Serious STEM Games for Pre-College and Informal Science Education Audiences (STTR) (R41/R42)

Serious STEM Games for Pre-College and Informal Science Education Audiences (STTR) (R41/R42) is sponsored by National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) provides opportunities for eligible small business concerns to submit STTR grant applications to develop serious Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) games with a focus on biology that addresses health and medicine q…

Expired PAR-14-326: Serious STEM Games for Pre-College and Informal Science Education Audiences (STTR) (R41/R42) This notice has expired. Check the NIH Guide for active opportunities and notices. Department of Health and Human Services Part 1.

Overview Information Participating Organization(s) National Institutes of Health ( NIH ) of Participating Organizations Division of Program Coordination, Planning and Strategic Initiatives, Office of Research Infrastructure Programs ( ORIP ) Funding Opportunity Title Serious STEM Games for Pre-College and Informal Science Education Audiences (STTR) (R41/R42) R41 / R42 Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Grant - Phase I, Phase II, and October 04, 2017 - This PAR has been reissued as PAR-18-403 .

NOT-OD-16-004 - NIH & AHRQ Announce Upcoming Changes to Policies, Instructions and Forms for 2016 Grant Applications (November 18, 2015) NOT-OD-16-006 - Simplification of the Vertebrate Animals Section of NIH Grant Applications and Contract Proposals NOT-OD-16-011 - Implementing Rigor and Transparency in NIH & AHRQ Research Grant Applications Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number Companion Funding Opportunity PAR-14-325 , R43 / R44 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grant - Phase I, Phase II, and Additional Information on Eligibility .

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s) Funding Opportunity Purpose The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to provide opportunities for eligible small business concerns (SBCs) to submit STTR grant applications to develop serious Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) games with a focus on biology that addresses health and medicine questions for: (1) pre-kindergarten to grade 12 (P-12) students and pre- and in-service teachers ("Teachers") or (2) Informal Science Education (ISE) audiences.

Serious games are defined as the use of gaming technology to train, educate, and encourage behavioral changes in a virtual world format where progressive learning, feedback on success and user control are combined into an interactive and engaging experience.

It is anticipated that this STTR FOA will facilitate the translation of new or existing health and medicine-based, P-12 STEM curricula and museum exhibits into educational games that will provide a hands-on, inquiry-based and learning-by-doing experience for students, teachers and the Open Date (Earliest Submission Date) Letter of Intent Due Date(s) November 12, 2014, May 12, 2015, May 12, 2016, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization.

All types of non-AIDS applications allowed for this funding opportunity announcement are due on these dates. Applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow adequate time to make any corrections to errors found in the application during the submission process by the due date.

AIDS Application Due Date(s) January/February 2015, August/September 2015, May 2015, January 2016, January 2017 July/August 2015, March/April 2016, March/April 2017 Required Application Instructions It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in (R&R) SBIR/STTR Application Guide except where instructed to do otherwise (in this FOA or in a Notice from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts ).

Conformance to all requirements (both in the Application Guide and the FOA) is required and strictly enforced. Applicants must read and follow all application instructions in the Application Guide as well as any program-specific instructions noted in Section IV . When the program-specific instructions deviate from those in the Application Guide, follow the program-specific instructions.

Applications that do not comply with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review. Part 1. Overview Information Part 2.

Full Text of the Announcement Section I. Funding Opportunity Description Section II. Award Information Section III.

Eligibility Information Section IV. Application and Submission Section V. Application Review Information Section VI.

Award Administration Information Section VII. Agency Contacts Section VIII. Other Information Full Text of Announcement Section I.

Funding Opportunity Description results of the 2012 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) showed that fifteen year-old U.S. students rank near the average in reading (17th) and science (20th) among the 34 highly developed countries that are members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The performance of U.S. students is below the international average (27th) in mathematics.

These results are even more discouraging once it is realized that the U.S. also scored below a number of non-OECD member nations (the world’s poorer nations.) The mathematics scores of top-performing Shanghai, China are the equivalent of two full school years above those of Massachusetts (one of our top performing states).

The poor standing of US students compared to their international peers has slightly improved since the 2009 PISA study. The PISA data show that socio-economic status explains about 15% of the student variation seen in the United States.

While this is about average for the OECD members, there are nations that do significantly better at remediating the negative educational Serious games function as a bridge technology that converts gaming from a social pastime to a powerful educational tool that challenges students with game-based problem solving, conceptual reasoning and goal-oriented decisions.

Well-designed educational games mimic successful teacher pedagogy and exploit student interest in gaming. Serious games also integrate imbedded learning, e.g., what the student knows and new information obtained in the gaming process, into problem solving skills. Serious games provide real time student assessment.

Unlike standardized classroom testing where student achievement is a pass or fail process, well-designed educational gaming assessment is interactive, does not punish the student, and provides feedback on how to move to the next level of play.

Serious games are intended to generate long-term changes in student performance, educational outcomes and The objective of this FOA is to make STTR funding available to P-12 and ISE educators so that they may translate their classroom or science museum STEM curricula into serious STEM games ("STEM Games") with a biomedical focus that will complement Teacher professional development and improve student achievement, career aspirations and community health literacy.

NIH supports and encourages emerging new educational technologies that will provide game-based STEM resources for students, teachers and the community. The science education research objective of this FOA is the development of new STEM gaming resources that will advance our understanding of how STEM-based gaming can improve student learning.

It is anticipated that increasing underserved and minority student achievement in STEM fields through gaming will encourage these students to pursue health-related careers that will benefit their communities and increase their economic and social It is important that the American public understands that their quality of health is defined by lifestyle habits.

If this message is understood, people can begin to live longer and reduce the healthcare burden to society. Therefore, this FOA also encourages STEM Games that will stimulate behavioral changes towards a healthier lifestyle.

This FOA is open to SBCs established by an individual or individuals with interests in health and medicine-based P-12 STEM or ISE Types of applications submitted to this FOA may vary with the target audience, scientific content, educational purpose and method of delivery.

STEM Games may include, but are not limited to: game-based curricula; attitudes changes towards learning; new skills development; teamwork and group activities; public participation in scientific research (citizen science) projects and behavioral changes in lifestyle and health.

STEM Games designed to increase the diversity of students (i.e., American Indian, Alaskan Native, Pacific Islanders, African American, Hispanic, female, disabled, or otherwise underrepresented) considering careers in basic, behavioral or clinical research are especially encouraged.

STEM Games may be designed for use in classroom or out-of-classroom settings, e.g., as supplements to existing classroom curricula, for after school science clubs, libraries, hospital waiting rooms and science museums. STEM Games may target children in group settings or individually, with or without adult or Teacher participation or supervision.

The proposed project may use any gaming technology and This FOA is aligned with the 5-year Federal CoSTEM Strategic Plan in the priority areas of games for learning and citizen science Section II. Award Information Grant: A support mechanism providing money, property, or both to an eligible entity to carry out an approved project or activity.

Application Types Allowed New (Phase I, Fast-Track) Resubmission (all phases) Glossary and the SF424 (R&R) SBIR/STTR Application Guide provide details on these application types. Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards The number of awards is contingent upon NIH appropriations and the submission of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.

According to statutory guidelines, total funding support (direct costs, indirect costs, fee) normally may not exceed $150,000 for Phase I awards and $1,000,000 for Phase II awards. With appropriate justification from the applicant, Congress will allow awards to exceed these amounts by up to 50% ($225,000 for Phase I and $1,500,000 for Phase II).

As written in the statute and under appropriate circumstances, NIH can apply for a waiver from SBA to issue an award exceeding $225,000 for Phase I or $1,500,000 for Phase II, if this cap will interfere with NIH’s ability to meet its mission. Award waivers from the SBA are not guaranteed and may delay the release of funds.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact NIH program officials prior to submitting any application in excess of the guidelines. In all cases, applicants should propose a budget that is reasonable and appropriate for completion of the research project. According to statutory guidelines, award periods normally may not exceed 1 year for Phase I and 2 years for Phase II.

Applicants are encouraged to propose a project duration period that is reasonable and appropriate for completion of the research project. described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement will apply to the applications submitted and awards made in response to this FOA. Only United States small business concerns (SBCs) are eligible to submit applications for this opportunity.

A small business concern is one that, at the time of award of Phase I and Phase II, meets all of the following criteria: 1. Is organized for profit, with a place of business located in the United States, which operates primarily within the United States or which makes a significant contribution to the United States economy through payment of taxes or use of American products, materials or labor; 2.

Is in the legal form of an individual proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, joint venture, association, trust or cooperative, except that where the form is a joint venture, there must be less than 50 percent participation by foreign business entities in the joint STTR.

Be a concern which is more than 50% directly owned and controlled by one or more individuals (who are citizens or permanent resident aliens of the United States), other business concerns (each of which is more than 50% directly owned and controlled by individuals who are citizens or permanent resident aliens of the United States), or any combination of these; Be a concern which is more than 50% owned by multiple venture capital operating companies, hedge funds, private equity firms, or any combination of these.

No single venture capital operating company, hedge fund, or private equity firm may own more than 50% of the concern; OR and STTR. Be a joint venture in which each entity to the joint venture must meet the requirements set forth in paragraph 3 (i) or 3 (ii) of this section. A joint venture that includes one or more concerns that meet the requirements of paragraph (ii) of this section must comply with 121.

705(b) concerning registration and proposal requirements. 4. Has, including its affiliates, not more than 500 If the concern is more than 50% owned by multiple venture capital operating companies, hedge funds, private equity firms, or any combination of these falls under 3 (ii) or 3 (iii) above, see Section IV.

Application and Submission Information for additional instructions regarding required application certification. If an Employee Stock Ownership Plan owns all or part of the concern, each stock trustee and plan member is considered an owner. If a trust owns all or part of the concern, each trustee and trust beneficiary is considered an owner.

Hedge fund has the meaning given that term in section 13(h)(2) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1851(h)(2)).

The hedge fund must have a place of business located in the United States and be created or organized in the United States, or under the law of the United States or of any Portfolio company means any company that is owned in whole or part by a venture capital operating company, hedge fund, or private equity Private equity firm has the meaning given the term private equity fund in section 13(h)(2) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C.

1851(h)(2)). The private equity firm must have a place of business located in the United States and be created or organized in the United States, or under the law of the United States or of any State. Venture capital operating company means an entity described in 121.

103(b)(5)(i), (v), or (vi). The venture capital operating company must have a place of business located in the United States and be created or organized in the United States, or under the law of the United States or of any State. SBCs must also meet the other regulatory requirements found in 13 C.

F. R. Part 121.

Business concerns, other than investment companies licensed, or state development companies qualifying under the Small Business Investment Act of 1958, 15 U.S.C. 661, et seq. , are affiliates of one another when either directly or indirectly, (a) one concern controls or has the power to control the other; or (b) a third-party/parties controls or has the power to control both.

Business concerns include, but are not limited to, any individual (sole proprietorship) partnership, corporation, joint venture, association, or cooperative. The SF424 (R&R) SBIR/STTR Application Guide should be referenced for detailed eligibility information.

business concerns that are more than 50% owned by multiple venture capital operating companies, hedge funds, private equity firms, or any combination of these are NOT eligible to apply to the NIH STTR program. Transition Rate Benchmark In accordance with guidance from the SBA, the HHS SBIR/STTR Program is implementing the Phase I to Phase II Transition Rate benchmark required by the SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2011.

This Transition Rate requirement applies to SBIR and STTR Phase I applicants that have received more than 20 Phase I awards over the past 5 fiscal years, excluding the most recently-completed fiscal year.

For these companies, the benchmark establishes a minimum number of Phase II awards the company must have received for a given number of Phase I awards received during the 5-year time period in order to be eligible to receive a new Phase I award. This requirement does not apply to companies that have received 20 or fewer Phase I awards over the 5 year period.

Companies that apply for a Phase I award and do not meet or exceed the benchmark rate will not be eligible for a Phase I award for a period of one year from the date of the application submission.

The Transition Rate is calculated as the total number of SBIR and STTR Phase II awards a company received during the past 5 fiscal years divided by the total number of SBIR and STTR Phase I awards it received during the past 5 fiscal years excluding the most recently-completed year. The benchmark minimum Transition Rate is 0. 25.

SBA calculates individual company Phase I to Phase II Transition Rates daily using SBIR and STTR award information across all federal agencies. For those companies that have received more than 20 Phase I awards over the past 5 years, SBA posts the company transition rates on the Company Registry at SBIR.

gov. Information on the Phase I to Phase II Transition Rate requirement is available Applicants to this FOA that may have received more than 20 Phase I awards across all federal SBIR/STTR agencies over the past five (5) years should, prior to application preparation, verify that their company’s Transition Rate on the Company Registry at SBIR. gov meets or exceeds the minimum benchmark rate of 0. 25.

Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement , may be allowed. Applicant organizations must complete and maintain the following registrations as described in the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide to be eligible to apply for or receive an award.

All registrations must be completed prior to the application being submitted. Registration can take 6 weeks or more, so applicants should begin the registration process as soon as Policy on Late Submission of Grant Applications states that failure to complete registrations in advance of a due date is not a valid reason for a Universal Numbering System (DUNS) - All registrations require that applicants be issued a DUNS number.

After obtaining a DUNS number, applicants can begin both SAM, SBA Company registry, and eRA Commons registrations. The same DUNS number must be used for all registrations, as well as on the grant System for Award Management (SAM) (formerly CCR) Applicants must complete and maintain an active registration, which requires renewal at least annually . The renewal process may require as much time as the initial registration.

SAM registration includes the assignment of a Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code for domestic organizations which have not already been assigned a CAGE Code. SBA Company Registry New requirement . See Section IV.

Application and Submission Information , SF424(R&R) Other Project Information Component for instructions on how to register and how to attach proof of registration to your application package. Applicants must have a DUNS number to complete this registration. SBA Company registration is NOT required before SAM, Grants.

gov or eRA Commons registration. eRA Commons - Applicants must have an active DUNS number and SAM registration in order to complete the eRA Commons registration. Organizations can register with the eRA Commons as they are working through their SAM or Grants.

gov registration. eRA Commons requires organizations to identify at least one Signing Official (SO) and at least one Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) account in order to submit an Grants. gov Applicants must have an active DUNS number and SAM registration in order to complete the Directors/Principal Investigators (PD(s)/PI(s)) All PD(s)/PI(s) must have an eRA Commons account.

PD(s)/PI(s) should work with their organizational officials to either create a new account or to affiliate their existing account with the applicant organization in eRA Commons. If the PD/PI is also the organizational Signing Official, they must have two distinct eRA Commons accounts, one for each role. Obtaining an eRA Commons account can take up to 2 weeks.

Eligible Individuals (Program Director/Principal Investigator) Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)) is invited to work with his/her organization to develop an application for support.

Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always encouraged to apply for NIH support.

For the STTR program, the PD(s)/PI(s) may be employed with the SBC or the single, partnering non-profit research institution as long as s/he has a formal appointment with or commitment to the applicant SBC, which is characterized by an official relationship between the SBC and that individual.

Each PD/PI must commit a minimum of 10% effort to the project and the PD/PI must have a formal appointment with or commitment to the applicant small business concern, which is characterized by an official relationship between the small business concern and that individual. Such a relationship does not necessarily involve a salary or other form of remuneration.

The SF424 (R&R) SBIR/STTR Application Guide should be referenced for specific details on eligibility requirements. For institutions/organizations proposing multiple PDs/PIs, see Multiple Principal Investigators section of the SF424 (R&R) SBIR/STTR Application Guide. This FOA does not require cost sharing as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement .

3. Additional Information on Eligibility Applicant organizations may submit more than one application, provided that each application is scientifically distinct. NIH will not accept similar grant applications with essentially the same research focus from the same applicant organization.

This includes derivative or multiple applications that propose to develop a single product, process, or service that, with non-substantive modifications, can be applied to a variety of purposes.

Applicants may not simultaneously submit identical/essentially identical applications under both this funding opportunity and any other HHS funding opportunity, including the SBIR and STTR The NIH will not accept duplicate or highly overlapping applications under review at the same time.

This means that the NIH will A new (A0) application that is submitted before issuance of the summary statement from the review of an overlapping new (A0) or resubmission A resubmission (A1) application that is submitted before issuance of the summary statement from the review of the previous new (A0) application.

An application that has substantial overlap with another application pending appeal of initial peer review (see NOT-OD-11-101 ). In addition, the NIH will not accept a resubmission (A1) application that is submitted later than 37 months after submission of the new (A0) application that it follows.

The NIH will accept submission: To an RFA of an application that was submitted previously as an investigator-initiated application but not paid; Of an investigator-initiated application that was originally submitted to an RFA but not paid; or Of an application with a changed grant activity code.

A Phase I awardee may submit a Phase II application either before or after expiration of the Phase I budget period, unless the awardee elects to submit a Phase I and Phase II application concurrently under the Fast-Track procedure. To maintain eligibility to seek Phase II support, a Phase I awardee should submit a Phase II application within the first six due dates following the expiration of the Phase I budget period.

Contractual/Consortium Arrangements In Phase I and Phase II, at least 40% of the research or analytical effort must be performed by the small business concern and at least 30% of the research or analytical effort must be performed by the single, partnering research institution.

The basis for determining the percentage of work to be performed by each of the cooperative parties will be the total of direct and F&A/indirect costs attributable to each party, unless otherwise described and justified in Consortium/Contractual Arrangements of the PHS 398 Research Plan component of the SF424 (R&R) application forms.

A small business concern may subcontract a portion of its SBIR or STTR award to a Federal laboratory within the limits above. A Federal laboratory, as defined in 15 U.S.C. 3703, means any laboratory, any federally funded research and development center, or any center established under 15 U.S.C.

3705 & 3707 that is owned, leased, or otherwise used by a Federal agency and funded by the Federal Government, whether operated by the Government The basis for determining the percentage of work to be performed by each of the cooperative parties in Phase I or Phase II will be the total of the requested costs attributable to each party, unless otherwise described and justified in Consortium/Contractual Arrangements of the PHS 398 Research Plan component of SF424 (R&R) application forms.

Additional details are contained in the SF424 (R&R) SBIR/STTR and Submission Information Applicants must download the SF424 (R&R) application package associated with this funding opportunity using the Apply for Grant Electronically button in this FOA or following the directions provided at Grants. gov . 2.

Content and Form of Application Submission It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in (R&R) SBIR/STTR Application Guide , including Supplemental Grant Application Instructions except where instructed in this funding opportunity announcement to do otherwise. Conformance to the requirements in the Application Guide is required and strictly enforced.

Applications that are out of compliance with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for For information on Application Submission and Receipt, visit Frequently Asked Questions Application Guide, Electronic Submission of Grant All page limitations described in the SF424 (R&R) SBIR/STTR Application Guide and the Table of Page Limits must be followed.

for Application Submission The following section supplements the instructions found in the SF 424 (R&R) SBIR/STTR Application Guide and should be used for preparing an application to this FOA. All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) SBIR/STTR Application Guide must be followed. SF424(R&R) Project/Performance Site Locations All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) SBIR/STTR Application Guide must be followed.

SF424(R&R) Other Project Information All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) SBIR/STTR Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions: All applicants to the SBIR and STTR programs are required to register at the SBA Company Registry prior to application submission and attach proof of registration. Completed registrations will receive a unique SBC Control ID and . pdf file.

If applicants have previously registered, you are still required to attach proof of registration. The SBA Company Registry recommends verification with SAM , but a SAM account is not required to complete the registration. In order to be verified with SAM, your email address must match one of the contacts in SAM.

If you are unsure what is listed in SAM for your company, you may verify the information on the SAM site. Confirmation of your company's DUNS is necessary to verify your email address in SAM. Follow these steps listed below to register and attach proof of registration to your application.

a. Navigate to the SBA Company Registry . b.

If you are a previous SBIR/STTR awardee from any agency, search for your small business by Company Name, EIN/Tax ID, DUNS, or Existing SBIR/STTR Contract/Grant Number in the search fields provided. Identify your company and click Proceed to Registration . c.

If you are a first time applicant, click the " New to the SBIR Program? " link on lower right of registry d. Fill out the required information on the Basic Information and Eligibility Statement screens.

e. Press Complete Registration on the lower right of the Eligibility Statement screen and follow all instructions. f.

Download and save your SBA registry PDF locally. The name will be in the format of SBC_123456789. pdf, where SBC_123456789 (9 digit number) is your firm’s SBC Control ID.

DO NOT CHANGE OR ALTER THE FILE NAME. Changing the file name may cause delays in the processing of your g. When you are completing the application package, attach this SBA registry PDF as a separate file by clicking "Add Attachments" located to the right of the Other Attachments field on the Research and Related Other Project Information form.

For questions and for technical assistance concerning the SBA Company Registry, please contact the SBA at http://sbir. gov/feedback? type=reg .

SF424(R&R) Senior/Key Person Profile Expanded All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) SBIR/STTR Application Guide must be followed. Applicants should provide evidence that the project team has expertise in STEM content, game design and evaluation All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) SBIR/STTR Application Guide must be followed.

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide PHS 398 Cover Page Supplement All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) SBIR/STTR Application Guide must be followed.

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) SBIR/STTR Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions: The proposed project should utilize current knowledge of the cognitive learning process in combination with successful gaming theory with outcomes designed to increase STEM content knowledge and problem solving Applicants should discuss the plan for effective teamwork and collaboration among the key personnel.

Proposed projects should target a range of ethnicities and backgrounds and be age-appropriate and culturally appropriate and for the The research strategy must address the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) ( http://www. nextgenscience. org/ ) as is appropriate for the P-12 or ISE target audience and the STEM content of The proposed project must include a plan for rigorous assessment or beta testing for effectiveness.

The evaluation plan must be appropriate for project content, target audience and research plan. Evaluation metrics should be specific, measurable and clearly described. Sharing Plans : Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans (Data Sharing Plan, Sharing Model Organisms, and Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS)) as provided in the SF424 (R&R) SBIR/STTR Application Guide.

Appendix: Do not use the Appendix to circumvent page limits. The instructions for the Appendix of the Research Plan are described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, with the following modification: Note that Phase I SBIR/STTR Appendix materials are not Part I. Overview Information contains information about Key Dates.

Applicants are encouraged to submit applications before the due date to ensure they have time to make any application corrections that might be necessary for successful submission. Organizations must submit applications to Grants. gov (the online portal to find and apply for grants across all Federal agencies).

Applicants must then complete the submission process by tracking the status of the application in the eRA Commons , NIH’s electronic system for grants responsible for viewing their application before the due date in the eRA Commons to ensure accurate and successful submission. Information on the submission process and a definition of on-time submission are provided in the SF424 (R&R) SBIR/STTR Application Guide. 4.

Intergovernmental Review This initiative is not subject to intergovernmental All NIH awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Pre-award costs are allowable only as described in the NIH Grants Requirements and Information Applications must be submitted electronically following the instructions described in the SF424 (R&R) SBIR/STTR Application Instructions.

Paper applications will Applicants must complete all required registrations before the application due date. Section III. Eligibility Information contains information about registration.

For assistance with your electronic application or for more information on the electronic submission All PD(s)/PI(s) must include their eRA Commons ID in the Credential field of the Senior/Key Person Profile Component of the SF424(R&R) Application Package . Failure to register in the Commons and to include a valid PD/PI Commons ID in the credential field will prevent the successful submission of an electronic application to NIH.

The applicant organization must ensure that the DUNS number it provides on the application is the same number used in the organization’s profile in the eRA Commons and for the System for Award Management (SAM). Additional information may be found in the SF424 (R&R) SBIR/STTR Application Guide. tips for avoiding common errors.

Upon receipt, applications will be evaluated