SBIR/STTR FY 2020 Phase II Release 2 | DE FOA 0002156

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002156

The SBIR/STTR FY 2020 Phase II Release 2 opportunity (DE-FOA-0002156) is a Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science funding call designed to support small businesses that have successfully completed (or are otherwise tied to) the earlier Phase I work under the related FY 2019 SBIR/STTR Phase I Release 2 solicitation (DE-FOA-0001941). This is a discretionary, competitive grant program focused on science and technology research and development (R&D), and it sits within CFDA 81.049.

The core purpose of an Initial Phase II award is to fund the next stage of R&D needed to meet DOE objectives that were laid out in the specific topic and subtopic from the Phase I Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). In practical terms, Phase II is where a company takes what was proven feasible in Phase I and pushes it further into a more mature, validated solution. The DOE expects the Phase II work to meaningfully advance the underlying technology, reduce technical risk, and demonstrate performance in a way that is credible to real-world stakeholders.

A major emphasis of this Phase II program is commercialization readiness. By the end of Phase II, the DOE intends that the small business is positioned to pursue commercial applications of the developed technology. That often means producing a prototype, a product candidate, or a working process that can be shown to potential investors and customers. The potential customer base is not limited to private industry; it can also include federal users, including DOE programs, where a demonstrated prototype or process can be a stepping stone to adoption, procurement, or additional partnering opportunities.

Administratively, this Phase II FOA is explicitly described as supplemental to the earlier Phase I Release 2 FOA, which means applicants are expected to rely on the Phase I solicitation for broader program rules and baseline guidance, with this Phase II release functioning as the continuation pathway. The eligible applicant category is listed as unrestricted, but participation is still subject to any eligibility clarifications provided in the full FOA text, and in practice SBIR/STTR awards are oriented around qualified small business concerns meeting the program requirements.

Key logistics for this release include a creation date of March 10, 2020, and an original application deadline of April 21, 2020. The award ceiling is listed as $1,100,000 per award, and DOE anticipated making around 100 awards under this release. Overall, the opportunity is intended to bridge the gap between early feasibility and a demonstrable, market-relevant outcome, using Phase II funding to deliver tangible technical progress aligned with DOE mission needs while setting the small business up for commercialization.

• 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 "SBIR/STTR FY 2020 Phase II Release 2" 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 Mar 10, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 21, 2020. (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 $1,100,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 100 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.

Apply for DE FOA 0002156

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