Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I (NSF 24-579) is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). This program provides non-dilutive funds for use-inspired research and development (R&D) of unproven, leading-edge technology innovations that address societal challenges. Small businesses must first submit a Project Pitch and receive an official invitation to submit a full proposal.

The maximum award amount has been increased to $305,000, and the award duration is 6-18 months.

NSF 24-579: NSF Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I Programs (SBIR/STTR Phase I) | NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation Active funding opportunity This document is the current version.

Important information for proposers and award recipients All proposals must be submitted in accordance with the requirements specified in this funding opportunity and in the Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) and its supplements . All NSF grants and cooperative agreements are subject to the applicable set of NSF award terms and conditions . NSF has updated its research security policies for NSF funded projects.

NSF 24-579: NSF Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I Programs To save a PDF of this solicitation, select Print to PDF in your browser's print options. National Science Foundation Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p. m.

submitting organization's local time): Important Information And Revision Notes The NSF SBIR/STTR programs (also known as America's Seed Fund powered by NSF) provide non-dilutive grants for the development of a broad range of technologies based on discoveries in science and engineering with the potential for societal and economic impacts .

NSF proposals are confidential and will only be shared with a select number of reviewers and NSF staff (as appropriate). All reviewers have agreed to maintain the confidentiality of the proposal content. Proposals to NSF do not constitute a public disclosure.

If selected for a Phase I award, the company will be prompted to write a publicly available abstract that summarizes the intellectual merit and broader impact of the project. The proposer must receive an official invitation via the Project Pitch process to submit a full proposal. Small businesses can submit a Project Pitch at any time.

Small businesses that receive an official invite must submit their full proposal within the next two deadlines of the email date of their invite; for example, if a Project Pitch invite is received on May 30, 2024, the proposer may submit their full proposal for either of the next two deadlines (September 18, 2024 or November 6, 2024). Visit the program website ( https://seedfund. nsf.

gov/apply/project-pitch/ ) for more information. The proposal submission system, Research. gov, will stop accepting proposals at 5:00 pm "submitting organization's local time."

This is a firm deadline (no grace period). If your submission is late, you will not be able to submit again until the next deadline (and only if your Project Pitch invite remains valid). Proposers are strongly urged to submit well in advance of the deadline.

The NSF SBIR/STTR programs do not support clinical trials or proposals from companies whose commercialization pathway involves the production, distribution, or sale by the company of chemical components, natural or synthetic variations thereof, or other derivatives related to Schedule I controlled substances. All proposals must be submitted through Research. gov .

SBIR and STTR proposals are nearly identical but differ in the amount of work required to be performed by the small business and a not-for-profit institution or a Federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) (as noted in the budget). For more information about the unique requirements for STTR awards, please refer to the Eligibility and Proposal Preparation sections of this solicitation.

NSF SBIR Phase I proposals submitted to this solicitation may, at NSF's discretion, be converted for award as an STTR Phase I.

For the purpose of this solicitation, the following definitions apply: Funding Agreement: As used in this solicitation, the funding agreement is a Grant – a legal instrument of financial assistance between NSF and a recipient, consistent with 31 USC 6302-6305 and as noted in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) Introduction, Section D ("Definitions & NSF-Recipient Relationships").

Small Business Concerns (SBCs): SBCs are independently owned and operated businesses that are not dominant in their field of operation. For this solicitation, firms qualifying as a small business concern are eligible to participate in the SBIR/STTR programs (see Section IV. "Eligibility Information" of this solicitation for more details).

Please note that the size limit of 500 employees includes affiliates. The firm must be in compliance with the SBA SBIR/STTR Policy Directive and the Code of Federal Regulations .

SBIR/STTR Data: As defined by the SBA SBIR/STTR Policy Directive , SBIR/STTR Data is all Data developed or generated in the performance of an SBIR or STTR award, including Technical Data and Computer Software developed or generated in the performance of an SBIR or STTR award. The term does not include information incidental to contract or grant administration, such as financial, administrative, cost or pricing or management information.

SBIR/STTR Data Rights: The Federal Government may, use, modify, reproduce, perform, display, release, or disclose SBIR/STTR Data that are Technical Data within the Government; however, the Government shall not use, release, or disclose the data for procurement, manufacturing, or commercial purposes; or release or disclose the SBIR/STTR Data outside the Government except as permitted by paragraph 10(B) of the SBIR/STTR Policy Directive 's Data Rights Clause or by written permission of the recipient.

Research and Development (R&D): broadly defined in 2 CFR § 200.

1 , but specified for the NSF SBIR/STTR programs as follows: the application of creative, original, and potentially transformative concepts to systematically study, create, adapt, or manipulate the structure and behavior of the natural or man-made worlds; the use of the scientific method to propose well-reasoned, well-organized activities based on sound theory, computation, measurement, observation, experiment, or modeling; the demonstration of a well-qualified individual, team, or organization ready to deploy novel methods of creating, acquiring, processing, manipulating, storing, or disseminating data or metadata; and/or the novel integration of new theories, analysis, data, or methods regarding cognition, heuristics, and related phenomena, which can be supported by scientific rationale.

Non-Dilutive Funding: financing that does not involve equity, debt, or other elements of the business ownership structure. Technical Risk: Technical risk assumes that the possibility of technical failure exists for an envisioned product, service, or solution to be successfully developed. This risk is present even to those suitably skilled in the art of the component, subsystem, method, technique, tool, or algorithm in question.

Technical Innovation: Technical innovation indicates that the new product or service is differentiated from current products or services; that is, the new technology holds the potential to result in a product or service with a substantial and durable advantage over competing solutions on the market. It also generally provides a barrier to entry for competitors.

This means that if the new product, service, or solution is successfully realized and brought to the market, it would be difficult for a well-qualified, competing firm to reverse-engineer or otherwise neutralize the competitive advantage generated by leveraging fundamental science or engineering research techniques.

Significant Revisions Made Since the Last Solicitation: The maximum total Phase I award amount has been increased from $275,000 to $305,000. This amount is inclusive of all direct and indirect costs as well as the small business fee.

In an effort to increase the award amount, to increase the flexibility of the PI to make decisions based on the needs of their particular company, and to decrease the administrative burden associated with preparing and processing significant numbers of supplement requests, SBIR/STTR Phase I recipients should budget for Technical and Business Assistance (TABA) and National Innovation-Corps training (I-Corps TM ) (see below) within their Phase I budget.

Other supplements to SBIR/STTR Phase I awards will not be allowed. TABA provides an opportunity to assist small businesses in commercialization of their technologies. Up to $6,500 for TABA funding may be budgeted by the proposing small business for their well justified commercialization activities.

TABA funding enables the recipient business to secure the services of one or more third-party providers to assist in one or more of the following commercialization activities: making better technical decisions on SBIR/STTR projects; solving technical problems that arise during SBIR/STTR projects; minimizing technical risks associated with SBIR/STTR projects; and/or commercializing the SBIR/STTR product or process, including securing intellectual property protections.

I-Corps training is highly recommended; The proposal budget should include $25,000 for this training. Beat the Odds Boot Camp (a condensed version of I-Corps) will no longer be offered. The award duration has been extended; SBIR/STTR Phase I awards may be 6-18 months.

Publication, documentation, and dissemination costs are not allowed. An Allocation of Intellectual Property Rights Agreement (IP Rights Agreement) is required for STTR proposals and strongly recommended for SBIR proposals when there is a subaward to another institution. A fully signed agreement is not required for STTR proposals at the initial proposal submission but will be required before a recommendation for an award can be made.

In addition to the two NSF Merit Review Criteria (Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts), additional solicitation specific review requirements related to Intellectual Merits, Broader Impacts, Company/Team, and Commercialization Potential have been clarified, see Section VI. A. An Elevator Pitch is no longer required in the Project Description.

Four documents: Biographical Sketch(es), Current and Pending (Other) Support forms, Collaborators and Other Affiliations (COA), and Synergistic Activities must be submitted for the PI, Co-PI (if STTR), and each Senior/Key Personnel specified in the proposal. Biographical Sketches and Current and Pending Support forms must be submitted using SciENcv: Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae .

Collaborators & Other Affiliations (COA) Information is submitted using the instructions and spreadsheet template . Additional information is given in the solicitation. Synergistic Activities.

Each individual identified as a Senior/Key person must provide a document of up to one-page that includes a list of up to five distinct examples of synergistic activities that demonstrate the broader impact of the individual's professional and scholarly activities that focus on the integration and transfer of knowledge as well as its creation. In accordance with Section 10632 of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 (42 U.S.C.

§ 19232), the Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) must certify that all individuals identified as Senior/Key Personnel have been made aware of and have complied with their responsibility under that section to certify that the individual is not a party to a Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program. In accordance with Section 223(a)(1) of the William M.

(Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (42 U.S.C. § 6605(a)(1)), each individual identified as Senior/Key Personnel is required to certify in SciENcv that the information provided in the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support documents is accurate, current, and complete.

Senior/Key Personnel are required to update their Current and Pending (Other) Support disclosures prior to award, and at any subsequent time the agency determines appropriate during the term of the award. See additional information on NSF Disclosure Requirements in the PAPPG, Chapter II. B.

Each Senior/Key Person must also certify prior to proposal submission that they are not a party to a Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program and annually thereafter for the duration of the award. Letters of Support from potential product/service users or customers are NOT ALLOWED in SBIR/STTR Phase I proposals.

Letters of Commitment from subawardees that confirm the role of the subaward organization in the project and explicitly state the subaward amount should be included in the Supplementary Documents. Additional information on the due diligence process , used as part of the review and selection process, has been clarified in Section VI.

The due diligence process may include requests for clarification of the company structure, key personnel, conflicts of interest, foreign influence, cybersecurity practices, or other issues as determined by NSF. Participation in due diligence does not ensure an award recommendation. This solicitation contains many instructions that deviate from the standard NSF PAPPG proposal preparation instructions.

In the event of a conflict between the instructions in this solicitation and the PAPPG, use this solicitation's instructions as a guide. Any proposal submitted in response to this solicitation should be submitted in accordance with the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) that is in effect for the relevant due date to which the proposal is being submitted.

The NSF PAPPG is regularly revised and it is the responsibility of the proposer to ensure that the proposal meets the requirements specified in this solicitation and the applicable version of the PAPPG. Submitting a proposal prior to a specified deadline does not negate this requirement.

Summary Of Program Requirements NSF Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I Programs (SBIR/STTR Phase I) The NSF SBIR/STTR programs provide non-dilutive funds for use-inspired research and development (R&D) of unproven, leading-edge, technology innovations that address societal challenges.

By investing federal research and development funds into startups and small businesses, NSF helps build a strong national economy and stimulates the creation of novel products, services, and solutions in the private sector; strengthens the role of small business in meeting federal research and development needs; increases the commercial application of federally-supported research results; and develops and increases the U.S. workforce, especially by fostering and encouraging participation by socially and economically-disadvantaged and women-owned small businesses.

NSF seeks unproven, leading-edge technology innovations that demonstrate the following characteristics: The innovations are underpinned and enabled by a new scientific discovery or meaningful engineering innovation. The innovations still require intensive technical research and development to be fully embedded in a reliable product or service.

The innovations have not yet been reduced to practice by anyone and it is not guaranteed, at present, that doing so is technically possible. The innovations provide a strong competitive advantage that are not easily replicable by competitors (even technically proficient ones).

Once reduced to practice, the innovations are expected to result in a product or service that would either be disruptive to existing markets or create new markets/new market segments. The NSF SBIR/STTR programs fund broadly across scientific and engineering disciplines and do not solicit specific technologies or procure goods and services from startups and small businesses. The funding provided is non-dilutive.

Any invention conceived or reduced to practice with the assistance of SBIR/STTR funding is subject to the Bayh-Dole Act. For more information, refer to the SBIR/STTR Frequently Asked Questions, #75 . NSF encourages input and participation from the full spectrum of diverse talent that society has to offer which includes underrepresented and underserved communities.

This program is governed by 15 U.S.C. 638 and the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended ( 42 U.S.C. 1861 et seq.

). The SBIR and STTR programs, initiated at NSF, were established in 1982 as part of the Small Business Innovation Development Act.

The NSF SBIR/STTR programs focus on stimulating technical innovation from diverse entrepreneurs and startups by translating new scientific and engineering discoveries emerging from the private sector, federal labs, and academia into products and services that can be scaled and commercialized into sustainable businesses with significant societal benefits.

The NSF SBIR/STTR programs are now part of the Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP) , which was recently launched to accelerate innovation and enhance economic competitiveness by catalyzing partnerships and investments that strengthen the links between fundamental research and technology development, deployment, and use.

Cognizant Program Officer(s): Please note that the following information is current at the time of publishing. See program website for any updates to the points of contact. NSF SBIR/STTR Inbox, telephone: (703) 292-5111, email: sbir@nsf.

gov Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s): 47. 049 --- Mathematical and Physical Sciences 47. 070 --- Computer and Information Science and Engineering 47.

074 --- Biological Sciences 47. 075 --- Social Behavioral and Economic Sciences 47. 076 --- STEM Education 47.

079 --- Office of International Science and Engineering 47. 083 --- Office of Integrative Activities (OIA) 47.

084 --- NSF Technology, Innovation and Partnerships Anticipated Type of Award: Standard Grant Estimated Number of Awards: 280 approximately 230-235 awards for SBIR Phase I per year, pending the availability of funds approximately 45-50 awards for STTR Phase I per year, pending the availability of funds Anticipated Funding Amount: $85,000,000 Approximately $70,000,000-$72,000,000 for SBIR Phase I Approximately $13,000,000-$15,000,000 for STTR Phase I Estimated program budget, number of awards and average award size/duration are subject to the availability of funds.

Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: Proposers must obtain an official invitation to submit a proposal. To receive the invitation, potential proposers must submit a Project Pitch and receive an official response (via email) from the cognizant Program Officer.

Project Pitch invitations are valid for two deadlines after the date of the initial official invitation from NSF; for example, if an official invitation is received on May 30, 2024, the proposer may submit for either the September 18, 2024, or November 6 deadline. In this example, submissions after November 6, 2024 will require a new Project Pitch invitation.

Firms qualifying as a small business concern are eligible to participate in the NSF SBIR/STTR programs (see Eligibility Guide for more information). Please note that the size limit of 500 employees includes affiliates. The firm must be in compliance with the SBIR/STTR Policy Directive and the Code of Federal Regulations ( 13 CFR Part 121 ).

For STTR proposals, the proposing small business must also include a partner research institution in the project, see additional details below. In compliance with the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, Section 10636 (Person or entity of concern prohibition) (42 U.S.C. 19235): No person published on the list under section 1237(b) of the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 (Public Law 105-261; 50 U.S.C.

1701 note) or entity identified under section 1260H of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (10 U.S.C. 113 note; Public Law 116-283) may receive or participate in any grant, award, program, support, or other activity under the Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships.

Individuals who are a current party to a Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program are not eligible to serve as a Senior/Key Person on an NSF proposal or on any NSF award made after May 20, 2024. See current PAPPG for additional information on required certifications associated with Malign Foreign Talent Organization.

The Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) must certify that all individuals identified as Senior/Key Personnel have been made aware of and have complied with their responsibility under that section to certify that the individual is not a party to a Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program. The startup's or small business' research and development (R&D) must be performed within the United States.

Startups and small businesses funded by NSF must be majority U.S.-owned companies. NSF does not fund proposals from companies that are majority-owned by one or more venture capital operating companies (VCOCs), hedge funds, or private equity firms. Proposals from joint ventures and partnerships are permitted, provided the proposing entity qualifies as a small business concern (see Eligibility Guide for more information).

"Collaborative Proposal from Multiple Organizations" (a special proposal type in Research. gov) are not allowed. Startups and small businesses that have a social mission in their charter are encouraged to apply.

Socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses and women-owned small businesses are also encouraged to apply. The primary employment of the Principal Investigator (PI) must be with the small business at the time of award and for the duration of the award, unless a new PI is named. Primary employment is defined as at least 51 percent employed by the small business.

NSF normally considers a full-time work week to be 40 hours and considers employment elsewhere of greater than 19. 6 hours per week to be in conflict with this requirement. The PI must have a legal right to work for the proposing company in the United States, as evidenced by citizenship, permanent residency, or an appropriate visa.

The PI does not need to be associated with an academic institution. There are no PI degree requirements (i.e., the PI is not required to hold a Ph. D.

or any other degree). A PI must devote a minimum of one calendar month of effort per six months of performance to an NSF SBIR/STTR Phase I project. Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization: 1 An organization may submit only one NSF SBIR/STTR Phase I Project Pitch and/or proposal per submission deadline.

The organization must wait for a determination from NSF (e.g., invite/not invite for a Project Pitch or award, decline, or return without review for a proposal) before submitting a new Project Pitch or proposal. This eligibility constraint is strictly enforced.

If an organization exceeds this limit, the first Project Pitch/proposal that is received will be reviewed and any additional Project Pitches/proposals will be Returned Without Review. Previously declined proposals require a new Project Pitch be submitted and invited.

If invited, these proposals must represent a significant revision to the previously submitted SBIR/STTR Phase I proposal and must include a Resubmission Change Description describing these revisions, in the Other Supplementary Documents section.

Proposals that have been Returned Without Review may be submitted using the same Project Pitch invitation (assuming that the proposal is received within two (2) deadlines of the initial Project Pitch invitation from NSF). Limit on Number of Proposals per PI or co-PI: 1 For NSF SBIR – 1 PI, co-PIs are not allowed.

For NSF STTR - 1 PI and 1 co-PI are required (the PI must be an employee of the proposing small business and the co-PI must be part of the STTR partner research institution). An individual may act as the co-PI on an unlimited number of proposals. An individual may be listed as the PI for only one proposal submitted at a time to this NSF SBIR/STTR Phase I solicitation.

Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions A. Proposal Preparation Instructions Letters of Intent: Not required Preliminary Proposal Submission: Not required Full Proposals: This solicitation contains information that deviates from the standard NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) proposal preparation guidelines. Please see the full text of the solicitation for further information.

Cost Sharing Requirements: Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited. Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations: Other Budgetary Limitations: Other budgetary limitations apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.

Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p. m. submitting organization's local time): Proposal Review Information Criteria National Science Board approved criteria.

Additional merit review criteria apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information. Award Administration Information Additional award conditions apply.

Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information. Additional reporting requirements apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.

The NSF SBIR/STTR programs focus on transforming scientific discovery into commercial potential and/or societal benefit through the development of products or services. The NSF SBIR/STTR programs fund research and development (R&D) and are designed to provide non-dilutive funding to support small business concerns with technologies at their earliest stages. NSF SBIR/STTR awards are not government contracts.

The NSF does not use its SBIR/STTR programs to procure goods or services for the government. Any invention conceived or reduced to practice with the assistance of SBIR/STTR funding is subject to the Bayh-Dole Act. For more information, refer to the SBIR/STTR Frequently Asked Questions, #75 .

The NSF SBIR/STTR programs do not have a specific topical or technology focus. Generally, the topics included in the NSF SBIR/STTR solicitation are intended to be broad enough to permit startups with science- and engineering-based innovations to compete for funding, transforming science and engineering discovery and innovation into both societal and economic impact.

NSF encourages people from all backgrounds and geographic areas to apply for funding. At the conclusion of the project, a recipient company must submit a final annual project report to NSF to ensure that the company properly spent NSF funds on approved activities, as originally proposed. Recipient companies will also need to submit a project outcomes report for the general public.

NSF does not purchase these project reports and does not benefit from these reports, beyond an oversight function. NSF does not test, verify, or otherwise use the technology developed under its SBIR/STTR awards. The NSF SBIR/STTR Phase I program is highly competitive.

While success rates vary year-to-year, only a fraction of proposals submitted are selected for an award. Thus, there are many qualified businesses applying to the program each year that do not receive funding. The NSF SBIR/STTR program encourages startups and small businesses to submit proposals across nearly all areas of science and engineering.

* While startups and small businesses face many challenges, the NSF SBIR/STTR funding is intended to specifically focus on challenges associated with technological innovation; that is, on the creation of new products, services, and other scalable solutions based on fundamental science or engineering.

A successful Phase I proposal demonstrates how NSF funding will help the small business create a proof-of-concept or prototype by retiring technical risk. Funding from NSF may only be used to conduct research and development (R&D) to demonstrate technical feasibility.

NSF seeks SBIR/STTR proposals that represent success in three distinct, but related merit review criteria: Intellectual Merit, Broader Impacts, and Commercialization Potential. The Intellectual Merit criterion encompasses the potential to advance knowledge and leverages fundamental science or engineering research techniques to overcoming technical risk. This can be conveyed through the Research and Development (R&D) of the project.

R&D is broadly defined in 2 CFR § 200.

1, but specified for the NSF SBIR/STTR program as follows: the application of creative, original, and potentially transformative concepts to systematically study, create, adapt, or manipulate the structure and behavior of the natural or man-made worlds; the use of the scientific method to propose well-reasoned, well-organized activities based on sound theory, computation, measurement, observation, experiment, or modeling ; the demonstration of a well-qualified individual, team, or organization ready to deploy novel methods of creating, acquiring, processing, manipulating, storing, or disseminating data or metadata; and/or the novel integration of new theories, analysis, data, or methods regarding cognition, heuristics, and related phenomena.

NSF SBIR/STTR proposals are evaluated via the concepts of Technical Risk and Technological Innovation. Technical Risk assumes that the possibility of technical failure exists for an envisioned product, service, or solution to be successfully developed. This risk is present even to those suitably skilled in the art of the component, subsystem, method, technique, tool, or algorithm in question.

Technological Innovation indicates that the new product or service is differentiated from current products or services; that is, the new technology holds the potential to result in a product or service with a substantial and durable advantage over competing solutions on the market. It also generally provides a barrier to entry for competitors.

This means that if the new product, service, or solution is successfully realized and brought to the market, it should be difficult for a well-qualified, competing firm to reverse-engineer or otherwise neutralize the competitive advantage generated by leveraging fundamental science or engineering research techniques.

The Broader Impacts criterion encompasses the potential benefit to society and contribution to the achievement of specific, desired societal outcomes as outlined in the NSF PAPPG Merit Review Broader Impacts Criteria. The NSF SBIR/STTR program funds the development of new, high-risk technology innovations intended to generate positive societal and economic outcomes.

Proposers should also consider the Broader Impacts Review Criterion at 42 U.S.C. §1862p-14: Increasing the economic competitiveness of the United States. Advancing of the health and welfare of the American public.

Supporting the national defense of the United States. Enhancing partnerships between academia and industry in the United States. Developing an American STEM workforce that is globally competitive through improved pre-kindergarten through grade 12 STEM education and teacher development and improved undergraduate STEM education and instruction.

Improving public scientific literacy and engagement with science and technology in the United States. Expanding participation of groups underrepresented in STEM. The Commercialization Potential of the proposed product or service is the potential for the resulting technology to disrupt the targeted market segment by way of a strong and durable value proposition for the customers or users.

The proposed product or service addresses an unmet, important, and scalable need for the target customer base. The proposed small business is structured and staffed to focus on aggressive commercialization of the product/service. The proposed small business can provide evidence of good product-market fit (as validated by direct and significant interaction with customers and related stakeholders).

More details and information regarding the NSF SBIR/STTR merit review criteria can be found in Section VI of this solicitation.

* The NSF SBIR/STTR program does not support clinical trials or proposals from companies whose commercialization pathway involves the production, distribution, or sale by the company of chemical components, natural or synthetic variations thereof, or other derivatives related to Schedule I controlled substances. Phase I proposals may be submitted for up to $305,000 in R&D funding intended to support projects for 6-18 months.

This amount is inclusive of all direct and indirect costs as well as the small business fee, Technical and Business Assistance (TABA) funding, and the optional, but highly encouraged Innovation Corps (I-Corps). IV. Eligibility Information Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: Proposers must obtain an official invitation to submit a proposal.

To receive the invitation, potential proposers must submit a Project Pitch and receive an official response (via email) from the cognizant Program Officer. Project Pitch invitations are valid for two deadlines after the date of the initial official invitation from NSF; for example, if an official invitation is received on May 30, 2024, the proposer may submit for either the September 18, 2024, or November 6 deadline.

In this example, submissions after November 6, 2024 will require a new Project Pitch invitation. Firms qualifying as a small business concern are eligible to participate in the NSF SBIR/STTR programs (see Eligibility Guide for more information). Please note that the size limit of 500 employees includes affiliates.

The firm must be in compliance with the SBIR/STTR Policy Directive and the Code of Federal Regulations ( 13 CFR Part 121 ). For STTR proposals, the proposing small business must also include a partner research institution in the project, see additional details below. In compliance with the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, Section 10636 (Person or entity of concern