Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA OD 09 008
Apply for RFA OD 09 008
- The National Institutes of Health in the health recovery act sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Recovery Act Limited Competition Biomedical Research, Development, and Growth to Spur the Acceleration of New Technologies (BRDG SPAN) Pilot Program (RC3)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.701 Trans NIH Recovery Act Research Support.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 24, 2009 and posted on Jun 2, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 1, 2009. (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 $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: For profit organizations other than small businesses Small businesses.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following This FOA encourages submissions by United States for profit enterprises/commercial organizations doing a majority of their business in the United States. Applications received under this FOA may be given funding priority if the applicant is associated with an enterprise/commercial organization that is of small size (e.g., 500 or fewer employees), and/or of limited resources, such as an early stage company, and/or one positioned for receiving funding or in kind support from a third party investor and/or strategic partner. The applicant United States institution/organization must be located in the 50 states, territories and possessions of the U.S., Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, or District of Columbia. NIH encourages applications from all interested organizations/institutions, including those from Institutional Development Award (IDeA) states. Foreign organizations/institutions are not permitted as the applicant organization. If the application includes subcontractors, the applicant for profit enterprise/commercial organization must be substantially involved in the R and D, with a leadership role in the project and defining the research agenda.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Recovery Act Limited Competition Biomedical Research, Development, and Growth to Spur the Acceleration of New Technologies (BRDG SPAN) Pilot Program (RC3) is an NIH funding opportunity created with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) funds to help push promising biomedical innovations past a common commercialization bottleneck often referred to as the "Valley of Death." The core idea is to fund later stage, milestone-driven research and development work that is necessary to move a technology from a strong research foundation toward a market-ready product or service. In practical terms, the program is meant to supply critical capital for the next logical development steps that are often too applied or too close to commercialization to fit traditional academic research grants, but still too risky to attract sufficient private investment without additional validation.
This FOA uses the RC3 grant mechanism and is structured as a pilot program, meaning NIH intended to evaluate results before deciding whether to offer it again in the future, and any reissuance would depend on both the evaluation outcomes and the availability of funds. Beyond supporting individual projects, BRDG SPAN is also designed to encourage partnerships among different research and development collaborators, reflecting NIH's interest in combining scientific capability with product development experience and commercialization planning to increase the odds that funded work leads to real-world health impact.
Funding levels were significant for a pilot initiative. NIH indicated it would commit at least $35 million total under this FOA if enough high-quality, scientifically meritorious applications were received. The agency anticipated making at least 10 awards in fiscal year 2010, subject to application quality and budget availability. The award ceiling listed for individual grants was $1,000,000, and there was no cost sharing or matching requirement, which lowers barriers for companies that may not have substantial capital on hand.
A notable feature of this opportunity is that NIH explicitly signaled it could prioritize applications with strong commercial potential. Priority considerations included whether the proposed product or service addresses an underserved need, whether there are limited alternative resources or solutions already available in the market, and whether the applicant can demonstrate an ability to attract outside validation in the form of third-party investor funding, in-kind support, or strategic partnering. In other words, NIH was not only looking for good science; it was looking for a credible path to a viable health-related product, supported by realistic development milestones and signals that the broader market or investment community could eventually carry the technology forward.
Eligibility was focused on U.S. for-profit enterprises and commercial organizations, including small businesses, with a clear preference for entities doing the majority of their business in the United States. While large for-profit organizations could apply, the FOA encouraged submissions connected to smaller or resource-limited companies, such as early stage ventures or firms with roughly 500 or fewer employees, especially when positioned to receive third-party investment or strategic partner support. The applicant organization had to be located in the United States or eligible U.S. jurisdictions (including states, territories, Puerto Rico, and D.C.). Foreign organizations were not allowed to apply as the primary applicant. If subcontractors were included, the for-profit applicant still needed to play a substantial leadership role in the R and D and in shaping the research agenda, reinforcing that this opportunity was intended to directly strengthen commercial R and D capacity rather than simply pass funds through to outside performers.
Administratively, this was an NIH opportunity classified under health-related Recovery Act funding (CFDA 93.701, Trans-NIH Recovery Act Research Support). The opportunity was posted June 2, 2009, with an application closing date of September 1, 2009, and it later archived in October 2009. The funding opportunity number was RFA-OD-09-008, and the sponsoring agency was the National Institutes of Health. The overall emphasis throughout the announcement is on accelerating translation: taking credible biomedical innovations and funding the practical, de-risking development work needed to reach the next milestone on the road to commercialization, with the broader goals of improving human health, advancing NIH institute missions, and contributing economic stimulus through technology development and growth.
BRDG SPAN (RC3) Pilot Program (RFA-OD-09-008) - FAQs
What is the BRDG SPAN Pilot Program (RC3) funding opportunity?
The Recovery Act Limited Competition Biomedical Research, Development, and Growth to Spur the Acceleration of New Technologies (BRDG SPAN) Pilot Program is an NIH funding opportunity supported by American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) funds. It uses the RC3 grant mechanism and focuses on advancing promising biomedical innovations toward commercialization.
What problem is this program trying to solve?
The program targets a common commercialization bottleneck often called the "Valley of Death," where a technology may be too applied or too close to commercialization for traditional academic research grants, but still too risky to attract enough private investment without more development and validation.
What kinds of activities does BRDG SPAN fund?
BRDG SPAN is intended to fund later-stage, milestone-driven research and development work needed to move a technology from a strong research foundation toward a market-ready product or service. The emphasis is on practical development steps that help de-risk the technology and advance it to the next logical milestone on the path to commercialization.
Is this opportunity focused on basic research or applied development?
Based on the description, the emphasis is on applied, later-stage development rather than early basic research. NIH signaled that the work should be close enough to commercialization to help create a viable product or service, but still require additional validation and development.
What is the grant mechanism used for this program?
This funding opportunity uses the NIH RC3 grant mechanism.
Is BRDG SPAN a one-time program or ongoing?
It is described as a pilot program. NIH intended to evaluate outcomes before deciding whether to offer it again, and any reissuance would depend on evaluation results and the availability of funds.
How much funding did NIH plan to commit in total?
NIH indicated it would commit at least $35 million total under this FOA if enough high-quality, scientifically meritorious applications were received.
How many awards were anticipated?
NIH anticipated making at least 10 awards in fiscal year 2010, depending on application quality and the availability of funds.
What is the maximum award amount per grant?
The award ceiling listed for an individual grant was $1,000,000.
Is cost sharing or a matching contribution required?
No. The announcement states there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility was focused on U.S. for-profit enterprises and commercial organizations, including small businesses. The applicant organization had to be located in the United States or eligible U.S. jurisdictions (including states, territories, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C.).
Are small businesses eligible?
Yes. Small businesses are included among eligible U.S. for-profit enterprises and commercial organizations.
Can large for-profit companies apply?
Yes, large for-profit organizations could apply. However, the FOA encouraged submissions connected to smaller or resource-limited companies, such as early-stage ventures or firms with roughly 500 or fewer employees, especially when positioned to receive third-party investment or strategic partner support.
Does NIH show a preference for companies doing business primarily in the U.S.?
Yes. The eligibility description includes a clear preference for entities doing the majority of their business in the United States.
Can a foreign organization apply as the primary applicant?
No. Foreign organizations were not allowed to apply as the primary applicant for this opportunity.
Can applicants use subcontractors or collaborators?
The description indicates subcontractors could be included, but the for-profit applicant still needed to play a substantial leadership role in the R&D and in shaping the research agenda.
What does NIH mean by "milestone-driven" in this program context?
The FOA emphasizes later-stage development tied to realistic development milestones. This points to a structure where progress toward specific, practical development goals is central to the funded effort and to demonstrating movement toward commercialization.
Does NIH consider commercial potential when making funding decisions?
Yes. NIH explicitly signaled it could prioritize applications with strong commercial potential, meaning the program was not only looking for good science but also a credible path to a viable product or service.
What types of factors related to commercial potential could be prioritized?
Priority considerations included whether the proposed product or service addresses an underserved need, whether there are limited alternative resources or solutions already available in the market, and whether the applicant can demonstrate an ability to attract outside validation (such as third-party investor funding, in-kind support, or strategic partnering).
What does "outside validation" mean in the context of this FOA?
Outside validation refers to signals that others beyond the applicant view the technology as credible and worth supporting, including third-party investor funding, in-kind support, or strategic partnering.
Does the program encourage partnerships?
Yes. BRDG SPAN is designed to encourage partnerships among research and development collaborators, reflecting NIH's interest in combining scientific capability with product development experience and commercialization planning.
What is the CFDA number associated with this Recovery Act opportunity?
The CFDA listing is 93.701, described as Trans-NIH Recovery Act Research Support.
Which federal agency sponsors this funding opportunity?
The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What is the funding opportunity number (FOA number)?
The funding opportunity number is RFA-OD-09-008.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on June 2, 2009, and the application closing date was September 1, 2009.
Is this funding opportunity still open?
No. The announcement indicates it was archived in October 2009.
What broader goals did NIH emphasize for BRDG SPAN?
The FOA emphasized accelerating translation of biomedical innovations toward commercialization, improving human health, advancing NIH institute missions, and contributing economic stimulus through technology development and growth.
How does this program differ from traditional academic research grants?
The program is meant to fill a gap by funding applied, commercialization-oriented development steps that may not fit traditional academic research grants because they are too close to a product, yet remain too risky for private investors without additional de-risking work.
What role must the for-profit applicant play if other parties are involved?
The for-profit applicant must maintain a substantial leadership role in the R&D and in shaping the research agenda, reinforcing that the purpose is to strengthen commercial R&D capacity rather than pass funds through to outside performers.
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