Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) FAQs

In the past, NIST’s NOFOs included subtopics, specific issues that NIST asked applicants to propose solutions, in Section 9. Beginning for 2019, NIST changed the process to allow more opportunity for applicants to apply. Subtopics were eliminated. Applicants are now required to describe how their technology/proposal addresses a current NIST technical program area falling within one of the topic areas identified in Section 9 or utilizes a NIST-patented technology. We urge potential applicants to read the full NOFO, taking particular note of Sections 4, 8 and 9.

That is up to the applicant. NIST will accept Word, PDF or Excel (as part of the budget narrative) files. These can be uploaded via Grants. Applicants can submit one file (i.e. a PDF) with all the included documents, or upload separate files for each.

The full paragraph should be included at the start of the proposal, and any pages thereafter which include proprietary information should have that noted in the header. “Proprietary Information” is sufficient – this is in the unlikely event that pages become separated from the whole.

NIST does not normally offer a fast-track program that combines Phases I & II nor does it offer a direct to Phase II Program; however, NIST is conducting a one-time SBIR Program Fast-Track competition to utilize funds appropriated by Section 7501 of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021, Pub. L. 117-2 (March 11, 2021), which provided  NIST with funding to make awards for “research, development, and testbeds to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus.” These funds must be obligated by September 30, 2022. As a result of these time constraints, NIST will be conducting this competition as a fast-track program. This fast-track competition is seeking scientifically meritorious applications that have expressly high potential for near-term commercialization. The NIST Fast-Track program consists of a submission and review process in which both Phase I and Phase II applications are submitted together as one application to reduce or eliminate the funding gap between phases.  More information on the NIST FY2022 Fast-Track Notice of Funding Opportunity No. 2022-NIST-SBIR-ARP-01 can be found on the Grants website or under the SBIR Bulletin Board on NIST's SBIR website.

Separate DMPs are not required for subcontractors. However, data generated by them should be accounted for in the applicant’s DMP.

Electronic applicants will find instructions for registering with sam.gov as part of the grants.gov process on the Grants website.

Contact sam.gov’s help center, the Federal Service Desk.

The grants.gov system requires four mandatory forms (SF424, SF424 A, SF424 B and CD511) be attached in order for an application to be accepted by the system. The system-generated email confirmation is not confirmation that the application meets all the criteria for applying. To ensure fairness, NIST is unable to verify for applicants if an application is complete. Therefore, it is highly recommended that applicants log in to verify that all their attachments went through.

After submitting the application, follow the directions found in the grants.gov Online User Guide. Click first on Applicants, then click on Applicant Actions, then go to the “Check My Application Status” option, and choose Download Submitted Applications. Follow the directions found there. Remember, in order for this to work, don’t just visit grants.gov - log in. Remember to click on the record found on the Check My Application Status screen in order to see the List of Forms and Files Received screen. If any or all of the required attachments are absent from the submission, follow the attachment directions found in the Full Announcement/NOFO document, resubmit the entire application package, and check again for the presence of the required attachments.

NIST will only consider the last application received by the system for review. If an application applies to more than one subtopic, the last application received for each subtopic will be the one considered. Please ensure that the subtopic is completed on the coversheet!

A printout, or PDF, of your registration confirmation is sufficient. Example:

Credit: TPO

An annual program NOFO is published containing a list of R&D topics and subtopics in Section 9. Applicants may choose from the research topics identified in theNOFO and submit a proposal for any subtopic in which they feel qualified. Proposals must adhere to the guidelines provided in the Solicitation; proposals that do not comply will not be considered. Unsolicited proposals are not accepted.

NIST cannot endorse private entities and therefore should not be cited in an SBIR proposal to support the application. However, after award, NIST may consider working with SBIR awardees. SBIR funds should be spent in private sector research labs whenever possible, but in those instances where NIST’s capabilities are unique, and the work aligns with NIST’s mission, NIST is able to work with non-Federal entities via various authorities (CRADA authority, Organic Act, etc.) NIST also has regular services that are available for small business, including SBIR awardees: the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program, and Calibrations and Standards services may be available. NIST’s User Facilities are available on a competitive basis, via application.

If SBIR funds are to be used to fund the NIST effort, a waiver from the SBA may be required. This waiver is handled through the agency that granted the SBIR funding agreement.

Indirect costs are costs an organization incurs for common or joint objectives that cannot be readily and specifically identified with a particular grant project or other institutional activity (i.e., overhead costs). Indirect costs typically include administrative and clerical salaries, fringe benefits, costs of operating and maintaining facilities, equipment, grounds, and depreciation or use allowances.

Please see the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) for more information.

The SF424 A Budget form has “fringe benefits under direct costs, isn’t that indirect?

According to 2 CFR §200.413(a) and (b), the compensation of employees who work on a Federal award and their related fringe benefit costs are typically charged directly to that award as they can be identified specifically with a particular final cost objective (Personnel & Fringe) or can be directly assigned to such activities relatively easily with a high degree of accuracy.

They are considered direct costs.

There are no samples of the Indirect Cost Rate Agreement. If a rate has not been established, provide a statement to this effect. If you don’t have a current, approved negotiated agreement from a cognizant Federal audit agency, you may propose estimated indirect costs at a rate not to exceed 40 percent of the total direct costs and will not be required to provide further justification if selected for an award.

No advantage is provided to applicants who come in “under budget”. However, justification for your budget should be addressed in the budget narrative.

The budget narrative has no strict guidelines; you can include as much detail as you feel necessary to convey the feasibility of achieving the project goal with PhaseI (or Phase II) level funding. The budget should also address the requirements for how funds can be spent, including, but not limited to, Section 5 of the NOFO.

Yes, here:

• 1. APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL ASSISTANCE SAMPLE (SF424_2_1-V2.1)
• 2. ASSURANCES - NON-CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMS SAMPLE (SF424B-V1.1)
• 3. BUDGET INFORMATION SAMPLE (SF424A-V1.0)
• 4. BUDGET NARRATIVE SAMPLE
• 5. CERTIFICATION REGARDING LOBBYING SAMPLE (CD511-V1.1)
• 6. DATA MANAGEMENT PLAN SAMPLE
• 7. RESEARCH & RELATED PERSONAL DATA SAMPLE (RR_PersonalData_1_2-V1.2)
• 8. SBC REGISTRATION SAMPLE
• 9. SBIR FRAUD TRAINING CERTIFICATE SAMPLE

Fees can be included under “other” on the second page of the SF424A; fees should also be identified in the budget narrative.

The “Award Number” field, “Funding Opportunity Number” and “Competition Identification Number” should all use the NOFO Announcement Number.

Use “Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program” as the award or project title.

The start date will be determined once awards have been finalized by the NIST Grants office. To complete the mandatory form field, choose a date 60 days from the close of the NOFO.

Applicants can create their own unique title, or use the subtopic title they are applying under. The same title should also be used on the Cover Sheet.

The Program is NOT covered by that Executive Order.

On April 4, 2022, the federal government stopped using the Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number to uniquely identify entities. Now, entities doing business with the federal government must use the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) created in sam.gov. Entities no longer have to go to a third-party website to obtain their identifier. This transition allows the government to streamline the entity identification and validation process, making it easier and less burdensome for entities to do business with the federal government.

If your entity is registered in sam.gov today, your UEI has already been assigned and is viewable in sam.gov. This includes inactive registrations. The UEI is located on your entity registration record. Remember, you must be signed in to your sam.gov account to view entity records.