12-Week Planner

1 

Topics Released 

• Download & review topics/subtopics document 
• Determine potential topic/subtopic pair 
• Research issuing office - review mission, needs, research, programs 
• Assess ability to successfully respond to topic/subtopic pair 
• Contact Topic Author/Manager if you have questions 
• Consider personnel and/or partnerships required to respond to topic/subtopic pair 
• Begin SAM registration 

2 

• Begin PAMS registration 
• Download DOE SBIR/STTR Application checklist 
• Review Project Narrative Guidelines 
• Determine type of application:  SBIR or STTR 
• If STTR application, begin contacts with RI if you have an established relationship with appropriate institution of if you have an institution in mind.  If you do not have an RI in mind or an established relationship, review the “Partnering” resources page in the SBIR online guide and take steps to find a partner RI. 
• Begin formulating/drafting Project Narrative 
• Determine PI and other key personnel (if possible) 

3 

• Verify that PAM registration is complete if you have not received notification yet 
• Register for Grants.gov 
• Continue formulating/drafting Project Narrative 
• If STTR and RI not determined yet, continue to work on establishing partnership with appropriate RI. 
• Begin to formulate budget.  Try to determine as early as possible if subcontractors, consortia, or other partnerships will be necessary to carry out proposed R&D. 

4 

FOA Released 

• Locate appropriate FOA in grants.gov, download, and review for application requirements & specifics 
• Finalize senior / key personnel and begin completing biosketches 
• Begin completing Current & Pending Support for PI and key / senior persons  
• Begin drafting LOI 
• Continue drafting Project Narrative 
• If working with a service provider or reviewer, begin providing Project Narrative sections for review as they are completed for comments 

5 

• Finalize partnerships with RI, consortia, and any partnering organizations 
• Continue drafting Project Narrative 
• Continue to formulate budget 
• Review PIER Plan requirements and begin formulating PIER Plan 
• Review Commercialization Plan requirements and determine if outside assistance from service provider needed  

6 

• Verify SAM registration complete 
• Submit LOI in PAMS 
• Begin entering information on the SF424 webform in Grants.gov 
• Register as SBA on SBIR.gov 
• Request letters of commitment/funding/support from RI, consortia, and/or any partnering organizations  

7 

LOI due 

• Finalize biosketches for PI and all senior/key persons 
• Continue drafting Project Narrative 
• Continue to formulate budget 
• Divide time between creative aspects of writing Project Narrative and completing required forms - R & R Senior/Key Person Form, R&R Other Project Information Form, SBIR/STTR Information Form.   

8 

• If partnering with RI or any subcontractors, send subaward budget documents (downloaded from grants.gov application workspace) to RI or representative for completion 
• Continue drafting Project Narrative 
• Continue to formulate budget 
• Begin Budget Justification Form 
• Determine data management plan; if working with an RI, ensure that there is agreement on how/if data is to be shared 

9 

• Continue drafting Project Narrative 
• Continue to formulate budget 
• Divide time between creative aspects of writing Project Narrative and completing required forms - R & R Senior/Key Person Form, R&R Other Project Information Form, SBIR/STTR Information Form.   
• Complete Level of Effort and Max Funding spreadsheet 
• Review DOE application checklist to ensure all required forms have been completed 

10 

Non-responsive feedback, if any, issue 

• If you receive non-responsive feedback, review and determine next steps 
• Begin finalizing Project Narrative 
• Begin finalizing Budget 
• Review subaward budgets (if any) from RI and/or subcontractors 
• Finalize PIER Plan 
• Finalize Commercialization Plan 
• Finalize Budget Justification Form 

11 

• Review Project Narrative for necessary edits and/or adjustments 
• Review Budget for any errors or inconsistencies 
• Review Budget Justification to ensure consistency with Budget 
• Review DOE checklist to ensure all necessary forms completed 

12 

Submit application 

13 

Full application due