These persons may include SBIR Program Managers, other agency personnel, SBIR winners, academic sources and industry leaders. Many small businesspersons, especially those new to SBIR competition and business activities, are reluctant to initiate communications with key sources. For example, we frequently encounter small businesspersons struggling with how to resolve a particular SBIR solicitation question or issue. When asked if they have made inquires to agency representatives, too often the answer is no. In many cases, a telephone call or email query would have provided needed information.
Persons targeted for inquiries generally have busy schedules.
Information requests via email are less intrusive than telephone calls, and usually are the best way to initiate communications. Once the person queried is oriented to information sought, follow-up telephone calls may be beneficial. Initial contacts should be clear, concise and focused to insure a beneficial response. Vague and general inquiries are frustrating to the source, and may lead to the source ignoring the inquiry. A goal of communications with information sources always should be to establish a beneficial relationship with them, and to add them to a growing network of contacts.