SBIR & STTR Deadlines 2026: Complete Calendar by Agency

The SBIR and STTR programs are back. After a five-month authorization lapse that froze more than $4 billion in annual small business innovation funding, the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act reauthorized both programs through 2031 and agencies are now racing to publish solicitations before the fiscal year ends on September 30.

This calendar tracks every confirmed and expected SBIR and STTR deadline for 2026 across all eleven participating agencies. We update it as agencies publish new solicitations. Bookmark this page — the compressed post-restart cycle means deadlines will arrive faster and closer together than in any normal year.

What You Need to Know About the 2026 SBIR Timeline

The 2026 SBIR cycle is unlike anything the program has experienced in its 43-year history. The authorization lapse that began October 1, 2025 prevented agencies from issuing new solicitations or making new awards for five months. Now that reauthorization is complete, agencies are working through a backlog of shelved topics, unevaluated proposals, and unspent appropriations.

The practical effect is a compressed solicitation schedule. Agencies that normally spread topics across two or three windows per year will attempt to issue them in a condensed timeframe before September 30. For applicants, this means more opportunities in a shorter window — but also more triage pressure when deciding which topics to pursue.

Three structural changes from the reauthorization also affect how you plan your 2026 submissions:

• Proposal caps: Each agency will set limits on how many proposals a single company can submit. Caps take formal effect in FY2027, but agencies are signaling their approaches now.
• Strategic Breakthrough Awards: Post-Phase II funding up to $30 million over 48 months, with 100% matching fund requirements. First solicitations expected late 2026 or early 2027.
• Foreign risk screening: Every application now undergoes mandatory due diligence covering ownership, patents, employee backgrounds, and financial ties to countries of concern.

For a full breakdown of the new rules, see our SBIR reauthorization startup playbook.

Department of Defense (DOD)

Annual SBIR/STTR Budget: ~$1.8 billion (largest of all agencies)

DOD is best positioned to publish first. Its topic development teams — Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, DARPA, and the Missile Defense Agency — continued preparing solicitations throughout the freeze. Pre-solicitation topic lists drafted in late 2025 are being refreshed and released.

How DOD Solicitations Work

DOD releases three recurring Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs) per fiscal year, numbered by fiscal year (e.g., 26.1, 26.2, 26.3). Each BAA includes topics from multiple components. Topics are pre-released for 15-30 days before the submission window opens, then proposals are accepted for 30-60 days. All proposals are submitted through the Defense SBIR/STTR Innovation Portal (DSIP).

DOD also accepts proposals through Open Topic solicitations and Commercial Solutions Openings (CSOs) on a continuous basis.

2026 DOD SBIR/STTR Deadlines

DOD Award Amounts

• Phase I: $50,000–$275,000 over 6–12 months
• Phase II: $750,000–$1,800,000 over 24 months
• Phase II Enhancement: Additional $500,000 matching third-party investment
• Direct to Phase II: Available for companies with equivalent feasibility data

Key DOD Focus Areas for 2026

Artificial intelligence and autonomy, hypersonic systems, directed energy, space technology, cybersecurity and electronic warfare, biotechnology, advanced materials, and quantum information science.

For a detailed component-by-component breakdown, see our DOD SBIR proposal guide.

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Annual SBIR/STTR Budget: ~$1.2 billion

NIH maintained its study section infrastructure throughout the authorization lapse, positioning it to restart peer review rapidly. NIH is expected to publish new Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) in March or April 2026.

How NIH Solicitations Work

NIH uses a different model from DOD. Rather than responding to specific topics, applicants propose their own research questions aligned with an institute's mission. Applications are submitted through eRA Commons and reviewed by the Center for Scientific Review.

NIH historically uses three annual receipt dates for SBIR/STTR applications: January 5, April 5, and September 5. However, all existing NOFOs expired during the authorization lapse, and new NOFOs must be published before these receipt dates become active again.

2026 NIH SBIR/STTR Deadlines

NIH Award Amounts

• Phase I (R43): Up to $295,386 total costs
• Phase II (R44): Up to $2,000,000 total costs
• Fast-Track (R43/R44): Combined Phase I and Phase II in a single application

Key NIH Focus Areas for 2026

NIH funds SBIR across all 27 institutes and centers. High-priority areas include artificial intelligence in drug discovery, precision medicine, point-of-care diagnostics, digital health technologies, rare disease therapeutics, neurodegenerative disease interventions, and health equity solutions.

For NIH-specific guidance, see our posts on writing a winning NIH SBIR commercialization strategy and advancing from Phase I to Phase II.

National Science Foundation (NSF)

Annual SBIR/STTR Budget: ~$250 million

NSF operates a rolling submission model for Phase I through its Seed Fund program. The process starts with a Project Pitch — a brief online submission that NSF reviews within three weeks. If invited, you submit a full proposal.

How NSF Solicitations Work

Unlike DOD and NIH, NSF does not release topic-specific solicitations. Instead, NSF defines broad technology areas and invites pitches from companies working in any of them. The Project Pitch system operates year-round when the program is active. Phase II is invitation-only for Phase I awardees.

2026 NSF SBIR/STTR Deadlines

NSF Award Amounts

• Phase I: Up to $275,000 over 12 months
• Phase II: Up to $1,000,000 over 24 months
• Supplemental funding: Commercialization, I-Corps, and INTERN supplements available

Key NSF Focus Areas for 2026

NSF funds deep technology across all science and engineering disciplines: advanced computing, AI and machine learning, advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, clean energy, quantum technology, semiconductors, and space technology. The agency explicitly welcomes first-time SBIR applicants.

For AI-focused applicants, see our NSF SBIR/STTR AI startup playbook.

Department of Energy (DOE)

Annual SBIR/STTR Budget: ~$400 million

DOE runs topic-based solicitations with two releases per fiscal year. DOE requires a mandatory Letter of Intent (LOI) before full proposal submission — if you miss the LOI deadline, you cannot submit a proposal.

How DOE Solicitations Work

DOE publishes topics approximately one month before each Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). After the FOA opens, applicants have about three weeks to submit a two-page LOI. Full proposals are due approximately four months after the FOA is released. Topics span the Office of Science and applied energy offices (EERE, Fossil Energy, Nuclear Energy, ARPA-E).

2026 DOE SBIR/STTR Deadlines

DOE Award Amounts

• Phase I: $200,000–$250,000 over 12 months
• Phase II: $1,000,000–$1,600,000 over 24 months

Key DOE Focus Areas for 2026

Clean energy technologies, advanced nuclear, grid modernization, energy storage, carbon capture, hydrogen, fusion energy, high-energy physics instrumentation, advanced computing, and critical minerals processing.

For clean energy applicants, see our DOE SBIR guide for clean energy startups.

NASA

Annual SBIR/STTR Budget: ~$200 million

NASA is restructuring its SBIR/STTR program for 2026, moving from a single annual solicitation to a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) with phased appendices. This means small businesses will be able to propose at multiple points throughout the year rather than facing a single annual deadline.

How NASA Solicitations Work (New for 2026)

Under the new BAA model, NASA will publish a standing announcement and release appendices containing specific subtopics on a rolling basis. Each appendix will include a defined set of SBIR subtopics and its own submission deadline. Companies can reset their proposal limits with each new appendix.

2026 NASA SBIR/STTR Deadlines

NASA Award Amounts

• Phase I: Up to $150,000 over 6–13 months
• Phase II: Up to $850,000 over 24 months

Key NASA Focus Areas for 2026

Autonomous systems, in-space manufacturing, lunar surface technologies, Mars mission support, Earth observation, satellite communications, propulsion systems, life support, and materials for extreme environments.

For space tech applicants, see our NASA SBIR guide for space tech startups.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Annual SBIR Budget: ~$8 million

EPA runs a single annual SBIR solicitation — no STTR program. EPA's solicitation was not released before the authorization lapse and is expected in spring or summer 2026 as a compressed cycle.

2026 EPA SBIR Deadlines

EPA Award Amounts

• Phase I: Up to $100,000 over 6 months
• Phase II: Up to $400,000 over 24 months

Key EPA Focus Areas

Clean water technologies, air quality monitoring, PFAS remediation, environmental justice solutions, waste reduction, and climate adaptation. Given EPA's modest budget, proposals must be tightly aligned with published topic areas.

For environmental startups, see our EPA SBIR guide.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Annual SBIR Budget: ~$35 million

USDA issues a single annual SBIR solicitation through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). No STTR program. The FY2026 solicitation was not released before the lapse and is expected to publish in a compressed timeline.

2026 USDA SBIR Deadlines

USDA Award Amounts

• Phase I: Up to $175,000 over 8 months
• Phase II: Up to $650,000 over 24 months

Key USDA Focus Areas

Precision agriculture, food safety technology, animal health, plant genomics, sustainable forestry, rural broadband, and agricultural AI applications.

For agtech applicants, see our USDA SBIR guide.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

Annual SBIR Budget: ~$30 million

DHS typically runs an annual SBIR solicitation through its Science and Technology Directorate. The normal cycle is a pre-solicitation in November, opening in January, and closing in late January. The FY2026 cycle was disrupted by the authorization lapse.

2026 DHS SBIR Deadlines

DHS Award Amounts

• Phase I: Up to $150,000 over 6 months
• Phase II: Up to $1,000,000 over 24 months

Key DHS Focus Areas

Cybersecurity, border surveillance technology, chemical and biological threat detection, critical infrastructure protection, disaster response communications, and immigration processing technology.

For cybersecurity-focused applicants, see our DHS SBIR guide.

Other Participating Agencies

Several additional agencies participate in SBIR with smaller programs. All are expected to restart solicitations in 2026 on compressed timelines:

Summary Calendar: All Agencies at a Glance

How to Prepare for the Compressed 2026 Cycle

The five-month freeze created a unique competitive dynamic. Agencies that normally spread solicitations across the full fiscal year are compressing them into a six-month window. Here is how to position your company:

1. Complete Your Registrations Now

Every SBIR application requires active registrations that take weeks to process:

• SAM.gov: Required for all federal grants and contracts. Renewal takes 2–4 weeks.
• SBA Company Registry: Required to confirm SBIR eligibility.
• DSIP: Required for DOD proposals.
• eRA Commons: Required for NIH proposals.
• Research.gov: Required for NSF proposals.
• Grants.gov: Required for most civilian agency proposals.

Do not wait until a solicitation drops. If your SAM.gov registration has lapsed, renew it now. See our SAM.gov registration guide.

2. Identify Your Top Three Targets

In a compressed cycle, submitting mediocre proposals to fifteen topics will lose to submitting excellent proposals to three. Identify the agencies and topic areas where your technology is the strongest fit and your team has the most relevant experience. Our SBIR eligibility guide can help you determine where you qualify.

3. Draft Your Core Narrative

The technical approach, team qualifications, and commercialization plan form the backbone of every SBIR proposal regardless of agency. Draft these sections now and adapt them to specific topics when solicitations publish.

4. Prepare Your Commercialization Plan

Reviewers at every agency are weighting commercialization more heavily. Document your customer discovery, market validation, letters of support, and revenue projections. See our guides on SBIR commercialization plans and letters of support.

5. Set Up Monitoring

Topics will publish with compressed review windows. You need to know the moment a relevant solicitation drops. Granted tracks SBIR and STTR solicitations across all eleven agencies and alerts you when new topics match your profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will SBIR solicitations start again in 2026?

DOD and NIH are expected to be first, likely publishing new solicitations in March or April 2026. NSF, DOE, and NASA should follow in April through May. Smaller agencies — USDA, EPA, DHS, NOAA, DOT, and ED — will restart on varying timelines through summer 2026. The exact dates depend on each agency's internal readiness and topic development process.

Did the SBIR authorization lapse affect existing awards?

No. Awards made before October 1, 2025 continue unaffected. The lapse prevented agencies from issuing new solicitations or making new awards, but existing contracts and grants remain in force.

What changed with the SBIR reauthorization?

The Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act reauthorizes SBIR and STTR through September 30, 2031. Key changes include proposal caps for repeat applicants, Strategic Breakthrough Awards up to $30 million, mandatory foreign risk screening, and increased emphasis on commercialization. See our complete reauthorization guide for the full analysis.

Can I apply to multiple agencies with the same technology?

Yes. Each agency evaluates proposals independently. However, you must disclose all related applications across agencies, and you cannot receive duplicate funding for the same work. Many companies strategically target different aspects of their technology to different agencies — for example, the defense application to DOD and the civilian application to NSF.

What is the success rate for SBIR Phase I proposals?

Across the program, roughly 15–20% of Phase I proposals receive funding. But this number varies dramatically by agency and topic. Some DOD topics fund 50% of applicants. Some NIH institutes fund fewer than 10%. The compressed 2026 cycle may shift these rates as agencies process higher volumes of proposals in shorter windows.

Do I need to be a U.S. citizen to apply for SBIR?

The company must be majority-owned (51%+) by U.S. citizens or permanent residents, organized for profit, and located in the United States. The PI must be primarily employed by the small business. The new foreign risk screening provisions add additional scrutiny to ownership structures and international connections but do not change the fundamental eligibility requirements.

What is the difference between SBIR and STTR?

Both programs fund small business innovation. SBIR requires the small business to perform at least two-thirds of the Phase I research (one-half for Phase II). STTR requires a formal partnership with a nonprofit research institution — typically a university — and the research institution must perform at least 30% of the work. See our detailed SBIR vs. STTR comparison.

How long does it take to receive an SBIR award after submission?

Timeline varies by agency. DOD typically notifies within 90–120 days. NIH takes 6–9 months from submission to award. NSF's timeline varies but is generally 4–6 months. In the compressed 2026 cycle, timelines may be longer as agencies process accumulated backlogs.

This calendar is updated as agencies publish new solicitations. Last updated: March 15, 2026.

Track every SBIR deadline automatically. Granted monitors solicitations across all eleven SBIR agencies and matches opportunities to your company's technology focus. Set up your profile in minutes and get alerted the moment relevant topics publish. Start free — no credit card required.

Keep Reading

• SBIR Grant Guide 2026: Everything You Need to Know Before Applying
• The SBIR Restart Is Here: A Startup Founder's Playbook for the New Rules
• SBIR Eligibility Rules 2026: Who Qualifies After Reauthorization
• SBIR Budget Template: Line-by-Line Guide
• 10 Mistakes That Get First-Time SBIR Proposals Rejected
• SBIR vs. STTR: Which Program Should You Apply To?