Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002145
The FY2020 SBIR/STTR Phase I Release 1 opportunity (DE FOA 0002145) is a Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science funding announcement that provides Phase I grant support to eligible small businesses working on early-stage research and development (R and D) with strong commercialization potential. The program is designed to move innovative, mission-relevant technologies out of the lab and toward real-world products and services, while also strengthening U.S. economic competitiveness. DOE frames the core purpose as boosting private-sector commercialization of technologies tied to DOE-supported R and D, stimulating technological innovation, expanding participation by women-owned and minority-owned small businesses, and improving the overall return on federally funded research for broad social and economic benefit.
A central feature of this opportunity is that DOE is looking for high-quality, innovative concepts that address important scientific or engineering problems aligned with DOE mission needs and that are plausible candidates for commercialization. Phase I is intended to support proof-of-concept work and technical feasibility, not open-ended exploration. The announcement makes a point of what it will not fund: DOE SBIR/STTR does not support basic science (work without a clear applied R and D objective and commercialization path) and does not support demonstration projects (late-stage efforts focused mainly on showing a mature technology in operational settings). In other words, applicants are expected to propose targeted R and D that reduces key technical risks and sets up a credible path to a product, process, or service that the market (or a federal customer) would actually adopt.
The funding announcement covers both the SBIR and STTR programs, which share commercialization-focused goals but differ in how collaboration works. Under SBIR, collaboration with universities, national labs, or other research institutions is allowed and can be substantial, but it is optional. Under STTR, collaboration is required and must be a substantial, cooperative R and D partnership between the small business and a single Research Institution, as defined in the FOA reference materials. This matters for applicants choosing between tracks: SBIR fits companies that can lead most of the R and D internally (with partners as needed), while STTR is tailored for projects where a formal, significant split of work with a research institution is essential to the technical approach. Beyond that structural difference and eligibility requirements, both tracks are aimed at the same general outcome: moving DOE-relevant innovations toward commercialization.
DOE also emphasizes that Phase I should be treated as the start of a longer commercialization journey, not a one-off research exercise. Once Phase I begins, awardees are encouraged to actively pursue follow-on commitments from private-sector investors or from federal funding sources outside the SBIR/STTR program, with the expectation that those commitments should be lined up before submitting a Phase II application. The rationale is practical: Phase II continues development and scaling of the technology, and DOE wants to see that there is real interest and a plausible plan for sustained support beyond the initial feasibility work. The announcement notes that Phase III commitments can be contingent on meeting specific technical objectives during Phase II, which recognizes that investors and customers often want to see concrete milestones achieved before finalizing larger commitments.
The opportunity description outlines how the program phases are intended to work financially and strategically. Phase I and Phase II are SBIR/STTR-funded R and D stages that de-risk and mature the technology while staying aligned with DOE mission needs. Phase III is where commercialization is expected to happen using non-SBIR/STTR funds. The FOA describes Phase III as relying on a mix of funding sources: non-SBIR/STTR federal funding may support additional R and D that meets agency mission objectives identified through Phases I and II, while non-SBIR/STTR private capital is expected to fund follow-on development work aimed at commercial objectives. It also notes that federal agencies can issue non-SBIR/STTR funded follow-on awards (grants or contracts) to Phase I and Phase II winners for products or processes that meet agency mission needs, or for further mission-aligned R and D.
A notable administrative point is that the competitive process used for SBIR/STTR Phase I and Phase II satisfies certain federal competition requirements (including those associated with the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act and the Competition in Contracting Act). Practically, that means if an agency chooses to fund a Phase III effort stemming from a prior SBIR/STTR award, it generally does not need to run a new full competition solely to meet those statutory competition rules. At the same time, DOE clearly states that receiving Phase I funding does not guarantee Phase II or Phase III support; later phases require separate applications or funding decisions, and no obligation is created by earlier awards.
From the source data, this is a discretionary grant opportunity in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category (CFDA 81.049). Eligible applicants are small businesses. The award ceiling for Phase I is listed as $200,000, and DOE expected approximately 205 awards under this release. The opportunity was created on Aug 12, 2019, with an original closing date of Oct 15, 2019. Overall, the announcement signals that DOE is looking for small businesses with a focused, technically credible Phase I plan and a clear commercialization vision that can realistically attract follow-on funding and transition into Phase II and ultimately Phase III outcomes.Apply for DE FOA 0002145
- The Department of Energy - Office of Science, Office of Science in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY2020 SBIR/STTR Phase I Release 1" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.049.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 12, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 15, 2019. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 205 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Small businesses.
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