Proposal Preparation
and Submission Information for SBIR/STTR Phase I
Please reference the solicitation
for all the requirements This page provides help with entering your
proposal within FastLane
All Proposals MUST
be Electronically Signed!
In order to prepare a proposal
in FastLane you first must be a registered user. Complete
registration instructions can be obtained on the FastLane home page
from the `Registration Information´link.
To ensure that your SBIR/STTR proposal uses
the correct FastLane forms please reference:
Phase I Submission Requirements
For HELP Please Call the
FastLane Help Desk
1-800-673-6188
1. Go to the FastLane home page
http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov
- If you are not a registered user or
organization, please select the ‘Registration information' link
to obtain the needed access.
2. Select the `Proposal, Awards &
Status´ link
3. It is recommended that you read
the `Instructions for Preparing and Submitting a Standard Proposal´
link on FastLane.
4. When you are ready to begin entering
proposal information, return to the `Proposal, Awards & Status´
screen of FastLane. Log-in --Note: The person who starts
the proposal is listed as the PI! BE WARNED: If someone
other than the PI starts the proposal, the PI cannot be changed.
The proposer will have to start the proposal process over.
5. The next screen will be the `Principal
Investigator (PI)/Co-Prinicipal Investigator (CO-PI) Management´
6. The Proposal Functions screen
will give you several options.
7. The `Principal Investigator (PI)
Information´screen will appear.
7a. You may choose to update or
edit PI information by selecting the
7b. You may choose to prepare
your proposal by selecting the
8. Once you select to prepare your
proposal the `Proposal Actions´ screen will appear.
9. The `Form Preparation´ screen appears.
- You will see a "Forms for
Temp Proposal #". This number allows you to work
on your proposal. When your Authorized Organizational Representative
finally submits your proposal, your proposal will be assigned
an official NSF proposal number.
10.There are specific forms that must
be prepared for SBIR/STTR proposals. Click the "GO"
buttons beside each form to prepare the various forms.
10. A. The Cover Sheet has been
divided into 4 sections. To complete the cover
you must complete the 4 sections.
1. Awardee/Performing/Research
Organization Selection.
* Awardee Organization Info is pre-filled
from the PI information.
* STTR proposers must add Research Organization information.
Click on the "GO" for Awardee/Performing/Research Organization
Selection. Then click on the "Change Performer/Researcher"
button. {Type as much of the Institution name as possible;
click on "Locate Performer/Researcher" button; select
Research Institution by highlighting - click on Select Performer/Researcher;
a message will appear "Performing Institution Changed"
- click "OK"
Once all information is provided for
this section, click on "GO BACK" to return to the `Cover
Sheet Components Form´
2. Program Announcement / Solicitation
/ Program Description (all information is pre-populated)
* The Program Announcement/ Solicitation
Number will automatically appear if you selected the SBIR/STTR
Phase I button (the solicitation number is found on the cover
of the solicitation document).
3. NSF Unit Consideration
All the information is pre-populated.
If more than one NSF Unit appears on the Current List of related
NSF Units.
* Click the "GO" NSF Unit Consideration
and scroll down to the Current List of selected NSF Units.
Highlight the correct one and click on "Move to Top".
Highlight incorrect one and click on "Remove".
Click on "GO BACK" to return to the `Cover Sheet Components
Form´.
4. Click "GO" Remainder
of the Cover Sheet
Provide the required information to complete the cover sheet.
For example, the following information is required:
* Closing Date should be:
December 8, 2004 for the topic of Manufacturing Innovation.
* Employer Identification Number
(EIN) Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) must be provided.
* If proposal is being submitted to
another Federal Agency you MUST provide the information!
*Awardee Organization & Performing/Research
Organization (for STTR) should already be filled in.
*Make sure you check the information
in the section labeled: Is Awardee Organization:
*Title of Proposed Project - A title
MUST be begin with following the SBIR or STTR Phase I.
* Requested Amount can be left
blank. Once the budget is completed, the cover sheet will upload
the bottom line from the budget to the cover sheet.
* Proposal Duration should be filled-in
(typically 6 months for SBIR and 12 months for STTR)
* Check the Appropriate boxes as they
apply.
* SBIR/STTR Phase I Topic: Select
the Topic from the drop-down menu.
*SBIR/STTR Phase I Subtopic Letter(s), required. Please
fill in the subtopic. NOTE: The
subtopic letter codes are found in the Research topic.
Please reference the appropriate topic.
Manufacturing Innovation (MI) http://www.eng.nsf.gov/sbir/MI.htm
* The Small Business Concern Certifies
that: A listing of "Yes or No" questions are provided. YOU
MUST ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS!!!!
* Company Officer (for Business and
Financial Matters) provide name, title and telephone number
* Other Information: Provide
the President's Name, Year Firm was Founded; Number of Employees
(including parent, subsidiary, or predecessor), and the average
number of employees of the past 12 months and the number of
employees currently.
* For STTR proposers, information
is required on the Research Institution Investigator.
The name of the Research Institution is pre-populated, the name
of the Research Investigator, and the telephone number of the
Research Investigator should be entered.
* If the proposal has proprietary
information make sure you check the box provided.
* Scroll down and answer the
Debt and Debarment Certifications
* Provide information on the
Authorized Organizational Representative. Name/Title,
Phone, Email #, and Fax.
Click on "OK". A message will
appear, "Your Cover Sheet has been saved"
Click on "OK" to return to the Form
Preparation Screen.
10. B. Click on GO "Project Summary"
- The Project Summary screen appears.
The Project Summary has four sections: FastLane Lane Project
Summary Page is basically a blank sheet of paper. The Project
Summary MUST begin with, "This Small Business Innovation Research
Phase I project" or "This Small Business Technology Transfer
Phase I project". You must provide a Topic Name and Subtopic
Letter. *You have three options
to prepare the Project Summary (Use Text Box or Upload PDF,
but not both):
1. You can prepare your Project
Summary by using your own word processing package and then cut
& paste your information directly into the text box.
2. You can type directly into
the text box (spell check is not available).
3. You may prepare your Project
Summary by attaching a PDF file. (For more detailed information
on how to convert a file to PDF and important tips please go
to: FastLane
PDF Creation Hints and Pointers.), or
you can upload the Project Summary as a file. Click on the following
for more details about Uploading
Files
Click on "OK" to save the Project Summary
form. A message will return, "Data for Project Summary form
saved".
Click on "OK" to return to the Form
Preparation Screen.
10. C. Click "GO" Project Description
(Parts 1-7 are in this section) Prepare your SBIR/STTR Phase II
Proposal Contents with the specific Parts as outlined on the SBIR/STTR
Solicitation. This section cannot
exceed 15 pages!
Part 1: Identification and Significance
of the Innovation
Part 2: Phase I Technical Objectives
Part 3: Phase I Research Plan
Part 4: Company Information
Part 5: Commercial Potential
Part 6: Consultants and Subawards
Part 7: Equivalent or Overlapping Proposals to other Federal Agencies
You must have software installed on
your computer in order to create PDF files.
To upload your PDF file press the browse button and select the
PDF file from your computer (directions
on how to Create
PDF Files).
Once you have selected the file, press the
transfer button to start the transfer. This operation can
take several minutes once you have pressed the transfer button,
so please be patient. You must Embed
Your Fonts to be certain your project
description can be viewed properly at NSF and by reviewers.
When PDF file is uploaded, then Click
on "GO BACK" to return to the Form Preparation Screen.
10. D. Click "GO" Reference Cited.
Provide a comprehensive listing of relevant sources to support your
proposal.
10. E Click "GO" Biographical Sketches.
Provide relevant biographical information for the PI and key personnel.
Include information on present and past employment, education (highest
degree and year) and professional experience. You must also
include subawardee and consultants relevant information.
Before proceeding to the Budget Form Make
sure the necessary personnel for the budget and/or subawardee budget
have been added to the system.
Click "GO" Add/Delete Non Co-PI Senior
Personnel
- "Edit List of Senior Persons
on Proposal" screen will appear.
* Click on "Add/Modify Non Co-PI Senior
Personnel to Proposal" button. The individuals you add will
be available for inclusion on the budget for the company,
subaward, or STTR Research Institution budgets.
10. F. Click
"GO" Budgets.
- The Project Budget Screen will appear
- The company name should be highlighted
- Click on "Add Year" <Year
1 should be highlighted>
- Click "Add" The
system will return to the Project Budget Screen.
- Click on the hyperlink (under the Year
heading) 1 Funds - Personnel
Provide information for all sections:
A. Senior Personnel (add key/senior personnel)
and provide the number of calendar months and proposed cost.
B. Other Personnel (provide information on
personnel in the categories listed) provide the number of calendar
months and proposed cost.
C. Fringe Benefits (provide a description
of the fringe benefits for Senior Personnel and Other Personnel.)
D. Equipment (not an allowable expenditure
in Phase I.)
E. Travel (one trip to the Phase I Grantees
Conference must be budgetted.)
F. Participating Support Costs (SBIR/STTR
does not use this budget line item.)
G. Other Direct Costs (this includes the following:
1. Materials and Supplies
2. Publication Costs/Documentation/distrib
3. Consultant Services
4. Computer (ADPE) Services
5. Subcontracts
6.Other
NOTE -- All budget line items MUST be explained
H. Total Direct Costs (this is the total of
items
A - G)
I. Indirect Costs
J. Total Direct And Indirect Costs
K. Fee (If requested; maximum equals 7% of
line item J.)
L. Total Cost and Fee (this is the total cost
of the proposal).
Click on "Calculate & Save"
FOR SUBCONTRACTS
OR STTR RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS BUDGETS (otherwise skip this section,
go to -- 10.G Budget Justification)
- Click "Add Another Organization"
button from the Project Budget screen
* Type a few characters of the Institution´s
Name. Click the radio button "Contains" and then click on
"Locate" (If you cannot find this institution, please contact
the Fastlane Help Desk at 1-800-673-6188).
* Highlight the desired institution from
the list by clicking on it, then click on the "Select"
button.
* A screen appears with a box entitled
Currently PI is set to either select someone in the box or add
an individual by selecting the "Senior Per" link on
the right hand side.
10.G. Budget Justification.
Complete detailed justificationis required.
To complete the budget justification page:
Prepare a detailed Budget Justification
for both the Company and if applicable, the Research Institution
and/or Subawardee.
- Cut and Paste the budget justification
into the text box
- Type directly into the text box
- Upload a PDF file
The following items are required to be
addressed in the budget justification:
1. Direct Labor
2. Permanent Equipment
3. Travel
4. Materials and Supplies (all
materials & supplies must be broken out.)
5. Publication Costs
6. Consultant Services
7. Computer Services
8. Subawards
9. Other
10. Fee
Click on "GO BACK" once all data is supplied.
You will return to the Project Budget Screen; select "GO
BACK" once again to return to the Form Preparation Screen
in order to select the next form.
10.H. Click "GO" Current &
Pending Support. Provide information about all projects and/or
research to which the PI and other senior personnel either have
committed time or have planned to commit time. There are two
ways to prepare current and pending support.
1. You can fill out current and
pending support items by clicking on the correct PO/CO-PI or senior
person and clicking on the "New Form" button. Then
type in the data and save it by clicking on the "OK" button.
Each entry can be edited by selecting it and clicking on the "Edit"
button and deleted by selecting it and clicking on the "Delete"
button. All entries for an investigator will be printed
out together.
2. The user can also upload each
current and pending support form as a file. To upload a
file, click on the correct PI/CO-PI or senior person and click
on the "New Form" button and then click on the "Transfer
File" button. The user can
also upload all of the current and pending support forms for the
proposal as on file by clicking on the PI´s Name, choosing the
file, and clicking on the "Transfer File" button.
10.I. Click "GO" Facilities,
Equipment and other Resources. Provide a description that
specifies significant equipment, instrumentation, computers, and
physical facilities necessary to complete the portion of the research
proposed. There are two ways to prepare the facilities form.
1. After clicking on the "GO"
button to the left of "Facilities, Equipment and other Resources",
you can fill out the text fields and save the form by clicking
on the "OK" button. You can delete the form by selecting
the "Delete" button.
2. You can also upload the Facilities
form as a file.
10.J. Click "GO" Supplementary
Docs.
1. Letters of Technology Support (this is required
for all proposals). Proposals must be market-driven
and identify the end users of the proposed technology and its potential
for commercialization. The proposed technology must target the private
sector (Government and non-profits do not qualify) and one or more
letters os support is manadory.
2. The Company Commercialization History
(this is a requirement for all
proposals in which the company has received Phase II awards; failure
to provide this information will render your proposal as "inappropriate"
and the proposal will be returned without review).
3. The Cooperative Research Agreement
(this only required for STTR proposals).
There are several ways to prepare Supplementary
Documentation information.
1. You can cut and paste text from
a word processed document. However, doing so will only transfer
text. Special formatting such as bold-facing, italicizing,
and underlining will be lost in the cut-and-paste process.
You will experience best results if you format with spaces, not
tabs.
2. You can type text directly into
the form using the interface provided. Special formatting
such as bold-facing, italicizing, and underlining cannot be included
in a web text block. When the Supplementary Documentation
is complete, choose "OK" to save the data.
3. You can upload the Supplementary
Documentation as multiple files. follow the Uploading
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