The Department of Commerce (DOC) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) invites small businesses to submit research proposals under this NOFO. The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program is not a substitute for existing unsolicited proposal mechanisms. Unsolicited proposals are not accepted under the SBIR program. Only FY 2021 NOAA SBIR Phase I awardees under NOFO number NOAA-OAR-OAR TPO-2021-2006702 with project start dates of September 1, 2021 and project end dates of no later than February 28th, 2022 are eligible to submit a Phase II application in response to this NOFO. The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program was originally established in 1982 by the Small Business Innovation Development Act (P.L. 97-219), codified at 15 U.S.C. § 638. It was then expanded and extended by the Small Business Research and Development Enhancement Act of 1992 (P.L. 102-564), and received subsequent reauthorization and extensions, the most recent of which extends the SBIR program through 2022. (P.L. 114-328). Each Federal agency with an extramural budget for Research/Research and Development (R/R&D) in excess of $100,000,000 must participate in the SBIR program and spend (obligate) a minimum percentage of their extramural R/R&D budgets (obligations) of not less than 3.2% of such budget in fiscal year 2017 and for the percentage required by statute for each fiscal year after for awards to small business concerns (SBCs) for R/R&D under the SBIR program. The objectives of the SBIR program are to: stimulate technological innovation in the private sector; strengthen the role of small business in meeting Federal R&D needs; foster and encourage participation by businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged persons and women-owned SBCs in technological innovation; and increase private sector commercialization of innovations derived from federal R&D funding. Fostering diversity by encouraging the participation of individuals from nationally underrepresented groups in the scientific research workforce is longstanding interest of Congress, and a key component of NOAA’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (e.g., Public Law 114-329, American Innovation and Competitiveness Act of 2017, and https://tpo-dev.oar.woc.noaa.gov/abouttpo/dei-statement/). Increasing participation by socially and economically disadvantaged and women-owned small businesses is critical to the success of the SBIR program.
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