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Human Genome News, September 1993; 5(3)

SBIR Set-Aside Funds Increased

OHER, NCHGR Grant New Awards for Human Genome Research

The DOE Office of Health and Environmental Research (OHER) and the NIH National Center for Human Genome Research (NCHGR) recently announced the latest awards in human genome topics of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. Four Phase I and three Phase II awards for this cycle were identified by OHER, with NCHGR announcing five in Phase I and six in Phase II.

SBIR awards are designed to stimulate commercialization of new technology for the benefit of both private and public sectors.The highly competitive SBIR program emphasizes cutting-edge high-risk research with potential for high payoff in hundreds of areas, including human genome research. SBIR human genome topics concentrate on innovative approaches and experimental technologies for carrying out the goals of the Human Genome Project-to map and sequence genes and genetic regions and develop databases for storing the resulting data. NIH and DOE SBIR awards support these goals, including improvements in technology, mapping resources, and DNA sequencing and in enhanced storage, processing, and analysis of genetic data.

Prospective genome project applicants are urged to discuss their plans with DOE and NIH staff before preparing formal proposals. For more information on SBIR genome programs, contact Kay Etzler or Bettie Graham at the addresses below.

SBIR Program History
The SBIR program was initiated in 1982 to provide opportunities for science-and technology-based businesses with 500 employees or less to compete among themselves for federal research and development (R&D) awards. Since 1982, $2.765 billion has been distributed in 21,427 awards to firms from all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. In FY 1991, 3341 SBIR awards totaling about $483.1 million were made to small businesses.

In 1992 Congress reauthorized the SBIR Program until October 1, 2000. The legislation provides for a gradual increase in the SBIR set-aside funds of each participating federal agency's extramural research or R&D budget from 1.25% in 1992 to a maximum of 2.5% in FY 1997 and there-after. For FY 1994, about $700 million is expected to be allocated government wide for SBIR, an amount that will grow to around $1 billion by FY 1997.

SBIR Program Phases
The general governmental SBIR program consists of three phases.

  • Phase I: Awards for up to 6 months and $100,000 (DOE and NIH $75,000) for a firm to explore the scientific and technical merit and feasibility of a research idea.
  • Phase II: Awards for up to 2 years and $750,000 (DOE and NIH, $500,000) to expand on Phase I results and pursue further development. Only Phase I awardees are eligible for Phase II, which is the principal R&D effort.
  • Phase III: Private or non-SBIR federal funding for commercialization of Phase II results.

SBIR Conferences
National SBIR conferences are held periodically to help small business firms identify R&D and marketing opportunities. Subjects such as procurement, auditing, finance, accounting, proposal preparation, and licensing are explored. Upcoming conferences are in Washington, D.C. (October 13-15, 1993); Seattle (November 15-17, 1993); and Houston (April 26-28, 1994). For registration or further meeting information, call the conference Hotline (407/791-0720).

Pre-Solicitation Announcements
The SBIR Pre-Solicitation Announcement (PSA) is published by the Small Business Administration (SBA) each quarter, usually in March, June, September, and December. This announcement provides advance information on SBIR solicitations to be released by the 11 participating federal agencies. To be added to the PSA mailing list, contact the Office of Innovation, Research, and Technology; SBA; 409 Third Street, SW (8th Floor); Washington, DC 20416 (202/205-7777).

Contacts

  • DOE: Kay Etzler
    c/o DOE SBIR Program Manager
    ER-16 Washington, DC 20585
    301/903-5867
    Fax: -5488
  • NIH Genome Program: Bettie Graham
    Bldg. 38A, Rm. 610
    NIH
    9000 Rockville Pike
    Bethesda, MD 20892
    301/496-7531
    Fax: /480-2770

DOE and NIH SBIR information is included in each HGN issue.

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Human Genome Program, U.S. Department of Energy, Human Genome News (v5n3).

Human Genome Project 1990–2003

The Human Genome Project (HGP) was an international 13-year effort, 1990 to 2003. Primary goals were to discover the complete set of human genes and make them accessible for further biological study, and determine the complete sequence of DNA bases in the human genome. See Timeline for more HGP history.

Human Genome News

Published from 1989 until 2002, this newsletter facilitated HGP communication, helped prevent duplication of research effort, and informed persons interested in genome research.