Dear SBIR Gateway Insider,

We have news concerning SBIR reauthorization and I'm sure most of you won't be surprised. Mercifully, this edition of the SBIR Insider will be short!

In this issue:

• House Passes SBIR Continuing Resolution
• DoD STTR FY-2010A Partnering Experiment
• 2010 National SBIR Conference

House Passes SBIR Continuing Resolution

Yes you read it correctly. On Wednesday January 27, 2010 the House passed a continuing resolution (CR) to extend the SBIR/STTR programs through April 30, 2010. The current CR expires January 31, 2010. The DoD SBIR program is not impacted by the new CR because their program was previously extended through September 30, 2010.

This is the 6th in a series of short term SBIR CRs since 2008. This one, known officially as H. R. 4508 was crafted by Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), Chair of the House Small Business Committee. Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA), chair of the Senate Small Business Committee wanted a longer time period but will not object because it is critical to pass this CR immediately.

The Senate is expected to pass the new CR this week and the President should sign it before the end of the month, hence the SBIR/STTR program will continue to operate "as is" through April 30, 2010.

This is disappointing news to the agencies and small business community alike, who are starving for a stable long term SBIR reauthorization. For all the bloviated SBIR rhetoric by the House Small Business Committee's leadership concerning their glorious SBIR reauthorization efforts, perhaps the most charitable observation would be: "The elephant labored forth and bore a mouse."

The actions of the House Small Business Committee's leadership is nothing short of dysfunction and embarrassment. This is "probably" why the House and Senate Armed Services Committees took the unprecedented action of extending the DoD's portion of the SBIR program independently of the House Small Business Committee.

On the other hand the Senate Small Business Committee has worked hard to listen to SBIR stakeholders across the entire spectrum, and reach compromises, most of which have fallen of deaf ears by the House Small Business Committee.

We will keep you informed on future actions that you may want to consider in order to move the SBIR reauthorization along.

DoD STTR FY-2010A Partnering Experiment

The DoD has just issued their FY-2010A STTR prerelease which will open to receive proposals on 2/23/10 and close on 3/24/10. There are 45 topics from the Navy and 30 from the Army.

Our SBIR Gateway will again offer a partnering mechanism for small businesses, universities and prime contractors to find potential partners on a topic by topic basis for this DoD STTR.

Last year we had more than 300 topic registrations with many universities participating with small businesses. Remember that STTR requires the small business to partner with a University, Federally Funded Research & Development Center (FFRDC), or other non-profit research institution.

As usual, this is a free service of our SBIR Gateway and we hope to have this live by early next week at www.zyn.com/sbir I hope you will find it helpful to your STTR efforts.

Note: This is an independent effort not connected to DoD or any other government agency, so please send any complaints directly to me.

2010 National SBIR Conference

The 2010 National SBIR Conference is coming to the Connecticut Convention Center, Hartford, CT April 21-23, 2010. Two years ago Connecticut hosted the national SBIR conference and it was so successful they've been selected to do it again.

This conference is great for novices to expert level companies. You'll be able to schedule one-on-one appointments with all 11 federal agencies and potential industry partners. You'll also be able to feature your company/technology during the Poster Show.

Early bird registration discounts are offered through the end of January.

Get all the details on the conference web site at: www.sbirnational.com

I have to apologize to the 1,100+ of you that responded to our last SBIR Insider. Unfortunately I haven't been able to respond directly to all of you, but I'm still trying and will include many of your Q&As in our next issue.

Thanks again for your time.

Sincerely,

Rick

Rick Shindell
SBIR Gateway
Zyn Systems
40 Alderwood Dr.
Sequim, WA 98382
360-681-4123
[email protected]
www.zyn.com/sbir

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