How to Access $1.2 Billion in Small Business Funding from NIH's Seed Fund

The SBIR and STTR programs are collectively known as America’s Seed Fund. Each of these programs plays a crucial role in NIH’s overall mission to transform innovative ideas into real-world applications, all in service to the health and wellness of the country. SBIR and STTR set aside $1.2 billion in non-dilutive funding—that is, any capital received by a small business concern or startup that doesn’t require the forfeiture of equity or ownership of their idea. America’s Seed Fund through the NIH supports early-stage small business research and development. To access these funds, your small business must possess a firm grasp of eligibility, the application process, and the inner workings of all three phases of the SBIR and STTR programs. By the end of this article, you’ll have a complete understanding of what it takes to achieve funding.

What Is The NIH SBIR Program?

The NIH utilizes the SBIR program to facilitate the spread of helpful products across the public health spectrum. Along with the STTR program, the NIH SBIR program delivers funds that small businesses need to perform research and development and kick-off commercialization efforts for any innovations related to the field of health. In addition, like with the other federal agencies involved with SBIR and STTR, the NIH promotes small business sustainability through these programs. Overall, awards allocated by the NIH are intended to: Utilize the skills of small businesses to meet federal research and development needs Stimulate technological innovation through the power of funding Increase commercialization in the private sector Encourage innovation among socially and economically disadvantaged small business and women-owned business concerns

What is the Difference Between NIH SBIR and STTR?

While both SBIR and STTR are built specifically for small businesses, a few differences place the two programs into separate categories. The first significant difference has to do with research partners and their role in the award programs. SBIR not only permits but encourages research partnerships as an integral part of the process. However, it is not a requirement of SBIR programs. On the other hand, STTR actively requires small businesses to collaborate with a nonprofit research institution. This distinction makes for a unique application process for each program. Another difference between the two programs relates to the employment status of the Principal Investigator (PI), who acts as the project lead and heads the communication efforts between the small business and the federal agency. In the SBIR program, the PI must be primarily employed by your small business at the time of the award and during the entire project period. However, in the STTR program, the PI can claim employment by either your small business or the partner research institution. For further details into the requirements and differences between the NIH SBIR/STTR programs, check out the NIH Grants Policy Statement, chapter 18.5.

Am I Eligible for the NIH SBIR Program?

Eligibility requirements for the NIH SBIR program mirror the criteria put forth by all other federal agencies. These eligibility requirements include: Must be a small business in the U.S. with no more than 500 employees, including affiliates. It must be a for-profit business. Must be more than 50 percent owned and controlled by U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens. The bulk of the ownership and work must reside with the grant recipient, though you may have business partners and contract out a minor share of the work. However, it’s crucially important to remember that each federal agency has a unique set of standards beyond the above requirements. For a complete look at NIH SBIR eligibility, read the Eligibility Criteria for NIH Seed.

How is the NIH SBIR program funded?

All SBIR grants, including those from the NIH, are federally funded. This means the money comes from the American taxpayer—which serves as even more incentive to create an innovation with the country’s best interests in mind.

What are the NIH SBIR Phases?

The SBIR and STTR programs are divided into three phases, each with its own set of standards and possible funding. Phase I Feasibility and Proof of Concept Establishes the technical merit, feasibility, and commercial potential of the small business’ proposed research and development efforts while determining the quality of performance of the awardee organization before it receives any further federal support in Phase II. Phase II Research and Development Continues the research and development initiated in Phase I. Funding in the second phase is based on the results of Phase I, along with the scientific and technical merit and commercial potential of the project. Therefore, only Phase I awardees are eligible for a Phase II award. Phase III/Phase IIB Commercialization Where appropriate, Phase III (also known as Phase IIB) enables the pursuit of commercialization resulting from the progress of phases I and II. The NIH SBIR/STTR programs do not fund Phase III. Instead, funding must be gathered from third-party, private investments.

What is the NIH Fast-Track Program?

The NIH has built-in a Fast–Track application process into its system for scientifically meritorious projects with an exceedingly high potential for commercialization. Fast-Track expedites the award decision and funding of both SBIR and STTR Phase II applications by allowing the submission and review of Phase I and II grant applications at the same time. Fast-Track differs slightly from Direct-to-Phase II applications, which allows small businesses to move directly to Phase II only if they performed the equivalent of Phase I research before submission of the application.

What Agencies are Within the NIH?

The NIH consists of 27 different components, referred to as both institutes and centers. These agencies boast a specific research agenda, often focusing on particular diseases or body systems. These agencies are: National Cancer Institute (NCI) National Eye Institute (NEI) National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) National Institute on Aging (NIA) National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) National Library of Medicine (NLM) Center for Information Technology (CIT) Center for Scientific Review (CSR) Fogarty International Center (FIC) National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) NIH Clinical Center (CC)

How do I Apply for NIH SBIR/STTR?

The NIH SBIR/STTR application process consists of numerous touchpoints along the journey toward funding. Therefore, it’s essential to follow the process step-by-step to increase your chances of winning an award. The Application Process Find a Funding Opportunity. NIH advertises funding opportunities by posting grant solicitations or funding opportunity announcements (FOAs). In addition, applicants can choose to submit to an omnibus or targeted solicitation—view SBIR and STTR funding opportunities here. Prepare Your Application. After you zero in on a topic, access application forms via the NIH online application preparation and submission system. Submit and Follow Application Status. You’ll need to keep tabs on your application after submitting it to ensure there were no errors made during the submission process. The NIH service desk can assist with this effort.

What NIH Topics are Available?

Open topics can be found using the SBIR/STTR search engine. Simply refine your search only to include “National Institutes of Health,” and the page displays open topics with all the information you need to get started.

What is NIH’s Technical and Business Assistance (TABA) Program?

Powered by the NIH, the Technical and Business Assistance (TABA) program helps small businesses identify the most pressing needs in the research and development of their product. TABA delivers funding over and above your SBIR/STTR grant to use for assistance with the commercialization of your innovation. There are three main components of NIH’s TABA program: TABA Funding: Provides applicants and grantees access to crucial technologies, product sales support, intellectual property protection, market research, and planning. TABA Needs Assessment: Provides a complimentary assessment report via a third-party vendor working on NIH’s behalf for Phase I and II/IIB grants and contracts. TABA Consulting Services: Carries out the purposes of TABA Funding with expert assistance in reimbursement planning, regulatory affairs, intellectual property, and market analysis. Some limitations do exist for TABA Funding. This program does not support research and development activities otherwise supported by the grant funds.

What are the NIH SBIR Accounting Requirements?

Much like the other federal agencies that award funds through SBIR/STTR, the NIH has some intricate accounting principles that you must follow to receive the funds you need to carry out your project. The NIH requires small businesses to show an approved budget for each project, along with an accounting report demonstrating how the funds were spent in accordance with your approved budget. A robust accounting system is necessary to correctly account for approved expenses while excluding any extraneous, unapproved costs. You’ll also need a diligent time-tracking tool to capture and allocate employee costs adequately. Again, this is critical to maximizing grant benefits. Working with Team 80 helps you set up and maintain a healthy accounting system and procedures, so you can stay focused on the task at hand—perfecting your innovative idea for the NIH.

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SBIR Deadlines

SBIR & STTR Deadlines: Your Complete Federal Agency Calendar

The SBIR and STTR programs award more than $4 billion a year to small businesses through 11 federal agencies. The hard part is that every agency runs on its own schedule, and deadlines move. We track current and upcoming SBIR/STTR deadlines here and update this page monthly, so you can plan your next proposal without checking a dozen agency websites.

Current SBIR & STTR Deadlines by Agency

Note: SBIR and STTR are reauthorized through 09/30/2031 under S. 3971 New rules, including proposal limits, took effect 10/01/2026, so check each solicitation for its submission cap. Dates below reflect the most current confirmed deadlines and expected timelines.

Agencies are now releasing FY2027 solicitations. Dates below reflect the most current confirmed deadlines and expected timelines.

Department of Agriculture

FY2026 Phase II Solicitation — Closes 11/17/2026
Open only to prior USDA SBIR/STTR Phase I recipients. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. ET.
FY2027 Phase I Solicitation – To Be Announced —
The FY2026 Phase I deadline has passed. No FY2027 Phase I deadline has been posted.
*USDA releases one SBIR/STTR solicitation annually through NIFA.
USDA recommends signing up for Grants.gov alerts to stay updated on new SBIR/STTR NOFOs.*

Department of Commerce

NOAA FY2027 NOAA SBIR Solicitation – Expected 11/01/2026
NOAA is targeting a November 1 release for its FY2027 NOFO. No application deadline has been posted yet.
NIST No Current NIST SBIR Solicitation Open NIST reports no active SBIR NOFO. — NIST SBIR Schedule
*NOAA and NIST typically follow annual solicitation cycles.*

Department of Defense

DoD (now issuing solicitations as the Department of War) has upcoming FY2027 topics. Deadlines vary by component and topic. Effective 10/01/2026, a small business may submit one proposal per topic.

DoD SBIR/STTR FY2027 Release 1 – Closes 11/25/2026
DoD SBIR/STTR FY2027 Release 2 – Expected Close 01/06/2027
ARMY SBIR – Closes 10/30/2026
USAF Air Force / AFWERX SBIR/STTR – Closes 11/25/2026
DARPA • through MDA – No current deadline
SOCOM No current deadline
CBD Chemical Biological Defense – No current deadline
DMEA – No current deadline
DTRA SBIR/STTR – 09/23/2026
DARPA -No current deadline
DHA – Defense Health Agency SBIR/STTR – No current deadline
DLA – SBIR/STTR No current deadline
NAVY – SBIR Closes 11/25/2026
OSD – Office of the Secretary of Defense – Closes 11/25/2026
SpaceWERX SBIR/STTR No current deadline

Environmental Protection Agency

EPA SBIR 2026 Phase I Solicitation — Closes 11/08/2026 Proposals are due through FedConnect by 11:59 p.m. ET.
*EPA current open SBIR solicitations.*

Team 80 STTR & SBIR Deadlines
Updated 10-21-2026

Official SBIR Resource
SBIR.GOV Updated Solicitations

NASA

No Current NASA SBIR/STTR Solicitation Open – NASA will post deadlines as new BAA appendices are released.

Department of Education

No Current ED/IES SBIR Solicitation
FY2027 solicitation has not been announced.
*2026 ED/IES SBIR Program Solicitation Information*

Department of Energy

DOE SBIR/STTR Phase I Opportunity – Expected Fall 2026
*No deadline has been posted.

Department of Homeland Security

No current solicitation

National Science Foundation (NSF)

NSF SBIR/STTR Phase I, Phase II, and Fast-Track Programs – Closes 11/04/2026 Due by 5:00 p.m. local time. Phase I and Fast-Track proposals require a Project Pitch invitation.
NSF Upcoming Deadlines
- 03/04/2027
- 07/07/2027

Department of Health & Human Services
(NIH, CDC, FDA)

Standard Application Due Dates are September 5, January 5, and April 5. Due dates that fall on weekends or Federal holidays are moved to the next business day.

NIH, CDC and FDA SBIR/STTR – Next Due Date 01/05/2027
Submit through the parent SBIR (PA-27-100) or STTR (PA-27-102) announcement by 5:00 p.m. local time.
NIH SBIR/STTR Upcoming Due Dates
- 04/05/2027 09/07/2027(Expected)
ARPA-H SBIR/STTR – No Current Solicitation Open –
ARPA-H Small Business Opportunities

Department of Transportation

No Current DOT SBIR Solicitation Open
The FY2026 Phase I solicitation closed 07/07/2026. No FY2027 solicitation has been posted.
*DOT SBIR Funding Opportunities*

Planning Your SBIR Phase II Application?

Phase II is a bigger award, and the accounting gets more serious.

You’ll need to track labor by project, keep direct and indirect costs separate, and be ready for a pre-award accounting review. A setup that worked fine for Phase I often won’t hold up.

We’ve spent more than 25 years helping SBIR awardees and government contractors get this right. Every client gets a dedicated Chief Accounting Officer who handles the day-to-day SBIR accounting, reviews your books each month, and knows your awards inside and out.

You focus on the innovation. We’ll handle the accounting so you can spend your time on what matters most.

So you’ve made it this far in your SBIR journey—why not let us take over the accounting complexity so you can focus on what matters most?

Get In Touch With Team 80 Today

Sarah Sinicki

Team 80 CEO

Sarah is a leader focused on serving small businesses in various industries. She has worked with a multitude of companies over the last 25 years and loves helping business owners find success. Sarah is genuinely committed to unburdening Team 80 clients so that they have the freedom to focus on their business. In her free time, you can find her spending time with her husband, two kids, and her Yorkies, Marley and Ziggy. When she is not helping business owners, you can find her in a Reb3l Groove class dancing it out. Sarah is also an avid Colorado Avalanche fan, so if you ever want to talk about hockey, she’s your gal.

Table of Contents

SBIR & STTR Deadlines
Planning Your SBIR Phase II Application?

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SBIR Deadlines

Current SBIR & STTR Deadlines by Agency

Department of Health & Human Services(NIH, CDC, FDA)

Planning Your SBIR Phase II Application?

Department of Health & Human Services
(NIH, CDC, FDA)