March 20, 2009

Note: NIH intends to accept SBIR and STTR applications for 2009 due dates that have been announced (e.g., Apr 5, Aug 5, Dec 5).  Applicants are encouraged to apply on any of these dates and when their application is ready for submission.  For dates after July 31, 2009, review and funding will be dependent on reauthorization or another extension of the  SBIR program. However, NIH does not expect any disruption to its regular operations (e.g., review, award timelines). Please be assured that any additional guidance will be provided as NIH receives further information.

House Votes to Reauthorizes Small Business Programs by Kathryn A. Wolfe, CQ Staff

The House Tuesday passed a bill to extend certain expiring small business programs through July 31.

Passed by voice vote, the bill (HR 1541) would reauthorize several Small Business Administration programs set to expire at the end of the week, including the Small Business Innovation Research program, which seeks to involve small high-tech businesses in federal research activities and help commercialize cutting-edge high-tech research.

Nydia M. Velazquez, D-N.Y., chairwoman of the House Small Business Committee, said the extension will give lawmakers time to work on a more extensive overhaul of SBA programs.

“Extending these programs is important but we must not lose sight of a larger goal. Later this Congress we will pass legislation to modernize the SBA and change the agency’s culture. In these difficult economic times we will need an SBA that can respond effectively. This will require extensive reforms,” she said.

David Wu, chairman of the House Science and Technology Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation, said the research program and others need an update.

“Moving forward if we are to continue realizing the full value of SBIR we must authorize them with changes that reflect the evolving innovation environment. It must be an innovation program as well as a jobs and small business program,” Wu said.

He noted that in particular lawmakers must find a way to resolve an issue that, in part, led to problems passing a standalone reauthorization last year: to what extent venture capital-backed high-tech firms should be able to participate in grant awards.

Small businesses not backed by venture capital have argued that allowing them access to grants would crowd out the very startup businesses the grant programs are intended to help flourish.

Beyond SBIR, the extension would reauthorize all SBA programs set to expire at the end of the week, including:

• the Federal and State Technology Partnership Program;
• the SBA’s gift acceptance and co-sponsorship authority;
• the Paul D. Coverdell Drug-Free Workplace Program;
• the HUBZone Program; and
• the National Women’s Business Council.

The Senate passed the measure later that same day without amendment by unanimous consent and referred H.R. 1541 to the White House, where the President signed it into law, P.L. 111-10, on March 19.

March 5, 2009

NIH has received new funds for Fiscal Years 2009 and 2010 as part of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), Pub. L. No. 111-5. The NIH has designated at least $200 million in FYs 2009 - 2010 for a new initiative called the NIH Challenge Grants in Health and Science Research. Read More…..

This new program will support research on topic areas that address specific scientific and health research challenges in biomedical and behavioral research that would benefit from significant 2-year jumpstart funds.

The NIH has identified a range of Challenge Areas that focus on specific knowledge gaps, scientific opportunities, new technologies, data generation, or research methods that would benefit from an influx of funds to quickly advance the area in significant ways. Each NIH Institute, Center, and Office has selected specific Challenge Topics within the broad Challenge Areas (PDF - 1.7 MB) related to its mission. The research in these Challenge Areas should have a high impact in biomedical or behavioral science and/or public health.

NIH anticipates funding 200 or more grants, each of up to $1 million in total costs, pending the number and quality of applications and availability of funds. Additional funds may be available to support additional grants, particularly in the Challenge Area of Comparative Effectiveness Research.

The application due date is April 27, 2009.

October 8, 2008

NIH has announced a change in the policy on resubmission (amended) applications that applies to all applications including SBIR and STTR. Beginning with those submitted for the January 25, 2009 due date and beyond, all original new applications (i.e., never submitted) and competing renewal applications will be permitted only a single amendment (A1). Failure to receive funding after two submissions (i.e., the original and the single amendment) will mean that the applicant should substantially re-design the project rather than simply change the application in response to previous reviews. Details are included in Guide Notice NOT-OD-09-003.

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