March 6, 2019 — NSF is piloting a significant new requirement in the agency’s SBIR/STTR solicitations starting with the SBIR 19-554 and STTR 19-555 solicitations that came out on March 5. The pilot replaces a recommended pre-proposal Executive Summary with a required three-page “Project Pitch” before proposals can be submitted. The Project Pitch will outline project objectives, technical innovation and associated technical risks.
To accommodate the new requirement and the subsequent submission of invited full proposals, the NSF SBIR/STTR Phase I program will implement full proposal submission windows, as opposed to specific deadlines in order to support a more flexible schedule for full proposal submission and review. Submission windows are March 4 through June 13, 2019 and June 14 through December 12, 2019.
Project Pitch submissions are requested by NSF at least six weeks before the before the closing date window closes. Those submitting a Project Pitch will know within three weeks if they are a good fit for the SBIR/STTR program’s objectives of supporting innovative technologies that show promise of commercial and/or societal impact and involve a level of technical risk. Startups or entrepreneurs can submit a Project Pitch anytime during the pilot, which runs through December 2019.
Project Pitch will provide NSF with the ability to receive and evaluate full proposals, ensuring that proposers do not expend time or resources in the development of full proposals where the proposal goals are clearly not appropriate given the NSF SBIR/STTR program objectives. Learn more about Project Pitch during an informative webinar. Webinars are scheduled March 14 and 16, April 10 and 24, and May 8, all 2-3:30pm ET. Register for webinars
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