/STTR Phase 0 Program is to
provide funding to Mississippi small
Businesses, university researchers, and others
conducting preliminary research in support of a Small Business Innovation
Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I proposal.
Funds from the Phase 0 award may also be used to obtain assistance from a
university faculty member in preparing an SBIR/STTR Phase I proposal. The SBIR/STTR programs are federal
R&D programs providing more than $ l billion annually to small businesses
researching and developing innovative new products or technologies. For additional information,
the Small Business Administration SBIR
Proposal Preparation Handbook, available at http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov/gopher/Innovation-And-Research/SBIR-Pro-Prep/bookall.txt.
Applicant
Eligibility:
Small businesses (generally defined as businesses having
500 or fewer employees and average annual sales over the previous 3 years
of $5 million or less) are
eligible to participate in the Phase 0 program. Faculty members, graduate students and other university
personnel are also eligible to participate in the Phase 0 program if they
either have identified a Phase I Mississippi business partner or intend to
start their own business in Mississippi if their Phase I proposal is
successful. Small businesses are
strongly encouraged to partner with university faculty and use the faculty to
assist the small business in preparing a Phase I SBIR/STTR proposal and/or to
conduct preliminary research to strengthen a Phase I SBIR/STTR proposal. For your information, agency
solicitations specify the percent time and involvement of the principal
investigator and of consultants.
Eligible
Use of Funds:
Phase 0 program funds may be used to contract with a
university faculty member to assist the small business in preparing a Phase I
SBIR/STTR proposal, to travel to the federal agency to discuss whether the
company’s plans for an SBIR/STTR Phase I proposal fit the agency’s priorities,
and/or to conduct preliminary research leading to the submission of a
competitive Phase I proposal.
Indirect costs are not an allowable expenditure. Projects may be awarded up to the
following amounts: Research to
acquire preliminary data, $2500; Proposal writing assistance, $1500; Travel
grants, $1000. Maximum total grant
(using any combination of the above three categories): $3000.
Number
of Awards:
It is anticipated that five awards will be made to
applications received at each application deadline. The number of awards may be more if smaller awards are made.
Evaluation
Process:
Proposals
will be reviewed by a committee of individuals representing small businesses,
university researchers and people with knowledge in the field. For the protection of researchers and
businesses, all reviewers will be required to sign a nondisclosure
agreement. Proposal review will
focus on scientific and technical merit and will consider the following
criteria: (1) uniqueness of the proposed concept as technical innovation, (2)
scientific quality of the proposed preliminary research*, (3) soundness of the research plan to support a Phase I
proposal*, (4) potential of the
proposed concept for commercial applications, (5) qualifications of the
research team*, (6)
relevance of the budget including any matching funds, and (7) clarity of the
proposal. Proposals that show a
cost-sharing component from the small business will be more favorably reviewed. Because experience has shown that
SBIR/STTR proposals
Mississippi
EPSCoT SBIR /STTR Phase 0, p. 2
announcement
12/6/2000
having university faculty involvement are more likely to
obtain funding, preference will also be given to proposals that have a
university faculty participant.
Award & Report Process:
For Small Businesses: Fifty percent of the funds will be
paid after notice of the award and 50 percent upon receipt of the final report.
A Phase I proposal must be prepared and ready to submit prior to filing the
final report. The final report
must include a report of expenditure of funds and a copy of the signed cover
page(s) of a submitted SBIR or STTR Phase I proposal.
Application
Process:
A 2 to 3 page application outlining the proposed project
and expected outcomes is requested. The following elements should be included
in the application:
Application
Process:
A 2 to 3 page application (excluding cover page)
outlining the proposed project and expected outcomes is requested. The
following elements should be included in the application, numbered and labeled
as outlined beginning with II. Project Abstract:
I. Cover
Page
Date; Project Title; Principal Investigator, PI’s Address,
Phone Fax, E-mail; Business to submit SBIR/STTR, Address, Phone Fax, E-mail (if
different from PI’s); and Signature.
II. Project
Abstract
Provide a brief
overview of the Phase 0 project and its relationship to SBIR/STTR Phase I and
II. Clearly explain what is the
“innovation” and why it is
“innovative” when compared to current or alternative approaches. Also, what is
the significance of the problem? What problem are you going to solve (or what
are you going to produce) and what difference will your efforts make?
Keep in mind all aspects
of a Phase I proposal must be of high scientific and technical merit. The plausibility of your technical
assumptions and proposed methodology will be completely examined in the light
of current scientific evidence and techniques. The primary reason that
proposals are rejected is because reviewers disagree with technical claims,
dispute the uniqueness of the effort compared to others they are aware of, or
downgrade the proposal for leaving out important technical considerations.
You must demonstrate in
the Phase I proposal that you are knowledgeable of the state of research or
R&D in the specific project area.
If you are not certain that your company or the company you are working
with is at the forefront of awareness of technical developments in the area in
which you intend to submit an SBIR proposal, you should seek additional
information and/or advice. This information gathering may be part of your Phase
0 proposal and request for funding.
III. SBIR/STTR
Agency
Identify the Agency(s) to
which SBIR/STTR Phase I will be submitted. Under the Small Business Innovation
Development Act, each agency with an extramural R&D budget in excess of
$100 million must establish an SBIR program.
Mississippi
EPSCoT SBIR /STTR Phase 0, p. 3
announcement
12/6/2000
The following agencies are currently participating in the
SBIR Program:
* Department of Agriculture
* Department of Commerce
* Department of Defense
* Department of Education
* Department of Energy
* Department of Health and
Human Services
(including the
National Institutes of Health)
* Department of
Transportation
* Environmental Protection
Agency
* National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
* National Science
Foundation
* Nuclear Regulatory
Commission
In the SBIR program,
agencies solicit proposals to meet their own R&D needs. You can only submit a proposal in
response to a topic presented in an agency SBIR solicitation. Your chances of obtaining federal
R&D funding are greater if you submit your proposal to those agencies whose
R&D needs are most compatible with your particular project and the
expertise and experience of your R&D team.
IV. Commercial
Opportunities
Very briefly, identify the
product or service that is anticipated to be commercialized in Phase III, the
market need it will attempt to satisfy, and the overall estimated market(s)
size (number of units, dollar amount, etc.). If the innovation will be an improvement to an internal
process, please explain the competitive advantage that will be obtained and its
projected impact.
If the projected outcome
is anticipated to have greater societal impact than commercial, please explain.
V. Research
Team
Discuss qualifications of
the members of the research team and present specific background information
only for key R&D personnel. The most important member of your project team
is the Principal Investigator or PI. If possible, related work experience
should indicate that the PI has successfully managed projects similar to the
one you are proposing or has research experience to qualify him/her for this
endeavor. Be aware of agency
solicitation requirements concerning percentage of time for the principal in
the company and university consultants.
VI. Phase 0
Technical Objectives
In the Technical Objectives you specify what it is you intend to accomplish. These should be
regarded as a link between what you are ultimately
trying to achieve (discussed in the abstract of the proposal) and the technical
work (work plan). It is preferable
to state an objective as a result, not as a question that you intend to study.
An example is as follows:
“A primary technical objective will be the
development of the Phase I proposal work plan that lays out clearly what are to
be the approach, methodology, options, reasons for choices, priorities and
sequence of work. Associated with this will be the necessary identification of
facilities and equipment needs.”
Mississippi
EPSCoT SBIR /STTR Phase 0, p. 4
announcement
12/6/2000
VII. Phase 0 Work Plan
& Time Line
The Work Plan describes
your approach to the problem in detail. The Phase 0 work plan should describe
exactly what work you will conduct in order to accomplish your objectives. If you win a Phase 0 award, you will
have to deliver (i.e., do) what you state in your work plan. Do not promise more than you can
reasonably do.
You may find it useful to
provide a Gantt Chart:
Task 1 – Analysis of data
requirements for …
Task 2 – Identification of
necessary outside resources and …
Task 3 – Development and
writing of the Phase 0 proposal.
Proposal due date 0/00/00
T-1
T-2
T-3
VIII Phase 0 Anticipated
Results
Briefly indicate
the results you expect from meeting your Phase 0 technical objectives. Examples
are: “We anticipate securing of necessary technical consultants and data
sources”, or “We anticipate the developed ‘Phase I Work Plan’ to assist in
validating our technical approach in the Phase I Proposal.”
IX.
Phase
0 Budget
EPSCoT
Projects may be
awarded up to the following amounts:
Research
to acquire preliminary data: $2500
Proposal
writing assistance: $1500
Travel
grants: $1000
Maximum total grant (using any combination
of
the above three categories): $3000
Submission Process
Proposals must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the closing
date to be considered. Submit proposals to:
Patrick S. Brown, Mississippi EPSCoT SBIR/STTR Support
Program, The University of Mississippi, 125 Old Chemistry, University, MS
38677. Phone: 662-915-7482;
Fax: 662.915-7577; e-mail: pbrown@olemiss.edu
3. Reauthorization of SBIR/STTR program
SBIR program passed by
Congress as part of the FY 2001 Omnibus Appropriations Act.
The 106th concluded its business on the evening of December 15, 2000 by passing the FY 2001 Omnibus Appropriations Act. The primary focus of that massive piece of legislation is obviously to finalize the appropriations which permit the continued business of several of the federal agencies which have been operating on a Continuing Resolution since October 1, 2000.
For the Full Story Visit:
http://www.inknowvation.com/cgi-bin/db4/Lobby/SpecialProjects/SpecialProjects.html
Or read the Congressional Bill at: http://thomas.loc.gov/ Keyword SBIR
4. Patent, Licensing & Intellectual
Property Info
The US Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) now offers World-Wide Web (Web) access to separate bibliographic and full-text patent databases. Understanding the limitations of these Web databases can help you avoid significant problems. These databases cover the period from 1 January 1976 to the most recent weekly issue date (usually each Tuesday).
5. SBIR Schedule
|
Agency |
Release Date |
Closing Date |
# of Days Remaining |
|
Oct 1, 1999 |
Jan 12, 2000 |
Closed |
|
|
Nov 29, 1999 |
Feb 29, 2000 |
Closed |
|
|
Jan 15, 2000 |
Apr 1, 2000 |
Closed |
|
|
Jan 24, 2000 |
Apr 3, 2000 |
Closed |
|
|
Feb 14, 2000 |
May 1, 2000 |
Closed |
|
|
Mar 30, 2000 |
May 25, 2000 |
Closed |
|
|
Mar 10, 2000 |
June 8, 2000 |
Closed |
|
|
Apr 23, 2000 |
July 14, 2000 |
Closed |
|
|
Jan 31, 2000 |
Aug 1, 2000 |
Closed |
|
|
July 3, 2000 |
Aug 16, 2000 |
Closed |
|
|
July 31, 2000 |
Aug 26, 2000 |
Closed |
|
|
Jun 1, 2000 |
Aug 31, 2000 |
Closed |
|
|
Sept 6, 2000 |
Nov 6, 2000 |
Closed |
|
|
Jan 31, 2000 |
Dec 1, 2000 |
21 |
6. Related Internet Websites:
National Technology
Transfer
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NASA Centers
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Patents, Licensing &
Intellectual Property
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SBIR Related Websites:
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Other Related Websites:
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DOD Special Operations
Acquisition Center |
Venture Capital Resources
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