NOAA FY 2024 Small Business Innovation Research Phase I NOFO

DOD SBIR 24.4 Annual - Lightweight Longwave Bolometer Sensor Components

Active

Department of Defense

The Department of Defense (DOD) is seeking proposals for the topic "Lightweight Longwave Bolometer Sensor Components" as part of the SBIR program. The objective of this topic is to develop components that enable low size, weight, and power (SWAP) thermal bolometer-type longwave thermal sensor payloads. These components should have equal or better performance than current commercial offerings while driving down SWAP. The components of interest include lens, focal plane, and readout and processing embedded hardware. The components should be ready for integration into a camera module by the end of Phase II. Thermal longwave infrared (LWIR) capabilities are crucial for many Army applications, especially for small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). However, the size, power, and weight constraints often limit the performance of these sensors. This topic aims to develop components that reduce the weight of thermal payloads while increasing their capabilities and keeping unit costs low. The project will have a Phase I and Phase II, with Phase I proposals accepting a cost of up to $250,000 for a 6-month period of performance. During Phase I, firms should design a proposed component with stakeholder input, analyze the SWAP-C impact of the component, and discuss how it will support the objective sensor payload. Phase II will involve completing the component design, fabricating, testing, and characterizing the component for integration into a lightweight sensor payload. Firms will also refine the design, define relevant interfaces, and lay out a high-level plan for integration. The potential applications of this research include smartphone camera augmentation, UAV camera augmentation, home security systems, and climate tech development. The project references academic research on bolometer manufacturing methods and the efficacy of leveraging colloidal quantum dots (QDs) for IR light sensing. Military contractors have also contributed to the research in the LWIR sensor and bolometer manufacturing spaces. For more information and to submit proposals, visit the DOD SBIR 24.4 Annual solicitation notice on grants.gov or the DOD SBIR/STTR Opportunities page. The open date for proposals is October 3, 2023, and the close date is March 31, 2025.

Novel Tools and Devices for Animal Research Facilities and to Support Care of Animal Models (R43/R44 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Active

Department of Health and Human Services

The Department of Health and Human Services, specifically the National Institutes of Health, is seeking proposals for the development of novel tools and devices for animal research facilities and to support the care of animal models. The Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP) is encouraging applications from small business concerns (SBCs) for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) projects in this area. The goal of this solicitation is to improve animal welfare, ease the management of individual animals and animal colonies, and enhance the monitoring and control of environmental conditions that affect outcomes and reproducibility in animal model research. The variation of extrinsic factors between different animal facilities has been cited as a source of irreproducibility in animal research, and this solicitation aims to address this issue. The solicitation specifically calls for the development and implementation of novel tools and devices to monitor environmental conditions, identify pathogens and contaminants, and enable noninvasive or minimally invasive monitoring of animal behavior and bodily functions. The devices should be discreet, robust, easy to apply, and mobile. Additionally, the solicitation seeks new software that can combine data from different monitoring devices and be compatible with different data formats. The solicitation emphasizes the importance of innovation and encourages the adaptation of technologies from other fields to improve animal research. It applies to a broad range of animal models, including invertebrate and vertebrate animals, and excludes disease-specific devices, reagents, and experimental protocols. Examples of specific tools and devices that can be developed include portable software for managing and evaluating animal colonies, noninvasive tracking and monitoring technology, automated feeding systems, devices for drug delivery and measurement, improved systems for data collection and analysis, better phenotyping devices, improved holding and transfer devices, and enhanced air and water filters for animal facilities. The solicitation is open for applications until September 6, 2024, and applicants are advised to discuss their projects with the Scientific/Research contacts before submitting an application. More information can be found on the grants.gov website.

Novel Tools and Devices for Animal Research Facilities and to Support Care of Animal Models (R41/R42 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Active

Department of Health and Human Services

The Department of Health and Human Services, specifically the National Institutes of Health, is seeking proposals for the development and implementation of novel tools and devices to improve animal welfare and support animal model research. The goal is to enhance the management of individual animals and animal colonies, as well as improve the monitoring and control of environmental conditions that affect research outcomes and reproducibility. The variation in environmental conditions between different animal facilities has been identified as a source of irreproducibility in animal research. Therefore, the agency is looking for devices that can accurately monitor challenging environmental factors such as humidity, vibrations, odors, and ultrasonic noise. Additionally, there is a need for devices that can identify pathogens, allergens, and pollutants in animal research environments. Noninvasive or minimally invasive bio-logging devices for real-time monitoring of animal behavior and bodily functions are also desired. The agency emphasizes the importance of innovation and encourages the adaptation of technologies from other fields to improve animal research. The solicitation is open for Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) projects, and the application due dates are on a rolling basis until September 6, 2024. For more information, interested parties can visit the SBIR topic link (https://www.sbir.gov/node/1972475) or the solicitation agency URL (https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/PA-files/PAR-21-226.html).

Novel Tools and Devices for Animal Research Facilities and to Support Care of Animal Models (R43/R44 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Active

Department of Health and Human Services

The Department of Health and Human Services, specifically the National Institutes of Health, is seeking proposals for the development of novel tools and devices to improve animal welfare and support care of animal models in research facilities. The Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP) is particularly interested in applications from small business concerns (SBCs) for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) projects. The goal of this solicitation is to address the issue of poor reproducibility in experiments that use animal models, which has negatively impacted biomedical research. The variation of intrinsic and extrinsic factors that can affect the physiological and biological response of animals has made it difficult to improve reproducibility. Therefore, there is a need for devices that can accurately monitor and control environmental conditions in animal facilities, such as temperature, humidity, vibrations, and ultrasonic noise. Additionally, devices that can identify pathogens, allergens, and other pollutants in animal research environments are desired. Noninvasive or minimally invasive bio-logging devices for real-time monitoring of animal behavior, food/water consumption, and bodily functions are also needed. These devices should be discreet, robust, and easy to apply. Furthermore, tools and devices that can ease the handling and restraining of animals, while reducing stress for both the animals and researchers, are sought after. Connecting diet, environmental conditions, and physiological measurements will provide a comprehensive understanding of the health and life-history of animals. The solicitation emphasizes the importance of innovation and encourages the adaptation of technologies from other fields to improve animal research. The scope of this solicitation includes a broad class of animal models, including invertebrate and vertebrate animals, but excludes disease-specific devices, reagents, and experimental protocols. Examples of specific tools and devices that could be developed include portable software for managing and evaluating animal colonies, noninvasive tracking and monitoring technology, automated feeding systems, devices for drug delivery and measurement, devices for physiological parameter measurement, systems for behavioral assessment, phenotyping devices, improved holding and transfer devices, air and water filters, bedding materials, and tools for pathogen and contaminant measurement and sanitation. Applicants are advised to discuss their projects with the Scientific/Research contacts before submitting an application. The solicitation is open and the application due dates are provided on the grants.gov website. For more information, refer to the solicitation agency URL: [link](https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-21-225.html).

Novel Tools and Devices for Animal Research Facilities and to Support Care of Animal Models (R43/R44 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Active

Department of Health and Human Services

The Department of Health and Human Services, specifically the National Institutes of Health, is seeking proposals for the development of novel tools and devices for animal research facilities and to support the care of animal models. The Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP) is encouraging applications from small business concerns (SBCs) for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) projects in this area. The goal of this solicitation is to improve animal welfare, ease the management of individual animals and animal colonies, and enhance the monitoring and control of environmental conditions that affect outcomes and reproducibility in animal model research. The variation of extrinsic factors between different animal facilities has been cited as a source of irreproducibility in animal research, and this solicitation aims to address this issue. The solicitation highlights the need for devices that can accurately monitor challenging environmental conditions such as humidity, vibrations, odors, and ultrasonic noise. Additionally, there is a need for devices that can identify various pathogens, allergens, and pollutants in environments supporting laboratory animals. Noninvasive or minimally invasive bio-logging devices for real-time monitoring of animal behavior, food/water consumption, and bodily functions are also desired. Other areas of focus include the development of tools to ease the handling and restraining of animals, as well as the connection of diet, environmental conditions, and physiological measurements to understand the effects of extrinsic factors on experimental outcomes. The solicitation emphasizes the importance of innovation and the potential for adapting technologies from one field to another. The solicitation is open for applications, with multiple due dates throughout the year. Funding specifics and project duration can be found in the solicitation document available at the provided links. Applicants are advised to discuss their projects with the Scientific/Research contacts before submitting an application.

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