# Presentation: 497778

## Overview of the 

**Carl Ray**
**NASA’s SBIR & STTR**
**Program Executive**

- Overview of the
- SBIR & STTR Programs

## Congressional Objectives

**Stimulate technological innovation**

**Use small business to meet federal R&D needs**

**Foster and encourage participation by minorities and disadvantaged persons in technological innovation**

**Increase private-sector commercialization innovations derived from federal R&D**

## SBIR/STTR:3-Phase, Annual Solicitation Based Program

_***PHASE I***_
**  ****Feasibility study **
**   ****$100K and 6 months (SBIR) **
**          ****or 12 months (STTR)**

_***PHASE II***_
**  ****Full R/R&D**
**  ****2-Year Award and $600K (SBIR) or (STTR)  **

_***PHASE III***_
**  ****Use of non-SBIR Funds**
**  ****Infusion Into Government Programs**
- Ability to award sole-source contracts without JOFOC based on specific SBIR authority – NASA and NASA primes.
**  ****Commercialization into Marketplace **

## Implementation of SBIR/STTR at NASA

**Technology**
**Infusion**

**SBIR**
**STTR**
**IPP Seed Fund**

**Innovation**
**Incubator**

**Centennial Challenges**
**New Business Models**
**Innovation Transfusion**

**Partnership**
**Development**

**Intellectual Property management**
**Technology Transfer**
**New Innovative Partnerships **

## Program Elements

**Technology**
**Infusion**

**SBIR**
**STTR**
**IPP Seed Fund**

**Innovation**
**Incubator**

**Centennial Challenges**
**New Business Models**
**Innovation Transfusion**

**Partnership**
**Development**

**Intellectual Property management**
**Technology Transfer**
**New Innovative Partnerships **

##  Dynamic Innovation Process

##  Technology Infusion

** ****Technology Infusion**

**IPP Synergy Paths**

**Mission Directorates**
- Programs
- Projects

**Technology Needs**
- Communication

**Technology Infusion**
- Bridging the “Valley of Death”
- Narrow the gap and reduce risk
- Begin building bridges early

- SBIR/STTR
- Seed Fund
- Phase III Partnerships

- Executed at the Field Centers

- Executed at the Field Centers

## NASA Installations

**Dryden**

**Ames**

**Jet**
**Propulsion**
**Laboratory**

**Johnson**

**Stennis**

**Kennedy**

**Marshall**

**Goddard**

**Headquarters**

**Langley**

**Glenn**

**NASA Installations**

## Exploration Systems

** ****of NASA Mission Directorates**

**Exploration Systems**

**Aeronautics Research**

**Space Operations**

**Science**

## NASA SBIR/STTR Strategic Approach

**NASA SBIR/STTR Strategic Approach**

**Every technology development investment dollar is critical to the ultimate success of NASA’s mission.**
- Ensure alignment and integration with Mission Directorate priorities.
- Investments should be complementary with technologies being pursued by:
- Synergy with other IPP investments and partnerships,
- Mission Directorate programs and projects,
- Prime contractors, and
- Other agency SBIR/STTR investments.
**Ultimate objective is to achieve infusion of technologies into NASA’s Mission Directorates and their:**
- Flight programs/projects,
- Ground or test systems, or
- Other uses to advance NASA’s mission
**Mission Directorate establish high priority needs and existing gaps.**
- High priority needs are developed into topics for the annual solicitation.
- Subtopics may be clustered to support the development and maturation of  critical technologies for infusion.

## SBIR/STTR Program Enhancements Focus on Infusion

- 10 Infusion-focused offices
-  4 Primary Admin Offices
- Focus on technology infusion.
- Alignment with MD objectives.
- Decision Support for MDs on technology gaps & priorities.
- Cross cutting areas that involve multiple MDs assigned to single office.
- Technology Infusion Managers at all Centers.
- All Centers continue to execute SBIR/STTR Contracts.
- Technology Readiness Level (TRL) now being tracked as part of SBIR/STTR.

| SBIR Primary Offices | Mission Directorate Focus  | Cross Cutting Programs |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Glenn Research Center | ARMD | Comm |
| Langley Research Center | ESMD |  |
| Jet Propulsion Laboratory | SMD |  |
| Ames Research Center | SOMD | SmallSats
Human Life Sciences |

## Organizational Functions (cont’d)

**Primary Field Centers *****(Program Administration- Solicitation)***
- Primarily aligned with a Mission Directorate (MD);
- Stronger technology infusion oversight.
- Localized project to program alignment
- Provide decision support & analysis to help MD’s prioritize and make technology investment decisions.
- Localized technology infusion emphasis & implementation.
- Provide coordination to Supporting Centers for SBIR/STTR entities.
**Supporting Field Centers **
***	******(Project Infusion - SBIR Technology Integration Managers [STIM]s )***
- Localized technology infusion emphasis & implementation.
- Interface with Primary Centers, MD’s programs(local Topic & Sub-Topic managers) for SBIR/STTR entities.

## Other Program Changes

**Other Program Changes**

**The Program is now tracking the maturity of technologies funded by SBIR/STTR through use of Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs). **
- TRLs range from one (1) to nine (9), with one (1) being a conceptual idea, six (6) being a prototype demonstrated in the relevant environment, and nine (9) being a fully operational mature technology.
-  For infusion purposes, this is very important information to know because projects generally avoid technologies that are not at least TRL six (6) by their preliminary design review.
- Tracking TRLs will also provide insight into the progress that technologies are making, and over time, the performance of different firms for successful maturing technologies.
**Introduced a new tool called the “Technology Infusion/Advisor”.**
- Implemented through the SBIR/STTR Electronic Handbook Designed to facilitate more Phase III investments and close gaps in the infusion process.
- SBIR firms will be matched to NASA projects that are in need of the relevant technology.
- Improved communication throughout Phases I and II with Projects.
- Increases the likelihood of Phase III support via a contract with the NASA Project or a subcontract with the NASA project’s.

## SBIR and STTR Technology Readiness Levels

- Flight Projects

**System Test, Launch & Operations**

**System/ Subsystem Development**

**Technology Demonstration**

**Technology Development**

**Research to Prove Feasibility**

**Basic Technology Research**

**TRL 9**
**TRL 8**
**TRL 7**
**TRL 6**
**TRL 5**
**TRL 4**
**TRL 3**
**TRL 2**
** ****TRL 1**

- Basic Research

- Research and Technology Base
- “Technology Push”

- Capability-Focused Technology
- Development and Demo Programs
- “Applications Pull”

**e.g. SBIR, STTR**

- Advanced Development Programs
- “System
-  Specific”

## Program Changes

**  **

**Program Changes**

**Science Mission Directorate added  New Low-Cost Small Spacecraft and Technologies topic to portfolio**
- Topic has subtopics which include;
- nanosat launch vehicles and technologies,
- secondary and tertiary launch technologies,
- low-cost, rapid spacecraft design and multi-subsystem functionality, and
- project management,
- systems engineering and
- mission assurance tools.
**Initiated option for NASA "Phase II Enhancement" (Phase II-E) funding**
- The objective of the Phase II-E option is to provide incentive for Phase 3 awards by providing a cost share extension of the Phase II contract.
- Under this option, NASA will match with SBIR/STTR funds up to $150,000 of non-SBIR/non-STTR investment (Phase III contract) from a NASA project, NASA contractor, or third party commercial investor.
- Phase II-E will assist a NASA program/project or third party investor, to accelerate and/or enhance the infusion of the Phase II research into a NASA application or into a commercial product.

## Infusion Visibility

**Infusion Visibility**

**SBIR/STTR Hallmarks of Success**
- Sixth volume in production.
- Agency outreach and visibility product.
- ~10 infusion video vignettes per volume featuring transfer and mission integration successes.
- DVDs produced and available for distribution.
- Beginning use on NASA TV.

## Facilitated  Access to the Space Environment for Technology Development and Training 

**Facilitated  Access to the Space Environment for Technology Development and Training **

**Objective: Advancing technology maturity to enhance technology infusion.**
**Problem =  Mid-TRL “Valley of Death”.**
**Lack of opportunities to test in microgravity environment.**
**Key Element to achieving TRL 6 is demonstration of prototype in relevant environment.**
***Provide access to commercial microgravity flight services to advance NASA technologies, reducing risk levels to enable more infusion. Also  demonstrates procurement of commercial space services by NASA for successful Agency use.***

- Targeted at needed Technologies that would benefit from microgravity testing.
- IPP portfolio (SBIR/STTR, Seed Fund, etc.) and other technologies.
- Leverage Funds for Technology Demonstration in Parabolic Microgravity Flight Testing.
- Competitive process modeled after “IPP Seed Fund”.
**Status: **Microgravity Services procurement pending.
- Release FAST solicitation November 2007; Awards March 2008; Initial Flights May 2008.

## Partnership Connections – IPP Publications

**Partnership Connections – IPP Publications**

- _[http://www.techbriefs.com/](http://www.techbriefs.com/)_
- Electronics & Computers
- Semiconductors & ICs
- Mechanics
- Information Sciences
- MaterialsSoftware
- Manufacturing & Prototyping
- Machinery & Automation
- Physical Sciences
- Bio-MedicalTest & Measurement

- _[http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/](http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/)_
- _[http://www.sti.nasa.gov/spinoff/](http://www.sti.nasa.gov/spinoff/searchrecord)_
- _[searchrecord](http://www.sti.nasa.gov/spinoff/searchrecord)_

- _[http://ipp.nasa.gov/innovation/](http://ipp.nasa.gov/innovation/index.html)_
- _[index.html](http://ipp.nasa.gov/innovation/index.html)_

- _[http://ipp.nasa.gov/](http://ipp.nasa.gov/)_

## Summary

**IPP is seeking to add value to NASA’s Mission Directorates and their programs and projects, through technology development and infusion to meet mission needs.**
**IPP provides benefits to NASA’s programs and projects through several sources.**
- There is a track record of success, but we are aggressively pursuing better integration and more infusion.
- IPP is working to better identify priority needs across the agency, to help in shaping of the SBIR/STTR portfolio of investments and partnership opportunities.
**There is tremendous potential, with technology resources so scarce NASA is trying to harness the SBIR/STTR potential.**
**The SBIR/STTR program continues to apply technologies into products for public benefit and integrate successes into NASA messaging.**
**The SBIR/STTR program has maintained highly dedicated workforce across the ten Field Centers, they are working to build stronger connections to programs/projects at their centers to  needs, build working relationships and increase infusion.**