Application Process

Each RCIC is an independent, private entity and has defined their own process for reviewing applications and making selections for submission to the ETF.

For the Gulf Coast RCIC, the Commercialization Award Application Process consists of 4 stages:

Pre-Application Planning Stage

During this first stage, applicants will:

• come to this website to get information on the TETF, Commercialization Awards, and the Gulf Coast RCIC.

• download the Application documents to help identify what information will be required (see Downloads page).

• submit an Applicant Registration (see column on left).

• attend the quarterly Applicant Workshop.

• attend an Application Planning Meeting with Gulf Coast RCIC staff, which will be scheduled by the Gulf Coast RCIC after Applicant Registration.  All Applicants must attend an Application Planning Meeting before their application will be accepted.

Application Submission Stage

During this second stage, applicants will:

• download the Gulf Coast RCIC Applicant Agreement, and review the terms and conditions.

• sign and FAX or e-mail the Applicant Agreement to the Gulf Coast RCIC.  The Gulf Coast RCIC will not accept applications for processing until the Applicant Agreement has been received.

• identify their local EDO, and contact them for assistance with their application (recommended, but optional).

• complete and submit the Applicant Registration form.

• gather the required information and fill out the Application Form.

• contact their EDO and request an EDO Qualifying Letter (optional).

• pay the Application Fee ($250 for new applications) through the Houston Technology Center website.

• go to the Submit Application page on this web site, follow the instructions to provide the information and documents needed by the Gulf Coast RCIC for processing of the application.

Refer to the Calendar page for the current funding round timeline.

Gulf Coast RCIC Review & Selection Stage

During the third stage, the Gulf Coast RCIC will process all submitted applications, and hold a series of reviews before submitting their selections to the state TETF.  Upon request by the Gulf Coast RCIC, Applicants should be prepared to make a presentation on their company and technology.

The Gulf Coast RCIC has Review Committees for Energy, Life Science and Technology. 

These committees are responsible for the first two rounds of reviews for submitted applications. The committees are composed of volunteers from the 30 county Gulf Coast region, and will perform a review of the applications.  The Review Committees will select applications for submission to the Gulf Coast RCIC Board.

The Gulf Coast RCIC Board will perform the final Gulf Coast RCIC review and select the applications to be submitted to the ETF.

During the review process, the Gulf Coast RCIC will ask Applicants to identify any Review Committee or Board members with which they may have a potential conflict of interest.  Applicants will be expected to respond to this request within a specified timeframe.

For Life Science applications, the Gulf Coast RCIC will request a parallel review by the Texas Life Science Center.  Applicants will be informed if this additional review will be performed on their application.

Semifinalist Selection

• The Gulf Coast RCIC will distribute the submitted application documents to the Review Committees.
  

• Each Review Committee will hold a Semifinalist Selection Meeting. Each Review Committee will select Semifinalists, who have met the qualifications of the ETF and merit additional review.
  

• Semifinalist applicants will be notified by phone and/or e-mail, and requested to make a presentation at the Review Committee's Finalist Selection Meeting. The Applicant should be prepared to answer questions about the content of their application, the technology, their finances, and their business.
  

• Applicants not achieving Semifinalist status will be notified by phone and/or e-mail.  Arrangements will be made to provide feedback from the Review Committee.

Finalist Selection

• Each Review Committee will hold a Finalist Selection Meeting. Each Semifinalist will make a presentation and participate in a Question & Answer session on their application. Each Review Committee will select Finalists, who will be presented to the Gulf Coast RCIC Board.
  

• Finalist applicants will be notified at the end of their session with the committee, and requested to make their presentation at the Gulf Coast RCIC Board's Selection Meeting.
  

• All Semifinalist applicants will receive feedback from the committee before the end of their session.

Board Selection

• The Gulf Coast RCIC Board will hold a Board Selection Meeting. Each Finalist will make a presentation and participate in a Q&A session on their application. The Gulf Coast RCIC Board will make their final selections for submission to the ETF.
  

• Finalists will be notified of the Board's decision at the end of their session with the Board.  Finalists selected for State submission will be invited to make a presentation to the ETF Advisory Committee.
  

• All Finalist applicants will receive feedback from the committee before the end of their session.
  

• After selection by the Gulf Coast RCIC, the Gulf Coast RCIC staff will be available to provide assistance to each Applicant with the submission of their documents to the ETF.  Applicants will have an opportunity to make amendments to their application documents, under the review of the Gulf Coast RCIC staff.  No changes will be allowed that might have impacted the Gulf Coast RCIC's selections.
  

• The Gulf Coast RCIC will submit the selected applications to the state ETF.
  

• Under the Gulf Coast RCIC's document retention policy, all submitted applications will be destroyed after the ETF has completed processing of the submitted applications.

State ETF Review & Selection Stage

Once applications are submitted from the Gulf Coast RCIC to the state ETF, control of the process passes to the ETF Advisory Committee, the Governor's office, and the state's Leadership.

The ETF Advisory Committee will hold an Applicant Presentation Day in Austin. Several members of the ETF Advisory Committee will be present. Each applicant will be required to make a presentation, and participate in a Q&A session on their application.

The ETF Advisory Committee will review all submitted applications and submit their recommendations to the State Leadership, who will make the final decision on grant awards.

The Gulf Coast RCIC and their partners are committed to providing assistance to any companies receiving ETF Commercialization grants in the 30-county Gulf Coast region.

If you have any questions about the Gulf Coast RCIC Application Process, click here to send an e-mail to the Gulf Coast RCIC for assistance.