Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program Phase II | 2022 NIST SBIR 02

Opportunity Information: Apply for 2022 NIST SBIR 02

This opportunity is a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program Phase II solicitation issued as a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). It is specifically designed to let prior NIST SBIR Phase I projects continue into a Phase II effort, meaning it is not an open competition for new applicants. The program focus is science, technology, and research and development activities, and the award instrument listed for this NOFO is a cooperative agreement, which typically means NIST expects to have substantial involvement during the project compared to a standard grant.

Eligibility is tightly restricted. Only organizations that received a FY 2021 NIST SBIR Phase I award may apply, and the Phase II application must be for Phase II of that same project. NIST is explicit that applications from any entity that is not a FY 2021 NIST SBIR Phase I awardee will not be reviewed or considered for funding. In addition to being a prior Phase I awardee, the applicant must meet the definition of a Small Business Concern (SBC) for research and development purposes, as defined in the NOFO (referenced as Section 1.05), and must meet that SBC status at the time of award.

The NOFO also places major emphasis on the role and employment status of the Principal Investigator (PI). At the time of award and throughout the period of performance, the PI's primary employment must be with the small business. In practical terms, NIST defines "primary employment" as the PI spending more than half of their time working for the small business. This requirement also generally rules out full-time employment with another organization at the same time. The NOFO notes that exceptions can happen, but only rarely and only if approved in writing by the NIST Grants Officer after consultation with the SBIR Program Manager, so applicants should treat the primary employment requirement as the default expectation. If the business wants to replace the PI after an award is made, that substitution is not automatic; it requires prior written approval from the NIST Grants Officer. The NOFO further clarifies that personnel obtained through a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) or similar employee leasing arrangement may still be considered employees of the awardee, which can matter for meeting staffing and employment-related compliance requirements.

Key administrative details provided in the listing include the funding opportunity title (Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program Phase II), the opportunity number (2022 NIST SBIR 02), the agency (NIST), and the posted date (creation date of 2022-05-03). The original closing date for submissions is 2022-06-17. The listing categorizes the opportunity as discretionary, with a research and development activity category under CFDA number 11.620. The eligible applicants field is shown as "Others," but the narrative language makes clear that eligibility is in practice limited to FY 2021 NIST SBIR Phase I awardees who continue to qualify as an SBC and comply with PI employment rules. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided source data, so applicants would need to consult the full NOFO for any budget limits, performance period expectations, deliverables, and review criteria.

• The National Institute of Standards and Technology in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program Phase II" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.620.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2022-05-03.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-06-17. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for 2022 NIST SBIR 02

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