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Contract Opportunity

The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) and the U.S. Department of Education (ED) anticipate the release of a 2024 Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) Direct to Phase II solicitation #91990024R0012 on or about January 5, 2024. The submission date for Direct to Phase II proposals will be 60 calendar days after release, likely on or about March 5, 2024.

The program, known as ED/IES SBIR, provides awards to eligible for-profit businesses and partners for the research and development and evaluation of new, commercially viable education technology and special education technology products (“products”). The goal of ED/IES SBIR is to grow a portfolio of research-based and commercially viable products that are widely deployed to address pressing needs in education. Small Business firms and partners who possess strong research and development and evaluation capabilities for education technology or special education technology products in the below priority areas are encouraged to participate.

PRIORITY AREA 1 DIRECT TO PHASE II: Projects to Develop New Education Technology Products to Ready Existing Evidence-Based Innovations for Use at Scale in Education, and to Plan for Commercialization

PRIORITY AREA 2 DIRECT TO PHASE II: Education Technology Products Used by Infants, Toddlers, or Students With or At Risk for Disabilities, or Teachers (or other Instructional Personnel, Related Services Providers, or Family Members) in Early Intervention or Special Education Settings

The anticipated ED/IES SBIR Direct to Phase II program solicitation #91990024R0012 will invite eligible for-profit small business firms and partners to submit proposals for $1,000,000 for 2 years for R&D and evaluation of new education technology or special education technology products to ready existing researcher-developed evidence-based innovations (products, interventions, practices) for use at scale, and to plan for commercialization.

Projects that focus on advancing innovations that are not evidence-based will not be eligible for the Direct to Phase II program. The existing education innovation is required to have originally been created by researchers at either universities (or other academic institutions) or non-profit education research organizations. Proposals to advance education technology projects that were originated by small businesses are not eligible for the Direct to Phase II program. One or more of the members of the research team that originally created the innovation are required to be part of the project team in the SBIR proposal. Direct to Phase II projects are awarded without a prior Phase I award.

Important Notes:

• The FY 2024 Phase IA and IB ED/IES SBIR solicitations are currently open with a submission date of January 18, 2024. The Phase IA is requesting proposals for the development of new prototypes of novel education technology products where no or limited development has already occurred. The Phase IB solicitation is requesting proposals for the development of new prototypes of components to be added to an existing prototype or education technology product. See the ED/IES SBIR solicitation page for links to these program solicitations on SAM.gov.


• Offerors are not permitted to submit the same or similar proposals under the 2024 Phase IA, IB, of the Direct to Phase II solicitations. Any duplicate or similar proposals that are submitted under more than one of these 2024 solicitations will be rejected without review.


• For more information and specifications, please refer to the Phase IA and Phase IB solicitations in the link above, and Direct to Phase II solicitations after release.

About the ED/IES SBIR Program

The purpose of the SBIR program is to stimulate technological innovation in the private sector, strengthen the role of small business in meeting Department research and development needs, increase the commercial potential of Department-supported research results, and improve the return on investment from Federally-funded research for economic and social benefits to the Nation.

This notice is not a request for proposals at this time. Interested parties should continue to monitor this posting for updates.

For more information about the Department’s SBIR program, please see here: www.ies.ed.gov/sbir

Please note that due to an office transition, the primary means of communication with Department personnel should be via email. The listed phone numbers may not be active or may change in the future.

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