Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program Phase I

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) invites small businesses to submit Phase I research applications under this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Science and technology-based firms with strong research capabilities in any of the areas listed in Section 9 of this NOFO are encouraged to participate. Applications must sufficiently identify and clearly address a specific NIST technical program area that falls within one of the research areas described in Section 9 (see Section 3.02.02(1)) or a NIST-patented technology available for licensing.   

Only FY 2019 Phase I applications may be submitted in response to this NOFO. Phase II applications are not being accepted at this time. NIST publishes a Phase II NOFO approximately 30 days prior to the end of the previous year’s Phase I period of performance to request Phase II applications. That NOFO provides instructions for Phase I awardees to prepare a Phase II application and the closing date for submission of applications; only the previous year’s Phase I awardees are eligible to submit a Phase II application.

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program was originally established in 1982 by the Small Business Innovation Development Act (P.L. 97-219), codified at 15 U.S.C. § 638. It was then expanded and extended by the Small Business Research and Development (R&D) Enhancement Act of 1992 (P.L. 102-564), and received subsequent reauthorization and extensions, the most recent of which extends the SBIR program through 2022. (P.L. 114-328).

Eleven Federal agencies implement SBIR by setting aside a portion of their extramural research and development budget each year to fund research applications from small science and technology-based firms. The statutory purpose of the SBIR Program is to strengthen the role of innovative small business concerns (SBCs) in Federally-funded research or research and development (R/R&D). Specific program goals are to:
(1) stimulate technological innovation; (2) use small business to meet Federal R/R&D needs; (3) foster and encourage participation by socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses and by women-owned small businesses in technological innovation; and (4) increase private sector commercialization of innovations derived from Federal R/R&D, thereby increasing competition, productivity, and economic growth.

The NIST FY 2019 SBIR program identifies and solicits applications in topics that fall within NIST’s mission and allow collaboration between NIST scientists and the SBIR awardees whenever possible.