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An Assessment of the Small Business Innovation Research Program: Project Methodology (2004)

Chapter: Annex J Template for Individual Agency Reports

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Suggested Citation:"Annex J Template for Individual Agency Reports." National Research Council. 2004. An Assessment of the Small Business Innovation Research Program: Project Methodology. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11097.
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Page 81
Suggested Citation:"Annex J Template for Individual Agency Reports." National Research Council. 2004. An Assessment of the Small Business Innovation Research Program: Project Methodology. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11097.
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Page 82
Suggested Citation:"Annex J Template for Individual Agency Reports." National Research Council. 2004. An Assessment of the Small Business Innovation Research Program: Project Methodology. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11097.
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Page 83
Suggested Citation:"Annex J Template for Individual Agency Reports." National Research Council. 2004. An Assessment of the Small Business Innovation Research Program: Project Methodology. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11097.
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Page 84
Suggested Citation:"Annex J Template for Individual Agency Reports." National Research Council. 2004. An Assessment of the Small Business Innovation Research Program: Project Methodology. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11097.
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Page 85

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Annex J: Template for Individual Agency Reports98 Introduction Program history at the agency Basic demographics of the agency program – number of awards, $ awarded, trends over past 20 years [drawing on program manager survey] Organization – who runs what, under what offices, etc. Short description – number of competitions annually, use of topics etc. General methodology problems and approaches* Comparability Measurement Bias Multiple methodology approach, plus brief description of major instruments and approaches Success stories box Outcomes at the Agency Commercialization Strategies and Outcomes Difficulties of evaluating* Research methodology P2 survey data for the agency Selected case study data for the agency Agency-initiated analysis and data Conclusions Mission support Short intro on agency differences, and procuring vs. non-procuring agencies* Identification of specific agency as procuring/non-procuring Research methodology 98 Note: starred (*) items are expected to be identical across all agency reports. 81

Agency interviews [within SBIR program and at more senior levels] Procuring agencies only: Agency contracts analysis (DoD, NASA, parts of DoE) Conclusions Small business support Problems of measuring additionality, and impact* Research methodology* If available, comparative impact study for specific agency (funded vs. unfounded applicants to SBIR) Basic demographics of agency support for small business Small business research $ as share of agency R&D spending; SBIR share of all agency R&D spending on small businesses Conclusions Knowledge base Largely indirect character of knowledge expansion in the commercial environment; other “knowledge base” issues; comparability issues* Research methodology* Patents and trademarks Licensing Citation analysis Equity sales [why is this here?] Partnerships Indirect path: indications, not measurement* Conclusions Program management Topic development and selection Sources for topic ideas Agency-driven vs. investigator driven approach to topics Topic decision-making 82

Outreach (before successful application) Agency outreach objectives (e.g. reaching low-application states and regions; educating very likely applicants.) Outreach programs that the agency runs or participates in (including brief description) Agency support for P1 applicants Agency outreach benchmarks and metrics Grant selection Description of selection processes for P1 and P2 Peer review panels – membership, selection, qualifications Fairness – any issues and changes in procedures to meet problems; (P2 winner and non-winner views from surveys) [make sure there is a “fairness” question in the P2 survey] Scoring procedures Role of program manager Re-submission procedures and outcomes Training (after successful application) Training programs for agency P1 and P2 grantees Benchmarks used to evaluate effectiveness Take-up rates and projections Constraints Phase 2+ program Description of agency’s P2+ program Use of matching funds Application and selection procedures Role of program manager Funding “gaps.” P1 – P2 gap. Average size, drivers. Options for addressing. After P2. Data on subsequent agency funding/take-up of technologies. Agency perceptions of its role. Bridge funding programs (after P2). Program description and objective Limitations (e.g. matching funding requirements) What is the average extent of the gap What is the primary cause of the gap 83

Does the agency think there is a problem Is the agency finding ways to address the problem Reporting requirements Reports submitted to the agency by SBIR winners Report utilization, and utility to the agency Evaluation and assessment Annual and intermittent agency evaluations of its SBIR program Operational benchmarks for the agency SBIR program Evaluators (internal and external) Annual evaluation and assessment budget, and funding sources Flexibility Program managers discretion (project selection, project size, program management) Program manager tools (e.g. shifting funding from one sub-agency to another; adjusting scoring criteria; changing the size of awards) Agency manager perceptions of constraints Size Formal and effective limits on size and duration of awards Distribution of P1 and P2 awards within those limits Availability of additional funding. Amounts and distributions. Online capabilities and plans Components of the grant application, management, and reporting process NOT yet online Plans and timelines for putting these remaining elements online Barriers obstructing implementation of these plans Administrative funding Funding of program administration Control of administration budget Administration budget as percent of agency SBIR funding Evaluation and assessment funding Recommendations Appendices 84

Appendix A. Agency data about its program (incl. demographic data) Appendix B. Agency P2 survey results Appendix C. Agency P1 survey results Appendix D. Selected case studies Appendix E. Selected agency reports and data 85

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In response to a Congressional mandate, the National Research Council conducted a review of the SBIR program at the five federal agencies with SBIR programs with budgets in excess of $100 million (DOD, NIH, NASA, DOE, and NSF). The project was designed to answer questions of program operation and effectiveness, including the quality of the research projects being conducted under the SBIR program, the commercialization of the research, and the program's contribution to accomplishing agency missions. This report describes the proposed methodology for the project, identifying how the following tasks will be carried out: 1) collecting and analyzing agency databases and studies; 2) surveying firms and agencies; 3) conducting case studies organized around a common template; and 4) reviewing and analyzing survey and case study results and program accomplishments. Given the heterogeneity of goals and procedures across the five agencies involved, a broad spectrum of evaluative approaches is recommended.

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