The new Administration has recently issued a series of Executive Orders and agency memos in rapid succession. These various policy directives have caused confusion, uncertainty, concern and even fear. It is likely that additional policy directives will be forthcoming in the days and weeks to come. As these various directives are issued, we encourage the following:
If an agency contacts you directly, be sure it is from a government agency, and be careful about clicking links that do NOT have a ".gov" or ".mil" extension.
Check agency websites for updates on solicitations, deadlines, and policy changes. UNTIL you verify that a previously posted deadline, solicitation, or policy has been changed, ASSUME the previous requirements are still valid. In other words, DON'T ASSUME an agency will postpone a deadline unless you can verify the change. It is best to assume the deadline remains the same... and then if the deadline IS extended you will have additional time to respond.
If your firm is experiencing direct hardships (such as funding shortages, inability to make payroll, supply chain cost increases, etc) as a result from the policy changes, make sure to quantify the impact. Then contact your local United States Congressperson and/or United States Senator (https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member). Respectfully let each office know of the impact these policy changes are having on your company.
If you have a SBIR/STTR award - Develop a contingency budget accounting for potential funding delays; Document any project timeline impacts; Maintain detailed records of all communications; Consider adjusting project milestones to accommodate potential delays; and Identify any critical deadlines or payments that may be affected.
Know that the ownership and staff at BBCetc are FULLY COMMITTED to assisting you as you apply to SBIR/STTR and other federal R&D funding programs. We recognize that the past weeks have been anything but “normal.” BBCetc staff are closely monitoring changes and are in communication with agency contacts. BBCetc is committed to mitigating the confusion, uncertainty & fear caused by these changes, and encourage you to do the same.
From the Sources' Mouth Section 174
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act provisions enacted in 2022 created entirely new guidelines on research and development expenses for many businesses. SBIR grant-funded startups have been particularly impacted. Capitalization and amortization of R&D expenses could potentially increase your tax burden without a tax advisor experienced in R&D tax law and method of accounting tax law to review your company to implement a potential tax savings strategy.
Join a special “From the Source’s Mouth” with Dave Finklang, CPA/CGMA, MBA, a tax partner and leader of the startup and entrepreneurial services team at Anders CPAs + Advisors, on Tuesday, February 25 to learn critical insights to help your business potentially reduce your tax burden for 2024 and future years.
Exploring NASA SBIR Opportunities: Key Insights for Small Businesses
Understanding the NASA SBIR process and aligning your efforts with program goals is key to success. Here’s what you need to know about the Fiscal Year 2025 NASA SBIR Phase I solicitation. Read On.
Embracing the Pivot: How Customer Discovery Drives Innovation
In the world of startups and innovation, customer discovery is a crucial step that can often lead to unexpected changes. It’s not just about testing your product or service in the market—it’s about truly understanding your customers, their needs, and how your offering can meet them. And while it can feel uncomfortable, it’s completely normal and even expected that your business model or target market may shift during this process.
When you engage in customer discovery, the feedback you receive can challenge assumptions you’ve made about your service or product. Maybe you find out that your target audience isn’t who you thought it was, or perhaps your offering needs more adjustments than you originally planned. This is where pivoting comes in. Pivoting means changing your course based on real customer feedback to ensure that what you’re providing truly resonates with the people you aim to serve.
So, ask yourself: Who have you spoken to so far, and how have their responses influenced your offering or business strategy? Have you had to tweak your product? Maybe refine your target market or even reconsider your business model entirely? This process is all part of building something that works, and it’s a sign that you're actively adapting to real-world needs.
Remember, success doesn’t come from sticking rigidly to the original plan—it comes from listening, learning, and evolving based on what your customers are telling you.
Army XTechIgnite
Army XTechIgnite is a prize pitch competition offering $400,000 in cash prizes and $27,000,000 in SBIR contracts.
This prize competition offers an opportunity for the Army xTech and SBIR programs to enhance collaboration with the Program Executive Offices (PEOs), enabling them to leverage these programs to introduce innovative technologies that address the Army’s current needs. Additionally, the competition will signal key priorities the PEOs are focusing on, providing industry with opportunities to support these priorities and contribute to advancing the Army’s mission. Submission Dates: Feb 5 - Mar 12, 2025.
Join the SBA's virtual America's Seed Fund Week 2025!
This free online event serves as the official kick off for the 2025 SBIR/STTR Road Tour Program and connects entrepreneurs across the nation working on advanced technologies and the organizations that support them to America's Seed Fund, the country’s largest source of early-stage fundingthrough the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.
SBIR/STTR: ABC's and How to Find an Agency
February 27, 2025
1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. EST
Join this virtual workshop to learn what it takes to participate in the programs. We’ll review, eligibility requirements, participating agencies, the differences between SBIR and STTR, common misconceptions and more!
This training is designed to provide enough information for attendees to determine if they would like to seriously pursue proposal development and provides the tools to help begin the process.
BBC Entrepreneurial Training & Consulting, LLC (BBCetc) works with technology-based entrepreneurs and companies across the U.S. on strategies to advance their R&D efforts to commercialization. The BBCetc team is nationally recognized for its success in helping clients secure federal funding through the SBIR and STTR programs. BBCetc services include research grant assistance, SBIR/STTR training and proposal development assistance, and grants and contract management.
