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DoD Threatened With $1 Trillion Cut?

alan@alchemygs.com — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 16:26:28 GMT

The Defense Department faces nearly $1 trillion in cuts over the next ten years, unless a special Joint Committee created by the new debt-ceiling legislation can come up with an alternative in the fall.

More on Programmatic Requests: Second Chance for a New Phase III Opportunity? Closing Fast!

alan@alchemygs.com — Mon, 16 May 2011 18:13:37 GMT

Last week, Senate Appropriations subcommittees have followed their House counterparts by sending Senators guidance on programmatic requests for the FY2012 appropriations process. The letters make it clear that earmarks (or “congressional directed spending items”), as defined by Senate rules, will not be considered. However, subcommittee chairs will consider programmatic requests from Senators, in which they can request changes to the President’s budget request for specific programs. A program request, if it is made properly and if it does not run afoul of the Senate’s definition of an earmark, might open a door to a Phase III funding opportunity. Most of the House deadlines for programmatic requests have passed, but those for the Senate remain open, but not for long. The deadline for defense programmatic requests is June 6; homeland security requests are due May 24.

New Phase III Opportunity? Closing Fast!

alan@alchemygs.com — Tue, 03 May 2011 20:20:53 GMT

Recent changes in the Congressional appropriations process may have opened up a new Phase III opportunity, but it is one that is closing fast. Many DoD SBIR Phase II companies have successfully used Congressional earmarks in the past as a method of transitioning their technologies across the “valley of death.” However, earmarks have become controversial during the last few years, and Congress recently adopted a ban on them. In April, subcommittee chairmen of the House Appropriations Committee sent letters to Members of Congress providing them guidance on the FY2012 appropriations process. The letters make it clear that earmarks, as defined by House rules, will not be considered. However, subcommittee chairs will consider programmatic requests from members, in which they can request changes to the President’s budget request for specific programs. A program request, if it is made properly and if it does not run afoul of the House’s definition of an earmark, might open a door to a Phase III funding o

Obama Signs DoD Rapid Innovation Program Funding Measure

alan@alchemygs.com — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 17:59:30 GMT

Last Friday, President Obama signed the FY2011 Defense Appropriations Act into law, which includes funding for a new DoD Rapid Innovation Program, to accelerate the transition of innovative technologies to national security needs. The legislation includes $502.4 million for this program, which is expected to give special consideration for DoD SBIR Phase III projects. $439.2 million of this amount would be set aside for research funding -- $105 million each for the Army, Navy and Air Force, $124.2 million for defense wide activities. $60 million would be included in the bill for procurement funding, $15 million each for Army, Navy, Air Force and defense wide activities. The remaining $3.2 million will be used for program administration. These amounts would be pro-rated for the rest of fiscal year 2011. The Defense Department has already begun developing the guidance for this new program, under urging from Congress which wants to see the program up and running quickly.

Congress Votes on DoD Rapid Innovation Program Funding This Week.

alan@alchemygs.com — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 16:08:02 GMT

As a follow-up to last week’s deal to keep the government from shutting down, Congress will vote on a spending measure this week to fund the government for the rest of fiscal year 2011, which ends on September 30. Funding for a new DoD Rapid Innovation Program, geared primarily towards DoD SBIR Phase III projects, will be contained in this bill. Although full details of the bill are not yet available, it is expected to fund the Rapid Innovation Program at levels previously agreed to by the House and Senate -- $502.4 million. $439.2 million of this amount would be set aside for research funding -- $105 million each for the Army, Navy and Air Force, $124.2 million for defense wide activities. $60 million would be included in the bill for procurement funding, $15 million each for Army, Navy, Air Force and defense wide activities. The remaining $3.2 million will be used for program administration. These amounts would be pro-rated for the rest of fiscal year 2011.

Government Shutdown Averted

alan@alchemygs.com — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 05:00:18 GMT

White House, Senate and House have all agreed on the final deal, but a few more days will be needed to draft it into a bill. House and Senate passed a 7 day CR (April 15) in the meantime. As far as I can tell the full year defense bill was not included in the CR, but instead will be part of the bill they pass next week. This is significant for SBIR companies because funding for the new DoD Rapid Innovation Program is part of the full defense bill.

Speaker Boehner is telling House Republicans we have a deal and we’re keeping the government open.

alan@alchemygs.com — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 02:53:33 GMT

Deal Near to Avert Shutdown

alan@alchemygs.com — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 00:42:36 GMT

Republican negotiators have backed away from a policy rider on Planned Parenthood that has been holding up a deal to keep the government open. Deal should fall into place soon.

Senator McConnell: Agreement to Avert Government Shutdown is Near

alan@alchemygs.com — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:01:09 GMT

About an hour ago, Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate said on Senate floor: “I believe there will be an agreement here shortly. I have been in many negotiation over the years. I assure you, these are not unresolvable issues. … A resolution is actually within reach.”

Lawmakers Looking For Ways Around Earmark Ban

alan@alchemygs.com — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 18:32:12 GMT

The New York Times had an interesting story yesterday on how federal lawmakers are appealing directly to federal agencies to fund local projects previously funded through the earmark process.