A Message from the NSF Directorate of Engineering:

Dear Colleagues,

The Division of Innovation and Industrial Partnerships (IIP) of the Engineering Directorate invites US-based small businesses to submit Phase I proposals focused on the development and deployment of new technologies, products, processes, and services with the potential to positively impact the nation’s and world’s ability to respond to the COVID-19 crisis. Areas of research that might be considered include, but are not limited to: artificial intelligence, digital health, diagnostics, distributed ledger, environmental technologies, medical devices, pharmaceutical technologies, disinfection and sterilization, and filtration and separations. Interested proposers are invited to submit to the NSF Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I Program.

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

All active NSF SBIR/STTR awardees, and other interested US-based small businesses are eligible to submit a Phase I proposal. Please reference the NSF SBIR and STTR Phase I solicitations for more details regarding eligibility.

PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

Small businesses who are interested in submitting NSF SBIR or STTR Phase I proposals in response to this DCL must follow the guidelines outlined in the NSF SBIR and STTR Phase I solicitations, including the submission of a required Project Pitch. Companies who already have an active SBIR/STTR award with NSF may submit a new Phase I proposal relevant to this DCL but must also submit a Project Pitch first.

When submitting a Project Pitch:

• Select “COVID-19” as the SBIR/STTR topic area on the Project Pitch form
• Reference the word “COVID-19” and this Dear Colleague Letter (NSF 20-065) in the “Describe the Technology/Innovation” field.

As time is of the essence to address the global threat posed by COVID-19, companies who receive an invitation to submit a proposal (based on an invited COVID-19 Project Pitch) should then submit their NSF SBIR/STTR Phase I proposals through Fastlane. Follow the NSF SBIR and STTR Phase I solicitation guidelines with the following additional guidance:

• The term “COVID-19” must be in the proposal title.
• Small businesses are encouraged to facilitate an expedited submission and review by submitting a project description closer to the nine-page solicitation minimum (the maximum is fifteen pages).

As is the case for all NSF proposers, the proposing organization is required to have an active registration with the System for Award Management, (at SAM.gov) to register in Research.gov and prepare a full proposal. SAM.gov registration is not needed to submit a Project Pitch but can take days or weeks to obtain. Interested small business should plan accordingly.

REVIEW INFORMATION

Proposals submitted to the NSF SBIR/STTR Phase I Program in response to this DCL will be reviewed according to the NSF and NSF SBIR/STTR merit review criteria as outlined in the solicitations (Intellectual Merit, Broader Impacts, and Commercial Impact). NSF is committed to expediting review, with the hope of awards within six weeks of proposal receipt.

CONTACT PERSONNEL

Questions about this DCL should be directed to sbir@nsf.gov or to the cognizant SBIR/STTR Program Director on your current SBIR/STTR award.

Dawn M. Tilbury
Assistant Director
Directorate for Engineering

Important Notice to the Science and Engineering Community from the Director of the NSF:

NSF was established in the aftermath of a defining chapter of the 20th century. World War II tested the nation, and the research community rose to that challenge with tremendous leaps forward in science, engineering, and technology. After the war, Congress and the President made a pivotal decision to retain support for research and development as a national priority. The spirit that drove accomplishments in wartime laboratories and military facilities would be harnessed not only for the advancement of knowledge, but also for the progress of society and the benefit of the nation.

Today, we are facing a time of new uncertainty and upheaval as the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) tests our communities and workplaces. Our thoughts are with the healthcare workers and volunteers around the world who are working tirelessly to care for the sick and protect public health. Our thoughts are with teachers struggling to teach in new environments in new ways, and with students who want to continue learning. Our thoughts are with parents trying to explain to their children why everything will be different for a while and why home is the safest place they can be. We are encouraged by the many stories of people finding new ways to care for their families, continue their work, and support their communities. The research community is facing unique challenges during this crisis, from the unprecedented disruptions to education and academic and research programs, to how to best support public health efforts through our knowledge and expertise.

NSF understands the effects this challenge will have on NSF-funded research and facilities, and we are committed to providing the greatest available flexibilities to support your health and safety as well as your work. NSF is continually updating guidance and our online resources to keep you informed. Today, we are also issuing new guidance for NSF awardees to implement flexibilities authorized by the Office of Management and Budget. We hope that this guidance will answer many of the questions you are facing as you cope with this trying time. NSF is also accepting proposals for non-medical, non-clinical-care RAPID research on coronavirus — our ability to better understand the virus and how to effectively respond will be crucial to public health efforts. The latest information is available on our website at: https://www.nsf.gov/coronavirus.

The post-war decision to make basic research a national priority matters to us in this moment. There is NSF-supported research — spanning the seven decades of NSF’s history — behind nearly every aspect of the work being done right now to combat this pandemic. Our understanding of fundamental physics and chemistry is at the heart of many diagnostic techniques, including MRI and other imaging methods. Precision nanoscale engineering enables cutting edge medical devices. Biology, data, computation, and mathematics help epidemiologists model and accurately track the spread of infections. Computing and communication innovations are helping us telework and remain connected with our families and friends while practicing social distancing. Social and economic sciences help us better design and deploy healthcare solutions. There are many, many more examples from every field of research. And, of course, there are educators who have fostered not just new generations of researchers and innovators, but also the medical professionals on the front lines of this effort. I know you take pride in the research community’s legacy, and I hope you’ll take comfort knowing that your work is important in this difficult moment.

Your work is also crucial to our future success. When this pandemic passes, basic research will still be an engine of our economy, it will still underpin our national defense, and it will still be the main driver of innovations and technology that enhances every aspect of our lives. Envisioning the amazing possibilities that science and technology hold for our future is central to what we do. We can point to examples in every scientific discipline of the continual flow of pioneering discoveries and ingenious insights you have fostered. That progress is built on optimism and hope for a bright future.

During my time as director of NSF, I have been thrilled to watch researchers overcome tough challenges through creativity and diligence. I know that the dedication and inventiveness you bring to the scientific enterprise will enable us to navigate these hardships. Science will always be the bedrock of progress and the scientific community will continue to rise to meet the challenges that face us.

Sincerely,

France Córdova
Director

Background
As of March 27, 2020, more than 565,000 cases of COVID-19 and 25,000 deaths have been reported worldwide, with more than 92,000 cases and 1,300 deaths in the United States. The severity of illness and course of the infection is heterogenous and appears to be more severe in the elderly and in individuals with underlying comorbidities. To date, SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 disease has not caused significant morbidity in infancy and early childhood, a pattern atypical for most viral respiratory diseases. Genomic studies can help inform efforts to prevent, diagnose and treat viral respiratory diseases.

Research Objectives
A better understanding of the host response, associated disease, and short- and long-term clinical outcomes of individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2. For NHGRI grantees only (including those with a current extension of funds or a no cost extension), we encourage the submission of applications for Competitive Revisions to support genomic research on SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 disease. Of particular interest are genomic studies utilizing generalized approaches that take advantage of human research or model systems to study the consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Supported research is expected to guide and inform future efforts to diagnose, prevent, mitigate, or treat this viral infection.

Possible research interests include but are not limited to the following:

• Develop novel methods using genomic techniques to identify signatures of infection, prognosis, and/or severity of disease in a medical setting.
• Development of novel genomic-based tools, kits or reagents to track and monitor SARS-CoV-2 itself and infected individuals.
• Computational approaches to integrate human or animal model genomic data with data from SARS-CoV-2 infection, replication, pathogenesis and transmission to inform models of host-pathogen interactions and predict infection outcomes.
• Development of visualization, curation and analysis platforms for human and animal model genomic data related to SARS-CoV-2 infection, replication, pathogenesis and transmission studies.
• Use of electronic health information, or other relevant clinical, environmental, demographic and social determinants of health data, and accompanying genomic data to aid in tracking and understanding the genetic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2, and the individual susceptibility and resistance to infection and disease severity.
• Studies addressing the ethical, legal and social implications of the use of genetic and genomic information and technologies to diagnose, track, monitor, treat and triage SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 infected patients and populations in clinical and public health settings.

Funds may be used for the collection of samples from human cohorts of individuals with COVID-19 symptoms or evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection or controls, and/or development of novel model systems to expose animals and cells to SARS-CoV-2.

Application and Submission Information

Applications in response to this NOSI must be submitted using one of the following target opportunities or subsequently reissued equivalents.

• PA-18-935 Urgent Competitive Revision to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Urgent Supplement – Clinical Trial Optional) is intended to provide funds for NIH grantees applying to expand the scope of their active grant.
• PA-18-591 Administrative Supplements to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Parent Admin Supp Clinical Trial Optional) is intended to provide funds for NIH grantees where the work proposed in the supplement is fully within the scope of the ongoing grant.
• The funding instrument, or activity code, will be the same as the parent award.
• All currently active grants, including those in a No Cost Extension or requiring an Extension in Time with Funds, are eligible to apply.

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) is issuing this Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) to highlight the urgent need for research on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The mission of NIA is to support and conduct genetic, biological, clinical, behavioral, social, and economic research on aging. This NOSI supports mission critical areas of research for NIA as they relate to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In order to rapidly improve our understanding and available control measures for 2019-nCoV, NIA is encouraging the submission of applications for either Administrative Supplements (PA-18-591) or Competitive Revisions (PA-18-935) to active grants to address the following research areas of interest.

Research interests include but are not limited to:

Division of Aging Biology (DAB) Research Interests:

• Studies of the role of inflammation and immunesenescence in older populations with increased susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and subsequent progression to more severe disease, including lung pathology and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
• Development of aged animal models (including non-human primates) or in vitro models suitable for studies on pathogenesis of the virus and/or pre-clinical testing of therapeutics and vaccines against SARS-Cov-2.
• Studies of how cellular and molecular mechanisms identified as pillars of aging impact the treatment, recovery, and repair of tissue and organ systems in older individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2. Studies of the identification of predictive biomarkers derived from clinical specimens and data collected from patients are also encouraged.
• Studies of how host factors, including existing co-morbidities such as respiratory, cardiac, and other conditions, predispose older individuals to acquire SARS-CoV-2 infections and/or develop more severe COVID-19 disease, such as ARDS.

Division of Neuroscience (DN) Research Interests:

• Studies of neurological and neurocognitive symptoms in COVID-19 and sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection related to the development or aggravation of such symptoms in older adults, e.g., delirium or early alterations in sensory function; studies of the susceptibility of people with Alzheimer’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias (AD/ADRD) to COVID-19.
• Studies of mechanisms of underlying SARS-CoV-2 neurological symptoms and pathology in older adults with COVID-19; research on the role of brain barriers in preventing SARS-CoV-2 from gaining access to the neural tissues and mechanisms through which SARS-CoV 2 compromises such barriers and propagates in the central nervous system (CNS); neuropathological studies of COVID-19 and the contribution of brain tissue damage by SARS-CoV-2 to the morbidity and mortality in COVID-19 in older adults.
• Studies aimed at discovery and development of novel drugs, as well as repurposing and repositioning existing drugs, for preventing and treating COVID-19, particularly drugs that are specific for COVID-19 related CNS targets and CNS mechanisms related to or driving the viral-mediated pathophysiology; studies on blood-brain-barrier penetrant drugs to treat potential SARS-CoV-2 reservoirs in the CNS.
• Development of computational and informatics methods, e.g., machine learning or artificial intelligence integrating with emerging multi-modal data for COVID-19 diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.

Division of Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology (DGCG) Research Interests:

• Relationships of individual factors, including co-existing conditions and medications, to resilient or adverse outcomes to SARS-CoV-2 exposure in older adults and comparisons with younger adults.
• Evaluation of pharmacological or health care delivery intervention strategies in older adults after exposure to SARS-CoV-2 to prevent or mitigate morbidity and/or improve post-infection health and function.
• Studies in pre-hospital, emergency, or critical care settings to improve screening, risk stratification, care delivery decisions, resource allocation, and clinical outcomes for older adults exposed to SARS-CoV-2.
• Evaluation of strategies to minimize spread of COVID-19 among older adults and their care providers, particularly within facilities housing older adults, including telemedicine and remote medicine strategies.

Division of Behavioral and Social Research (DBSR) Research Interests:

• Leveraging longitudinal studies to elucidate how COVID-19-related changes in the social, economic, institutional, and policy environments differentially impact the health and welfare of people across the life course and in vulnerable social groups; comparative studies of regional and national approaches are encouraged.
• Studies of prevention practices (hand washing, effectively covering a cough, social distancing, etc.) and factors that influence adherence, including individual and age differences and social network effects.
• Studies of how social distancing requirements impact the care and well-being of vulnerable older adult populations, including individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and AD/ADRD.
• Evaluating strategies used by health systems to reallocate resources, rapidly train practitioners, communicate preventative practices, and maintain adherence to public health and clinical guidelines, with a particular interest in those that serve high-risk groups (e.g. nursing homes) and resulting racial, ethnic, or regional disparities in access/care.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) will accept and consider support for applications for supplements and revisions to NIMH projects that fall within the scope of this announcement and are relevant to the mission and strategic priorities of the NIMH. Applications to describe the epidemiology of mental disorders and symptoms related to the COVID-19 pandemic are not a high priority; applications to examine how a disrupted workforce may adequately respond/adapt to and maintain services or provide additional care for new or worsening mental health needs and/or suicide risk in midlife and older age adults will be seen as a high priority.

Application and Submission Information

Applications for this initiative must be submitted using the following opportunity or its subsequent reissued equivalent.

• PA-18-591 – Administrative Supplements to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Parent Admin Supp Clinical Trial Optional)
• PA-18-935 Urgent Competitive Revision to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Urgent Supplement – Clinical Trial Optional)

Administrative supplement work that is proposed through PA-18-591 Administrative Supplements to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Parent Admin Supp Clinical Trial Optional) must be within the general scope of the research or training that is already supported. Eligible activity codes for applications to PA-18-591 are limited to the mechanisms listed in PA-18-591.

The CITI Program has recently updated their website to include resources to help you and your organization prepare for and manage the challenges presented by the outbreak of COVID-19. They include:

• Government Resources – Information and guidance by government agencies, including the CDC, NIH, FDA, HHS, and the U.S. Department of Labor.
• CITI Program Articles – Informative articles about disaster planning, COVID-19 impacts on research, and more.
• University Pages – Articles that may benefit your organization, by specific universities detailing how they are managing research.
• Other Resources – Information and perspectives from organizations such as the World Health Organization and the Milken Institute.
• Prospective Research Subjects – Download Are You Thinking About Being in a Research Study? for yourself or your organization. A complementary resource for those considering participation in research or clinical trials.

CITI will be providing webinars as free resources to help organizations and individuals with important topics presented by the current COVID-19 landscape. These webinars will be added as they are ready, so make sure to check back on their website often.