From: Robert Jacobson <cyberoid@stein2.u.washington.edu>
Subject: MISC: SBIR Grants.  Two small problems: $$ and time!
Organization: WORLDESIGN, Seattle


We received the solicitation for the Dept. of Commerce Small Business
Innovative Research (SBIR) grants and indeed there are four subcate-
gories of contracts for work in virtual worlds.  There are only two
problems with the solicitation.

First, the maximum amount one can get is $50,000, which we have esti-
mated will pay for one-third of the research required for the simplest
compliance.  If one is successful, Phase 2 can go up to $200,000 over
two years, which (if you extrapolate) is exactly the same amount of
money spread out over a longer time; ie., no acceleration in funding,
just steady state.

Second, if you meet the proposal deadline of January 18, 1993 (and
this means a 25-page proposal for EACH of the subcategories, with no
duplication), you "might" get an award in July or August 1993 (or even
later).  Investing a couple grand per proposal now for a possible
payback of $50K in eight months may sound reasonable, but it's one
tough planning road to hoe.

If this is the best the U.S. Government can muster, we are in it deep.

We'll probably end up applying anyway.  Not doing so would just leave
our advocates in the agencies in the lurch.

Bob Jacobson