Questions_for_SBIR_Phase_II_3.25.19_Amendment_0003.pdf

Request for Proposals 91990019R0012 Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) Phase II Amendment 0003

Closing Date: April 1, 2019 11:00 a.m. ET

U.S. Department of Education’s (Department or ED) responses to clarification questions submitted by March 6, 2019, 11:00 A.M. ET:

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If offerors attempt to submit a proposal to Tracey.Perry@ed.gov and receive an error message, they MUST contact Tracey Perry PRIOR TO THE CLOSING OF THE SOLICITATION during standard business hours (8:00 A.M. ET to 5:00 P.M. ET, Monday through Friday). The solicitation closes promptly at 11:00 a.m. ET, on April 1, 2019. Late proposals will not be accepted.

• There seems to be a discrepancy between the proposal requirements (pg. 12) and the technical assistance options (pg. 27). On page 12 it says that ”A firm must not propose market research, patent proposals, or litigation" but on page 27 the technical assistance allows to budget up to $50K for "product sales, IP protections, market research, market validation." Are we correct in assuming that IP research and market research/validation are OK to be in the proposal as part of technical assistance?

Response: Yes, the $50K can be used for that.

• 2. We are struggling with the definition of 'technical assistance' and what is/isn't allowed.

Specifically, we are trying to understand if membership within an educational community that provides market research data and access to high level customers for market validation can count as technical assistance. It is specifically a vendor, but because we are paying for membership to gain access to these things is it unallowable?

Response: This type of relationship is allowed, and is considered a consulting relationship.