The Small Business Innovation Research Program

1. The Small Business
Innovation Research Program (SBIR)
U.S. Department of Education
Edward Metz, Ph.D.

2. The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Program at the Department of Education provides
funding to small business firms and partners for the
research and development (R&D) of commercially
viable education technology products in general
education or special education.

3. There are 2 SBIR program offices at ED:
• Institute of Education Sciences (IES)
Contact: Edward.Metz@ed.gov
• Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services (OSERS)
/ National Institute on Disability and
Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)
Contact: Vanessa.Tesoriero@ed.gov

4. ED SBIR Program Structure
Phase I: 6 months for prototype R&D
Phase II: 2 years for full scale R&D
Phase III: Private sector commercialization
(without ED SBIR funds)

5. ED SBIR program funding levels
•FY2006 $8.7M
•FY2007 $10.5M
•FY2008 $9.9M
•FY2009 $10M
•FY2010 $10.1M
•FY2011 $11.1M
•FY2012 $13.7M
•FY 2013 TBD

6. Recent ED SBIR Awards
IES OSERS/NIDRR
2008 - 12 Phase I, 5 Fast-Track 2008 - 15 Phase I, 5 Phase II
2009 – 4 Phase II, 4 Fast-Track 2009 – 15 Phase I, 5 Phase II
2010 – 14 Phase I, 6 Fast-Track 2010 – 15 Phase I, 5 Phase II
2011 – 7 Phase II, 9 Fast-Track 2011 – 15 Phase I, 5 Phase II
2012 – 12 Phase I 2012 – 15 Phase I, 5 Phase II

7. The IES SBIR Program
•Program Officer: Edward Metz, Ph.D.
•Funding Mechanism: Contracts
•Funding Levels: $150K for Phase I, $900K for Phase II
•Proposal Review Process: Done internally at ED; 3
reviewers read and score proposals; proposals are
ranked from highest score down; highest scoring
proposals recommended for awards.

8. FY 2013 IES SBIR Program Outlook
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: Track 1 for Products
•RFPs:
 Phase I ($150K)
 Fast-Track option (for Phase I&II) for up to $1.05M
•Topics: Products to improve student learning in general
and special education, and products to improve how
teacher’s teach.
•RFP open/closed:
• Likely open around December 17, 2012.
• Likely close around January 28, 2013.
•Award date: Likely May, 2013

9. Specifications: Track 1 for Products
 Products can be for students in general education pre-K through 16
(and for adults for basic math or reading) or for infants, toddlers,
or students in special education infancy through grade 12.
 Products can be focused in most subject areas such as STEM,
reading-writing, social studies, for social skills, etc.
 Products generally may be implemented or integrated within pre
K- 16 school practice: As a replacement or supplement to curricula
or instructional practices; as an assessment; For professional
development, or as a tool to improve classroom management or
efficiency.

10. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: Track 2 Games
***JOINT-AGENCY IES & DARPA SBIR***
•RFP:
 Phase I ($150K)
•Topics: Games topics including:
1) Statistics and probability
2) English Learners
3) Foreign Language
4) Computer Science
•RFP open/closed:
• Likely open around December 17, 2012.
• Likely close around January 28, 2013.
•Award date: Likely May, 2013

11. Phase I and II R&D Specifications
Phase I
For the development of a prototype and research on its
usability and initial feasibility in a school or laboratory
setting
Phase II
For the full-scale development of the education
technology product or game and for research on its
usability and feasibility, fidelity of implementation, and
pilot research to test the promise of the product or game
to impact the proposed outcomes.

12. Examples of products/games out of
IES SBIR program:
 Tool to support students with ASD
 AI science tutor
 Formative assessment program for
math/ELA
 Virtual physics laboratory
 Web-based PD training tool for teachers
 Virtual environment to promote social skills.
 Game for learning fractions

13. Top 6 List
“Have to haves” for a strong proposal
to IES SBIR.

14. “6 Have to Haves”
#1: Strong and clear product or gaming concept
#2: Strong theoretical/empirical foundation
#3: It can be built. It can be iteratively refined
#4: Pilot research is rigorous and appropriate
#5: Commercial pathways are convincing
#6: The team brings the expertise

15. IES SBIR Program: On the Rise
•In the past year - IES SBIR products were used by approximately
850,000 students in tens of thousands of schools in all 50 states.
•Acquired for large scale distribution: Children’s Progress
•Acquired for large scale distribution: Nimble Assessment
•Major distribution agreements: Polyhedron
•Most Innovative Award at SIIA 2011: Fluidity Software
•Most Innovative Award at SIIA 2012: Filament Games
•Winner of the SIIA CODIE Award 2012: Sokikom
•IES SBIR Program featured in Forbes’ online magazine Techonomy
•Program Launched new website and video page
•IES SBIR teaming with DARPA SBIR on games initiative

16. Additional Funding Opportunity
for R&D or Evaluation
Research Grants Programs at IES
•$1.5M to $3M for R&D & evaluation of interventions.
•RFA out in Spring, applications due June or Sept., 2013
•For more information, visit http://ies.ed.gov
NIDRR SBIR
•Grants for up to $575K for developing technology to support students in
special education and to improve access to educational opportunities.
•RFA to be released in early 2013
•For more information, visit: : www.ed.gov/programs/sbir

17. For more information:
SBIR Program Manager
Edward Metz, Ph.D.
U.S. Department of Education
Institute of Education Sciences
Phone: (202) 208-1983
Email: edward.metz@ed.gov
IES SBIR website: http://ies.ed.gov/ncer/sbir/
IES SBIR Video Page:
http://ies.ed.gov/sbir/videos.asp
ED.gov SBIR Website: www.ed.gov/programs/sbir