TABA Under The SBIR/STTR Program

FAQ’s

What Is The Purpose of TABA?

Under the SBIR/STTR Policy Directive, TABA is intended to provide SBIR/STTR awardees with technical and business assistance for the purpose of -

• making better technical decisions on SBIR/STTR projects
• solving technical problems that arise during SBIR/STTR projects
• minimizing technical risks associated with SBIR/STTR projects
• commercializing the SBIR/STTR product or process, including intellectual property protections

What Are Examples of TABA Assistance?

TABA Assistance includes providing or assisting with - 

• access to networks of scientists & engineers
• product sales
• intellectual property protections
• market research
• market validation
• development of regulatory plans
• development of manufacturing plans
• access to technical & business literature through on-line databases
• services aimed at improving commercialization – including from public/private organizations/agencies that facilitate or accelerate technology commercialization

 How Are TABA Services Provided To Awardees?

Vendors Contracted By Agencies
The SBIR/STTR Policy Directive permits agencies to contract with their own vendors to provide TABA services to SBIR/STTR awardees.

• Agency-contracted/preferred vendors are paid from an awardee’s TABA funding (up to the Phase I and Phase II TABA funding limits).
• Not all agencies that provide TABA to SBIR/STTR awardees have contracted with preferred vendors so awardees may have to select their own vendors.

Awardee-Selected Vendor
The SBIR/STTR Policy Directive permits SBIR/STTR awardees to select their own vendors when certain conditions are met.

• Awardees must first request authority from their awarding agencies to select their own vendors.
• Awardees must demonstrate in their applications that their vendors can provide the TABA services.
• Awardee-selected vendor assistance becomes an allowable cost (up to the Phase I and Phase II TABA funding limits) under the SBIR/STTR award
• Some agencies may permit awardees to select their own vendors only when a preferred vendor cannot provide the TABA services.

Is There A Limit On TABA Funding?

Under the SBIR/STTR Policy Directive, each agency may provide -

Phase I
Up to $6,500 in SBIR/STTR funds per year.  The TABA funding is in addition to the amount of SBIR/STTR award.

Phase II
Up to $50,000 in SBIR/STTR funds per project.  The At the agency's discretion, the TABA funding may be included in the awarded amount or may be in addition to awarded amount.

However, agencies may provide limits that are lower than the maximum funding limits specified under the SBIR/STTR Policy Directive.  For example, under its latest BAA, Navy limits TABA funding to $25,000 per Phase II award, with an additional $25,000 in TABA funding only if there is a subsequent sequential Phase II award. 

Can Awardees Use TABA Funding To Cover CMMC Compliance?

CMMC compliance may be considered a necessary component for commercialization within DoD.  Army’s most recent Broad Agency Announcement component instructions state expressly that the Phase II TABA services offered by its preferred vendor include Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) compliance.  To the extent agencies offer TABA funding, awardees should inquire if agency-selected vendors offer CMMC compliance services under their TABA services or if they can apply TABA funding toward CMMC compliance services offered by their own selected vendors.

Do All Agencies Provide TABA Funding Or Services?

TABA funding and services are up to each agency’s discretion.  Within DoD, for example, certain agencies like DARPA do not provide TABA funding or services.

Can Awardees Apply For TABA Funding After They Receive Their Awards?

The SBIR/STTR Policy Directive requires awardees that wish to use their own vendors for TABA assistance to include their requests in their SBIR/STTR applications.  Otherwise, the Policy Directive is silent on when applications can be made and different agencies have different rules.  Some, like NASA, require TABA applications to be included in Phase I and Phase II proposals.  Others, like NIH, may permit SBIR/STTR awardees to request administration supplements for TABA funding after an award has been made.  SBIR companies should review carefully all agency  SBIR/STTR solicitations and announcements to make sure they submit timely TABA requests.