Cybersecurity for high performance computing systems, biological approaches for bioenergy, atmospheric measurement technology and solutions for soil and water phosphorous measurements – these are among the diverse topics included in the Department of Energy’s current call for SBIR/STTR proposals.
Referred to as Release 1, this DOE funding opportunity was just issued on August 9. It is the first of two Phase I solicitations the agency puts out each year for its 13 program offices. This release focuses on four of those offices – Advanced Scientific Computing Research, Basic Energy Sciences, Biological and Environmental Research, and Nuclear Physics.
The DOE typically devotes $80-100 million to Phase 1 projects each year, which equates to about 400 awards. At this phase, projects are intended to explore the feasibility of innovative concepts over a 6-12-month time frame and awards range from $200-250K.
Do you want to take advantage of this funding? A good place to start is by searching through the Topics for Release. Qualified small businesses with strong capabilities in any of the research areas listed are encouraged to apply.
If you find a potential topic match, the next step is to vet the responsiveness of your idea by reaching out to the contact person who is listed in that section. To get the most out of this interaction, be prepared and avoid rambling. Collect your thoughts in a concise one-page summary that highlights the virtues of your project and how it aligns with the DOE topic of interest. Attach it to your initial email and ask to schedule a short phone to ask focused questions. Did I mention, don’t ramble?
You might also want to catch the webinar the DOE SBIR/STTR Programs Office is offering this Friday, August 13 at 1 PM CDT. The webinar provides a 45-minute overview of the topic areas for Release 1. It will also cover the application and award process and will include time for Q&A. To participate, click here to register.
And here’s something else for your calendar. I will be talking with DOE Outreach Program Manager, Eileen Chant, in a CTC Quick Chat on August 25 at 10 AM CDT. We will discuss best practices for preparing quality DOE SBIR/STTR applications. Click here to learn more and register.
Key Dates to Consider:
| Release 1 Letter of Intent Due | August 30, 2021, 4:00 PM (CST) |
| Release 1 Full Application Due | October 12, 2021, 10:59 PM (CST) |
| Release 2 Topics Issued (9 DOE Programs) | November 8, 2021 |
