Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program
Status not published
Each participating agency issues its own solicitations on its own schedule; open solicitations are listed at https://www.sbir.gov/solicitations. No single national deadline.
Award ceilings are set per agency within SBA guidelines. As of April 2026 agencies may issue a Phase I award (including modifications) up to $323,090 and a Phase II award (including modifications) up to $2,153,927 without seeking SBA approval; anything above requires an SBA waiver (see SBIR/STTR Policy Directive s7(i)(4)). Individual agencies routinely award well below these caps (e.g. NSF Phase I up to $305,000, NASA Phase I up to $225,000). Phase III is not funded by SBIR dollars.
U.S. Small Business Administration (coordinating) and 11 participating federal agencies
public · national
Deadline: annual_call — Each participating agency issues its own solicitations on its own schedule; open solicitations are listed at https://www.sbir.gov/solicitations. No single national deadline.
Derived from official counts, FY2022. This rate is measured unstated, so the odds from a standing start are lower.
Major bid — written case, budget, possibly partners.
Who can apply
- Up to 500 employees
- Sectors: deeptech, health, climate, ai, agri, manufacturing, any
- Stage: idea, pre_seed, seed, series_a
- R&D activity required
- Locally registered entity required
sbir.gov states the company 'Is a for-profit entity located in the U.S.', 'Has fewer than 500 employees' (including affiliates) and 'Is owned and controlled by U.S. citizens or permanent residents.' Participating agencies: USDA, DOC, Department of War (formerly DoD), DOE, ED, HHS, DHS, DOT, EPA, NASA, NSF. SAM.gov entity registration and a Unique Entity ID (UEI) are mandatory before award - SAM.gov states 'If you want to apply for federal awards as a prime awardee, you need a registration'; registration in SAM generates the UEI and CAGE code, and the UEI is required to register in the SBA Company Registry.
How to apply
- Agencies post solicitations; review them and verify eligibility. — link
- Register the company in SAM.gov (generates the UEI and CAGE code) and in the SBA Company Registry. — link
- Submit a proposal through the agency's own SBIR portal before the submission closing date. — link
- The participating agency reviews proposals and makes awards.
What you will need
- Technical proposal responding to the agency topic
- Budget / cost proposal
- Commercialization plan
- SAM.gov registration with Unique Entity ID (UEI)
- SBA Company Registry registration
Source. https://www.sbir.gov/about — checked 2026-08-14
"Each participating federal agency administers its own SBIR/STTR program within guidelines established by Congress. As of April 2026, agencies may issue a Phase I award (including modifications) up to $ 323,090 and a Phase II award (including modifications) up to $2,153,927 without seeking SBA approv"