Conducting Research with
Commercial Partners: SBIR & STTR
LTC Mark Carder
MAJ Kendra Lawrence
CPT Elizabeth Wanja
Disclaimer
Material has been reviewed by the Walter Reed Army Institute of
Research. There is no objection to its presentation and/or publication.
The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private views of the
author, and are not to be construed as official, or as reflecting true views
of the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense. Research
was conducted in compliance with the Animal Welfare Act and other
federal statutes and regulations relating to animals and experiments
involving animals and adheres to principles stated in the Guide for the
Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, NRC Publication, 1996 edition.
The Program
• The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of
Technology administers the Small Business Innovation
Research (SBIR) Program and the Small Business
Technology Transfer (STTR) Program.
• Through these two competitive programs, SBA ensures that
the nation's small, high-tech, innovative businesses are a
significant part of the federal government's research and
development efforts.
• Eleven federal departments participate in the SBIR program
• Five departments participate in the STTR program awarding
$2billion to small high-tech businesses.
• The U.S National Science Foundation administers the
SBIR.GOV site on behalf of the federal government.
The DoD SBIR & STTR Programs
• The SBIR Program provides up to $850,000 in
early-stage R&D funding directly to small
technology companies (or individual
entrepreneurs who form a company).
• The STTR Program provides up to $850,000 in
early-stage R&D funding directly to small
companies working cooperatively with
researchers at universities and other research
institutions.
SBIR
• The DoD SBIR program, funded at approximately $1.14 billion in FY 2008
• 12 participating components:
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Army
Navy
Air Force
Missile Defense Agency (MDA)
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
Chemical Biological Defense (CBD)
Special Operations Command (SOCOM)
Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA)
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)
Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)
Defense Microelectronics Activity (DMEA)
Office of Secretary of Defense (OSD).
The Basics
• The Small Business Innovation Research program funds early-stage
R&D at small technology companies and is designed to:
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stimulate technological innovation
increase private sector commercialization of federal R&D
increase small business participation in federally funded R&D
foster participation by minority and disadvantaged firms in
technological innovation
• To participate in the SBIR program:
– a firm must be a U.S. for-profit small business of 500 or fewer
employees
– work must be performed in the United States
– during Phase I, a minimum of 2/3 of the effort must be performed by
the proposing firm; a minimum of 1/2 of the effort in Phase II
– the Principal Investigator must spend more than 1/2 of the time
employed by the proposing firm
The Quick Pic
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer
Program (STTR) programs allow small, high-tech U.S. businesses (less than 500
employees) and academia the opportunity to provide innovative research and development
solutions in response to critical Army needs. By capturing the tremendous and agile talents
of the U.S. small business community, the SBIR and STTR Programs benefit the
Department of Defense (DoD), the private sector, and our national economy.
This portal provides all the information necessary to participate in these programs.
-New Army Phase I Proposal Submission Instructions
-2010 CPP Companies
-QUARTERLY SBIR NEWSLETTER
-TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Last Updated: January 11, 2010
-SECURITY/PRIVACY NOTICE
-508 ACCESSIBILITY
-DISCLAIMER OF ENDORSEMENT AND LIABILITY
Topic Submission
• The SGS is the starting point for SBIR topic
generation
• Army participates in three DoD SBIR Solicitations
each year
• Specific areas of interest are provided based on input
from individual research programs
• Depending on Technology Requirements and
Capability Gaps
• Request for topic concept is sent out from MRMC in a
tasking memo
Topic Submission
• How the process works
• Topic concepts are submitted
• Concept consists of a topic title and brief description
(20-30 words)
• HQ MRMC reviews topic concepts
• Approved topic concepts are developed into full
SBIR topics
• HQ MRMC reviews full topics
Topic Submission
• Approved topics are reviewed by the Technology
Area Chief (TAC)
• TAC approved topics are forwarded to DDR&E
• DDR&E approved topics are posted online for
proposal submission
The Hi-Z Experience
• R & D oriented thermoelectric business
• Staff of 17 engineers, physicists, metallurgists and
technicians
• Designs, develops, manufactures, and markets
bulk material Thermoelectric Modules and
Generator systems, ranging from milliwatt size to
multiple kilowatt size in power output
• Self powered heamatophagous trap
– Phase I
– Phase II
– Demo units delivered and tested on the field
The Hi-Z Experience
Proprietary Device
Bottom part
Hi-Z CO2 Generator prototype
Proprietary Device
Top Part
The Hi-Z Experience
• Trap bulky, difficult to operate-requires at least 2
people
• Not possible to keep the stove flame on during
windy/rainy days
• Poor combustion-CO2 pipe constantly filled with
soot
• Trap caught fire on several occasions
• Very low trap catches (≤ 5 mosquitoes) on the 3
days trap was operational
Current WRAIR Entomology SBIRs
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Field-deployable CO2 generator
Improved residual insecticide matrix
Improved insecticide-treated bed net
Wearable spatial repellent device
New uniform treatment methods
Dipsticks for detection of
• Dengue and Rift valley fever viruses
• West Nile and Chikungunya viruses
• Sand fly fever virus and Leishmania parasites
CO2 Generator Solicitation
•Solicitation requirements
• Light weight, rugged, and field-portable
• Generate CO2 from small quantities of non-hazardous
starting materials
• CO2 must contain no impurities and able to attract
vectors
• Flow rates comparable to or better than
200mL/minute
• Generator should be safe to operate unattended for ≥
12 hours
• Generation method must be reliable, reproducible
with non-hazardous waste
CO2 Generator Solicitation Cont…
• All proposals consisted of hydrocarbon and
acid-base based projects
• Two companies awarded Phase I and also
Phase II
– One hydrocarbon based, one acid-base based
project
• Hydrocarbon based –CUBE Technology
• Acid-base- TDA Research Inc
CO2 Generator prototypes
Proprietary Device
TDA Research Inc CO2 Generator prototype
CO2 Generator Prototypes Cont….
Proprietary Device
CUBE Technology CO2 Generator prototype
CO2 Generator Experience
• Both companies’ CO2 generator prototypes strictly follow
solicitation requirement
• Demonstrate exemplary work
• Performance is consistently of high quality
• Work plans to achieve project goals are well-organized and
executed
• Progress made to date has met and exceeded expectations
• Development and testing is ahead of schedule
– CUBE prototype will be ready for field testing during Spring 2010
– TDA generator prototype tested in the field during Summer 2009
CO2 Generator Experience
4.5
LS Mean Mosquito Count
4.0
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
MTA
BG-BG CDC- BG CO2 Negative Dry Ice
Lure
Lure
Sachet Control
CRADA Octenol Acid-base
Trap Types
Adjusted Mean Mosquito Counts Across Trap Type