November 8, 2004
See the letter from Jo Anne Goodnight, NIH SBIR/STTR Program Coordinator, that was sent the to the SBIR/STTR LISTSERV, with information on the following topics:

• PHS 398 Grant Application Forms and Instructions
• PHS 2590 Grant Application Forms and Instructions
• Funding Opportunities announced through the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts
• Invention Reporting Requirements
• NIH Welcomes STTR Applications
• The NIH Commons -- Electronic Grants Administration
• Managing Your Grants and Contracts: Pre and Post-Award Administration

November 2, 2004
The newly revised "Application for a DHHS Public Health Service Grant" (PHS 398, rev. 9/04) instructions and forms are now available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/forms.htm and will be accepted for submission/receipt dates on or after December 1, 2004. All applications received on or after May 10, 2005 must use the new instructions and forms. During the transition period, applications using the previous version (rev. 5/01) of the PHS 398 will be accepted through May 9, 2005. However, after this date, applications submitted using instructions and forms other than the PHS 398 (rev 9/04) will be returned to the applicant.

November 2, 2004
Progress Reports using the newly revised "U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Service Non-Competing Grant Progress Report" (PHS 2590, rev. 9/04) instructions and forms will be accepted immediately. All progress reports received on or after May 1, 2005 must use the new version. The newly revised instructions and forms are available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/forms.htm.

October 12, 2004
If you are submitting an application in response to a PA or RFA announced through the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, you may not also submit an identical or essentially identical application under the Omnibus Solicitation for SBIR/STTR Grant Applications. See more information below.

Similar, Essentially Identical, or Identical Applications

The NIH will not accept similar grant applications with essentially the same research focus from the same applicant organization. This includes derivative or multiple applications that propose to develop a single product, process or service that, with non-substantive modifications, can be applied to a variety of purposes. Likewise, identical or essentially identical grant applications submitted by different applicant organizations will not be accepted. Applicant organizations should ascertain and assure that the materials they are submitting on behalf of the principal investigator are the original work of the principal investigator and have not been used elsewhere in the preparation and submission of a similar grant application. Applications to the NIH are grouped by scientific discipline for review by individual Scientific Review Groups and not by disease or disease state. The reviewers can thus easily identify multiple grant applications for essentially the same project. In these cases, application processing may be delayed or the application(s) may be returned to the applicant without review.

October 12, 2004
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) supports research using both grants and contracts. About 95% of NIH SBIR awards are made through the grant (assistance) mechanism, and about 5% of NIH SBIR awards are made through the contract (procurement) mechanism. Click Here for more information.

October 5, 2004
n its commitment to support President Bush's Executive Order 13329 (PDF - 86 KB) which encourages innovation in manufacturing-related research and development, NIH has released Program Announcement PA-04-161 that focuses on our SBIR/STTR program to encourage biomedical research related to advanced processing, manufacturing processes, equipment and systems; or manufacturing workforce skills and protection. Small businesses may also be interested in reading a U.S. Department of Commerce 2004 report, "Manufacturing in America: A Comprehensive Strategy to Address the Challenges to U.S. Manufacturers (PDF - 2.1 MB)."

September 21, 2004
Register now for the fall National SBIR/STTR Conference in Boise, Idaho (November 1-4, 2004). Take advantage of the opportunity to meet one-on-one with the Federal Program Managers! Whether you are new to the SBIR/STTR program or have received awards in the past, the sessions will help you enhance your participation in the SBIR/STTR Program.

August 31, 2004
The NIH/CDC 2005 SBIR Contract Solicitation that was released in early August has been amended to include the following six technical topics from the National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention (NCHSTP) : Technology to develop handheld amplification test for sexually transmitted infections; Technology to develop an ambient temperature specimen transport system; System to concentrate and purify nucleic acids from whole blood; Development of novel genotyping procedures for Mycobacterium tuberculosis; New Laboratory Tests for Tuberculosis and Detection of Drug Resistance; A Delivery System for Patient-Delivered Partner Treatment for Sexually Transmitted Disease Control. This amendment does not affect the proposal receipt date of November 5, 2004.

August 19, 2004
The NIH 2005 SBIR Contract Solicitation that was released in early August has been amended to accept Fast Track applications for the following two National Cancer Institute topics: (1) Topic 211, "Developing Item Response Theory Software for Outcomes and Behavioral Measurement"; and (2) Topic 212, "Integrating Patient-Reported Outcomes in Clinical Oncology Practice." This amendment does not affect the proposal receipt date of November 5, 2004.

August 2, 2004
The PHS 2005-1 SBIR Contract Solicitation is now open (Receipt date: November 5, 2004).

July 29, 2004
REMINDER: A grant application submitted under the SBIR/STTR Phase I Grant Solicitation will be considered on time if it is received by or mailed on or before the published receipt date and a proof of mailing is provided. If the receipt date falls on a weekend, it will be extended to the following Monday. If the date falls on a holiday, it will be extended to the following workday. The application will be considered on time if it is received by or mailed on or before that day and a proof of mailing is provided.

June 17, 2004
The PHS 398 Research Grant Application and Related Forms (PHS-398 PHS-2590), OMB No. 0925-0001/ Exp. 5/2004, currently in use remain authorized until further notice in accordance with OMB regulations [5 CFR 1320.10.(e)(2)]. For more information click here http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-04-044.html.

June 14, 2004
All Federal wide Assurances (FWAs) expire 3 years after their approval date. Of course, updates to FWAs should be submitted throughout the 3 years whenever there are changes in the information provided on the approved FWA. To check your FWA expiration date, go to the OHRP website at http://ohrp.cit.nih.gov/search/asearch.asp#ASUR. If you need to renew your FWA, follow the instructions at http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/humansubjects/assurance/renwfwa.htm, and fax the completed form to OHRP at (301) 402-0438. Questions? Please see the staff assignments at http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/daqi-staff.html#DC or call the staff person toll-free at 866-447-4777.

July 8, 2004
Presentations from the 6th Annual NIH SBIR/STTR Conference that was held June 23-24, 2004, are now available. Click here for viewing.

June 9, 2004
The NIH is interested in developing products and services via the SBIR/STTR program that would improve the health of the American people. In its commitment to also support President Bush's Executive Order 13329 (PDF - 86 KB), encouraging innovation in manufacturing-related research and development, NIH will expand the focus of our SBIR/STTR program to encourage biomedical research related to advanced processing, manufacturing processes, equipment and systems; or manufacturing workforce skills and protection. Additional information will be posted on this website and in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts as it becomes available. Small businesses may be interested in reading a U.S. Department of Commerce 2004 report, "Manufacturing in America: A Comprehensive Strategy to Address the Challenges to U.S. Manufacturers (PDF - 2.1 MB)."

March 18, 2004
General information, the agenda, and registration information for the 6th Annual NIH SBIR/STTR Conference (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/sbirconf2004/index.htm) have now been posted. The conference is scheduled for June 23-24, 2004, and will be held at Natcher Conference Center on the NIH Campus in Bethesda, MD. Registration is free, but mandatory. New this year is a poster session to help foster collaborations and partnerships. The deadline for submitting poster abstracts is April 19.

March 17, 2004
We are now inviting ALL institutions to register with the NIH ERA Commons. By joining the Commons, you can create user accounts for your institutions staff and check the status of current grant applications in no time. You can start in immediately with STATUS and the administrative functions, and soon you will be able to use SNAP and X-train, too. To join the NIH Commons now, click here [https://commons.era.nih.gov/commons/registration/registrationInstructions.jsp] For other information, go to the Commons home page.

March 12, 2004
See the NIH Guide announcement for important information on a Change in 2004 Salary Limitation on Grants, Cooperative Agreements, and Contracts.

March 11, 2004
See the Note from Jo Anne Goodnight (MS Word - 54 KB) to the Small Business Research Community with Important Information on SBIR and STTR Grants. (NOTE: The weekend rule for submission dates will be in effect for AIDS and AIDS-related applications -- applications submitted on or before May 3, 2004 will be considered "on time".)

January 9, 2004
The PHS 2004-2 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH, CDC and FDA for SBIR/STTR Grant Applications and UPDATED instructions for Phase II SBIR/STTR Grant Applications are now available [http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/sbir.htm#sol]. Please be sure to read the important "Changes and Reminders". See the 01/06/2004 NIH Guide Notice for more information and SBIR/STTR contacts.

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