SBIR/STTR Solicitations — May 2026

Since the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs were reauthorized in April, the Departments of War, Transportation, and Education, and NASA and ARPA-H  have released solicitations. Details, including important dates and websites, are below. 

The Department of War (DoW)

DoW released its SBIR 2026 Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) with the following participating components:

• Department of the Navy (Navy)

• Department of the Air Force (DAF)

• Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)

• Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)

• Office of the Secretary of War – Strategic Capabilities Office (OSW-SCO)

• United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM)  

Important dates: 

• Topics open and  proposals accepted in DSIP:  May 27, 2026   

• DSIP Topic Q&A closes to new questions: June 10, 2026, 10:00 AM MT   

• Topics Close; Deadline for receipt of proposals: June 24, 2026, 10:00 AM MT  

For more information, please visit: https://www.dodsbirsttr.mil/topics-app/?baa=DOD_SBIR_2026_P1_CBZ

NASA

NASA released its 2026 Appendix A SBIR and 2026 Appendix B SBIR & STTR solicitations. 

Important submission details: 

• Deadline: May 21, 2026, at 3:00 PM MST (Applies to all solicitations).

• Submission portal: All proposals must be submitted via PROSAMS.

• Inquiries: Please direct any solicitation or topic-specific questions to the NASA SBIR/STTR Help Desk at agency-sbir@mail.nasa.gov

For more information, please visit: https://www.nasa.gov/sbir_sttr/phase-i/

Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H)

ARPA-H released 7 topics.

• Development of an annual test to inform women about their future fertility  

• Versatile Bioadhesives  

• Universal Platform for Living Adaptive Toxin-removal (UNI-PLAT)  

• Breaking Ground: The First Curative, Non-Surgical, Long-Lasting Therapy for Endometriosis  

• ARPA-H Lineage Topic  

• Rapid Comprehensive Diagnostic Test for Multi-System Autoimmune Disease  

• Virtual Human Brain for the Development of Neurosurgical Robotics  

Important dates:

• Solution summary due: July 10, 2026, 9:59 PM MT

• Technical Pitch, Cost Proposal, and Task Document due: Sep. 9, 2026, 9:59 PM MT

For more information, please visit https://arpa-h.gov/explore-funding/sbir.

Department of Education 

The Dept. of Education released its FY2026 Phase IA, Phase IB, and Direct to Phase II solicitations. 

Important Dates:

Phase IA and Phase IB close: June 29, 2026, 9:00 AM MT

Direct to Phase II closes: June 29, 2026, 12:00 PM MT 

For more information, please visit https://ies.ed.gov/funding/research/programs/small-business-innovation-research-sbir/solicitation-information. 

Department of Transportation 

The Dept. of Transportation’s (DOT) SBIR FY26 Phase I Pre-Solicitation Period is Now Open. 

The following agencies are participating: 

• Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) 

• Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) 

• Federal Transit Administration (FTA) 

• Office of the Secretary (OST) 

• Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)

Important dates:

Presolicitation period closes: May 29, 2026, 3:00 PM MT 

Tentative open date: June 3, 2026

Tentative close date: July 7, 2026

For more information, please visit: https://www.volpe.dot.gov/work-us/small-business-innovation-research/fy26-pre-solicitation-period

Utah companies interested in pursuing non-dilutive research and development funding through the federal SBIR and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs can contact the Nucleus Institute at Grow@Nucleusutah.org.