Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Feedback Survey

Help CEBN compile recommendations to policymakers!

The Clean Energy Business Network is working to identify potential improvements to federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) programs to make these valuable programs even more impactful and accessible to small businesses. This survey will take less than 5 minutes to complete and the goals are to:

1. Collect your feedback on any experiences navigating, applying to, or working with SBIR and other federal R&D programs.

2. Collect your feedback on several proposed reforms to improve these programs, in order to help inform and prioritize our recommendations to Congress and the Executive Branch. Visit this website to download slides and our draft letter for further background: https://www.cebn.org/event/sbir/

3. Identify relevant case studies to share with public, policymaker, and industry audiences.

Your contact information will only be used by CEBN staff/contractors for specific follow-up on your responses. We will aggregate responses anonymously for dissemination to policymakers.

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* 1. NAME

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* 2. EMAIL

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* 3. COMPANY/ORGANIZATION

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* 4. Has your company engaged with a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program in any of following ways? (check all that apply)

Applied for SBIR funding

Received SBIR funding

If yes, which agency/agencies?

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* 5. If you have NOT applied for a SBIR program, why not?

Don't need/not relevant to my company

Application process too difficult

N/A

Other (please specify)

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* 6. Has your company engaged with any other federal R&D programs? (check all that apply).

Applied for federal funding

Received federal Funding

If yes, which agency/agencies?

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* 7. Please rank the greatest challenges your business has experienced with federal SBIR programs (with 1 being your top challenge)

Navigating opportunities for Phase III awards

N/A

Learning about SBIR programs

N/A

Understanding how to apply

N/A

Lengthy/complex application process

N/A

Affording consultant/professional support to assist with application process

N/A

Prohibitions on spending Technical and Business Assistance funds in-house

N/A

Prohibitions on skipping Phase I and proceeding directly to Phase II

N/A

Eligibility restrictions for companies that are majority-owned by venture capitalists

N/A

Overly prescriptive technology solicitations

N/A

Lengthy response time to hear back if your application will be funded

N/A

Other (please describe further in Q8)

N/A

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* 8. How would the following changes to the SBIR program impact your business? (For further background, read our draft letter.)

	Strongly harmful	Somewhat harmful	No impact/not sure	No impact but I support this	Somewhat helpful	Strongly helpful
Make the Administrative Funding Pilot Program permanent.	Make the Administrative Funding Pilot Program permanent. Strongly harmful	Make the Administrative Funding Pilot Program permanent. Somewhat harmful	Make the Administrative Funding Pilot Program permanent. No impact/not sure	Make the Administrative Funding Pilot Program permanent. No impact but I support this	Make the Administrative Funding Pilot Program permanent. Somewhat helpful	Make the Administrative Funding Pilot Program permanent. Strongly helpful
Allow Technical and Business Assistance funds to be spent in-house, rather than mandating one or more external vendors.	Allow Technical and Business Assistance funds to be spent in-house, rather than mandating one or more external vendors. Strongly harmful	Allow Technical and Business Assistance funds to be spent in-house, rather than mandating one or more external vendors. Somewhat harmful	Allow Technical and Business Assistance funds to be spent in-house, rather than mandating one or more external vendors. No impact/not sure	Allow Technical and Business Assistance funds to be spent in-house, rather than mandating one or more external vendors. No impact but I support this	Allow Technical and Business Assistance funds to be spent in-house, rather than mandating one or more external vendors. Somewhat helpful	Allow Technical and Business Assistance funds to be spent in-house, rather than mandating one or more external vendors. Strongly helpful
Extend direct-to-Phase-II authority to all agencies, and make it permanent.	Extend direct-to-Phase-II authority to all agencies, and make it permanent. Strongly harmful	Extend direct-to-Phase-II authority to all agencies, and make it permanent. Somewhat harmful	Extend direct-to-Phase-II authority to all agencies, and make it permanent. No impact/not sure	Extend direct-to-Phase-II authority to all agencies, and make it permanent. No impact but I support this	Extend direct-to-Phase-II authority to all agencies, and make it permanent. Somewhat helpful	Extend direct-to-Phase-II authority to all agencies, and make it permanent. Strongly helpful
Make the Commercialization Readiness Pilot Program for Civilian Agencies and the Commercialization Assistance Pilot Program permanent.	Make the Commercialization Readiness Pilot Program for Civilian Agencies and the Commercialization Assistance Pilot Program permanent. Strongly harmful	Make the Commercialization Readiness Pilot Program for Civilian Agencies and the Commercialization Assistance Pilot Program permanent. Somewhat harmful	Make the Commercialization Readiness Pilot Program for Civilian Agencies and the Commercialization Assistance Pilot Program permanent. No impact/not sure	Make the Commercialization Readiness Pilot Program for Civilian Agencies and the Commercialization Assistance Pilot Program permanent. No impact but I support this	Make the Commercialization Readiness Pilot Program for Civilian Agencies and the Commercialization Assistance Pilot Program permanent. Somewhat helpful	Make the Commercialization Readiness Pilot Program for Civilian Agencies and the Commercialization Assistance Pilot Program permanent. Strongly helpful
Ensure that agencies create a system for reviewing and greenlighting short-form project descriptions before requiring a more time-intensive full application.	Ensure that agencies create a system for reviewing and greenlighting short-form project descriptions before requiring a more time-intensive full application. Strongly harmful	Ensure that agencies create a system for reviewing and greenlighting short-form project descriptions before requiring a more time-intensive full application. Somewhat harmful	Ensure that agencies create a system for reviewing and greenlighting short-form project descriptions before requiring a more time-intensive full application. No impact/not sure	Ensure that agencies create a system for reviewing and greenlighting short-form project descriptions before requiring a more time-intensive full application. No impact but I support this	Ensure that agencies create a system for reviewing and greenlighting short-form project descriptions before requiring a more time-intensive full application. Somewhat helpful	Ensure that agencies create a system for reviewing and greenlighting short-form project descriptions before requiring a more time-intensive full application. Strongly helpful
Create an independent program administered by the SBA—or competitively bid to an external contractor—to review successful short-form applications on the basis of need and provide vouchers for professional assistance.	Create an independent program administered by the SBA—or competitively bid to an external contractor—to review successful short-form applications on the basis of need and provide vouchers for professional assistance. Strongly harmful	Create an independent program administered by the SBA—or competitively bid to an external contractor—to review successful short-form applications on the basis of need and provide vouchers for professional assistance. Somewhat harmful	Create an independent program administered by the SBA—or competitively bid to an external contractor—to review successful short-form applications on the basis of need and provide vouchers for professional assistance. No impact/not sure	Create an independent program administered by the SBA—or competitively bid to an external contractor—to review successful short-form applications on the basis of need and provide vouchers for professional assistance. No impact but I support this	Create an independent program administered by the SBA—or competitively bid to an external contractor—to review successful short-form applications on the basis of need and provide vouchers for professional assistance. Somewhat helpful	Create an independent program administered by the SBA—or competitively bid to an external contractor—to review successful short-form applications on the basis of need and provide vouchers for professional assistance. Strongly helpful
Encourage agencies to allocate funding toward entrepreneurship programs within federal laboratories and universities.	Encourage agencies to allocate funding toward entrepreneurship programs within federal laboratories and universities. Strongly harmful	Encourage agencies to allocate funding toward entrepreneurship programs within federal laboratories and universities. Somewhat harmful	Encourage agencies to allocate funding toward entrepreneurship programs within federal laboratories and universities. No impact/not sure	Encourage agencies to allocate funding toward entrepreneurship programs within federal laboratories and universities. No impact but I support this	Encourage agencies to allocate funding toward entrepreneurship programs within federal laboratories and universities. Somewhat helpful	Encourage agencies to allocate funding toward entrepreneurship programs within federal laboratories and universities. Strongly helpful
Allow companies with venture capital (VC) majority ownership to qualify if they meet the small business intent of the SBIR/STTR program.	Allow companies with venture capital (VC) majority ownership to qualify if they meet the small business intent of the SBIR/STTR program. Strongly harmful	Allow companies with venture capital (VC) majority ownership to qualify if they meet the small business intent of the SBIR/STTR program. Somewhat harmful	Allow companies with venture capital (VC) majority ownership to qualify if they meet the small business intent of the SBIR/STTR program. No impact/not sure	Allow companies with venture capital (VC) majority ownership to qualify if they meet the small business intent of the SBIR/STTR program. No impact but I support this	Allow companies with venture capital (VC) majority ownership to qualify if they meet the small business intent of the SBIR/STTR program. Somewhat helpful	Allow companies with venture capital (VC) majority ownership to qualify if they meet the small business intent of the SBIR/STTR program. Strongly helpful
Encourage agencies to develop teams of dedicated program managers who possess relevant private-sector experience and the ability to work closely with awardees both before and after awards are made.	Encourage agencies to develop teams of dedicated program managers who possess relevant private-sector experience and the ability to work closely with awardees both before and after awards are made. Strongly harmful	Encourage agencies to develop teams of dedicated program managers who possess relevant private-sector experience and the ability to work closely with awardees both before and after awards are made. Somewhat harmful	Encourage agencies to develop teams of dedicated program managers who possess relevant private-sector experience and the ability to work closely with awardees both before and after awards are made. No impact/not sure	Encourage agencies to develop teams of dedicated program managers who possess relevant private-sector experience and the ability to work closely with awardees both before and after awards are made. No impact but I support this	Encourage agencies to develop teams of dedicated program managers who possess relevant private-sector experience and the ability to work closely with awardees both before and after awards are made. Somewhat helpful	Encourage agencies to develop teams of dedicated program managers who possess relevant private-sector experience and the ability to work closely with awardees both before and after awards are made. Strongly helpful
Encourage agencies to design solicitations based on broad technologies of interest rather than narrow pre-defined research topics.	Encourage agencies to design solicitations based on broad technologies of interest rather than narrow pre-defined research topics. Strongly harmful	Encourage agencies to design solicitations based on broad technologies of interest rather than narrow pre-defined research topics. Somewhat harmful	Encourage agencies to design solicitations based on broad technologies of interest rather than narrow pre-defined research topics. No impact/not sure	Encourage agencies to design solicitations based on broad technologies of interest rather than narrow pre-defined research topics. No impact but I support this	Encourage agencies to design solicitations based on broad technologies of interest rather than narrow pre-defined research topics. Somewhat helpful	Encourage agencies to design solicitations based on broad technologies of interest rather than narrow pre-defined research topics. Strongly helpful
Encourage the use of prizes and other flexible types of transactions to shorten award times. Having dedicated program managers would also help increase speed and flexibility.	Encourage the use of prizes and other flexible types of transactions to shorten award times. Having dedicated program managers would also help increase speed and flexibility. Strongly harmful	Encourage the use of prizes and other flexible types of transactions to shorten award times. Having dedicated program managers would also help increase speed and flexibility. Somewhat harmful	Encourage the use of prizes and other flexible types of transactions to shorten award times. Having dedicated program managers would also help increase speed and flexibility. No impact/not sure	Encourage the use of prizes and other flexible types of transactions to shorten award times. Having dedicated program managers would also help increase speed and flexibility. No impact but I support this	Encourage the use of prizes and other flexible types of transactions to shorten award times. Having dedicated program managers would also help increase speed and flexibility. Somewhat helpful	Encourage the use of prizes and other flexible types of transactions to shorten award times. Having dedicated program managers would also help increase speed and flexibility. Strongly helpful
Encourage agencies to educate and solicit successful SBIR/STTR awardees to seek and win contracts across the federal government based on agencies’ missions and needs.	Encourage agencies to educate and solicit successful SBIR/STTR awardees to seek and win contracts across the federal government based on agencies’ missions and needs. Strongly harmful	Encourage agencies to educate and solicit successful SBIR/STTR awardees to seek and win contracts across the federal government based on agencies’ missions and needs. Somewhat harmful	Encourage agencies to educate and solicit successful SBIR/STTR awardees to seek and win contracts across the federal government based on agencies’ missions and needs. No impact/not sure	Encourage agencies to educate and solicit successful SBIR/STTR awardees to seek and win contracts across the federal government based on agencies’ missions and needs. No impact but I support this	Encourage agencies to educate and solicit successful SBIR/STTR awardees to seek and win contracts across the federal government based on agencies’ missions and needs. Somewhat helpful	Encourage agencies to educate and solicit successful SBIR/STTR awardees to seek and win contracts across the federal government based on agencies’ missions and needs. Strongly helpful
Increase the portion of agency R&D budgets that must be allocated to SBIR programs (current requirement is 3.65%).	Increase the portion of agency R&D budgets that must be allocated to SBIR programs (current requirement is 3.65%). Strongly harmful	Increase the portion of agency R&D budgets that must be allocated to SBIR programs (current requirement is 3.65%). Somewhat harmful	Increase the portion of agency R&D budgets that must be allocated to SBIR programs (current requirement is 3.65%). No impact/not sure	Increase the portion of agency R&D budgets that must be allocated to SBIR programs (current requirement is 3.65%). No impact but I support this	Increase the portion of agency R&D budgets that must be allocated to SBIR programs (current requirement is 3.65%). Somewhat helpful	Increase the portion of agency R&D budgets that must be allocated to SBIR programs (current requirement is 3.65%). Strongly helpful
Reauthorize SBIR as a permanent program, rather than requiring that it be reauthorized every few years.	Reauthorize SBIR as a permanent program, rather than requiring that it be reauthorized every few years. Strongly harmful	Reauthorize SBIR as a permanent program, rather than requiring that it be reauthorized every few years. Somewhat harmful	Reauthorize SBIR as a permanent program, rather than requiring that it be reauthorized every few years. No impact/not sure	Reauthorize SBIR as a permanent program, rather than requiring that it be reauthorized every few years. No impact but I support this	Reauthorize SBIR as a permanent program, rather than requiring that it be reauthorized every few years. Somewhat helpful	Reauthorize SBIR as a permanent program, rather than requiring that it be reauthorized every few years. Strongly helpful

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* 9. How would you rate your experience with each of these agencies on SBIR or other R&D programs? (Select "N/A" for agencies you have not considered for funding.)

	Very poor	Somewhat poor	Somewhat positive	Very positive	N/A
Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)	Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) Very poor	Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) Somewhat poor	Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) Somewhat positive	Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) Very positive	Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) N/A
Dept. of Defense (DoD)	Dept. of Defense (DoD) Very poor	Dept. of Defense (DoD) Somewhat poor	Dept. of Defense (DoD) Somewhat positive	Dept. of Defense (DoD) Very positive	Dept. of Defense (DoD) N/A
Dept. of Education	Dept. of Education Very poor	Dept. of Education Somewhat poor	Dept. of Education Somewhat positive	Dept. of Education Very positive	Dept. of Education N/A
Dept. of Energy (DOE)	Dept. of Energy (DOE) Very poor	Dept. of Energy (DOE) Somewhat poor	Dept. of Energy (DOE) Somewhat positive	Dept. of Energy (DOE) Very positive	Dept. of Energy (DOE) N/A
Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS)	Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) Very poor	Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) Somewhat poor	Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) Somewhat positive	Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) Very positive	Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) N/A
Dept. of Homeland Security	Dept. of Homeland Security Very poor	Dept. of Homeland Security Somewhat poor	Dept. of Homeland Security Somewhat positive	Dept. of Homeland Security Very positive	Dept. of Homeland Security N/A
Dept. of Transportation (DoT)	Dept. of Transportation (DoT) Very poor	Dept. of Transportation (DoT) Somewhat poor	Dept. of Transportation (DoT) Somewhat positive	Dept. of Transportation (DoT) Very positive	Dept. of Transportation (DoT) N/A
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)	Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Very poor	Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Somewhat poor	Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Somewhat positive	Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Very positive	Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) N/A
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)	National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Very poor	National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Somewhat poor	National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Somewhat positive	National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Very positive	National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) N/A
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)	National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Very poor	National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Somewhat poor	National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Somewhat positive	National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Very positive	National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) N/A
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)	National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Very poor	National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Somewhat poor	National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Somewhat positive	National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Very positive	National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) N/A
National Science Foundation	National Science Foundation Very poor	National Science Foundation Somewhat poor	National Science Foundation Somewhat positive	National Science Foundation Very positive	National Science Foundation N/A

Feel free to elaborate below on the positive and negative aspects of your experiences with specific agencies.

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* 10. Do you have any good case studies of SBIR or other federally-supported projects that you wish to feature? (If so, please email these to cebn@cebn.org).

Yes