American Political Divide Tugs at the Seams of SBIR STTR Act.
A disconnect at the core and failed implementation reflects the partisan divide in contemporary politics
Yesterday, I had my scheduled appointment with the agent listed as a federal contact for help with SBIR grants.
I did as the instructions said and dialed at 3:45 and my phone call went immediately to hold, with no message of introduction. I assumed that was the way it works with the government. About two and a half hours later I checked my email and found a message sent at 3:47 by the agent. saying he was standing by on the call and to dial back within three minutes. I wonder what he thought I was doing during that three minute window of opportunity?
I replied that I had been waiting on hold for two and a half hours and included the instructions which say that I am to call the agent at the designated time and asked for a new appointment.
The response I received said “I’ve reviewed your abstract and don’t feel it will be a good fit for the 8.6 topic area.” and I asked what does “8.6 topic area” mean.
The answer was “Small Business Innovation & Research — 8.6
Community & Rural Development”
I thought he should have said that in the first place.
I asked for a reason why we are not a good fit and the agent said “The proposed idea was not particularly innovative.” I wondered how he could possibly know that since the innovation takes place during the process and projected that he defines innovation as a product rather than a process.
(t) Innovation. Something new or improved, having marketable potential, that includes the development of new technology, the refinement of existing technology, or the development of new applications for existing technology. Definition in the SBIR/STTR Policy Directive
Public Law 114–328 (SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2017) was sponsored by Senator McCain as a defense act but was patched together with many amendments and…
