SEED Solicitation Process SERDP EXPLORATORY DEVELOPMENT = SEED SEED is an effort within SERDP to bring to the fore innovative technologies and/or techniques which are high risk and high payoff. The objective of SEED is to provide a limited amount of funding to these innovative technologies and/or techniques to take them to a proof of concept sufficient to justify further research investments. SEED projects are limited to one year in length and to a maximum of $150,000 in funding. Projects which are successful may compete in the following year for additional funding at levels higher than $150,000. EVALUATION PROCESS All SEED proposals, whether received from the federal or private sector, will be evaluated using the same criteria. Initial evaluation will be conducted by the SERDP staff with the final evaluation being performed by the appropriate SERDP Technical Committee. The Relevancy Gate The first review criteria is a Pass/Fail relevancy gate. This gate is to ensure that (1) the project addresses the Statement of Need; and (2) the project is research. It is important to remember that SERDP funds only basic and applied research and technology development up through "bench scale" proof of principle. SERDP does not fund demonstration and validation of existing technologies or engineering development of proven technologies. Review Against Published Criteria After passing the relevancy gate, proposals are reviewed against the criteria published in the solicitation. These criteria normally are technical merit and transition potential. Technical merit includes the objective, scientific background, and approach to the problem outlined in the Statement of Need. Transition potential is a measure of the expected ability of the proposed technology to address the specified needs in a cost-effective manner. Selection The Technical Committee will make recommendations to the Executive Director concerning which proposals merit funding. The Executive Director is the Source Selection Authority. | 
