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  • 2010
    • August
      • New Blog Entries
        08/13/10
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        NEW BLOG ENTRIES

        In terms of writing a proposal that has a higher chance of funding, there is not a whole lot of new substantive information that I can add to this Blog. Please read through the entries and you will find a lot of useful info, I thin

  • 2008
    • July
      • Techniques in Writing V
        07/02/08
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF WRITING A PROPOSAL V

        One of the key factors in getting your proposal funded is selling your idea to the reviewers. So, how do you sell your idea? There are many techniques for doing this.

        It is important that the re

    • June
      • Techniques in Writing IV
        06/25/08
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF WRITING A PROPOSAL IV

        One of the key factors in getting your proposal funded is selling your idea to the reviewers. So, how do you sell your idea? There are many techniques for doing this.

        Sometimes, often in fact,

      • Techniques in Writing III
        06/18/08
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF WRITING A PROPOSAL III

        One of the key factors in getting your proposal funded is selling your idea to the reviewers. So, how do you sell your idea? There are many techniques for doing this.

        Another important techniq

      • Techniques in Writing II
        06/11/08
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF WRITING A PROPOSAL II

        One of the key factors in getting your proposal funded is selling your idea to the reviewers. So, how do you sell your idea? There are many techniques for doing this.

        Another important techniqu

      • Techniques for Writing I
        06/04/08
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF WRITING A PROPOSAL

        One of the key factors in getting your proposal funded is selling your idea to the reviewers. So, how do you sell your idea? There are many techniques for doing this.

        One important technique is to

    • May
      • NIH Reviewers II
        05/28/08
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        NIH REVIEWERS

        Picking up from last weeks thoughts, methods descriptions are also important for the NIH, whereas they are far less important for most other agencies.

        NSF, DoD, DoE, and the other funding sources that I have worked with ar

      • NIH Reviews
        05/21/08
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        NIH REVIEWERS

        There are numerous sources for SBIR/STTR funding. The NIH is the largest source of such funding. However, the NIH has its idiosyncrasies in terms of grant review.

        DoD, DoE, and the other funding sources that I have worked w

      • New SBIR/STTR Rules
        05/14/08
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        SBIR FUNDING ON THE UPSWING

        SBIR/STTR funding is very likely to increase substantially.

        http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xp

        Get those applications ready to submit to all agencies now. Previously, the NIH was preferable

      • Reviewers' Comments
        05/07/08
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        INTERPRETING REVIEWERS’ COMMENTS

        When you read the critiques of your application, be sure to listen to the reviewers. They are telling you how to improve your application.

        It is always possible to improve an application. Even the best a

    • April
      • Letters of Support II
        04/30/08
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        LETTERS OF SUPPORT

        Letters of support are very important to include in your application. These letters fall into several different categories. These categories include: significance, investigators, and environment.

        Last week I addressed

      • Letters of Support
        04/23/08
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        LETTERS OF SUPPORT

        Letters of support are very important to include in your application. These letters fall into several different categories. These categories include: significance, investigators, and environment.

        Letters of support fo

      • Start Early
        04/16/08
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        PREPARE EARLY

        It is important to start to prepare your application early. Start as early as possible, but be sure to start at least 30 days before submission. It is best to start at least 2 or 3 months before submission.

        Time flies incr

      • Keep the Writing Simple
        04/11/08
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        WRITE IN A SIMPLE MANNER

        It is very important to write in a simple manner. Keep the writing level at an advanced high school level. This will help strained reviewers to stay focused on your application.

        I have seen many applications of

      • Respond Well to Reviewers
        04/02/08
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        RESPOND WELL TO REVIEWERS

        When resubmitting, it is of paramount importance to respond completely to all of the reviewers’ comments and tell where in the text those responses can be found.

        The comments are often on the mark, but the appli

    • March
      • Follow Advice
        03/25/08
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        IF YOU PAY FOR ADVICE...

        Last round I had a success rate of 30%. It could have been 70% or 100% had people followed my advice. Some applications should not have been submitted. I warned to applicants from the word go. They insisted so we went ahead

      • Realistic Expectations
        03/21/08
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        BE REALISTIC IN YOUR EXPECTATIONS

        Your best probability of obtaining funding for a fund worthy Phase I is about 60%. This means that you will have to resubmit most of the time in order to obtain funding.

        When you get back an application

      • Risk / Reward II
        03/12/08
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        RISK / REWARD II

        When you distill down a reviewer’s decision making process, you end up with a simple equation: funding = risk / reward. How do you strike this balance so that you receive funding? Let us first explore the components of risk.
      • Risk / Reward
        03/05/08
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        RISK / REWARD

        When you distill down a reviewer’s decision making process, you end up with a simple equation: funding = risk / reward. How do you strike this balance so that you receive funding? Let us first explore the components of risk.
    • February
      • Resubmissions
        02/26/08
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        RESBUMISSIONS

        Within a year, it is likely that resubmissions will be a thing of the past.

        I had a meeting with Toni Scarpa, Director of CSR, yesterday. He informed me that it may soon be policy that all grant submissions will be treated

      • Stay Focused
        02/20/08
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        FOCUS YOUR APPLICATION

        A major fault in applications is a lack of focus.

        If you have a new technology, it is likely that you will have many uses for that technology.

        I have seen many applications fail because the PI was too

      • More On Preliminary Data
        02/13/08
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        PRELIMINARY DATA

        As you all know, preliminary data is not required for SBIR/STTRs. However it sure can help...or hurt. Whether or not you will benefit from including preliminary data will usually depend on how you write your application and the ris

      • The Background Section
        02/06/08
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        BACKGROUND INFORMATION

        It is often acknowledged that it takes an expert to make the complex seem simple.

        The background information section is very important. This section justifies the rationale for your proposal and allows the reviewe

    • January
      • Winning Funding VII
        01/30/08
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        PART VII OF THERE IS A SIMPLE TRICK TO GETTING FUNDING

        Funding results from a balance of three factors. Maximize these three factors and you will win funding.

        (1) Contents of the application.
        (2) Writing.
        (3) Luck of the draw

      • Winning Funding VI
        01/23/08
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        PART VI OF THERE IS A SIMPLE TRICK TO GETTING FUNDING

        Funding results from a balance of three factors. Maximize these three factors and you will win funding.

        (1) Contents of the application.
        (2) Writing.
        (3) Luck of the draw

      • Winning Funding V
        01/16/08
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        PART V OF THERE IS A SIMPLE TRICK TO GETTING FUNDING

        Funding results from a balance of three factors. Maximize these three factors and you will win funding.

        (1) Contents of the application.
        (2) Writing.
        (3) Luck of the draw f

      • Winning Funding IV
        01/10/08
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        PART IV OF THERE IS A SIMPLE TRICK TO GETTING FUNDING

        Funding results from a balance of three factors. Maximize these three factors and you will win funding.

        (1) Contents of the application.
        (2) Writing.
        (3) Luck of the draw

      • Winning Funding III
        01/08/08
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        PART III OF THERE IS A SIMPLE TRICK TO GETTING FUNDING

        Funding results from a balance of three factors. Maximize these three factors and you will win funding.

        (1) Contents of the application.
        (2) Writing.
        (3) Luck of the draw

      • Winning Funding: II
        01/07/08
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        PART II OF THERE IS A SIMPLE TRICK TO GETTING FUNDING

        Funding results from a balance of three factors. Maximize these three factors and you will win funding.

        (1) Contents of the application.
        (2) Writing.
        (3) Luck of the draw

      • A Trick to Winning Funding
        01/04/08
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        THERE IS A SIMPLE TRICK TO GETTING FUNDING

        In response to a question from yesterday, there is a simple "trick" to winning funding.

        Funding results from a balance of three factors. Maximize these three factors and you will win

      • Feedback Day
        01/02/08
        I welcome your feedback on this blog so that I can serve you better.

        Please Contact Me or request a blog subject in the comments section today.

      • Finish Early
        01/01/08
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        FINISH YOUR APPLICATION EARLY

        I know it is easy to say and it is a trite thing to emphasize, however you can greatly improve your chances of success by finishing your application early. This will give you the opportunity to put it aside for several

  • 2007
    • December
      • Application Length
        12/21/07
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        KEEP THE APPLICATION SHORT

        In the spirit of yesterday’s entry, keep your application as short as possible. Keep your Phase I to 10-12 pages and keep your Phase II application to 15-20 pages.

        Learn to do this now because within a number

      • Reviewers
        12/20/07
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        KEEP YOUR AUDIENCE IN MIND

        Three or more reviewers are assigned to your application. This is good and this is bad. The good part is that all aspects of your application should be covered. The bad part is that the more people who review you applicat

      • Some Comments On IP
        12/19/07
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        WHAT ROLE DOES IP PLAY IN THE GRANT PROCESS

        IP is a very confusing area for many reasons. One reason is that many reviewers think they know a lot about IP. Well, some do, but most do not. I have seen many applications unjustly affected by reviewers

      • Keep it Short
        12/18/07
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        AVOID PACKING IN TOO MUCH INFORMATION

        When writing a grant application, it is tempting to put in all the information that you can think of, just to be sure that you do not miss something. More information is not always better. The quality of the

      • On Preliminary Data
        12/17/07
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        TIPS ON WHEN AND HOW TO USE PRELIMINARY DATA

        Sometimes preliminary data is essential and sometimes it is not necessary or even harmful. Knowing when and how to use preliminary data is one of the key factors in obtaining fundable priority scores.
      • Free E-Book
        12/14/07
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        This blog site just hit 1000 unique visitors. The first 5 people to email me will receive a free E-Book on High Level SBIR/STTR Grant Writing Techniques, which has been reviewed by many SBIR/STTR veterans of success:

        As both a reviewer and an a

      • Factors for Funding
        12/14/07
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        WHICH FACTORS DETERMINE PRIORITY SCORE?

        What is the number one factor in obtaining funding? The number one factor in obtaining funding is the balance between significance of your product, your writing, how you manage the review process itself, you

      • Tip About the Appendix
        12/13/07
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        DISALLOWED APPENDIX MATERIAL IS NOT REMOVED FROM YOUR APPLICATION

        Appendix material: your application will not be rejected for including incorrect Appendix material. Now that applications are submitted electronically, the NIH has no way of removin

      • The Deadline is Not Final
        12/12/07
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.


        SOME TIPS ON LATE AND CORRECTED APPLICATIONS:

        The NIH will bend over backwards to accept your late application for up to two weeks beyond the deadline. As long as you can give a plausible reason, they will accept the application. The closer t

      • Reviewer Comments
        12/11/07
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        HERE IS SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT WHEN WRITING YOUR NEXT APPLICATION:

        Typical Reviewer Comments About Strong SBIR/STTR Applications:
        • This project addresses an important need in improving human health.
        • This project offers significant a

      • The Reviewer Missed That!
        12/10/07
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        DON'T LET THE REVIEWERS MISS KEY INFO

        Ever notice how the reviewers seem to miss key info? At every review meeting I have attended, it is clear that most reviewers are missing key details in applications.

        For the most part reviewe

      • Never Be Unscored
        12/07/07
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        YOUR APPLICATION SHOULD NEVER BE UNSCORED

        Applications are reviewed by at least three people. The applications receive a preliminary priority score. At the review meeting, applications are discussed and following the discussion they are given a f

      • Budget: Salary
        12/06/07
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR BUDGET: Salary

        Budgets are treated as an administrative aspect of the review. The budget is not a score driving item. In fact, the budget is not discussed until after scoring is completed for each application.
      • The role of the SRO
        12/05/07
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        THE ROLE OF THE SRO (SCIENTIFIC REVIEW OFFICER)

        The SRO, formerly SRA, serves an important role in the review process.

        The SRO first verifies that your application was assigned to the appropriate review committee. If you believe that

      • Program Officers
        12/04/07
        www.SBIR-STTRgrantshelp.com.

        GET THE RIGHT PO (PROGRAM OFFICER) TO INCREASE YOUR FUNDING CHANCES

        The Program Officer (PO) is the most important person at the NIH for helping you to get your grant application funded. Even if the PO does not support your grant application, it c

      • Review Committees
        12/03/07
        HAVE YOUR APPLICATION REVIEWED IN AN SBIR/STTR SEP

        About half of all SBIR/STTR applications are reviewed in regular standing study sections. You will want to avoid this.

        To receive a fundable priority score, your best bet is to place your application in an SBIR/STTR Special E