SBIR at NASA (2016) / Chapter Skim
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3 Program Initiatives
3 Program Initiatives
Pages 54-69
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From page 54... ...
That section relates that recent additions to the EHB have focused on incorporating data collection tools for outcomes to enhance data collection capabilities.
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From page 55... ...
The EHB contains seven modules corresponding to the different phases of the SBIR program: • Solicitation. The Solicitation Development module facilitates the collaborative development of the research topics and subtopics for the annual NASA SBIR solicitation.
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From page 56... ...
These capabilities are more comprehensive than those available at any of the other SBIR programs, including the Department of Defense (DoD) , where considerable efforts have been expended in this direction.
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From page 57... ...
TABLE 3-1 Search Tools Available Within the EHB Tool Description Search Central Allows customized "ad hoc" searches across solicitations for topics/subtopics, proposals, awards, firms; Reports on all historical data from 1983 to present; Detailed or graphical report options available TechSource Performs keyword searches on the following database fields and uploaded documents; Abstract, Project Title, PI and COTR, Firm Name, Taxonomy Mappings, Submitted docs: Proposal and Deliverable documents Post Award Success Reports Allows customized "ad hoc" searches across all post awards and success opportunities Summary Reports Canned reports with drill down capabilities: Proposal Statistics; Award Statistics; State-based Statistics; Women/Minority/HubZone; Firm-based Search Tool; Subtopic-based Search Tool; Proposal Info Tool Commercial Metrics Survey Tool Website Search Searchable site, solicitations, and awards EHB Quick Search Searchable proposals, awards, firms SOURCE: REI Systems.
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From page 58... ...
That said, NASA SBIR staff are not taking full advantage of the EHB capabilities to develop a data-driven approach to program management. The EHB tools have become much more useful for this purpose since the agency started collecting outcomes data in 2012, while reaching back to awards in previous years.
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From page 59... ...
The development of this module for the EHB represents an important step toward the creation of a data-driven management culture within the NASA SBIR program. It provides a set of tools with which management can work to identify patterns and thereby opportunities for improvement.
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From page 60... ...
In sum, the NASA EHB is an example of best practice: The EHB has been adopted by other agencies and programs outside of NASA SBIR, including the SBIR program at the Department of Homeland Security and the SBA. It is in itself an important SBIR success story that can be more widely adopted by other SBIR programs, as well as by other grant and contract programs across the federal government.
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From page 61... ...
This is unfortunate because TIMs develop different strategies and tools, and these natural experiments have the potential to improve operations for the program as a whole if they are appropriately analyzed and transferred effectively. 6 SBIR/STTR Program Office, Glenn Research Center, "Opportunities to Infuse SBIR Technology into NASA Programs: Funding and Strategic Alignment Guidance for the Science Mission Directorate," 2015.
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From page 62... ...
By using the matching funds approach, NASA can ensure that 7 NASA Phase II-E description, http://sbir.gsfc.nasa.gov/content/post-phase-ii-initiatives, accessed March 7, 2015.
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2011 Solicitation -- 1:1 match to a $1,000,000 maximum of $250,000 SOURCE: NASA Phase II-E description, http://sbir.gsfc.nasa.gov/content/post-phase-iiinitiatives, accessed March 7, 2015. TABLE 3-4 SBIR PII-E Awards at NASA, 2007-2011 Number of PII-E SBIR Phase II-E Matching Contribution Year SBIR Awards Funding (Dollars)
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From page 64... ...
The SBIR program provided $53.7 million in funding during this period, and PII-E awards accounted for 2.8 percent of SBIR program expenditures. The 94 PII-E awards were distributed to 76 different companies, with the two most prolific companies each receiving four awards and $600,000 in SBIR funds.
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From page 65... ...
Effectively, the program operates in ways quite similar to the Phase II.5 (or Phase 2.5) program recently implemented in some components at DoD 9: the SBIR program provides additional funding against a match specifically provided by the NASA Mission Directorates as a bridge toward commercialization and use by NASA MDs.
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From page 66... ...
Agency staff indicated that Phase II-X funds account for about 5 percent of SBIR/STTR program funds. SELECT TOPICS Starting in 2012, NASA has identified a small number of topics as Select Topics.
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From page 67... ...
The SBIR/STTR program will then offer matching funds to support these activities. TABLE 3-6 NASA SBIR Awards Made Under Select Topics, 2012-2014 Number of Number of Select Select Topic Select Topic Select Topic Topic Phase I Phase I SBIR Phase II SBIR Phase II SBIR Year SBIR Awards Funding ($)
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From page 68... ...
SOURCE: NASA. _____________________ a See SBIR/STTR Program Office, Glenn Research Center, "Opportunities to Infuse SBIR Technology into NASA Programs: Funding and Strategic Alignment Guidance for the Science Mission Directorate," 2015, p.
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From page 69... ...
NASA has developed enhanced data collection tools for a data-driven approach -- one that can permit ongoing evaluation of the current initiatives and the identification and implementation of appropriate adjustments -- however, previous NASA initiatives such as the NASA Alliance for Small Business Opportunities (NASBO) -- which sought to link NASA SBIR companies with commerce-ready technologies to small business service providers, large contractor firms, and investors -- lacked consistent implementation.
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