Technical and Business Assistance (TABA) Needs Assessment

The TABA Needs Assessment Report provides a third-party, unbiased assessment of a Phase I project’s progress in technical and business areas that are critical to success in the competitive healthcare marketplace. There is no cost for this Report and the time commitment for participation is minimal.

The Needs Assessment Report helps companies strategize a project’s next steps. Using the four categories below, it provides an analysis of the current state of the Phase I project and identifies strengths and weaknesses across the four categories below. 

Intellectual Property/Barriers to Entry

Market Needs/Competitive Advantages

Regulatory, Manufacturing, and/or Clinical Plan

Business Model Profitability

The structure and scope of a Needs Assessment Report are fixed; the content, i.e. the gaps identified in the four areas above, is unique to the eligible Phase I project. Note that a Needs Assessment Report neither includes market data nor information in the four areas - it only identifies the current gaps. View a sample Needs Assessment Report to see if this program may be helpful to for your project.

After receiving the Report, SEED offers a Needs Assessment Consultation. At that meeting, you, an Entrepreneur in Residence, and your NIH Program Officer discuss how to address the Report-identified gaps using immediately available NIH resources and/or Phase II TABA Funding.  

Why request a TABA Needs Assessment? 

Companies often utilize their Needs Assessments to inform their commercialization plan and/or TABA Funding budget for their SBIR/STTR Phase II application, and/or other funding opportunities. We recommend submitting a request at least 6 months ahead of a proposal deadline to allow time to receive and fully leverage the Report findings in your application. 

If your Phase II application has already been submitted or awarded, the Report can be used to review and adjust your commercialization activities, if needed, including requesting TABA Funding through an Administrative Supplement. 

Eligibility

Your company is eligible to participate if your Phase I NIH SBIR or STTR (grant, contract, or Fast-Track)

• Is active or was active within the past two years AND
• Was not awarded TABA Funding within the Phase I award budget AND
• Has not already received a TABA Needs Assessment Report or NICHE Assessment for the same Phase I project
  Questions? Email [email protected].