Opportunity Information: Apply for 12 605
Apply for 12 605
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Small Business Innovation Research Program Phase I Solicitation FY 2013" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.041 Engineering Grants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 26, 2014 and posted on Aug 30, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by This opportunity has been archived.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $30,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 200 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Organization Limit Proposals may only be submitted by the following Only firms qualifying as aa hrefhttp://www.nsf.gov/eng/iip/sbir/definitions.jsp#sbcsmall business concern/aare eligible to participate in the SBIR program. Socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns and women owned small business concerns are particularly encouraged to participate. For an SBIR Phase I Proposal, a minimum of two thirds of the research, as measured by the budget, must be performed by the small business concern and the balance may be outsourced to a consultant or subcontractor or a combination of the two. Proposals from joint ventures and partnerships are permitted, provided the entity created qualifies as aa hrefhttp://www.nsf.gov/eng/iip/sbir/definitions.jsp#sbcsmall business concern/a.Proposing firms are also encouraged to take advantage of research expertise and facilities that may be available to them at colleges, universities, national laboratories, and from other research providers. Such collaborations may include research subcontracts, consulting agreements or the employment of faculty as senior personnel and of graduate or undergraduate students as assistants by the small business. PI Limit The primary employment of the Principal Investigator (PI) must be with the small business concern at the time of the award. A PI must spend a minimum of one calendar month on an SBIR Phase I project. Primary employment is defined as 51 employed by the small business. NSF considers a fulltime work week to be normally 40 hours and considers employment elsewhere of greater than 19.6 hours to be in conflict with this requirement.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program Phase I Solicitation for FY 2013 (Funding Opportunity Number 12-605) is a discretionary grant opportunity designed to help small businesses develop high-impact technologies that align with NSF's research mission while also pushing those ideas toward real-world commercialization. The program is rooted in the SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2011 (Public Law 112-81) and emphasizes two connected outcomes: advancing technological innovation and increasing the commercialization of results that come from federally supported research. In practice, NSF uses SBIR Phase I to help small firms test technical feasibility, reduce early-stage risk, and position promising innovations for future development and market entry.
This solicitation targets science and technology research and development and anticipates making around 200 awards. The estimated total funding available is $30,000,000, with an award floor of $150,000 per Phase I award. Importantly, there is no cost sharing or matching requirement, which reduces the financial barrier for early-stage companies that may not yet have significant outside capital. The associated CFDA listing is 47.041 (Engineering Grants), reflecting NSF's broader R&D funding structure even though the SBIR topics span multiple technology sectors.
NSF frames the solicitation around four broad, investor-relevant high-technology topic areas rather than narrow subtopics. Applicants are expected to fit their proposed innovation within one of these areas: Biological and Chemical Technologies (BC), Education Applications (EA), Electronics, Information and Communication Technologies (EI), or Nanotechnology, Advanced Materials, and Manufacturing (NM). These categories are intentionally broad to capture a wide range of innovative ideas, while still keeping proposals aligned with areas where NSF sees strong technological and commercial potential. The solicitation notes that detailed descriptions of these topics are provided in the proposal preparation instructions (specifically the section covering the research topic selection).
Eligibility is limited to firms that qualify as an NSF-defined "small business concern." The program explicitly encourages participation from socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns and women-owned small business concerns. For Phase I, the small business must perform at least two-thirds of the research effort as measured by the budget. The remaining portion can be performed through consultants and/or subcontractors, allowing companies to bring in specialized expertise without giving up control of the core R&D. Joint ventures and partnerships can apply as long as the created entity itself qualifies as an eligible small business concern. NSF also encourages companies to leverage external research capabilities, including collaborations with universities, national laboratories, and other research providers. These collaborations can take several forms, such as subawards, consulting arrangements, or hiring faculty and students as part of the project team, as long as the small business remains the primary performer as required.
The solicitation also sets clear expectations for the Principal Investigator (PI). The PI's primary employment must be with the small business at the time of award, defined as at least 51 percent employment by the company. NSF treats a normal full-time work week as 40 hours and considers outside employment greater than 19.6 hours per week to conflict with the "primary employment" requirement. Additionally, the PI must commit at least one calendar month of effort to the Phase I project, reinforcing that the work is intended to be actively led by company personnel rather than primarily outsourced.
Timing and submission rules were strict. The full proposal deadline was December 3, 2012, and proposals were only accepted within a specific submission window from November 3, 2012 through December 3, 2012. Any proposal submitted outside that window would be returned without review, which signals NSF's emphasis on compliance with administrative requirements as a prerequisite for consideration. The opportunity is now archived (archive date June 26, 2014), meaning it is no longer open for applications, but the structure and requirements reflect how NSF SBIR Phase I solicitations are commonly organized.
For support and access issues, NSF directed applicants to Grants.gov support (grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov) for difficulties accessing the announcement electronically. The solicitation also references NSF Publication 12-605 as the official document source for full details, including the expanded topic descriptions and proposal preparation instructions.
FAQs: NSF SBIR Phase I Solicitation for FY 2013 (NSF 12-605)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is the National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program Phase I Solicitation for FY 2013, Funding Opportunity Number 12-605. It is a discretionary grant opportunity intended to help eligible small businesses develop high-impact technologies aligned with NSF's research mission and move them toward real-world commercialization.
What is the main purpose of NSF SBIR Phase I under this solicitation?
The solicitation emphasizes two connected outcomes: advancing technological innovation and increasing commercialization of results stemming from federally supported research. Phase I specifically supports early-stage work to test technical feasibility, reduce early technical risk, and position innovations for future development and market entry.
What is the legal basis for this SBIR solicitation?
The program is rooted in the SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2011 (Public Law 112-81).
How many awards did NSF expect to make?
The solicitation anticipated making around 200 awards.
How much total funding was estimated to be available?
The estimated total funding available was $30,000,000.
What is the minimum award amount for a Phase I award?
The award floor was $150,000 per Phase I award.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The solicitation states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The associated CFDA listing is 47.041 (Engineering Grants).
What kinds of projects were targeted?
The solicitation targets science and technology research and development (R&D) with an emphasis on innovations that can move toward commercialization.
What topic areas could applicants propose under?
NSF framed the solicitation around four broad, investor-relevant high-technology topic areas:
- Biological and Chemical Technologies (BC)
- Education Applications (EA)
- Electronics, Information and Communication Technologies (EI)
- Nanotechnology, Advanced Materials, and Manufacturing (NM)
Are the topic areas narrow or broad?
They are intentionally broad rather than narrow subtopics, to capture a wide range of innovative ideas while keeping proposals aligned with areas NSF considers to have strong technological and commercial potential.
Where were the detailed topic descriptions provided?
The solicitation notes that detailed descriptions are provided in the proposal preparation instructions, specifically in the section covering research topic selection.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was limited to firms that qualify as an NSF-defined "small business concern."
Does NSF encourage applications from specific types of small businesses?
Yes. The solicitation explicitly encourages participation from socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns and women-owned small business concerns.
How much of the Phase I research effort must the small business perform?
For Phase I, the small business must perform at least two-thirds of the research effort, as measured by the budget.
Can consultants or subcontractors be used?
Yes. The remaining portion of the work (beyond the small business's required two-thirds) can be performed through consultants and/or subcontractors, allowing companies to bring in specialized expertise.
Can joint ventures or partnerships apply?
Yes. Joint ventures and partnerships can apply as long as the created entity itself qualifies as an eligible small business concern.
Does NSF encourage collaboration with universities or national labs?
Yes. NSF encourages companies to leverage external research capabilities, including collaborations with universities, national laboratories, and other research providers.
How can collaborations be structured under this solicitation?
The solicitation indicates collaborations may be structured through subawards, consulting arrangements, or by hiring faculty and students as part of the project team, as long as the small business remains the primary performer (including meeting the two-thirds requirement).
What are the Principal Investigator (PI) employment requirements?
The PI's primary employment must be with the small business at the time of award. "Primary employment" is defined as at least 51 percent employment by the company.
How does NSF interpret the PI primary employment rule in terms of hours?
NSF treats a normal full-time work week as 40 hours and considers outside employment greater than 19.6 hours per week to conflict with the "primary employment" requirement.
How much time must the PI commit to the Phase I project?
The PI must commit at least one calendar month of effort to the Phase I project.
What was the proposal deadline?
The full proposal deadline was December 3, 2012.
Was there a specific submission window?
Yes. Proposals were only accepted within a submission window from November 3, 2012 through December 3, 2012.
What happened if a proposal was submitted outside the submission window?
Any proposal submitted outside the specified window would be returned without review.
Is this opportunity still open?
No. The opportunity is archived (archive date June 26, 2014), meaning it is no longer open for applications.
Where could applicants get help if they had trouble accessing the announcement electronically?
NSF directed applicants to Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov for difficulties accessing the announcement electronically.
What document is referenced as the official source for full solicitation details?
The solicitation references NSF Publication 12-605 as the official document source for full details, including expanded topic descriptions and proposal preparation instructions.
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