NHLBI SBIR Phase IIB Bridge Awards

RFA-HL-13-016
Submission date: June 19, 2013

About the Bridge Award

The purpose of the NHLBI SBIR Phase IIB Bridge Award is to facilitate and accelerate the capital-intensive steps that are required to transition SBIR Phase II projects to the commercialization stage by promoting partnerships between SBIR Phase II awardees and third-party investors and/or strategic partners. The Bridge Award encourages business relationships between applicant small business concerns and third-party investors/strategic partners who can provide substantial financing to help accelerate the commercialization of promising new products and technologies that were initiated with SBIR funding. In particular, applicants are expected to leverage their previous SBIR support, as well as the opportunity to compete for additional funding through the NHLBI Bridge Award program, to attract and negotiate third-party financing needed to advance a product or technology toward commercialization. The applicant’s ability to secure independent third-party investor funds that equal or exceed the total amount of the NHLBI funds being requested over the entire Bridge Award project period will help to validate the commercial potential that is essential for the SBIR projects solicited under the Bridge Award program. It is anticipated that many of the partnerships between small businesses and third-party investors will involve a considerable level of project due diligence by the private sector, thereby increasing the likelihood of commercial success for the funded projects. In light of these goals, the NHLBI strongly encourages applicants to establish business relationships with investors, strategic partners or both that have appropriate prior experience in commercializing emerging biomedical technologies.

Budgets up to $1 million in total costs per year and project periods up to three years (a total of $3 million over three years) may be requested. Development efforts may include preclinical R&D, which is needed for regulatory filings (e.g., IND or IDE) and/or clinical trials.

Eligibility

An SBIR Phase IIB Bridge Award application must represent a continuation of the research and development efforts performed under a previously funded SBIR Phase II award. The NHLBI welcomes applicants previously funded by any NIH Institute or Center or any other Federal agency, as long as the proposed work applies to the NHLBI mission. Applications may be predicated on a previously funded SBIR Phase II grant or contract award.*

*NOTE: Applicants who intend to submit a Bridge Award application that is predicated on an SBIR Phase II contract or any Phase II award from another Federal agency MUST contact the NHLBI prior to submission, so that the NHLBI can properly arrange for such applications to be accepted.

Learn more

To learn more about the NHLBI SBIR Phase IIB Bridge Award program and how to apply, read the Funding Opportunity Announcement or contact us.

Last Updated August 2012