In the November 13, 1998 Issue:
- FTA Announces Joint Partnership Program
- DOT Selects 19 SBIR Awards
- DOD Awards 100 STTR Grants
- Technology 2020 Position Description
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FTA ANNOUNCES JOINT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
The Federal Transit Administration has announced the establishment of a new public/private Joint Partnership Program for Deployment of Innovation (JPP) in the mass transportation industry and is soliciting initial proposals for JPP consideration.The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) authorizes the Secretary of Transportation "to enter into grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, and other agreements, with competitively selected consortia to promote the early deployment of innovation in mass transportation services, management, operational practices, or technology that has broad applicability." Under the JPP, competitively selected consortia will share costs, risks, and rewards of the innovations.
Initially, FTA will focus on the introduction of innovative technologies and related innovations for joint partnerships. Such areas include Intelligent Transportation Systems, magnetic levitation technology, composite materials as applied to vehicles or facilities, clean fuels, communication based train control, energy storage systems (such as batteries, etc.), chemical and biological agent detection, other environmentally beneficial propulsion technologies, integration software, construction methods, condition testing of structures, and vehicle systems and subsystems which appear sufficiently advanced as to be ready for deployment in the mass transportation industry, within five years.
Other technologies and related innovations which may be expected to be ready for deployment further into the future will continue to be supported through FTA's other research, development and demonstration initiatives. As the Joint Partnership Program develops, consideration will be given to partnership projects in mass transportation services, management, and operational practices that are not technology based, as well.
An eligible consortium will be made up of (a) one or more public or private organizations located in the United States that provide mass transportation service to the public, and one or more businesses of any size incorporated in a State, offering goods or services, or willing to offer goods and services, to mass transportation operators; and (b) as additional members that are public or private research organizations or state or local governmental authorities.
TEA-21 provides that a consortium assisted under the JPP shall provide not less than 50 percent of the costs of any joint partnership project. To the maximum extent practicable, a portion of the revenues resulting from sales of an innovation project funded under this program shall be made to the FTA.
JPP proposals must be received by December 1, 1998. For further information contact Dr. A.M. (Tony) Yen, Deputy Associate Administrator for Research, Demonstration and Innovation (TRI-2), at 202/366-0264, or Donald R. Durkee, Acting Director, Office of Technology, at 202/366-0942.
DOT SELECTS 19 SBIR AWARDS
The Department of Transportation (DOT) has selected 19 research proposals for negotiation of Phase I contract awards for DOT's 1998 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program. The combined award total is expected to be approximately $1.8 million.The selected firms will be awarded fixed-price contracts valued up to $100,000 each to perform a Phase I feasibility study. Companies that successfully complete the Phase I activities are eligible to compete for Phase II selection the following year.
The following table lists by state the number of companies that received SBIR Phase I Awards:
State # of Awards State # of Awards CA 3 NJ 1 FL 2 OH 1 MD 1 PA 2 MI 1 VT 1 MN 1 VA 2 NE 1 TOTAL 19 The 19 awards were broken out by the following DOT agencies:
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) -- 10 awards worth $983,000
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) -- four awards worth $297,000
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) -- two awards worth $200,000
US Coast Guard -- three awards worth $300,000.
A listing of the companies selected for the Phase I Awards can be accessed on the Internet at http://www.volpe.dot.gov/sbir/ph1rec98.html.
DOD AWARDS 100 STTR GRANTS
The Department of Defense (DoD) has selected 100 research proposals for negotiation of Phase I contract awards under the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program. The selected firms will be awarded fixed-price contracts valued up to $100,000 each to perform a one-year Phase I feasibility study.STTR is designed to stimulate technological innovation, help small businesses become better-qualified to assist DoD in its research and development, and increase private commercialization of federally funded research. The program requires small businesses to conduct cooperative joint research and development by partnering with a research institution.
The states in which the small businesses and the research institutions are located are listed below. (Because the business and institution need not be from the same state, the state totals will vary.)
State # Companies # Research Institutions State # Companies # Research Institutions AL 2 1 MN 4 3 AZ 0 1 MO 1 1 CA 21 18 NJ 0 2 CO 4 1 NM 1 1 CT 2 3 NY 2 5 DC 0 1 NC 2 4 FL 2 6 OH 10 8 GA 0 5 OR 1 0 IL 3 4 PA 2 6 KS 1 2 RI 2 2 KY 0 1 TN 2 3 MD 4 2 TX 4 7 MA 20 7 VA 7 3 MI 1 2 WA 2 1 TOTAL 100 100 The 100 awards were broken out within DoD by the following branches: Air Force-46, Army-6, BMDO-23, DARPA-13, and Navy-12.
Companies which successfully complete the Phase I activities are eligible to compete for Phase II selection the following year. The Phase II award allows for a two-year, fixed-price contract in the amount up to $500,000.
Additional information on DoD's STTR Program and a list of the award recipients can be found on the Internet at www.sbirsttr.com
POSITION DESCRIPTION
Technology 2020, a public-private partnership, is seeking a Director of New Business Development. Technology 2020is supported by a number of large corporate "technology partners" in the Knoxville/Oak Ridge Area of east Tennessee. Technology 2020's primary objective is to leverage talent and reputation of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and grow new technology businesses that will create new jobs and help diversify the economy of the region. Oak Ridge is the nation's largest multi-disciplinary laboratory and is a primary source for technology commercialization.The Director of New Business Development will have a pivotal role in Technology 2020's success in identifying and creating new businesses in the region. Reporting to the President and CEO, the ideal candidate will blend a broad knowledge of business and finance with excellent personal skills and a strategic mindset regarding new ventures. The focus of the Director's work will be to identify or create new businesses in the area and help grow these new ventures.
He/she will be expected to not only help start new businesses in the area, but also work with the technologists, entrepreneurs, and volunteer mentors increase the likelihood that these new ventures will succeed over time.
His/ her success as Director will be measured not only by the absolute number of new businesses started in the Oak Ridge-Knoxville area, but by the number of jobs and size of payrolls ultimately created by these ventures.
Job Requirements:
At least 15 years of professional experience, a significant portion of which will have involved the commercialization of technology and/or experience with business start-ups; a broad knowledge of information technology is preferred;
Solid knowledge of strategy and finance; an ability to attract capital for start-up technology ventures; comfortable with operating budgets and planning;
An extensive network of contacts and acquaintances that can be leveraged to successfully attract and assist new ventures;
A sales/marketing personality that enjoys cultivating relationships and contracts;
Capable of structuring new ventures; experienced in negotiating royalty agreements, joint venture arrangements, and assessing the commercial viability of new ventures.
For more information, visit the following websites:
http://www.nytimes.com/special/entrepreneurs/23ridg.html
Please send resumes to: Hturnbull@sockwell.com or Dillonfm@aol.com
Fax: 704/372-8960 attn: F. Dillon
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