Four Long-Range BAAs Offer Rolling Federal R&D Funding Right Now
March 13, 2026 · 2 min read
David Almeida
While the newly reauthorized SBIR/STTR programs gear up to publish their first solicitations — likely in March or April — four federal agencies are accepting research proposals right now through Long Range Broad Agency Announcements that remain open for months or years.
For small businesses and research teams that can't afford to wait, LRBAAs offer a parallel path to federal R&D contracts without the periodic deadlines and topic constraints of SBIR.
What's Open Now
Office of Naval Research (N0001425SB001) — Covers a broad spectrum of science and engineering topics relevant to Navy and Marine Corps operations. Open through FY2026.
Department of Homeland Security (24-01) — Rolling submissions across multiple homeland security research areas, from cybersecurity to border technology.
U.S. Special Operations Command — Focused on biomedical and human performance R&D for special operations forces. Open through July 31, 2028.
Army Space and Missile Defense Command — Seeking proposals in missile defense, space technologies, and testing capabilities. Open through August 26, 2029.
How LRBAAs Differ From SBIR
The key distinction: LRBAAs accept submissions continuously. There's no waiting for a topic list, no fixed deadline, and no requirement that the technology fit a narrow solicitation. Proposers typically submit a short white paper first; if the agency is interested, they request a full proposal.
The tradeoff is less structure. SBIR provides a clear Phase I–II–III pathway with defined award sizes. LRBAAs are more flexible but require proposers to frame their own problem statement and demonstrate relevance to the agency's mission.
"With the SBIR/STTR programs currently on hold, LRBAAs provide one of the most reliable paths" to federal R&D engagement, noted the Center for Technology Commercialization. Detailed guidance on navigating federal R&D opportunities is available on the Granted blog.