May 1, 2007Office of Research and DevelopmentNational Center for Environmental Research

SBIR National ConferenceResearch Triangle Park, NC

EPA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program

1Office of Research and DevelopmentNational Center for Environmental Research

Presentation Outline• Overview of EPA SBIR Program

–Program Structure–Commercialization–Proposal Review Process

• 2007 EPA SBIR Solicitation–Schedule–Topics

• EPA SBIR Success Stories• Other EPA Technology Resources

2Office of Research and DevelopmentNational Center for Environmental Research

Overview of EPA’s SBIR Program

3Office of Research and DevelopmentNational Center for Environmental Research

Mission• EPA: Protect Human Health and the Environment• SBIR: Develop and commercialize innovative environmental

technologies to solve priority environmental problems identifiedby EPA regions, program offices, laboratories and states

4Office of Research and DevelopmentNational Center for Environmental Research

EPA SBIR Budget• FY03 - $6.8 million• FY04 - $6.6 million• FY05 - $6.2 million• FY06 - $6.5 million• FY07 - $6.0 million

5Office of Research and DevelopmentNational Center for Environmental Research

EPA SBIR Awards• Phase I

–Proof of Concept–$70,000–6 months

• Phase II–Develop Phase I technology with focus on

commercialization–Base $225,000

• Commercialization Option ($70,000)• Verification Testing Option ($50,000)

–2 years

6Office of Research and DevelopmentNational Center for Environmental Research

Focus on Commercialization• Provide Phase I Commercialization Technical Assistance• Require Commercialization Plan in Phase II proposal• Offer two Options at Phase II:

–Commercialization• Promotes commercialization through partial match of third

party investment• Up to $70,000

–Verification• Supports EPA verification testing of SBIR “near commercial-

ready” technologies• Up to $50,000

7Office of Research and DevelopmentNational Center for Environmental Research

Proposal Evaluation and Selection

8Office of Research and DevelopmentNational Center for Environmental Research

External Peer Review

• Ratings:–Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor

• Five Criteria (equally weighted):–Scientific/Technical Quality and

Soundness–Uniqueness and Originality–Cost Effectiveness and Environmental

Benefit–Qualifications of Team–Commercialization Potential

9Office of Research and DevelopmentNational Center for Environmental Research

Internal Programmatic Review• Review only proposals rated “Excellent” and “Very Good”• Three Criteria:

–EPA Needs and Program Priorities–Significant Environmental Benefits–Broad Application and Impact

10Office of Research and DevelopmentNational Center for Environmental Research

SBIR Success Rate

418

515

389

477422 401

40 57 34 43 51 3619 14 14 15 130

100

200

300

400

500

600

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

# of

Pro

posa

ls

Ph I Rec'd Ph 1 funded Ph II funded

11Office of Research and DevelopmentNational Center for Environmental Research

Successful Proposals• Carefully Read Solicitation• Review Topic Descriptions – Select Best Fit• Address Agency Priority Needs – Understand the Problem• Search EPA Website for Previous Awards• Put Together an Effective Team• Develop a Quality Proposal

–Address technical evaluation criteria–Quantify environmental benefits–Demonstrate innovation–Have a strong technical abstract–Have a realistic work plan–Show relationship to future research–Address cost–Show potential for future commercialization

12Office of Research and DevelopmentNational Center for Environmental Research

2007 EPA SBIR Solicitation

13Office of Research and DevelopmentNational Center for Environmental Research

EPA SBIR Solicitation – NOW OPEN

• Phase I Solicitation

–Open March 15, 2007–Close May 23, 2007

• www.epa.gov/ncer/sbir

14Office of Research and DevelopmentNational Center for Environmental Research

2007 SBIR Schedule• Phase I Solicitation Open

– March 15 – May 23, 2007• Peer Review - September 2007• Relevancy Review - December 2007• Phase I Contracts Awarded - February 2008• Phase II Solicitation Open - July 2008• Phase II Contracts Awarded - March 2009

15Office of Research and DevelopmentNational Center for Environmental Research

Solicitation Topics for 2007• Innovation in Manufacturing• Nanotechnology• Green Buildings• Drinking Water• Water and Wastewater• Control of Air Pollution• Monitoring/Remote Sensing

• Engine/Vehicle Emissions• Animal Wastes & Waste to

Energy• Solid/Hazardous Waste• Coal Bed Methane/Oil &Gas• Disaster Debris Management• Tribes/Small Communities• Homeland Security

16Office of Research and DevelopmentNational Center for Environmental Research

Innovation in Manufacturing• Process Changes to Improve Efficiency and Reduce

Pollution• Solvent Recovery• Environmentally Preferable Fragrances & Colorants• Green Suppliers Network

– Automobile Manufacturers– Pharmaceuticals

17Office of Research and DevelopmentNational Center for Environmental Research

Nanotechnology• Environmental Monitors/Sensors• Nanoporous filters• Green Applications

– Coatings– Catalysts– Ceramic Powders

18Office of Research and DevelopmentNational Center for Environmental Research

Green Buildings• New Building Materials (with lower Life Cycle Impact)

–Low Toxicity, Improved energy and water efficiency, Biodegradable, Durability

• Reuse and Recycling of Building Materials• Measurement

–Energy and Water Consumption, Indoor Air Quality, Environmental Benefits

• Green Building Technologies–Green roofs, Under floor air distribution, Day lighting

19Office of Research and DevelopmentNational Center for Environmental Research

Drinking Water• Treatment Technologies for Small Systems• Improved Disinfectants• Detection & Monitoring

– Pathogens (multiple classes, large volume samples, viability/infectivity)

– Algal Neurotoxins and Cytotoxins

20Office of Research and DevelopmentNational Center for Environmental Research

Water and Wastewater• Infrastructure Rehabilitation

– Urban Water and Sewage Systems– Materials, Cleaning, Repair and Construction– Leak Detection/Failure Forecasting

• On Site & Decentralized Wastewater Treatment• Sourcewater Protection• Water Conservation and Reuse

21Office of Research and DevelopmentNational Center for Environmental Research

Control of Air Pollution• Multiple Pollutant Reduction

– Key Sectors: Refineries, Pulp & Paper, Cement– Small Sources: Industrial Boilers, Auto Body & Paint Shops,

Restaurants• Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) Power Plants

– Hot Gas Clean up Technology for Sulfur & Nitrogen

22Office of Research and DevelopmentNational Center for Environmental Research

Monitoring & Remote Sensing

• Air Pollution Monitoring– Particulate Matter (PM), Ammonia, polycyclic

compounds, non-methane organic compounds (NMOC)• Continuous Emission Monitors

– Fence-Line and stack emissions• Remote Sensing of facility leaks

23Office of Research and DevelopmentNational Center for Environmental Research

Engine and Vehicle Emissions• Diesel Construction Equipment Retrofits• Heavy-Duty Truck Hybrids

– Electrical and Hydraulic Systems• Ethanol and Biodiesel• Other Biofuels

24Office of Research and DevelopmentNational Center for Environmental Research

Animal Wastes and Waste to Energy• Waste Management from Animal Feeding Operations (AFOs)

– Manure and Wastewater Management– Air Pollution Reduction– Animal Feed Additives– Water Monitoring

• Waste-to-Energy Systems– Gasification Systems– Anaerobic Digestion

25Office of Research and DevelopmentNational Center for Environmental Research

Solid and Hazardous Waste• Cleanup of Contaminated Sediments• Hazardous Waste Management• Solid Waste Recycling• Waste Monitoring

26Office of Research and DevelopmentNational Center for Environmental Research

Coal Bed Methane/Oil & Gas• Coal Bed Methane

– Environmentally Friendly Drilling Methods– Downhole Water Separators– Reuse of formation waters

• Oil & Gas Drilling– Reuse of Brine Waters– Minimization/Reuse of Drilling Wastes

27Office of Research and DevelopmentNational Center for Environmental Research

Large-Scale Disaster Debris Management

• Source Separation, Volume Reduction, Recycling, Reuse• Disaster-Resistant Green Buildings

28Office of Research and DevelopmentNational Center for Environmental Research

Tribes and Small Communities• Alaska Solid Waste Management

– Technologies to Replace Open Burning• Puerto Rico Drinking Water Treatment

– Small Drinking Water Systems• Outdoor Wood-Fired Hydronic Heaters

– Retrofit Emission Control Devices– New Heater Designs

29Office of Research and DevelopmentNational Center for Environmental Research

Homeland Security

• Building Decontamination– Biological and Chemical Materials and Systems

• Emergency Response Field Test Kits• Drinking Water & Wastewater Security

– Early Warning “Smart” Systems– Point-of-Use/Point-of-Entry (POU/POE) Treatment– Decontamination of Water Infrastructure

30Office of Research and DevelopmentNational Center for Environmental Research

EPA SBIR Success Stories

31Office of Research and DevelopmentNational Center for Environmental Research

Compact Membrane Systems

• NOx Reduction in Diesel Engines– Nitrogen-enriched air membrane – Commercial fluoropolymer modules

operated over 1 million miles on 5 diesel trucks

– NOx reduction over 50 percent– Excellent fouling resistance at

high temp/pressure• Partners with Praxair, Air Liquide, Caterpillar• Markets: diesel trucks, locomotives, ships

and ferries, retrofit for emergency diesel generators

32Office of Research and DevelopmentNational Center for Environmental Research

Sigma Technologies International

• Plastic packaging films that use water-based and solventless printing inks– High-speed acrylate coatings– Inexpensive inline packaging – Eliminates VOC emissions – No hazardous solvent

disposal– Sells equipment and services

• 2 Spin-off Joint Ventures• Customers include Frito-Lay and

other food and beverage companies

33Office of Research and DevelopmentNational Center for Environmental Research

NITON• Lead Paint Analyzer

– Can detect lead in paint, in soil and on filters• Industry standard for analysis of lead in paint• Received R&D 100 Award• Received Lead Tech Product of the Year Award• Participated in ETV Program• Company was bought by Thermo Scientific

34Office of Research and DevelopmentNational Center for Environmental Research

Other EPA Technology Resources

35Office of Research and DevelopmentNational Center for Environmental Research

EPA’s Environmental Technology Development Continuum

36Office of Research and DevelopmentNational Center for Environmental Research

Environmental Technology Opportunities Portal (ETOP)• www.epa.gov/etop• “One-stop-shop” for EPA’s Technology Programs

37Office of Research and DevelopmentNational Center for Environmental Research

For More Information…• NCER SBIR website: www.epa.gov/ncer/sbir

–Project search• SBIR Success Stories Document

• April Richards, richards.april@epa.gov