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NIDILRR’s mission is to generate new knowledge and to promote its effective use to improve the abilities of individuals with disabilities to perform activities of their choice in the community and to expand society’s capacity to provide full opportunities and accommodations for its citizens with disabilities. An application to NILDRR’s SBIR program must support this mission. All SBIR projects funded by NIDILRR must address the needs of individuals with disabilities (see 29 U.S.C. 760). Applicants should present a sound approach to the investigation of an important technological, engineering, or scientific question that it is worthy of support under the stated criteria of this program announcement. The applicant should review the program announcement carefully to ensure that information and data essential for evaluation are included. The scientific and technical merit of the proposed research and research and development (R/R&D) is the primary concern for all work supported by NIDILRR. The Small Business Administration defines the following activities as Research or Research and Development (R/R&D): (1) A systematic, intensive study directed toward greater knowledge or understanding of the subject studied; (2) A systematic study directed specifically toward applying new knowledge to meet a recognized need; or (3) A systematic application of knowledge toward the production of useful materials, devices, and systems or methods, including design, development, and improvement of prototypes and new processes to meet specific requirements. NIDILRR’s SBIR program can support each of these types of activities toward new knowledge or products that can be used to improve the health and function, employment, or community living and participation outcomes of people with disabilities. The application's R/R&D must be responsive to NIDILRR’s SBIR program objectives, and it should also serve as the basis for technological innovation, new commercial products, or processes or services that may benefit the public. A firm must not propose market research, patent applications, or litigation. Where necessary, the research may be carried out through construction and evaluation of a laboratory prototype. The purpose of the Federal SBIR program is to stimulate technological innovation in the private sector and to strengthen the role of small business in meeting Federal research or research and development (R/R&D) needs. The specific purpose of NIDILRR’s SBIR program is to increase the commercial application of research and development results and improve the return on Page 4 of 55 investment from research and development that can be used to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities. NOTE: An applicant should consult NIDILRR’s Long-Range Plan for Fiscal Years 2024-2028 (the Plan) when preparing its application. The Plan is organized around the following outcome domains: (1) Community living and participation; (2) Health and function; (3) Employment Applicants for these SBIR projects must specify in their abstract and project narrative which of these major outcome domains of individual well-being their proposed project will focus on. Although applicants may propose projects that address more than one domain, they should select the primary domain addressed in their proposed project. An applicant must demonstrate, in its original application, that people with disabilities from diverse racial and ethnic communities will be included in proposed samples in sufficient numbers to generate knowledge or products that are relevant to the racial and ethnic diversity of the population of people with disabilities being addressed. The applicant must describe and justify, in its original application, the planned racial and ethnic distribution of people with disabilities who will participate in the proposed R/R&D activities. Applicants should describe the approaches they expect to use to collect empirical evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of the knowledge or products they are proposing to create. This empirical evidence should facilitate the assessment of the efficacy and usefulness of the knowledge or products. Consultative or other arrangements between applicant firms and universities or other nonprofit organizations are permitted, but the small business concern must serve as the grantee. For Phase II projects, at least one-half of the research or analytic activities must be performed by the small business concern grantee. The three phases of the SBIR program are: Phase I – Phase I is intended to determine, insofar as possible, the scientific or technical merit and feasibility of ideas submitted under the SBIR program. The application should concentrate on research that will significantly contribute to establishing the scientific or technical feasibility of the approach or concept, a prerequisite to further ACL support in Phase II. Applications are evaluated by panels of expert reviewers. Awards are for periods up to six months. The maximum award amount includes both direct and indirect costs and any reasonable profit/fee requested. Phase II – Phase II is intended to expand on the results of and to further pursue the development of Phase I projects. Phase II is the principal research or R&D effort. It requires a more comprehensive application, outlining the effort in detail including its commercial potential. All Phase I awardees who have completed their Phase I work in the past three years with approaches that appear sufficiently promising are eligible to apply for Phase II. Phase II awards are for periods up to two years. The maximum award amount includes both Page 5 of 55 direct costs, indirect costs and fee. Applicants are required to distribute the funding for the two-year performance period in equal amounts for each budget period. The second year of the award will be approved contingent upon submission of an annual performance report and the demonstration of adequate progress in the first year. Phase III – In Phase III, the small business must use non-SBIR capital to pursue commercial applications of the research or research and development. Also, under Phase III Federal agencies may award non-SBIR follow-on funding for products or processes that meet the needs of those agencies. NIDILRR does not participate in Phase III. Note: NIDILRR encourages all applicants to adhere to universal design principles and guidelines. The term “universal design” is defined as “the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design” (The Center for Universal Design, 1997). Universal design of consumer products minimizes or alleviates barriers that reduce the ability of individuals with disabilities to effectively or safely use standard consumer products.