A Quad Chart presents a brief visual overview of your SBIR proposal across four quadrants of a single slide (see example). Quad Charts are used by DOD for a variety of planning and communication purposes. Some DOD components, like DARPA, require a Quad Chart as part of their SBIR submissions. Read the Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) to determine if the agency has that requirement. Some agencies, including NASA and DHS require a specific Quad Chart template and this will be annotated in the BAA.
When requesting a meeting with an agency representative, sending a Quad Chart along with the meeting request is useful. This allows the agency to prepare for the meeting and to have lasting information about you and your innovation after the meeting. Regardless of their use, all Quad Charts should answer some basic questions:
- Who are you? (Company Name, PI, Contact information)
- What is your innovation? Avoid the use of jargon.
- Who cares? What difference will it make?
- Why is your innovation different or better? What are the risks? Why should they invest money into it?
- How much will it cost? How long will it take?
BBCetc has a team of consultants that specialize in the DOD SBIR/STTR program, contact us if you have questions.
