While the scores and comments of the expert reviewers will be carefully considered, it is the role of the Selection Official to maximize the impact of award funds. The below program policy factors listed below may be considered, in addition to the expert scores and comments, in determining funding recipients:
- It may be desirable to ensure a portfolio with an appropriate balance of activities and demonstrable alignment with the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) and the administration’s policy priorities.
- It may be desirable to select projects that will optimize non-duplicative use of available funds.
- It may be desirable to select a portfolio of projects that represent a variety of technologies, approaches, and methods under this program. Additionally, it may be desirable to support complementary or similar projects which, when taken together with other Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) selections or other DOE-funded initiatives, will best achieve the program’s research goals and objectives.
- It may be desirable to select a project after evaluating the applicant’s performance under prior DOE SBIR/STTR awards including timely submittal of all reports.
- It may be desirable that different kinds, sizes, and geographic distributions of organizations be selected for award in order to provide a balanced programmatic effort and a variety of technical and commercialization perspectives, including those from underrepresented or distressed communities.
- It may be desirable to award institutions not previously funded by a DOE SBIR/STTR award.
- It may be desirable to award projects that meet other metrics as outlined in the SBIR/STTR authorizing statute and other guiding DOE policy documents.
- It may be desirable to select projects that enable collaborations or partnerships with National Laboratories to commercialize DOE- or lab-developed Intellectual Property (IP).