1,000+ Opportunities
Find the right grant
Search federal, foundation, and corporate grants with AI — or browse by agency, topic, and state.
Out-of-cycle solicitation schedule — check AFWERX/DoW Submission portal for current Phase I window
AFWERX 26. 1 SBIR Phase I Open Topic is an open-solicitation small business innovation program sponsored by the Department of the Air Force. Small businesses submit technology proposals demonstrating how their dual-use commercial solutions can benefit warfighters.
Phase I awards up to $75,000 (SBIR) or $110,000 (STTR) for a 3-month feasibility study focused on identifying Air Force end users and securing a Customer Memorandum. Qualifying companies can then compete for Phase II prototyping awards up to $2 million over 21 months, or apply directly through Direct to Phase II (D2P2) for up to $1. 25 million if they already have a signed Customer Memorandum and a prototype-ready solution.
Get alerted about grants like this
Save a search for “Department of the Air Force” or related topics and get emailed when new opportunities appear.
Search similar grants →Extracted from the official opportunity page/RFP to help you evaluate fit faster.
The Open Topic is the front door to working with the Department of the Air Force. The Open Topic operates in a Phase I, followed by a Phase II and Direct to Phase II approach. Commercial industry submits their technology solutions in the proposal process and defines how they think their solution will benefit the warfighter.
The Air Force then evaluates the proposal to determine if the project is something they would like to conduct a feasibility study on.
The feasibility study is conducted during Phase I with a 3-month period of performance where the small business works to identify their Air Force end user (warfighter) and customer (program office) with the goal of getting that Air Force end user and customer to sign a Customer Memorandum verbalizing their intent to work with the small business on transitioning their technology to warfighters.
Once the Customer Memorandum, a requirement for submitting for a Phase II proposal, is in hand, small businesses will compete to proceed to prototyping their solution.
Period of Performance: 3 months A maximum award of $75K (SBIR) and $110K (STTR) On contract to conduct Technical Feasibility Two deliverables (preliminary & final reports) Prepare for Phase II application Work to get a DAF Customer & End User to sign a Customer Memorandum for Phase II proposal The Phase II, or prototyping phase, sees the small business work directly with an Air Force Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) to conduct further R&D to build and adapt their dual-use proposed solution to fit Air Force needs.
If a small business already has a solution that is ready for prototype and adaptation to Air Force needs, has identified an Air Force end user and customer, and has a signed Customer Memorandum in hand, they are able to skip the initial Phase I process and apply to a Direct to Phase II (D2P2) solicitation.
Period of Performance: Up to 21-months A maximum award of $2M (SBIR) and $2M (STTR) Milestone Deliverables in accordance with Proposal Milestone Schedule Work with the DAF Customer & End User who signed the Customer Memorandum Direct to Phase II (D2P2) Period of Performance: Up to 21-months A maximum award of $1.
25M (SBIR) Milestone Deliverables in accordance with Proposal Milestone Schedule Work with the DAF Customer & End User who signed the Customer Memorandum AND must demonstrate technical merit Submit a Proposal *Dates are subject to change. Open Topic utilizes an out-of-cycle solicitation schedule offering Phase I (with follow-on Phase II opportunities) and Direct to Phase II (D2P2) opportunities.
A SBIR/STTR proposal for any DoW component must be submitted through the online DoW Submission website. Customer Memorandum Resources Customer Memorandum Example Memorandum Definitions & Resources Customer Memorandum Purpose Letter Customer Memorandum FAQs Direct to Phase II (D2P2) FAQs SBIR/STTR Open Topic Overview Data Rights Assertions Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) FAQs Open Topic Phase I FAQs Code Snippet ma-admin-quick-nav 1.
8. 2 Looking to connect and collaborate to find innovative commercial solutions to accelerate U.S. defense capabilities? Are you interested in learning about opportunities to collaborate and engage with AFWERX?
Join the AFWERX Portal Now!
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: Small businesses identifying Air Force end user. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates Up to $75,000 Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is rolling deadlines or periodic funding windows. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
Federal grant success rates typically range from 10-30%, varying by agency and program. Build a strong proposal with clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and a well-justified budget to improve your chances.
Requirements vary by sponsor, but typically include a project narrative, budget justification, organizational capability statement, and key personnel CVs. Check the official notice for the complete list of required attachments.
Yes — AI tools like Granted can help research funders, draft proposal sections, and check compliance. However, always review and customize AI-generated content to reflect your organization's unique strengths and the specific requirements of the solicitation.
Review timelines vary by funder. Federal agencies typically take 3-6 months from submission to award notification. Foundation grants may be faster, often 1-3 months. Check the program's timeline in the official solicitation for specific dates.
Many federal programs offer multi-year funding or allow competitive renewals. Check the official solicitation for continuation and renewal policies. Non-competing continuation applications are common for multi-year awards.
SBIR/STTR Programs (Defense Health Agency) is sponsored by Department of Defense (DOD) - Defense Health Agency (DHA). The DHA SBIR/STTR Programs fund biomedical and health-focused technologies that enhance medical readiness, clinical care delivery, force health protection, operational medicine, and military healthcare modernization. Priority research domains include digital health systems, AI-enabled triage, and physiological analytics.
Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) Call N0001425SBC03 For Office of Naval Research (ONR) Global Opportunity: GlobalX Innovation Joint Challenge: AI for Advancing Maritime Security is sponsored by Office of Naval Research (ONR) Global. This BAA Call seeks proposals for the GlobalX Innovation Joint Challenge: AI for Advancing Maritime Security. It funds the development of artificial intelligence solutions for maritime security applications, focusing on innovative AI algorithms for challenging maritime scene perception scenarios using real-world or synthetic data from UxV platforms. The program aims to accelerate the traditional knowledge generation cycle, leading to revolutionary dual-use capability for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps and the commercial marketplace. White papers are highly encouraged and due May 23, 2025, with full proposals due June 23, 2025.
Operation Stonegarden (OPSG) is a federal grant program administered by FEMA through the Office of the Governor's Public Safety Office that funds enhanced border security cooperation among Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Border Patrol, and state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies. The program supports joint operations to secure land and water border routes, improve intelligence sharing, and expand 287(g) screening operations within correctional facilities. In 2025, the national priority is Supporting Border Crisis Response and Enforcement, covering training, operational coordination, and risk management. Eligible expenses include operational overtime costs, staffing support for screening activities, and training programs in immigration law, civil rights protections, and 287(g) procedures.