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Martin Zeller
Manager, Knowledge Resources
ETTC
April 24, 1999 to July 14, 1999 is the open solicitation period for NASA's 1999 SBIR phase I funding program. Small businesses interested in making a phase I SBIR proposal to NASA should visit the NASA SBIR web site at http://sbir.nasa.gov to get a copy of the 1999 solicitation. The solicitation provides the following kinds of information:
- an overview of the NASA SBIR program,
- instructions for preparing a proposal,
- criteria for proposal evaluation,
- relevant forms that must be submitted
- a list of research topic areas in which NASA would like to receive innovative proposals.
In addition to the current solicitation, the NASA SBIR web site also contains
- solicitations from previous years
- general NASA SBIR program information
- lists of award winners from prior years
- NASA SBIR success stories
- sources of assistance.
There is also detailed information about NASA's STTR program on the web site as well.
The NASA Far West RTTC is listed in NASA's solicitation (and also in the solicitations of other agencies participating in SBIR) as a source of technical information. We provide basic program information for newcomers to SBIR and also offer information gathering services to small companies who are reviewing the state of the art in their field or investigating the size of the commercial market for their technology. Technical information gathered by the Far West RTTC's expert information searchers can then be incorporated into a proposal to lend credibility and bolster the company's claims of technical innovation. Similarly, market information should also be incorporated into the proposal to indicate an awareness of a commercial marketplace of sufficient size and demand to warrant SBIR funding for the innovative technology proposed.
But the Far West RTTC can help SBIR companies in other ways as well. For example, we have significant expertise in the factors that comprise a superior commercialization plan. This enables us to provide expert consultation in the preparation of the commercialization section of your phase I or phase II proposals. In some cases we may simply advise you as you prepare the commercialization section yourself. In other cases we may prepare the commercialization section for you.
In addition, our experience in finding licensees and joint funding partners for NASA-sponsored technologies and research projects gives us the credentials to serve as your commercialization partner in phase I or phase II efforts. Beginning in earnest toward the middle of phase I and all throughout phase II you should be thinking seriously and working diligently to identify third party funding sources, joint venture partners, licensees, and so forth. You can actually write the Far West RTTC into your proposal as a commercialization consultant and budget for Far West RTTC commercialization services in either phase I or phase II. We would be pleased to serve you in these efforts.
For further information, please contact Martin Zeller at the NASA Far West RTTC at 213-743-2927 or zeller@usc.edu.
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