The Department of Energy’s Phase 0 SBIR/STTR Assistance Program is Back and Ready with Virtual Assistance for New Applicants and New Technologies

ROCHESTER, NY (November 11, 2020) – With the release of the Department of Energy (DOE)’s FY21 Phase I Release 2 Topics Document, the agency is pleased to re-launch its Phase 0 SBIR/STTR assistance program. The DOE Phase 0 Assistance Program aims to increase the number of high quality SBIR/STTR proposals submitted by first-time applicants to the Department of Energy by eligible small businesses.

The DOE SBIR/STTR Phase 0 Assistance program is administered by Dawnbreaker and provides a variety of services – free of charge – to eligible small businesses. These services become available once an SBIR/STTR Topics Document is released from the DOE, and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible applicants. During the program, business Coaches will work one on one with companies who have a technology related to a DOE need and help them to prepare a compelling SBIR/STTR proposal. As always, these services are provided remotely and leverage virtual platforms for all participants.

Eligible parties receive one or more specialized services following an initial assessment by a member of the Dawnbreaker team. Available services include:

  • Letter of Intent (LOI) writing assistance
  • Phase I Proposal Preparation, Review and Registration Assistance
  • Market Research Assistance
  • Indirect Rates and Financials
  • Intellectual Property Consultation
  • Technology Advice and Consultation

If you have a background in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM), you are the ideal applicant, and if you have never submitted an SBIR or STTR application to the Department of Energy, you meet the first eligibility criteria. While all first time applicants are eligible the DOE particularly encourages applications from U.S. women-owned, and socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses located anywhere in the U.S. and its territories that work with advanced technologies. Further, any U.S. small, advanced technology firms currently located in underrepresented states, districts, and territories are encouraged to apply.

DOE’s Phase 0 services are designed to be complementary to state assistance and may be used in tandem with services provided by professional organizations, SBDCs, universities, incubators, and other state organizations. 

Please visit https://doephase0.dawnbreaker.com to review the full list of eligibility requirements and to apply for Phase 0 services. The official Topics Document was released on Monday, November 9th. You may view the full list of topics at: https://science.osti.gov/sbir/Funding-Opportunities