Notice

SBRI competition guidance: electric vehicle charging, sustainable energy solutions

Published 4 December 2017

This notice was withdrawn on 28 September 2018

This competition is no longer open for applications. Search current funding opportunities.

1. Dates and deadlines

Competition opens	4 December 2017
Briefing event	8 January 2018
Final date for competition registration	Midday 7 February 2018
Submission of full application including appendices	Midday 14 February 2018
Decision to applicants	30 April 2018
Contracts awarded	31 May 2018
Feedback provided	31 May 2018

These guidance notes complement the Invitation to Tender, which can be found on the secure download site you will need to use to apply. This guidance is designed to help you complete the application form.

Please read the full set of competition documents on the secure site before you make your application.

This is an SBRI (Small Business Research Initiative) competition.

2. Funding

Organisations can apply for a share of up to £80,000 (including VAT). This is for a research and development contract for a feasibility study. The study will result in a technical and commercial specification and detailed design package for both on and off-street solutions.

This is a 2-phase competition. Phase 2 funding is dependent on the outcome of phase 1.

1. Phase 1: technical feasibility. Projects should last up to 6 months. Projects can range in size up to a total cost of £20,000 (including VAT). Total funding available is up to £80,000 (including VAT).
2. Phase 2: prototype development and testing. Projects should last up to 12 months. Projects can range in size up to a total cost of £100,000 (including VAT). Total funding available is anticipated to be £200,000 (including VAT).

3. How to apply

Before you apply into this SBRI competition, it is important to understand the whole application process. The information below is specific to this competition and may differ from Innovate UK’s general guidance for applicants.

All applications will be treated in confidence.

The application form should be completed and submitted as directed in the guidance. We strongly advise that you read the guidance notes before you submit.

Do not send by post or any other method not specified in the guidance.

Assessment: Once the competition submission deadline is reached, your application is sent for assessment.

Notification: We will notify you of the outcome of your application on the date stated in the timeline.

Feedback: We will give feedback to successful and unsuccessful applicants approximately 4 weeks after you have been notified of the decision. You can access the feedback by signing into the secure website where you uploaded your application documents. No additional feedback can be provided and there will be no further discussion on the application.

4. The application form

This section explains the structure of the application form and offers guidance on what to answer in each question.

The structure is as follows:

• application details
• title and abstract for publication
• competition questions
• technical team and expertise
• application finances
• additional questions
• declarations

These notes should be read together with the application form. They are designed to help you to provide the information required.

A reference number will be given to you once you have registered for the competition. You will be given this number by email. You will need to register separately for each application that you want to submit.

The application form should be completed using a font size no smaller than 10 (Arial). Keep the use of acronyms to a minimum and be sure to define them. Only use acronyms where a term is mentioned frequently throughout the proposal. Bear in mind that individual sections of the application may be read separately during the selection process. Where text limits are indicated do not exceed these, as this will result in your application being rejected.

In order for your application to be accepted you must submit all the required information. This includes all mandatory fields from the application form. Failure to complete these fields will result in your application being rejected on the grounds that it is incomplete.

Please make sure that you upload the final version of your application by the deadline. It is your responsibility to ensure that you do not upload a blank or incomplete application form.

5. Application details

The following are all mandatory fields.

Field	Guidance
1. Application
Project title	Please insert your project title.
Contract duration (months)	Projects can be up to 6 months. Requests for more than 6 months will be rejected.
Total contract cost (£)	Proposed projects can request a maximum total cost of £20,000 (including VAT). Requests for more than £20,000 (including VAT) will be rejected.
Proposed start date	May 2018.
What is the best way to describe your innovation?	Select from the options.
2. Application details	Please submit all the details requested in the application form.
3. Contact details	Please submit the lead applicant’s name, post held, company name, position. Lead applicants are expected, before submitting applications, to have discussed their proposals with their own company or any other body whose co-operation will be required in the conduct of the project. By submitting the application, you are confirming that the information given in this application is complete, and that you are actively engaged in this project and responsible for its overall management and agree to administer the award if made. In addition, please provide details of where you heard about the competition.

6. Title and abstract for publication (mandatory)

Please provide a brief, public facing description of the project. If your project is successful, this information will be made public once the award is confirmed. We reserve the right to amend the description before publication if necessary, but will consult you about any changes.

7. Competition questions

7.1 Description of proposed idea/technology (mandatory)

Avoiding the use of unnecessary technical jargon, describe clearly how the proposed project will deliver the outcomes as in the competition documentation.

You may wish to attach an image or diagram separately with the application form. This should be a maximum of 2 A4 pages in pdf.

7.2 Technical project summary (mandatory)

Provide a structured summary of the technical basis of the project.

This should outline the background to the technology, including what the innovation is, and the main deliverables. This typically involves highlighting the research and development that will prove the scientific and commercial merit of the project.

Describe what might be achieved by deploying the innovation to address the technical challenges.

7.3 Current state of the art and Intellectual Property (IP) (mandatory)

Provide details of any competing technologies or market alternatives and the relative benefits of the proposed technology. Include details of any existing IP and its significance to your freedom to operate.

7.4 Project plan and methodology (mandatory)

The project plan should identify the major packages of work within the project, with well-defined milestones and deliverables.

The plan for phase 1 should be comprehensive. For phase 2 only an outline is required. The emphasis throughout should be on practicality.

We are looking for evidence that the technology works, can be made into a viable product and can achieve the proposed benefits. Appropriate record-keeping and reporting are essential but reports are not in themselves the main goal of the project.

• a Gantt chart should be supplied in pdf
• provide an indication of how any IP which might arise during the project would be handled
• allow for the preparation of a detailed plan for phase 2, towards the end of phase 1

7.5 Project management (mandatory)

What project management processes will you use to ensure that milestones are achieved? You should provide details of identified risks and mitigation actions.

If you are applying from a university or other non-commercial organisation, include detailed plans for the commercialisation of the project results.

8. Technical team and expertise (mandatory)

Provide a detailed description of the skills, expertise and track record of the team. Include the relevant knowledge and skills of each member and the amount of their time that will be spent on the project. Relevant commercial and management expertise should also be included.

9. Application finances (mandatory)

You should make sure that the costs quoted reflect actual costs at a fair market value. Profit should not be included.

Provide a summary of costs for phase 1. All costs should include VAT. In addition, provide a justification of the costs. If there is significant use of subcontractors, please explain how these will be used and the costs of each. The assessors are required to judge the application finances in terms of value for money, such as: does the proposed cost for effort and deliverables reflect a fair market price?

The costs should cover the following, as applicable.

Directly incurred costs:

These are costs that are specific to the project. They will be charged to the project as the amount actually spent. They should be fully supported by an audit record in justification of a claim. They comprise:

• labour costs for all those contributing to the project broken down by individuals
• material costs (including consumables specific to the project)
• capital equipment costs
• sub-contract costs
• travel and subsistence
• indirect costs
• other costs specifically attributed to the project

Indirect costs:

Indirect costs should be charged in proportion to the amount of effort deployed on the project. Applicants should calculate them, using their own cost rates. They may include:

• general office and basic laboratory consumables
• library services or learning resources
• typing or secretarial
• finance, personnel, public relations and departmental services
• central and distributed computing
• cost of capital employed
• overheads

Itemisation of costs and methods of calculation may be requested to support the application at a later date.

An indication of potential costs involved in participating in phase 2 is also required.

Progression to phase 2 is dependent upon successful completion of phase 1, and on phase 2 application and assessment.

10. Additional questions

10.1 Commercial potential (mandatory)

Please provide details and a clear plan of the commercial potential to lead to a marketable product, process or service. What is your route to market?

Describe the significance of the competitive advantage that this technology has over existing or alternative technologies that can meet the market needs.

11. Declarations (mandatory)

It is essential that the applicant ticks the box or the application will be rejected.

Please note the data sharing declaration and draft contract terms to which you are agreeing when submitting this application.