FY 2017 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program | 2017 NIST SBIR 01

FY 2017 NIST SBIR Phase I (Opportunity 2017 NIST SBIR 01) - Frequently Asked Questions

1) What is this funding opportunity?

This is the FY 2017 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program notice from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). It invites eligible small businesses to submit Phase I research proposals for a discretionary, competitive research and development opportunity focused on early-stage technical innovation aligned with NIST mission needs.

2) What type of award is NIST using for this SBIR notice?

The funding instrument type listed is a cooperative agreement. This generally means NIST may expect to have substantial involvement during the project compared with a standard grant, depending on the specific terms of the award.

3) Is this opportunity specifically for Phase I proposals?

Yes. The notice is explicitly a Phase I SBIR solicitation, positioned as an entry point for feasibility and proof-of-concept work and for reducing technical risk before potential later-phase development.

4) What does NIST mean by "topic responsiveness"?

Topic responsiveness is a central requirement. Phase I applications must address one of the specific research subtopics identified in Section 9 of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). NIST treats this as a strict eligibility condition for this solicitation.

5) What happens if a proposal does not match a Section 9 subtopic?

If a proposal does not directly align with one of the Section 9 subtopics, it is considered non-responsive and is not eligible for funding under this particular solicitation.

6) Can a company submit a general R&D idea that is not tied to a named subtopic?

No. Applicants are expected to map their technical approach and anticipated outcomes to a specific named subtopic in Section 9, rather than submitting a general-purpose idea outside the defined scope.

7) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to firms that meet the SBIR definition of a small business concern for research/research and development purposes, as referenced in Section 1.05 of the NOFO.

8) When must the business meet the SBIR small business definition?

The business must meet the SBIR small business definition at the time of award.

9) What are the principal investigator (PI) employment requirements?

At the time of award and throughout the conduct of the proposed research, the PI's primary employment must be with the small business.

10) How is "primary employment" defined for the PI in this notice?

"Primary employment" is defined as the PI spending more than half of their time working for the small business.

11) Can the PI be employed full-time somewhere else while serving as PI?

The notice indicates that full-time outside employment would conflict with the primary-employment standard, because the PI must spend more than half of their time working for the small business during the award.

12) Are exceptions to the PI primary-employment requirement possible?

Exceptions can occur but are described as occasional and must be approved in writing by the NIST Grants Officer. That approval involves consultation with the SBIR Program Manager.

13) Can the company change the PI after an award is made?

Not unilaterally. If the small business needs to replace the PI on a Phase I award, NIST requires prior written approval from the NIST Grants Officer.

14) Who at NIST must approve a post-award PI replacement?

Prior written approval must come from the NIST Grants Officer.

15) Why does NIST require approval for PI changes?

The notice frames this as a continuity and accountability measure, since SBIR awards rely heavily on the qualifications and availability of the PI identified in the application.

16) How does this notice treat staff obtained through a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) or personnel-leasing arrangement?

Personnel obtained through a PEO or similar personnel-leasing arrangement may be considered employees of the awardee, which can help firms using co-employment or leased employment models remain compliant with SBIR staffing expectations, assuming other program rules are met.

17) Which agency administers this program?

The program is administered by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

18) What is the CFDA number and activity category for this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed is 11.620, and the activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

19) What is the opportunity number?

The opportunity number listed is 2017 NIST SBIR 01.

20) What were the key dates listed in the opportunity metadata?

The creation date was January 10, 2017, and the original closing date was March 30, 2017.

21) Does the excerpt provide an award ceiling or the expected number of awards?

No. The excerpt provided does not list an award ceiling or the expected number of awards. Those details would need to be confirmed in the full NOFO text.

22) Where are the required research subtopics located?

The required research subtopics are identified in Section 9 of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), and Phase I applications must address one of those subtopics to be responsive.