The Pre-Proposal support and financial assistance that technology-driven companies need to create high-quality SBIR & STTR grant proposals.
In order to qualify for Pennsylvania’s IPART SBIR/STTR assistance, the physical address of the company/applicant MUST be in Pennsylvania and can not be a PO Box or Residential Property.
The Innovation Partnership (IPart) has developed an agency-agnostic instrument called the ‘IPart Pre-Proposal’ to assist SBIR/STTR applicants in flushing out core competency areas of their SBIR/STTR project, demanded to be more fully articulated in their full, federal SBIR/STTR proposal. Each section of the pre-proposal demands a client be directly responsive to the narrative information we request, in a succinct and direct manner. IPart offers its FREE, Pre-Proposal technical review and financial assistance to technology-driven companies with a physical address located in Pennsylvania to assist them in preparing competitive, high-quality Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) grant proposals for submission to any of the 11 federal funding agencies offering these opportunities.
Preliminary SBIR/STTR Client Assistance
Along with our proposal development assistance programs, for both PhI & PhII, Pennsylvania’s IPart can assist interested SBIR/STTR clients with guidance on federal agency/topic matching and alignment, communicating appropriately and directly with agency program managers/officers or technical points of contact, proposal submission planning and timing, as well as agency registration requirements.
Pre-Proposal Technical Review
A Pre-Proposal Technical Review is offered to applicants whose proposal concepts have strong potential for competing successfully to win federal funding. This program offers a no-cost opportunity to receive valuable feedback from subject matter experts on planned Phase I and Phase II proposal concepts. All proposal concepts under review are fully protected by non-disclosure agreements to ensure confidentiality of proprietary information.
MicroVoucher (MV) Program
Candidates can be awarded a MicroVoucher from IPart that reimburses one-half of the cost incurred in preparing the proposal itself or up to $5,000, whichever is less. These awards are for Phase I SBIR/STTR proposal preparation. Payment is made directly to a Preferred Provider (PDF) (SBIR/STTR grant assistance professional) for their services.
Click for full MicroVoucher Guidelines
MicroGrant (MG) Program
Candidates who receive a highly positive Pre-Proposal review can be awarded a MicroGrant from IPart. The MicroGrant reimburses up to one-half of the total cost (or up to $2,000, whichever is less) incurred in preparing the proposal itself. Payment is made directly to the client or company.
Click for full MicroGrant Guidelines
*(MV & MG award amount is always at the discretion of the IPart Investment Committee. Awards are competitive and not every Pre-Proposal receiving a Tech. Review, receives a financial award. An IPart applicant must SELECT EITHER, the MG OR MV funding opportunity – NOT BOTH!)
Federal Marketing Assistance Awards (FMA)
Phase II Proposal Candidates can be awarded up to $8,000 (or half of the total proposal preparation costs, whichever is less). Funds can be used to defray proposal prep admin costs or reports to enhance the commercialization section of their Phase II federal proposal.
MULTIPLE SBIR/STTR PROPOSAL SUBMISSIONS/ASSISTANCE THROUGH IPART
First-time SBIR/STTR applicants SHOULD NOT anticipate developing and submitting multiple proposals to different federal agencies, at one time. Our years of experience working with SBIR/STTR clients have shown that the steep learning curve with SBIR/STTR proposal development, rules/regulations, federal registrations, federal portal submission, timing, and focus are challenging, to say the least. As a first time SBIR/STTR applicant, clients will have the best chance of award, using IPart assistance, if we ensure appropriate alignment with the project and agency topic area and focus on the development of ONE, competitive, well-developed proposal and successful submission first, before considering other proposals submissions. Additionally, IPart will not entertain multiple, similar proposal reviews for the same company, at one time, regardless of whether or not they will be submitted to different agencies. Previous, successful SBIR/STTR awardees are encouraged to use IPart assistance (within IPart award limits) and ALL SBIR/STTR applicants should contact the IPart or its Partners to learn more about our programs.
OTHER FEDERAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES & IPART ASSISTANCE
IPart MAY consider assisting clients with other federal funding grant opportunities (such as BAAs or RFPs) specifically designed to assist small businesses in technology or innovative spaces, IF the opportunity and proposal structure align well with our IPart Pre-Proposal or FMA mechanisms. These opportunities are reviewed one-on-one, with the IPart Director, on a case-by-case basis.
IPart DOES NOT currently assist clients seeking to submit a FastTrack or Direct to Phase II proposals if the client has never successfully submitted and won PhI(s) or PhI & PhII awards previously. If a client has previously been awarded a PhI(s) or PhI & PhII awards, consideration MAY be given to assist with a FastTrack/Direct to PHII submission, but, only after one-on-one consultation with the IPart Executive Director and a majority of agreement with the IPart Investment Committee.
Please consult our IPart & SBIR/STTR FAQs to help answer more detailed questions about our assistance/programs
IPart Executive Director: Kelly S. Wylam kelly.wylam@benfranklin.org
