SOW.pdf

Statement of Work (SOW) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), NIH

Applicant Assistance Program: SBIR/STTR Applicants Training and Coaching

1. Introduction and Purpose

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Office of Research Training and Special Programs (ORTSP) requires an Applicant Assistance Program to provide:

• SBIR/STTR applicant training

• Support for Small Businesses preparing a SBIR/STTR application

• Applicant guidance through the application process

• SBIR/STTR application coaching

• Additional support to small businesses that are owned or operated by individuals who are underrepresented in biomedical sciences

2. Background

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) supports the development of biomedical innovations from small businesses through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. The United States Congress requires eligible governmental agencies to set aside a percentage of their extramural budget so that domestic small businesses can engage in R&D activities that have a strong potential for technology commercialization. Federal Agencies are required to allocate 3.2% (FY 2020) of their R&D budget to SBIR Programs and 0.45% to STTR Programs. NIAID sets aside funds to support small business R&D of products and services that improve public health in areas relevant to NIAID.

Preparing a successful SBIR/STTR application can be a lengthy and challenging process, especially for small businesses underrepresented in extramural biomedical small business programs. The cost for SBIR/STTR application assistance such as consulting services provided by private companies can be prohibitively high for small businesses with limited operating funds. An Applicant Assistance Program lead by NIAID, specifically, Division of Extramural Activities (DEA), ORSTP (Office of Research Training and Special Programs), Small Business Program and assisted by a highly experienced Contractor, will improve applicants’ success in obtaining SBIR/STTR award funding, enhance customized training, and provide one-on-one assistance for small business applicants in need.

3. Objectives

To enhance the program support and increase success for SBIR/STTR applicants, NIAID Small Business Program proposes to establish an Applicant Assistance Program (AAP) providing SBIR/STTR applicant training and coaching services. These services would include online resources and training content creation and customized one on one applicant assessment, training, and coaching. This program would also provide support to NIAID program personnel to help them enhance NIAID SBIR/STTR program support for applicants and awardees. This program will have an emphasis on engaging and assisting groups underrepresented in extramural biomedical small business programs.

The Contractor will work with NIAID staff to emphasize engagement of qualifying applicants from underrepresented groups, including both Women-Owned Small Businesses (WOSBs) and Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Businesses (SDBs) to promote their access to the full range of support services provided under this program.

In addition to company support, the proposed program will provide AAP related recommendations and progress reports to the DEA Small Business Program and other relevant NIAID program staff. The Contractor must work closely with the federal Contracting Officer Representative (COR) or the COR designee to implement a contract management plan to ensure the timely implementation and operation of the AAP. The scope and the following 6 Service Areas will be described in detail in the following sections.

• AAP Website

• Online Resources and Training

• Online Application Form, and Informational Webinar

• One-on-one Proposal Preparation Assistance

• AAP Progress Report

• Contract Quality Control and Management

4. Scope

This Applicant Assistance Program will include applicant assessment, proposal development advising and individual SBIR/STTR proposal development assistance to applicants for Phase I, Phase II, Fast- Track, or Direct to Phase II applicants.

5. Description of the Service Areas

The Applicant Assistance Program must include the following Service Areas:

1) Service Area 1: AAP Website

The Contractor is responsible for creating and maintaining an up-to-date NIAID AAP website with AAP program announcement, program description, and online program Application form for all three AAP cycles. The ownership of the content of the AAP program website created by the Contractor belongs to NIAID small business program and can be used for future NIAID activities at the program’s discretion.

2) Service Area 2: Online Resources and Training

The Contractor must prepare and provide online resources and training content for NIAID SBIR/STTR applicants participating in the AAP program. Eligible NIAID SBIR/STTR applicants who applied for AAP but are placed on waitlist due to space limitation may also access these resources to assist with their application preparation. All content must be available by website or other online platform methods. The Contractor must ensure Section 508 compliance for all of the content. The Contractor is responsible for creating and maintaining the website or online platform to store all the online resources and training content. All the online content should be password protected and the password can be shared electronically with AAP participants and eligible AAP applicants placed on waitlist. The topics covered must be reviewed and approved by the COR prior to creation to ensure the most relevant topics are included to maximize the assistance to applicants. Minimum requirements include:

a. Library of recorded webinars with each webinar ranging from 1 hour to 1.5 hours in length, are available in English, and meet Section 508 compliance. The available webinars must cover, at a minimum, the following topics:

1. NIH SBIR/STTR application basics

2. Specific sections of an NIH SBIR/STTR proposal

3. ASSIST submission training

4. Overview of the SBIR/STTR proposal review process

5. Overview of resubmission

6. Guidance on grants management

b. Proposal development toolkit that includes:

1. Outlines (including Commercialization Plan document), and templates

2. Budget workbooks

3. Registration guides

4. Other tools as needed

c. Email reminders to small businesses planning to submit SBIR/STTR applications to NIH funding opportunity announcements (FOA).

1. Timely reminder emails are required over the course of each AAP cycle.

SBIR/STTR grant applications are due January 5, April 5, and September 5. An APP cycle is defined as the fourteen (14) weeks leading up to the grant application due dates.

2. The emails to AAP participants for each AAP cycle must provide relevant tips, guidance, and suggested timelines for an on-time submission.

3. The emails must also encourage the AAP participants and eligible NIAID SBIR/STTR applicants on the AAP waitlist to utilize the online resource and training content.

3) Service Area 3: Online Application Form, and Informational Webinars.

Contractor must provide the following:

a. An online SBIR/STTR Application Form for the Applicant Assistance Program must be designed and maintained by the Contractor. It must be reviewed and approved by the COR prior to implementation. The Application Form should collect basic applicant demographics information and a 1–2 page project summary with specific aims. The Contractor will be responsible for collecting completed AAP Application Forms from the applicants and providing all the information to NIAID program staff. The Applicant Assistance Program (AAP) announcement and associated COR approved online AAP Application Form must be prepared by the Contractor and be ready for electronical delivery to all eligible NIAID SBIR/STTR applicants at least 14 weeks prior to each SBIR/STTR submission deadline for all three application cycles. The Contractor is responsible for making recommendations concerning applicant eligibility based on publicly available NIAID small business program AAP eligibility policies and NIH SBIR/STTR policies. The final AAP applicant eligibility determination is made by NIAID small business program staff.

b. The Contractor must work with the NIAID Small Business Program staff to develop a 30-minute informational webinar with a Power Point Presentation (PPT) prior to each AAP cycle to provide introduction to the AAP program and the eligibility criteria for participation. The Contractor is responsible for introducing the scope of the one-on-one AAP assistance and the online resources provide by AAP. The Contractor is also required to answer applicants’ inquiries regarding AAP program, if applicable. The Contractor is responsible for setting up and managing technical logistics of all three webinars for each AAP cycle.

c. Once the NIAID program staff confirm the AAP eligibility of the applicants, the Contractor must schedule and conduct kick off meetings (approx. 1 hr.) within 2 weeks upon the confirmation of AAP applicants’ eligibility. By the time of the kick-off call, specific assisting consultant(s) should be assigned to each AAP participant. The kick-off call should include introduction and necessary information gathering regarding the applicants’ needs for assistance based on the online application form. A preliminary workplan should be discussed by the assigned consultant(s) and the AAP participants. The Contractor must coordinate and execute a one-way CDA (Confidential Disclosure Agreement) if the AAP participants request it before sharing any confidential project information with the Contractor. The federal COR or other staff will be included in these follow-up calls, if necessary. The Contractor must provide a written summary to the NIAID COR, including the information on the application form, minutes of the kick-off calls, assistance requested by applicants, and a tentative workplan for each eligible applicant.

d. NIAID will allow all eligible NIAID SBIR/STTR applicants to participate in the Program at no cost.

The Contractor must work with NIAID staff to emphasize engagement of qualifying applicants from underrepresented groups, including both Women-Owned Small Businesses (WOSBs) and Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Businesses (SDBs) to promote their access to the full range of support services provided under this program. Additional messaging encouraging underrepresented groups of applicants to participate in the AAP must be added to program announcement and informational webinars. The participation data and end of cycle participants survey results from these underrepresented groups of applicants must analyzed separately and reported to NIAID Small Business program.

4) Service Area 4: One-on-one SBIR/STTR Proposal Preparation Assistance

The Contractor must provide one-on-one SBIR/STTR proposal preparation assistance to AAP participants. The total annual AAP participants will be 105 applications per year. It is estimated that the numbers of participating applicants will be approximately 35/application cycle with 3 application cycles during the performance period. Approximately 25 out of the 35 applicants will be Phase II, Direct to Phase II, or Fast Track applicants; approximately 10 out of the remaining 35 applicants will be Phase I applicants. The NIAID program may adjust the number of participants for Phase II and Phase I for each cycle based on the needs of the participating applicants. Based on the number of participants, the NIAID program may adjust the number of applicants for each cycle to accommodate the assistance needs for different grant submission deadlines from NIAID SBIR/STTR applicants.

Based on program analysis data for the past AAP program and the base year of this contract, the NIAID program may adjust the AAP program from 3 cycles/year to 2 cycles/year, if needed. The total annual AAP participants will remain at 105 applications for the base year and 105 applications for the option year.

The Contractor must conduct a kick-off meeting with each participant to design a project workplan for the one-on-one SBIR/STTR proposal preparation assistance. A preliminary written assistance plan with clear objectives, tasks, and timelines for each AAP participant must be prepared by the Contractor after the kick-off meeting. The federal COR must review and approve the plan prior to implementation. NIAID program estimates up to 25 hours of consultant assistance time provided for each AAP participant based on the following recommended workplan schedule for each applicant The NIAID program recommends a 1-hour weekly meeting between applicants and Contractor consultants during the 12-week assistance period. The remaining 13 hours of consultants’ assistance time are recommended to be spent on reviewing and commenting on the applications.

The one-on-one SBIR/STTR proposal preparation assistance listed below must be provided at no cost to the AAP participants. Minimum requirements for one-on-one SBIR/STTR proposal preparation assistance include:

a. Initial application assessment. This initial engagement will provide strategic planning assistance including review of individual project, applicant resources, NIH-specific guidance, and proposal development timeline.

b. Proposal editing, advising, and reviewing of project content for consistency with the FOA required sections - iterative critical written/verbal feedback on each component of the proposal detailing areas that need additional revision.

i. Feedback must be a holistic review process that begins with the development of the

Specific Aims with iterative reviews with corrections and notes for improvement provided.

ii. Provide a required timeline for review for each FOA required element, including:

• Biosketches

• Budget

• Research Strategy

• Facilities & Resources

• Letters of support

• Human subject research

• Commercialization Plan

• Forms and submission readiness

c. Administrative assistance: guidance on registrations, electronic submission, forms, budgets and other administrative components of a final proposal.

d. Applicant survey: the Contractor must design and implement applicant surveys at the end of each applicant assistance project. The survey must be reviewed and approved by the federal COR prior to implementation. The results of the survey must be analyzed by the Contractor and presented to the COR for program evaluation. The results will also be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the Program. The Contractor must conduct and submit the survey results to the COR within 30 days after each SBIR/STTR application cycle. It is expected that 80% of the AAP participants to report that AAP program is helpful for their application preparation for all 3 cycles.

The Contractor is required to improve service areas that received negative feedback indicated in participants survey. Self-reporting of grants review results will be required for all AAP participants and the Contractor must contact the applicants to collect grants review results once available.

The Contractor must evaluate the impact of the Program on applicant’s success once the grants review results are available. The applicants’ grant review outcome metrics are required within 30 days of the release of the review results as a secondary measurement for AAP program performance.

5) Service Area 5: AAP Progress Reports and Final Program Summary

For each AAP cycle, the Contractor must provide progress reports that include specific NIAID SBIR/STTR Applicant Assistance Program related topics. These reports are due 15 days after the Contractor receives AAP participants survey results. A digital written report is required for each cycle, and the Contractor is responsible for providing a PPT presentation based on the written report to NIAID Small Business Program staff and other relevant federal staff. These progress reports must detail progress made during each application cycle, progress expected during the upcoming cycle, resources expended, any significant problems or issues encountered, recommended actions to resolve identified problems, and any variances from the proposed schedule or scope. These items will be discussed during the executive leadership meetings with the COR at the end of each cycle. Meeting minutes summarizing the discussion and next steps must be delivered by the Contractor within 7 days after the meetings.

Minimum requirements for these progress reports include:

a. Summary of each AAP cycle timeline

b. Summary of participated AAP applicants

c. Summary of end of cycle surveys from AAP participants

d. Summary of lessons learned from each cycle and recommendation for improvement for future cycles

Final Program Summary. After discussion with the COR, the Contractor must provide a final written report that describes in detail the work accomplished under this SOW. This final program summary is due 30 days prior to the end of each performance period. This report must include:

a. A list of resources and training content created with a short description for each item.

b. A written summary of all the applications received through all 3 AAP cycles.

c. A written summary of each one-on-one assistance project conducted, including the work performed and how the work assisted the applicant.

d. A written summary of participating applicant survey results and grant review outcome metrics.

e. A written record of the progress reports for each AAP cycle.

f. Lessons learned during the performance period such as applicant knowledge gaps, unmet needs, recommendations to enhance program support.

Final presentation. A final oral presentation with PowerPoint slides highlighting the work conducted for the Applicant Assistance Program (as listed in the final program summary requirements) and future recommendations is required 15 days prior to the end of each performance period.

6). Service Area 6: Contract Quality Control and Management

The Contractor must provide program and project management, project control, and contract administration necessary to ensure that the objectives, scope, deliverables, schedule, as well as roles and responsibilities are defined for all Service Areas and that cost, schedule and quality requirements are tracked and communicated to the COR or the COR designee.

a. Upon award the Contractor must work with the COR to schedule a kick-off meeting to discuss tasks, expectations, and projected timelines. The kick-off meeting is required within 10 days after award to ensure the timely initiation of the program. The COR will work with the Contractor to refine and finalize a timeline for deliverables. This includes successful delivery of all required reports, which will be used to monitor the progress of deliverables. Following the kick-off meeting, a Project Work Plan (PWP) with project overview, outcomes, and schedule of known deliverables required by this SOW is due to the COR within 20 days after award of the contract.

This PWP may be updated and modified during the performance period as more detailed work plans are developed and the project progresses. The Contractor must ensure that all work is performed in a timely manner.

b. The Contractor’s Project Manager, or an appropriate designee, must meet with the COR after each AAP cycle, as mentioned in Service Area 5, to discuss all active work. The COR may include other government staff and contractors as required. All meetings with the NIAID Small Business Program staff and meetings with AAP participant will be virtual. No travel costs are permitted for these meetings. The Contractor is required to schedule all the meetings in a timely matter. The Contractor is also responsible for the technical support for all the meetings to ensure proper audio, video, and material sharing functions.

6. Schedule of Project Deliverables and Reporting

Table 1 presents a tentative schedule of deliverables to support the work required by NIAID in this Statement of Work for the base year. The Contractor must propose a schedule of deliverables based on its proposed technical approach, and will incorporate the final deliverable schedule, as approved by the federal COR, into the Project Work Plan. The deliverables schedule for the option year will be discussed, revised, and approved by the COR before the start of the option year. All deliverables in this SOW will be in digital format only. NIAID does not accept any physical prints of the deliverables.

Table 1. Tentative Program Deliverables and Schedules for the Base Year

No. Service Area

Deliverables Description Date Due Frequency

1 6 Kick-off Meeting Agenda

Formal kick-off meeting agenda outlining tasks, expectations and

Within 10 days after award of contract

Once projected timelines required to start the project

2 6 Project Work Plan (PWP) And Schedule

Project overview, outcomes, and schedule of known deliverables for the work covered under this SOW.

(May be modified on a regular basis with approval of the COR)

Within 20 days of contract award

As needed by the NIAID

COR

3 5 Application Cycle Progress Reports

A written progress report describing the activities and deliverables for the application cycle, anticipated activities and deliverables for the following application cycle, budget status, and risk management.

Within 15 days after receiving each cycle’s participant survey results

Once after the end of each AAP cycle

4 5 Executive Leadership Briefing Agenda

Formal briefing agenda with topics included in the application cycle progress reports.

Within 15 days after receiving each cycle’s participant survey results

Once after the end of each AAP cycle

5 1 Launch and Update AAP Website

Create and maintain an up-to-date NIAID AAP website with AAP program announcement, program description, and online program Application form for all three AAP cycles.

Within 20 days of contract award for website launch

Once for website initial launch, update as needed

6 2 Work plan for creating resources and training content

Written work plan for creating resources and training content is required. This plan must include the topics of interest, timelines, Section 508 compliance plans, and other relevant information requested by the

COR

Within the first month of contract award

Once

7 2 Releasing resources and training content to AAP participants

The resources and training content must be released to the AAP participants on website or via other digital methods approved by the COR. A list with brief description of each published document must be included in the final program summary.

Within 3 months of the contract award

Once

8 3 Online Application Form

Online application form must be prepared by the Contractor and sent to the COR. The Contractor must revise the form if requested by the COR prior to implementation.

Within 15 days contract award

Once

9 3 Distributing the Call for Application to

NIAID

SBIR/STTR

applicants

The call for application for the AAP including COR approved online SBIR/STTR Application Form must be delivered to NIAID SBIR/STTR relevant list-servs at least 60 days prior to each SBIR/STTR submission deadline for all AAP cycles. This

At least 60 days prior to each

SBIR/STTR

submission cycle

Once for each application cycle announcement must be published on AAP website created by the Contractor and forwarded to NIAID program for distribution to relevant list-servs.

10 3 Online AAP application form and kick off call minutes

Written application summary including the application forms and minutes of kick-off calls must be submitted to the COR as a record for the AAP participants.

Within a month after receiving application forms at each cycle

Once for each AAP cycle

11 3 AAP

Informational Webinar Presentation

The Contractor must develop a 30-minute informational webinar with PPT presentation prior to each AAP cycle to provide introduction to the AAP program and the eligibility criteria for participation. The Contractor is responsible for introducing the scope of the one-on-one AAP assistance and the online resources provide by AAP. The presentation slides must be reviewed and approved by NIAID COR at least 2 weeks before the webinar date.

At least 2 weeks prior to each AAP cycle opening date

Once for each AAP cycle

12 4 One-on-one Applicant Assistance Work Plan

The Contractor must draft a one-on-one applicant assistance work plan indicating the workflow, timeline, methodology, and milestones of the Program for each cycle for all AAP cycles. The Contractor must revise the work plan if requested by the COR. Final approval by the COR is required prior to implementing the work plan.

Within 15 days of the kick-off calls of each AAP cycle

Once for each AAP cycle

13 4 Design and Implement Applicant Surveys

The Contractor must design appropriate surveys to measure the satisfaction of the applicants after grant submission. The surveys must be reviewed and approved by the COR prior to implementation. 80% satisfaction rate from applicants is required as government quality assurance.

Within 15 days after each

SBIR/STTR

grant submission deadline

Once for each AAP cycle

14 4 Collect and Analyze Applicant Outcome Metrics

The Contractor is required to collect and analyze the applicant outcome metrics to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Program, once the grant review outcome is publicly available.

Within 15 days after each

SBIR/STTR

grant review results are released

Once for each AAP cycle

15 5 Final Program Summary

A draft of final written program summary must be sent to the COR for review and approval 30 days prior the end of the performance period.

Requested revisions must be made

30 days prior the end of the performance period by the Contractor. COR approval is required for the final acceptance of this program summary.

16 5 Final Presentation

A draft of final presentation summarizing all the work completed by the Applicant Assistance Program must be sent to the COR for review and approval 30 days prior the end of the performance period. Requested revisions must be made by the Contractor. COR approval is required for the final acceptance of this presentation. The Contractor is required to give an oral presentation to relevant Program staff before the end of the performance period.

30 days prior the end of the performance period

7. Contractor Staff and Management Requirements

The Contractor will conform to all NIH and HHS processes for obtaining background checks consistent with requirements related to this effort. The Contractor must appoint a project lead within the Contractor’s organization and other necessary backup personnel to ensure accessibility during normal business hours (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm).

8. Acceptance Criteria for Deliverables.

a. The Contractor must complete all the deliverables listed under each service area in a timely manner.

b. All deliverables in this SOW will be in digital format only. NIAID does not accept any physical prints of the deliverables.

c. The COR will inspect and accept the deliverables listed in the schedule table above. All deliverables must be sent to the COR and program staff at least 5 business days (unless more time is specified for specific deliverables) prior to the deadline to ensure the quality of the deliverables meets the requirements of this SOW. The quality requirements are listed in Section 6 in the Deliverables Description column.

9. Government Furnished Information (GFI).

GFI for this SOW includes:

a. Current publicly available NIAID SBIR/STTR applicant resources and training content created by

NIAID staff. The Contractor must update this available content and create additional new content independently.

b. Publicly available NIAID specific SBIR/STTR program policies.

c. Additional information requested by the Contractor that is approved by the NIAID COR.

10. Section 508: Accessibility of electronic and information technology.

The Contractor must make sure the online resources and training content complies with Section 508 requirement. Accessibility checklists, guides, and standards for 508 compliance can be found at https://ocio.nih.gov/ITGovPolicy/NIH508/Pages/default.aspx.

11. Period of Performance.

The period of performance will be one base year and 12 option periods based on the AAP cycles. If the NIAID Small Business Program decides to extend the program with the option cycles, Program will process the extension approximately 1 month prior to the end date of the base year or each subsequent option cycle. NIAID Program may extend the program by 1, 2, or 3 option cycles based on the needs of the Program.

The service area work for each option cycle is listed below:

Option Period 1 April through July

Option Period 2 August through November

Option Period 3 December through March

Applicant Assistance Applicant Assistance Applicant Assistance Applicant eligibility and demographic information gathering

Applicant eligibility and demographic information gathering

Applicant eligibility and demographic information gathering

End of cycle applicant survey and result analysis, presentation for survey results

End of cycle applicant survey and result analysis, presentation for survey results

End of cycle applicant survey and result analysis, presentation for survey results

Initial annual creation of project work plan, regular meetings, meeting agendas and presentation, other contract management related administrative work

Maintenance and continuation of project work plan, regular meetings, meeting agendas and presentation, other contract management related administrative work

Maintenance and continuation of project work plan, regular meetings, meeting agendas and presentation, other contract management related administrative work

Initial annual creation of webinars, online resources, templates, further creation, updating, addition, technical maintenance, 3 informational webinars each cycle

Updating and addition to online resources, templates, technical maintenance, 3 informational webinars each cycle

Updating and addition to online resources, templates, technical maintenance, 3 informational webinars each cycle

Establish AAP website, online application form, AAP program announcement

NA NA

NA NA

End of year final report and presentation with program analysis

Base and Options:

Base Year April 1, 2022 – March 31, 2023

Option 1 Option Year 1 Period 1 April 1, 2023 – July 31, 2023

Option 2 Option Year 1 Period 2 August 1, 2023 – November 30, 2023

Option 3 Option Year 1 Period 3 December 1, 2023 – March 31, 2024 https://ocio.nih.gov/ITGovPolicy/NIH508/Pages/default.aspx

Option 4 Option Year 2 Period 1 April 1, 2024 – July 31, 2024

Option 5 Option Year 2 Period 2 August 1, 2024 – November 30, 2024

Option 6 Option Year 2 Period 3 December 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025

Option 7 Option Year 3 Period 1 April 1, 2025 – July 31, 2025

Option 8 Option Year 3 Period 2 August 1, 2025 – November 30, 2025

Option 9 Option Year 3 Period 3 December 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026

Option 10 Option Year 4 Period 1 April 1, 2026 – July 31, 2026

Option 11 Option Year 4 Period 2 August 1, 2026 – November 30, 2026

Option 12 Option Year 4 Period 3 December 1, 2026 – March 31, 2027

12. Place of Performance.

The tasks outlined in the Statement of Work will be performed at the contractor’s site. No travel costs are included in this contract.

13. Contractor Qualification and Requirements

The Contractor must provide personnel with the necessary skills and levels of expertise required to support the tasks to be performed under this SOW.

a. The Contractor must demonstrate the following experiences (must be addressed in quote):

• Demonstrated at least 5 years of experience in assisting applicants to prepare SBIR/STTR grant proposals.

• Demonstrated competence in assisting applicants to prepare SBIR/STTR proposals for NIH or other federal agencies.

• Highly familiar with SBIR/STTR program policies and application process.

• Demonstrated expertise in assisting the preparation of commercialization plans, specifically in

Phase II SBIR/STTR proposals.

• Highly experienced in assisting the preparation of different phases of SBIR/STTR proposals, especially Phase I, Phase II, Direct to Phase II, and Fast Track proposals.

• Experienced with creating SBIR/STTR application related online webinars, resources, toolkits, and templates.

• Highly organized with proficiency in projects management for program of a similar scale

b. Preferred experiences from the Contractor (must be addressed in quote):

• The Contractor has previous experience working with federal agencies, especially NIH.

• The Contractor has successfully assisted applicants to apply and receive federal SBIR/STTR grants funding, especially from NIH SBIR/STTR program.

• The Contractor is highly familiar with NIH SBIR/STTR program policies, especially with NIAID specific program policies.

• The Contractor demonstrated experience working with women-owned and socially-economically disadvantaged-owned small businesses.

14. Data and Deliverables Ownership

The ownership of the following AAP program content created by the Contractor belongs to NIAID small business program and can be used for future NIAID activities at the program’s discretion. The Contractor is not allowed to share this information with third party or use this information for other purposes outside of the scope of the NIAID AAP program work.

• AAP website

• AAP Program announcement and description

• AAP Program introductory webinars prior to each AAP cycle

• AAP Program applicants and participants information

• AAP Program end of cycle surveys, survey responses and analysis

• AAP Program annual end of year final report and presentation