FY 2017 PHase I Release 2 SBIR/STTR | DE FOA 0001619

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001619

The FY 2017 Phase I Release 2 SBIR/STTR opportunity (DE-FOA-0001619) is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science funding announcement that supports early-stage research and development by small businesses. It is structured as two related but distinct tracks under the federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, both aimed at moving innovative technical ideas toward commercialization while also advancing DOE mission needs in science and energy-related R and D. The overall focus at this stage is not building a finished product, but proving that the underlying idea is scientifically sound and technically feasible in a way that suggests real commercial potential or clear value to DOE mission research.

Funding is provided as a discretionary grant, and eligibility is limited to small businesses. Under this Phase I competition, DOE planned to make awards during FY 2017 with maximum award amounts that depend on the specific technical topic area. The typical ceiling listed is $150,000, but certain topics allow up to $225,000, and applicants are expected to confirm the applicable cap by checking the topic descriptions posted on the DOE SBIR/STTR funding opportunities webpage. DOE anticipated making about 165 awards from this release, reflecting a relatively broad set of funded projects across the covered topic areas.

The performance period for Phase I is flexible based on the proposed scope of work, but it cannot exceed 12 months. A key planning constraint is the timing of the Phase II application: it is due about 9.5 months after the Phase I grant start date, and the announcement states there are no exceptions. This creates an important tradeoff in choosing the Phase I project length. If a company selects a Phase I period of performance of 9 months or less, it can generally finish the Phase I work before the Phase II application is due, allowing the company to use completed Phase I results directly in the Phase II proposal package. If a company selects a Phase I period longer than 9 months, it may still continue R and D work after submitting the Phase II application, but results generated after that submission cannot be used to strengthen the Phase II application, since they will not be available in time.

Phase I itself is framed as a feasibility and merit assessment stage. DOE expects applicants to concentrate their Phase I proposal on research tasks that will demonstrate proof of concept, validate the core technical approach, and reduce the highest technical risks. In other words, the work plan should be built around measurable technical objectives, credible experiments or simulations, and clear go/no-go criteria that show whether the idea is likely to work and whether it can plausibly be developed into something with commercial value or strong applicability to DOE-supported research areas. The FOA also makes clear that success in a DOE Phase I award is a prerequisite for moving forward to DOE Phase II funding, meaning Phase I is intended to be the entry point into a potential multi-stage DOE SBIR/STTR development path.

Administratively, the opportunity was released by the Department of Energy, Office of Science, under CFDA 81.049, categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development. The announcement was created on November 28, 2016, and the original closing date for applications was February 7, 2017. Taken together, the program is essentially offering small businesses a short, tightly scheduled funding runway to test and validate high-potential innovations aligned with DOE priorities, with an emphasis on technical feasibility, a credible commercialization trajectory, and readiness to compete for Phase II shortly after the Phase I project begins.

• The Department of Energy - Office of Science, Office of Science in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2017 PHase I Release 2 SBIR/STTR" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.049.
• This funding opportunity was created on Nov 28, 2016.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 07, 2017. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $150,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 165 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Small businesses.

Apply for DE FOA 0001619

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