[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 37 (Friday, February 24, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 11927]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-03798]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Notice To Announce Updated Minimum Performance Standards for 
Experienced Firms That Receive Funding Through the Small Business 
Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer 
(STTR) Programs

AGENCY: National Institutes of Health, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announces the updated 
minimum performance standards for experienced firms funded through the 
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Small Business Innovation 
Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs.

DATES: The relevant funding opportunity announcements have been updated 
to incorporate these changes. The updated performance standards will be 
required of any firms submitting SBIR or STTR grant or cooperative 
agreement applications on or after April 5, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Please visit our website to view the updated Minimum 
Performance Standards for Experienced Firms at https://seed.nih.gov/small-business-funding/small-business-program-basics/eligibility-criteria.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephanie Fertig, HHS Small Business 
Program Lead, Small business Education & Entrepreneurial Development 
(SEED) Office, Office of Extramural Research, NIH, Rockledge I, Suite 
800, Bethesda, MD 20817. Email: [email protected]. Phone number (301) 
435-2688.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The new minimum standards are aligned with 
Section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638), as amended by the 
SBIR and STTR Extension Act of 2022 (Pub. L. 117-183).
    HHS is announcing the following changes:
    Phase I to Phase II Transition Rate Benchmark: In accordance with 
guidance from the SBA, the HHS SBIR/STTR Program is implementing the 
Phase I to Phase II Transition Rate benchmark required by the SBIR/STTR 
Reauthorization Act of 2011 and the SBIR and STTR Extension Act of 
2022. The benchmark establishes a minimum number of Phase II awards the 
company must have received for a given number of Phase I awards 
received during the 5-year time period. The Transition Rate is 
calculated as the total number of SBIR and STTR Phase II awards a 
company received during the past 5 fiscal years divided by the total 
number of SBIR and STTR Phase I awards it received during the past 5 
fiscal years excluding the most recently-completed year.
    Phase II to Commercialization Benchmark: In accordance with 
guidance from the SBA, HHS, including NIH, SBIR/STTR Programs are 
implementing the Phase II to Commercialization Rate benchmark for Phase 
I applicants, as required by the SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2011 
and the SBIR and STTR Extension Act of 2022. The Commercialization Rate 
Benchmark was published in a Federal Register notice on August 8, 2013 
(78 FR 48537).
    This update is applicable to all HHS SBIR and STTR grants and 
cooperative agreements with application receipt dates on or after April 
5, 2023. This update supersedes, in its entirety, previous Phase I to 
Phase II transition benchmarks established in May 2013 (78 FR 30951) 
and previous Commercialization Benchmarks established in September 2013 
(78 FR 59410). Additional information can be found at: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not-od-23-092.htm.

    Dated: February 16, 2023.
Tara A. Schwetz,
Acting Principal Deputy Director, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 2023-03798 Filed 2-23-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P