The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs provide valuable funding opportunities for small businesses engaged in research and development (R&D) activities. These federal programs are administered by various agencies and offer grants to support innovative projects with commercialization potential. If you're a small business seeking to maximize your chances of securing funding, it's worth considering applying to multiple SBIRs/STTRs. In this blog post, we'll explore the benefits of applying to multiple grants and provide strategies for success.

• What is the SBIR/STTR Program?
• Can I Apply for Multiple SBIRs/STTRs?
• What Are the Benefits of Applying for Multiple Grants and When Would It Make Sense?
• What Are the Potential Pitfalls When Applying for Multiple SBIRs/STTRs?
• What Are Strategies That Have Been Done and Have They Been Successful or Unsuccessful?

What is the SBIR/STTR Program?

The SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) and STTR (Small Business Technology Transfer) programs are U.S. government initiatives that provide funding and support to small businesses that have research and development (R&D) that aligns with agency missions. These programs aim to stimulate technological innovation, foster collaboration between small businesses and research institutions, and promote the commercialization of innovative technologies. If you are interested in diving deeper into the program, you can read more about the details of the SBIR program, STTR program, and eligibility requirements.

Can I Apply for Multiple Opportunities?

It is generally allowable to submit applications for multiple SBIR grants simultaneously or separately, and you are able to resubmit a previous proposal that was not approved. But it is not allowed to get grant/contract money from multiple sources to fund the exact same work as that would be what‘s known as ‘double-dipping‘. What you can do however, is tailor your project to the agency‘s specific need and focus and you will more than likely have a slightly distinct scope of work on each grant or contract, which makes it possible to have multiple awards, even simultaneously.

As the SBIR | STTR program involves various participating agencies with their own solicitations, applying for multiple grants is permissible. Our CEO, Rupak Doshi, has conducted his own research and study on the number of startups that have applied for multiple SBIRs and STTRs. He found that of 436 surveyed SBIR awardee companies, about 94% have submitted multiple proposals. Our company, OmniSync itself, has also submitted multiple applications to numerous agencies and, as a result, has won a total of seven SBIR awards. These awards are two Phase I, three Phase II, and two separate Phase III awards from different agencies. Additionally with these successes, our product, TurboSBIR, has guided multiple successful companies through numerous SBIR and STTR applications. Some of these companies include Universal Schedule and Booking, a USDA and DOE winner; Innovision LLC, an AFWERX, DOD, and NSF winner; and SygnaMap, a NIH, NSF, and (soon to be) NIST winner. You can find more TurboSBIR winners on our Testimonials Page.

Before applying for multiple SBIRs and STTRs, there are still several key considerations to keep in mind:

1. Eligibility and Requirements: While there are general registration requirements for the SBIR and STTR programs as a whole, individual agencies may require additional registrations, such as signing up for an application portal. It is essential to ensure that your business and proposed project align with the requirements set by each agency.
2. Tailoring Your Proposals: It is not a simple copy-paste process, as agencies only accept grants that align with their missions, topics, requirements, and milestones. Avoid using generic or recycled content and instead focus on addressing the research objectives, priorities, and technical challenges outlined by your chosen agency in their solicitations.
3. Timing and Deadlines: Keeping track of the application deadlines for each SBIR grant you plan to apply for is crucial. Different agencies have varying open dates, due dates, and yearly schedules, so effective time management is necessary to meet the submission deadlines. The SBA keeps track of these deadlines here on their website, and each individual agency also posts frequent updates on solicitation releases.
4. Resources and Capacity: Applying for multiple SBIR grants requires careful planning and resource allocation. Consider your team's workload and capacity to ensure that sufficient time and effort can be dedicated to each application. There are numerous resources available for startups seeking to apply for multiple grants, such as TurboSBIR. TurboSBIR offers custom plans tailored to assist startups in organizing, writing, and submitting multiple SBIR and STTR proposals, including grant pathways, samples, templates, and professional grant writing support. You can learn more about this service at TurboSBIR.com.
5. Managing Feedback: If your proposals are not selected for funding, agencies often provide feedback explaining why the proposals were unsuccessful. Utilize this feedback to improve future applications. Take note of the strengths and weaknesses identified in your proposals and make the necessary adjustments to enhance your chances of success, not just with the particular agency but also with others you may be interested in applying to. There are also services that will review your proposals and provide feedback. As previously mentioned, TurboSBIR offers intensive and comprehensive grant and contract support. With extensive experience submitting and reviewing applications, TurboSBIR can assist in understanding and applying any agency feedback.

What Are the Potential Pitfalls When Applying for Multiple SBIRs/STTRs?

When applying for multiple SBIRs or STTRs, small businesses should be cautious of the following pitfalls:

1. Overextending Resources: Applying for multiple grants can be time-consuming and resource-intensive. Small businesses may risk spreading their resources too thin, leading to a lack of focus and reduced quality in their proposals. There are supports to help mitigate this risk, such as TurboSBIR which provides easy-to- follow custom workflows for each different agency, as well as grant writers who can help alleviate almost all the workload.
2. Insufficient Proposal Customization: As previously mentioned, each SBIR/STTR opportunity may have unique requirements and evaluation criteria. One cycle that applicants may fall into is resubmitting the same proposal under the assumption that the process and requirements remain the same across all agencies. Customizing the proposal to align with the agency’s mission enhances the chances of success.
3. Limited Resources for Project Execution: If multiple proposals are awarded, small businesses must have adequate resources to execute the funded projects efficiently. It is essential to consider whether the business has the necessary personnel, equipment, and infrastructure to successfully manage and deliver multiple projects concurrently.
4. Conflating Intellectual Property Rights: Small businesses should carefully review the intellectual property provisions in each SBIRs or STTRs agreement. Different agencies may have varying policies and requirements regarding ownership and commercialization of intellectual property generated during the funded project. Failure to understand and comply with these provisions may lead to complications and potential conflicts later.
5. Compliance and Reporting Requirements: Applying for multiple SBIRs and STTRs means dealing with multiple sets of compliance requirements, financial reporting, and administrative responsibilities. It is crucial for small businesses to ensure they have the capacity and systems in place to meet these obligations and maintain compliance across all projects.
6. Managing Collaboration and Partnerships: If collaborating with research institutions or other entities is required for specific applications (always a requirement for STTR applications), small businesses should carefully manage these partnerships. Communication, coordination, and agreement on roles, responsibilities, and intellectual property rights are vital to ensuring smooth collaboration throughout the project lifecycle.

What Are the Benefits of Applying for Multiple Grants and When Would It Make Sense?

There are numerous benefits associated with applying for multiple SBIRs and STTRs, including:

1. Increased Funding Opportunities: Applying to multiple SBIRs and STTRs allows small businesses to tap into a broader range of funding opportunities. Considering the low success rates of SBIR and STTR grants (~20%)[3], applying to multiple grants increases the likelihood of securing funding. SBIRs.
2. Strategic Networking and Collaboration: Each SBIR grant may involve partnerships with specific research institutions or other entities, fostering collaboration opportunities[1]. By applying to multiple SBIRs and STTRs, small businesses will gain exposure to a wider network of agencies, program managers, and potential collaborators. This exposure creates the ability to forge connections and collaborations with different research organizations or industry partners. This can enhance their access to expertise, resources, and potential market opportunities[1].
3. Enhanced Learning and Feedback: The SBIR proposal process involves thorough evaluation by expert reviewers. Even if your proposal is not selected for funding, many agencies provide feedback explaining why it was unsuccessful. This feedback helps refine future proposals, identify areas for improvement, and gain a better understanding of the evaluation criteria.
4. Maximizing Research and Development Potential: Applying for multiple SBIR grants allows small businesses to pursue different research and development projects simultaneously[1]. This enables them to explore multiple technological avenues, conduct parallel experiments, and advance their innovation pipeline efficiently. It also allows them to capitalize on synergies that may arise between different projects and leverage knowledge gained in one project to benefit others[2].
5. Market Validation and Business Growth: Receiving funding from multiple SBIR grants provides strong market validation for your technology or solution. It demonstrates that multiple federal agencies recognize the potential value and impact of your innovation. Startups with multiple SBIR and STTR awards have often experienced exponential growth in their R&D and commercialization potential. This validation enhances credibility in the market, attracts potential investors, and opens doors to additional funding opportunities.
6. Diversifying Funding Sources: By applying for multiple SBIR grants, small businesses can increase their chances of securing funding and reduce reliance on a single funding source. This strategy allows them to spread their risk and enhance their financial stability[1]. Government funding provides a secure and guaranteed funding stream as long as the contract is valid and the milestones are met. Partnership is also a way to submit; for example, subcontracting or combining technology or products to improve a product is another option.

If an organization has expertise across different areas of research, applying for multiple grants allows small businesses to align their proposals with the specific priorities of each agency, highlighting their unique expertise and capabilities in different domains. Demonstrating unique and extensive expertise also increases the likelihood of receiving funding for their innovative projects[1].

It is important to note that while applying to multiple SBIR grants can offer advantages, it also requires careful consideration of available resources, project management capabilities, and eligibility criteria for each grant[1]. Small businesses should assess their capacity to effectively manage multiple projects and ensure alignment with their long-term goals and priorities.

What Are Strategies That Have Been Done and Have They Been Successful?

There are many different strategies an organization could choose. Some that have been done are:

Unsuccessful: Some companies will put together ten proposals. Some of these proposals may be for the same agency with slightly different applications for their product. The goal of this company would be to hope to get at least one award. By creating these multiple proposals, this company will end up recycling similar material, failing to tailor it to the different agencies’ needs. Additionally, they may be trying to double dip with almost the exact same product from different agency. This is why agencies have set strict rules surrounding the winning of multiple awards and only allows it when its clearly distinguished scope of work.

Successful: Write to the requirements and the needs. For example, a healthcare technology company focused on providing type II diabetic support and disease management via an app would fit within the NIH, NSF, USDA, and ACL. Each agency has its own needs outlined in their solicitation, so this company will adjust their separate proposals to pitch how various aspects of their product can benefit the agency. This technology could be tailored to the NIH by outlining the ways it aligns with the agency’s mission of “to develop, maintain, and renew scientific human and physical resources that will assure the nation's capability to prevent disease”. This same technology can next be tailored to the NSF SBIR/STTR topic area of “Digital Health” focused more on the underlying deep-tech of the product’s workings itself. This same process would be followed for other agencies and their solicitation applications.

With this strategy, many companies win multiple awards, but an issue they may encounter is that they may not be able to successfully accept them all. In a situation where some of these awards are contracts, there can be an overlap of goals and deadlines between two or more awards. If this is the case, the company will sometimes pick their preferred contract. If the company wants both and believes they have the resources for both, they will be honest with the TPOC and contracting officer and find a way to best meet unique benchmarks.

Alternative: One other thing to consider is that a standard government contract or agency-specific challenge might be an option, especially if the proposal is already written; it can be modified for the solicitation or challenge. These challenges are award events that are held by agencies throughout the year and can offer awards such as a small grant, a large contract, etc. You can check agency websites to track any open challenges.

Navigating the process of applying to multiple SBIRs and STTRs can be a rewarding but difficult process. There are consultation and writing resources that can steer you in the correct direction and provide the needed support, feedback, and work flows to make the process as simple and stress-free as possible. Schedule a call with the team here: https://www.turbosbir.com/

Sources:

1. Small Business Administration. "FAST Best Practices Guide." Link
2. National Science Foundation. "Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for SBIR/STTR." https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2022/nsf22053/nsf22053.jsp
3. SBIR/STTR 2019 SBA Annual Report https://www.sbir.gov/sites/default/files/SBA_Final_FY19_SBIR_STTR_Annual_Report.pdf pg. 11-12