FY 2019 SBIR/STTR Phase II Release 1 | DE FOA 0001975

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001975

The FY 2019 SBIR/STTR Phase II Release 1 opportunity (DE FOA 0001975) is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science funding announcement that supports small business research and development efforts moving beyond Phase I and into Phase II work. It is part of the DOE Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs and is focused on advancing science and technology innovations that align with DOE Office of Science mission needs. The announcement invites eligible prior awardees to submit Phase II proposals, including both Initial Phase II awards and Sequential Phase II options, with the underlying technical topics and subtopics referenced on the DOE SBIR/STTR funding opportunities webpage.

At its core, the Initial Phase II grant is intended to fund the next stage of R and D needed to meet the specific objectives laid out in the original Phase I topic and subtopic. The expectation is that Phase II work will substantially mature the technology that was proven feasible in Phase I, typically by expanding experimentation, refining designs, validating performance, and reducing technical risk. DOE emphasizes that Phase II is not just about producing more research results; it is meant to place the small business in a credible position to pursue commercialization at the end of the project. In practical terms, many Phase II projects are expected to culminate in something tangible and demonstrable, such as a prototype, a product-ready component, or an operational process that can be shown to potential customers, strategic partners, investors, or government stakeholders (including DOE programs that could become adopters).

This FOA also includes Sequential Phase II pathways, specifically Phase IIA and Phase IIB, which are structured to extend development and help bridge the gap to real-world deployment. Phase IIA is designed to help companies finish the R and D associated with developing an initial prototype, product, or process, essentially providing additional time and resources to complete key technical development steps that may not fit within the original Phase II scope or period. Importantly, the evaluation approach for Phase IIA is stated to be the same as for an Initial Phase II application, meaning reviewers are looking for strong technical merit, a solid work plan, and clear alignment with DOE objectives as described in the FOA review criteria referenced in Section V.A.

Phase IIB is positioned differently and is explicitly aimed at helping the awardee transition an innovation toward commercialization. While it still supports R and D activities, the distinguishing feature is that DOE places greater weight on impact and commercialization readiness at this stage. Applicants are expected to present a well-structured, realistic path to market, and to back that plan up with evidence of commercialization activities happening in parallel with or following the Phase IIB R and D. In other words, for Phase IIB, technical progress is necessary but not sufficient; the application is expected to demonstrate market pull, credible routes to adoption, and concrete steps that show the company is actively moving toward sales, deployment, partnerships, or other forms of market entry.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant opportunity in the science and technology and other research and development category (CFDA 81.049), managed by the DOE Office of Science. The FOA was created on December 10, 2018, with an original application closing date of January 29, 2019. The maximum award amount listed is $1,000,000, and DOE anticipated making approximately 86 awards under this release. Eligibility is described broadly as unrestricted in the listing, but the narrative makes clear that participation is effectively limited to eligible DOE SBIR/STTR Phase I and Phase II grantees pursuing Phase II funding under the program rules and the specific eligibility conditions described in the FOA text.

Overall, the opportunity is best understood as DOE Office of Science support for small businesses that have already demonstrated feasibility under SBIR/STTR and are ready to deepen development, deliver a more complete prototype or process, and, especially for Phase IIB, show a convincing commercialization strategy. The program structure signals DOE’s intent to move innovations along a pipeline: from Phase I feasibility, through Phase II development and demonstration, and into market transition where the technology can create measurable impact and attract real customers, investors, or government adoption.

• The Department of Energy - Office of Science, Office of Science in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2019 SBIR/STTR Phase II Release 1" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.049.
• This funding opportunity was created on Dec 10, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 29, 2019. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 86 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

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