Read all the information available in the open solicitation not just the topic description; print out the entire solicitation and refer back to this document as needed.
Read the evaluation criteria. Address each one in your proposal.
Write your proposal as though you were speaking to the evaluators. In DOT they are DOT scientists and engineers.
Is your idea/solution commercially viable? Can it be manufactured in potentially thousands of copies at a future date?
Remember who the potential end user is of your solution? Remember what works for the end user at DOD may not work for DOT.
Prepare your technical questions carefully so that the responses can be incorporated into your proposal.
Don't request a person to discuss your ideas with. It is not permitted in DOT.
Make sure you address a topic in the open solicitation. DOT does not have any topics with the title "Other".
Make sure you understand the problem described in the topic and demonstrate that knowledge in your proposal.
Do a thorough literature search. The internet can prove you wrong in an instant.
Make sure describe how you are going to manage the tasks and schedule.
Include, where possible, planned interaction with the people or groups who are impacted by the problem stated in the topic.
Make sure that the principal investigator has strong credentials in the appropriate area and you document that in your proposal.
If you don't have a required capability in house, document that you have access to it via contacting or partnering.
Demonstrate in your proposal that your research team has a track record of completing research projects where the results are utilized.
Demonstrate in your proposal that your research team has or has access to the necessary facilities, equipment, and data.
Make sure that the amount of work you propose is consistent with your budget.
Make sure that labor costs are consistent with the labor categories of your research team.
Visit the Small Business Administration's website for information on National, Regional, and Local SBIR conferences, the website is http://www.sba.gov/sbir go to "Resources and Opportunities".
In addition, look at http://www.sba.gov/sbir, go to "SBIR-STTR" and there is a "SBIR Handbook for Proposal Preparation".
