1. To Advance Knowledge For Agriculture, the Environment, Human Health and Well-being, and Communities National Institute of Food And Agriculture

2. Features of USDA SBIR Program Award Grants Only - Ideas are Investigator-Initiated Awards Based on Scientific and Technical Merit, PI and Company Qualifications, and Commercial Potential Commercialization Assistance Program in Both Phase I and Phase II Proposals Reviewed by Confidential Peer Review Using Outside Experts From Non-profit Organizations Funds Allocated to Topic Areas in Proportion to Number of Proposals Received Subcontracting to Universities and USDA Labs Permitted and Encouraged

3. Features of USDA SBIR Program Phase I Grants = 8 Months/$100,000 Phase II Grants = 2 Years/$450,000 12 Month No-cost Extension Available All Applicants Receive Verbatim Copies of Reviews Procedures are Available to Close the Funding Gap Between Phase I and Phase II

4. Electronic Submission Application Submission Requires Many Steps to Complete the Process Download the USDA SBIR RFA at http://www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/sbir/sbir.html Electronic Submission is Mandatory via Grants.gov Obtain Data Universal Number System (DUNS) Number Register with Central Contractor Registry (CCR) Register your Business with Grants.gov – http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp

5. Topic Areas Forests & Related Resources Plant Production & Protection – Biology Plant Production & Protection - Engineering Animal Production & Protection Air, Water & Soils Food Science & Nutrition Rural Development Aquaculture Biofuels and Biobased Products Small & Mid-Size Farms

6. USDA SBIR REVIEW PROCESS Proposals are evaluated by confidential peer review using review panels plus ad-hoc reviewers for Phase I and only ad-hoc reviewers for Phase II Selection criteria include scientific/technical merit, commercial potential, and degree to which Phase I feasibility has been demonstrated

7. History of USDA SBIR Funding

8. Solicitation/Proposal Schedule: Phase I FY 2013 Solicitation will be Released on June 1, 2012 Phase I Proposal Deadline will be August 30, 2012 Panels will Meet in January & February of 2013 Award Decisions will be Made by Early March 2013 Phase I Grant Period will be from May 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013 Phase II FY 2012 Solicitation will be Released in November of 2011 (only prior USDA Phase I winners are eligible) Phase II Proposal Deadline will be March 1, 2012 Phase II Grant Period will be from September 1, 2012 to August 31, 2014

9. U.S. Department of Agriculture Small Business Innovation Research Program Dr. Charles Cleland Forests and Related Resources Air, Water and Soils Aquaculture Small and Mid-Size Farms Dr. William Goldner Plant Production and Protection (Biology and Engineering); Biofuels and Biobased Products Dr. Jodi Williams Food Science and Nutrition Dr. Adele Turzillo Animal Production and Protection Dr. Suresh Sureshwaran Rural Development Laurie Fortis Program Specialist, SBIR

10. USDA SBIR HOMEPAGE www.nifa.usda.gov/fo/sbir Program Information Solicitation (Request for Applications) Technical Abstracts Link to SBA and Other SBIR Programs Upcoming SBIR Conferences Find the Expert (CRIS & ARS) PowerPoint Presentation Success Stories Impact Newsletter

11. U.S. Department of Agriculture Small Business Innovation Research Program Waterfront Centre, Suite 3252 800 9th Street, SW Washington, DC 20024 Phone: (202) 401-4002  Fax: (202) 401-6070 E-mail: sbir@nifa.usda.gov Web Site: www.nifa.usda.gov/fo/sbir