U.S. DOT SBIR Phase I
Funds U.S. small businesses testing the feasibility of transportation R&D innovations for DOT mission needs.
The U.S. Department of Transportation administers SBIR Phase I as the feasibility stage of its Small Business Innovation Research program, a federal non-dilutive R&D contract mechanism for small businesses. The FY26 Phase I solicitation is open from June 3, 2026 through July 7, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. ET.
Phase I supports feasibility-related experimental, theoretical, or R&D work on specified DOT resea…
Transportation research and development topics published in the U.S. DOT FY26 SBIR Phase I solicitation, including technologies relevant to DOT operating administrations and commercialization of transportation innovations.
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Guides for this application
All guides →SBIR/STTR Grants for Deeptech Startups
A practical guide to SBIR and STTR grants for deeptech startups, including agency fit, Phase I and II logic, eligibility, budgets, and review criteria.
Where to applyGrants for Robotics Startups: SBIR, Defense, NSF, and Pilot Funding
A practical guide to grants for robotics startups, including SBIR/STTR, NSF, DoD, NASA, field validation, TRL, pilot evidence, budgets, and commercialization strategy.
DocumentsGrant Work Plan Template: Work Packages, Gantt, Milestones, and Risks
Use this grant work plan template to structure work packages, tasks, owners, deliverables, Gantt timing, dependencies, and risk registers.
Start hereCommercialization Plan for SBIR and Deeptech Grants
Learn how to write a commercialization plan for SBIR and deeptech grants, with market, IP, regulatory, customer, milestone, and funding sections.
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