The National Science Foundation has a new Fast-Track SBIR/STTR seed funding pilot program. ASBTDC’s Catherine Corley, business and innovation consultant at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, shared her notes from a recent webinar, as a shortcut to help innovators understand the new Fast-Track opportunity.
Solicitation link: https://new.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/nsf-small-business-innovation-research-small-1/nsf24-582/solicitation
Eligible companies submit a single proposal that includes Phase I and Phase II components.
Timeline
Submit a Project Pitch (invite/not invite) – 4-6 months; Fast-Track (24-36 months cooperative agreement for $400,000/$1,155,000).
Fast-Track Eligibility
- Have NSF research lineage related to the same core technology – related NSF research award in prior five years (PFI counts as research award; SBIR/STTR and I-Corps do not) AND
- Must have received customer discovery training related to the proposed technology in the past two years – I-Corps or incubator/accelerator AND
- Certify to presenting a full team (no TBD roles) at time of proposal submission.
Eligibility: Research Lineage
- Requires NSF funding to some institution (not necessarily the applicant small business) that was active during the preceding five years.
- The prior funding must have a technical connection to the proposed Fast-Track award, and ideally the results of that award directly set up to the potential Fast-Track activity.
- The prior funding must also have a personnel connection to the same award; one of the proposed Fast-Track senior personnel should have been an active and significant participant in the prior project.
- I-Corps and SBIR/STTR awards are not eligible as research lineage; GRFP and PFI are allowed. (In the Q&A they said that Convergence Accelerator research may be allowed; they will look into it.)
Fast-Track Proposal Contents
Roughly the same length as a standard Phase I proposal, with the following contents:
- Phase I R&D Plan (4 pages); Phase II R&D Plan (5 pages); Company and Team (1 page); Commercialization Plan (5 pages); Broader Impacts (1 page)
- Project Schedule (similar to regular Phase II).
- Letters of Support (3 required, up to 5 allowed).
Fast-Track Proposal Review
- Same merit review criteria as NSF SBIR/STTR.
- Phase I and Phase II components are reviewed separately – separate ratings of E/V/G/F/P for Phase I and for Phase II, separate panel recommendations for Phase I and Phase II.
- Due diligence follows same basic process and principles.
- Outcome can be decline, Fast-Track award, or Phase I award (invitation to submit a standard Phase I SBIR/STTR).
Fast-Track Award Management
- Fast-Track awardees will be required as normal to attend Phase I workshops.
- Fast-Track awardees will NOT do I-Corps in Phase I.
Phase I to Phase II Transition
Stage Gate 1: Progress Evaluation (begins three months prior to end of the Phase I component) Reverse site visit (Zoom) with 4-6 weeks for team to prep – focused on technical performance, commercial progress and traction, and team/resource availability and suitability.
- Will combine a presentation to multiple SBIR/STTR (internal NSF) staff with a technical narrative covering Phase I results.
Stage Gate 2: Normal Financial and Administrative (CAP review)
- A project that is not advanced to Phase II cannot request reconsideration nor apply for a standard Phase II award based on the Fast-Track Phase I.
Technical and Business Assistance (TABA)
Fast-Track TABA funding is the same as for regular SBIR/STTR Phase I and Phase II awards:
- Phase I – up to $6,500
- Phase II – up to $50,000
Supplements
- Recipients of a Fast-Track Phase II increment will be entitled to apply for all ‘regular’ SBIR/STTR Phase II supplements.
- Same conditions will apply as for regular Phase II awardees
Answers to Common Questions
A Fast-Track Project Pitch invitation or pending Fast-Track proposal precludes submission of another Project Pitch (whether Fast-Track or standard).
Project pitches or proposals already in process as of today cannot be considered for Fast-Track “on the fly.”
Submit your Fast-Track Project Pitch at https://nsfgov.my.site.com/mywork/s/login.