The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is conducting this SBIR Program Fast-Track competition to utilize funds appropriated by Section 7501 of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021, Pub. L. 117-2 (March 11, 2021), which provided NIST with funding to make awards for “research, development, and testbeds to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus.” These funds must be obligated by September 30, 2022. As a result of these time constraints, NIST will be conducting this competition as a Fast-Track program. This Fast-Track competition is seeking scientifically meritorious applications that have expressly high potential for near-term commercialization. The NIST Fast-Track program consists of a submission and review process in which both Phase I and Phase II applications are submitted together as one application to reduce or eliminate the funding gap between phases.
NIST invites small businesses to submit research applications under this Fast-Track Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Science and technology-based firms with strong research capabilities in the measurement science research areas described in Section 9.0 of this NOFO are encouraged to participate. Applications must clearly address a measurement science project that includes research, development or testbeds “to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus” and either build on one of the examples of NIST-conducted research provided in Section 9.0 (see Section 3.02.02(1)) or use a NIST-patented technology available for licensing. Proposals involving clinical trials for research involving human subjects will not be funded under this NOFO.
Only FY 2022 Fast-Track applications covering both Phase I and Phase II (hereinafter referred to as “Fast-Track”) should be submitted in response to this NOFO. NIST will not be publishing a separate Phase II NOFO to separately request Phase II applications. The NIST Fast-Track incorporates a process in which both Phase I and Phase II grant applications are submitted and reviewed together as one application. NIST will review the full proposal, Phase I and Phase II, of the Fast-Track application and, for projects selected for NIST Fast-Track, the first tranche of funds will support the Phase I portion of the project.
Deadline: April 15, 2022
Each applicant must qualify as an SBC for R/R&D purposes, as defined in Section 1.05 of this NOFO, at the time of award. In addition, the primary employment of the principal investigator must be with the small business at the time of the award and during the conduct of the proposed research. Primary employment means that more than one-half of the principal investigator's time is spent working with the small business. Primary employment with a small business precludes full-time employment with another organization. Occasionally, deviations from this requirement may occur, which must be approved in writing by the NIST Grants Officer after consultation with the SBIR Program Manager. Further, a small business may only replace the principal investigator on an SBIR Phase I award if the NIST Grants Officer provides prior written approval. Personnel obtained through a Professional Employer Organization or other similar personnel leasing company may be considered employees of the awardee.