Already Won SBIR Work? Don't Overlook Phase III
SBIR/STTR Phase III gives past awardees a sole-source path to production without another competition. Here's what the SBA Policy Directive says and how to use it.
Already won SBIR or STTR work? You may have a sole-source path to production that most firms never use.
What Phase III is
Under SBA's SBIR/STTR Policy Directive, Phase III is work that derives from, extends, or completes your earlier SBIR/STTR effort, paid for with money outside the SBIR budget.
Because you already won Phase I and II competitively, the agency doesn't have to run another competition. If its procedures call for a justification, it only needs to say the award is a Phase III authorized under 15 U.S.C. 638(r)(4).
The directive also tells agencies to make a good-faith effort to give related Phase III work to the original awardee, and Phase III awards keep SBIR/STTR data rights protection.
What to do now
- List every program office that could use what you built, not just your original sponsor.
- Bring them a clear statement of how the new work traces back to your SBIR topic.
- Know the directive well enough to walk a contracting officer through it.
A lot of good technology stalls between prototype and production. Phase III is built for that gap.
Have an SBIR award sitting on the shelf? Book a free fit conversation and we'll talk it through.
Hat tip to the LinkedIn post that flagged this.
Sources: SBIR.gov: SBA SBIR/STTR Policy Directive · 15 U.S.C. 638 (Cornell LII)