COVID-19 Impact to NASA SBIR/STTR Program
April 14, 2020 at 6:03 pm ET
The NASA SBIR/STTR Phase I Solicitation was amended on April 13, 2020. Read the amendment below, download Amendment 0003 under “Amendments” in the online solicitation (https://sbir.nasa.gov/solicit/63012/detail?data=nw), or view it on beta.SAM.gov (https://beta.sam.gov/opp/7f220a066d2d4078b0b0c0bfeb05e92d/view).
- Due to uncertainty around travel and large gatherings, the Innovation and Opportunity Conference (IOC) will not be held as an in-person event in 2020; therefore, the below opportunity is no longer applicable.
Travel in Phase I
Due to the intent and short period of performance of the Phase I contracts along with their limited budget, travel during the Phase I contract is highly discouraged unless it is required to successfully complete the proposed effort. If the purpose of the meeting cannot be accomplished via videoconference or teleconference, the offeror must provide rationale for the trip in the proposal budget form. All travel must be approved by the Contracting Officer and concurred by the Technical Monitor.
However, during this solicitation, Phase I offerors may propose up to $1,500.00 for one person per firm for travel to attend the Innovation & Opportunity Conference (IOC) tentatively scheduled for fall 2020 with location to be determined. For additional information on the IOC, see the Noteworthy Changes section at the front of this solicitation. This request for travel funding shall not be used for travel other than attending the IOC meeting. If an offeror plans to submit multiple proposals, it is recommended that the offeror request up to $1,500.00 for travel to the IOC per proposal, however NASA will only allow up to $1,500.00 of travel funds to be provided to a single firm that receives multiple awards under this solicitation to attend the IOC meeting. - For those firms that have not yet completed their proposals, please do not include IOC travel funds in your budget request.
- For firms that have already completed their proposals, if you proposed travel to the IOC, we recommend updating your budget accordingly, resubmitting, and re-endorsing. Otherwise, during contract negotiations, this funding request will be denied.
- NASA will accept STTR proposal packages that do not include (1) Research Agreements and/or (2) Research Institute (RI) budgets and have not been endorsed by the RI. Firms who do not include these items will not be penalized during evaluation. Research Agreements and/or RI budgets shall instead be submitted within ten days of the notification of selection.
- NASA will accept SBIR/STTR proposal packages that do not include signed letters of commitment from subcontractors or consultants. Firms who do not include these items will not be penalized during evaluations. Signed letters of commitment from subcontractors and/or consultants shall instead be submitted within ten days of the notification of selection.
To submit a proposal without the Research Agreement and/or Research Institute endorsement, the proposal owner (i.e., the EHB user who created the proposals) may fill out the Research Agreement and endorse on behalf of the Research Institution. If you are using this endorsement feature on behalf of the Research Institution (RI) due to the situation with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), this endorsement on behalf of the RI indicates this proposal is being submitted in accordance with Amendment 0003 to the Solicitation; however, these endorsements do not relieve you of your obligation to obtain Final Research Agreements and/or RI Budgets as soon as possible. Final Research Agreements and/or RI budgets shall be submitted within ten days of the notification of selection (if your firm’s proposal is selected).
March 20, 2020 at 05:54 pm ET
- 2020 SBIR/STTR Phase I: The NASA SBIR/STTR Program has been closely monitoring the situation with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). After careful deliberations, we are providing an additional extension for Phase I proposals. The new deadline is Monday, April 20, 2020 at 5 pm ET.
- Due to this 4-week extension, we anticipate award announcements to be made in early July 2020, and funding will be delayed, but we will make every effort to provide funding in the current fiscal year.
- Small Business Administration: SBA has a dedicated page with guidance and resources for businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic – sba.gov/page/guidance-businesses-employers-plan-respond-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19
- NASA Administrator Statement: The agency response to Coronavirus – https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/march-19-administrator-statement-on-agency-response-to-coronavirus
- Official Coronavirus Information: For the latest official information – coronavirus.gov, CDC.gov/coronavirus, and USA.gov/coronavirus.
March 16, 2020 at 07:15 pm ET
- 2020 SBIR/STTR Phase I: The proposal due date has been extended to Monday, March 23, 2020 at 5 pm ET to give small businesses and research institutions additional time to complete their submissions.
- For SBIR: You may still submit your proposal package if you are unable to provide your letter(s) of commitment from subcontractors and consultants by March 23, 2020. However, those letters must be received by NASA no later than 5 pm ET on April 3, 2020.
- If you are unable to provide letters of commitment prior to the submission deadline due to COVID-19, in the Proposal Budget Form in the EHB, use the “No” option to the question regarding the letter of commitment and provide any related information in the text box.
- For STTR: You may still submit your proposal package if you are unable to provide Research Agreements or Research Institution budgets by March 23, 2020. However, all final documents and endorsements must be received by NASA no later than 5 pm ET on April 3, 2020.
- If you are unable to provide these documents prior to the submission deadline due to COVID-19, in the Research Agreement Form in the EHB, use the “Use custom agreement” option to provide any related information in the text box and click submit to complete the Research Agreement; and
- In lieu of an endorsement from the Research Institution, the Proposal Owner (i.e., the user who started the proposal within the EHB submissions module) should endorse provisionally on behalf of the Research Institution.
March 16, 2020 at 07:15 pm ET
- SBA has a dedicated page with guidance and resources for businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19): https://www.sba.gov/page/guidance-businesses-employers-plan-respond-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19
Resources for Small Businesses
We would like to share several funding resources and opportunities outside of the NASA SBIR/STTR Program that are available to small businesses in light of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Loan Resources
Coronavirus Emergency Loans: Small Business Guide and Checklist
U.S. Chamber of Commerce (USCOC)
www.uschamber.com/sites/default/files/023595_comm_corona_virus_smallbiz_loan_final.pdf
Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources
Small Business Administration (SBA)
www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources
- In response to the coronavirus pandemic, SBA is supporting small businesses with working capital of up to $2 million through Economic Injury Disaster Loans and loan advances of up to $10,000. covid19relief.sba.gov
- The Paycheck Protection Program provides loans up to $10 million that may be forgiven if all employees are kept on payroll for eight weeks. www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program-ppp
Calls for Ideas
Air Force COVID-19 – Request for Industry/Academia/Non-Government Information
United States Air Force (USAF)
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdat2IJnf6oIj9yoPsauXI7Ua21LsiZpJCQPuHElX0wWG2GqA/viewform
- Tied to AFWERX Unite and Fight: COVID-19 Response Team initiative and funding opportunities. Send your ideas within the next couple of weeks for earliest consideration.
Learn more: www.afwerx.af.mil/coronavirus.html - Sign up for AF Ventures COVID Ask Me Anything webinars to learn more about this initiative: zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_eX3k_9RrS4ukT037aGpO1A
Request for Information on Innovations That Could Support COVID-19 Response
Center for Innovation and Impact (CII), United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
beta.sam.gov/opp/2ea580c5a22b4c08832ec6b20b58757d/view
Call for scientists to submit their ideas for using DOE tools to research COVID-19
Department of Energy (DOE)
science.osti.gov/-/media/sc-1/pdf/COVID-19-letter.pdf
Funding Opportunities for Innovators Addressing COVID-19
SBIR Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) AF Ventures Direct to Phase II
United States Air Force (USAF)
beta.sam.gov/opp/aa1fc86c0cde4352a8ca464ee5b3296c/view
2019 Novel Coronavirus Medical Countermeasure Partnership Opportunities
Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), Public Health Emergency (PHE)
www.phe.gov/emergency/events/COVID19/Pages/business-barda.aspx
Request for SBIR/STTR Phase I Proposals Addressing COVID-19
National Science Foundation (NSF)
www.nsf.gov/pubs/2020/nsf20065/nsf20065.jsp
Rapid Response Research (RAPID) Funding Mechanism
National Science Foundation (NSF)
www.nsf.gov/pubs/2020/nsf20052/nsf20052.pdf
Notice of Special Interest for research on the 2019 novel Coronavirus
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-AI-20-030.html
- More information on NIH Applicants and Recipients of NIH Funding related to COVID-19: grants.nih.gov/policy/natural-disasters/corona-virus.htm?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
Broad Agency Announcement for applied research to address COVID-1 emerging public health emergency
Center for Disease Control (CDC)
beta.sam.gov/opp/728e1131ef444abc880f63540a37c364/view
Call for Capabilities: COVID-19
MSI STEM Research & Development Consortium (MSRDC) & US Army Edgewood Chemical and Biological Center
www.msrdconsortium.org/funding?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
Active Solicitations to Address COVID-19
Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC) & US Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC)
www.mtec-sc.org/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
Other Support for Innovators
USPTO notices regarding COVID-19
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
www.uspto.gov/coronavirus
Subscribe to the SBA newsletter
Small Business Administration (SBA)
public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USSBA/subscriber/new
SBA has a dedicated page with guidance and resources for businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19): https://www.sba.gov/page/guidance-businesses-employers-plan-respond-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19
NIFA Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources For Partners
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
nifa.usda.gov/coronavirus?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery