This grant, which has a funding opportunity number of PA-09-101, focuses on the need for new technology specific to energy efficiency and renewable energy. Listed under the US government’s Department of Education and Department of Health, the grant will have available funding through February 7, 2012. As far as eligible applications, this grant focuses solely on small businesses.
The purpose of this grant is to promote partnerships consisting of technologies and ideas formed between small businesses and research institutions so innovative solutions through research and development funded by the Federal government could be established. Using funding through this and similar grants, small businesses and research institutions would benefit from program assistance.
The STTR program for energy efficiency and renewable energy research through this grant is structured in three distinct phases. For Phase 1 and Phase 2, STTR funds would support scope and efforts. In the first phase, the goal is for scientific and technical merit and feasibility of the proposed efforts to be established. Then for the second phase, efforts would be focused on continued research, and/or R&D efforts that had been started during the first phase.
For all three phases, it is anticipated that private sector commercialization would be increased using innovations coming from Federal R and R&D. Pertaining to the third phase of this grant, whenever appropriate the focus would be for the SBC to pursue commercialization objectives using non-STTR funds. Depending on the Federal agency involved, there could be some in the third phase that would need follow-up, production contracts specific to processes and/or products intended by be used by the US government, or non-STTR funded R&D.
With the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 enacted under former President Bush, both Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) agencies would be required, if and when appropriate and plausible to make small businesses a high priority for energy efficiency and/or renewable energy system projects.
The scope for such projects is broad, but below a few areas in which grant funding would be used would be used.
• Technologies researched and developed for batteries and other energy consumption used to optimize medical devices such as dental equipment, radiation therapy equipment, hearing aids, etc
• Technologies researched and developed to optimize energy used during the production, but also delivery of radiopharmaceuticals and radioisotopes for medical services
• Batteries developed with more storage and/or increased discharge and charge cycles
• Remote diagnostics and medical care developed and improved upon
• Patient management and information better coordinated by using new systems
While most of the scope for this grant focuses on the health arena, education is also a part of the process, specifically in building partnerships between small businesses and research institutions. The two combined have the ability to bring the vision under which this energy efficiency and renewable energy grant was created to fruition. Keep in mind that similar grant mechanisms run in parallel so other funding opportunities could be shared.
The government strongly recommends eligible small businesses provide a proposed budget, along with length of time for project completion while keeping the information reasonable for the completion of the project. Now, for Phase II, a renewable budget would be submitted according to specific budget limitations found in at the link for SBIR/STTR Program Descriptions and Research Topics.
All applications received by eligible small businesses would be carefully reviewed to make sure the following requirements are met. If requirements were not met for this grant, a request would be made for a size determination. If there were gray areas for eligibility, an STTR award would not be offered until the SBA could make a determination. Any small business, regardless of form needs appropriate knowledge, skills, and resources to ensure proposed research could be carried out. \\
If wanted, more than one application can be submitted but they would each need to be scientifically distinct. In addition, for a resubmission application, this would need to be submitted along with an introduction, addressing the earlier summary statement. For renewals, eligibility would only be for awardees in Phase II. In this case, the renewal application would be representative of continuing work toward improvement of energy efficiency and renewable energy research, support of ongoing research, development efforts previously completed, and work funded under the original STTR Phase II grant.
If eligible applicants need more information on the SF424 (R&R) Application and electronic submission process, they can visit http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/424/index.htm. Information can also be obtained by calling 800-518-4726 for hearing callers or 301-451-5936 for deaf and hearing impaired. For an Application Package for SF424 (R&R), as well as the Application Guide, eligible applicants can visit http://www.grants.gov.apply.
Four to six weeks prior to application, registration must be completed by visiting www.grants.gov. Additionally, any organization interested in applying for this energy efficiency and renewal research grant, a Data Universal Number System or DUNS number would need to be obtained, followed by registration with the Central Contractor Registration. If the organization has not Employer or Tax Identification Number, additional time for the registration process would be essential.
