Process // Missile Defense Agency Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer Programs

1) Getting Started

Strategy for submitting a Phase I proposal*

Obtain program information: overview & full guidelines
Determine whether your business qualifies
Determine the next solicitation deadline
Research to see whether your proposal idea fits current solicitation topics
Register your firm to participate
Research past awards to see examples of abstracts for successful proposals
Review sample proposals
Complete the Cover Sheet, Cost Proposal & Commercialization forms online
Upload/Submit your Technical Proposal. Submission complete!

* Proposals that fit an MDA topic are generally accepted or declined within 3 to 6 months, at which time the original emails and contacts entered when applying on the DoD site are used to notify your firm.

2) Program Information

The DoD SBIR/STTR website is the gateway for proposal submission and full program information.

Download SBIR and STTR guidelines via the DoD SBIR/STTR website

select "Solicitations"

select STTR under "Current Solicitations" (if there are no current solicitations, use the latest closed solicitations to learn about past topics)

locate the guidelines under "1. Program Solicitation"

select a format to view/download the guidelines (HTML, PDF or MSWORD)

Determine STTR solicitation deadlines from the DoD SBIR/STTR website

select "Solicitations"

review the Current/Past solicitations list

3) Proposal Research

continued from above, Program Information

Research to see whether your proposal idea fits current solicitation topics at the DoD SBIR/STTR website

select "Solicitations"

select STTR under "Current Solicitations" (if there are no current solicitations, use the latest closed solicitations to learn about past topics)

locate the "Solicitation Topics" table

locate the MDA column

select a format to view topics (HTML, PDF or MSWORD)

save a copy locally, on your pc, for future reference

Note: you may also use the "Topics Search Engine/DoD Topic Search Website" link below the topics table to search topics across all DoD departments!

Ensure your proposal will meet STTR Program Requirements:

if your proposal/technological idea matches an STTR-only topic:

partner with a research institution

apply to the STTR program using DoD guidelines

if your proposal/technological idea matches both an SBIR and STTR topic:

apply to the SBIR program if you do not wish/need to partner with a research institute

apply to the STTR program if you wish/need to partner with a research institute

select "Proposal Submission"

enter the first few letters of your company name and click the "FIND FIRM" button

click the "REGISTER NOW" button

complete the registration form, and click the "SAVE" button

Research past awards to see examples of abstracts for successful proposals

at the DoD SBIR/STTR website, select "Awards"

4) Submitting a Proposal

continued from above, Proposal Research

Review sample proposals at the DoD SBIR/STTR website

Select "Sample Proposals"

Select "Phase I Proposal" (if you are submitting for Phase I)

Select "Phase II Proposal" (if have been invited to submit a Phase II proposal)

Complete the Cover Sheet, Cost Proposal & Commercialization forms online at the DoD SBIR/STTR website

select "Proposal Submission"

enter the first few letters of your company name and click the "FIND FIRM" button

locate your firm name from the list and click the "CONTINUE" button

enter your password and click the "LOGIN" button

complete the Cover Sheet

complete the Cost Proposal

complete the Commercialization Form

Submit/Upload your Technical Proposal at the DoD SBIR/STTR website

select "Proposal Submission"

enter the first few letters of your company name and click the "FIND FIRM" button

locate your firm name from the list and click the "CONTINUE" button

enter your password and click the "LOGIN" button

upload your Technical Proposal (.pdf) file

WARNING!

Complete all required documents (Cover Sheet, Cost Proposal, Technical Proposal, Commercialization Report) when submitting! Partial submissions are routinely discarded!
If submitting a Phase II proposal, be sure to 'LOCK' the proposal on the DoD site after submitting to indicate completion and readiness for evaluation! Unlocked submissions are routinely ignored!
For Phase II participants, unless otherwise noted by DoD requirements, always include firm name, proposal number, and contract number in e-correspondence (for instance, put the proposal number in the SUBJECT portion of your emails). When submitting final reports, save the proposal number or contract number as part of the file name.

Proposals that fit an MDA topic are generally accepted or declined within 3 to 6 months, at which time the original emails and contacts entered when applying on the DoD site are used to notify your firm.