NASA SBIR Phase I

NASA SBIR Phase II

Funds U.S. small businesses developing and demonstrating technology innovations that advance NASA missions, following a successful Phase I feasibility award.

⚠ This may reflect a past cycle — verify the current call on the funder's site.

NASA SBIR Phase II is a contract-based R&D award administered by NASA's Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) program, operating under the federal SBIR program mandate. Phase II is focused on the development, demonstration, and delivery of a technology innovation. Awards are made to small businesses (and their research institution partners in STTR) who successfully demonstrated the feasibility of their technology idea during Phase I. The SBIR Phase II award is up to $1,275,000; STTR Phase II awards have a separate, lower ceiling. Performance periods are typically 24 months. NASA takes no equity and asserts no IP ownership over the company's technology.

Only small businesses that were awarded a Phase I are eligible to apply for Phase II. Applicants must be U.S.-based for-profit small businesses with fewer than 500 employees. For STTR Phase II, the small business must partner with a U.S. research institution. The principal investigator must be primarily employed by the small business at the time of award. All R&D work must be performed in the United States.

Phase II proposals are submitted in response to a NASA solicitation, typically released annually. Proposals are evaluated by NASA technical reviewers on scientific and technical merit, commercial potential, and the qualifications of the team. The 2025 SBIR Phase II solicitation closed May 15, 2026; no upcoming solicitation deadline is currently published. The program runs annually, so a new solicitation is expected, but the exact opening date is not yet stated.

Practical caveats: Phase II is only available to companies that received and completed (or are completing) a Phase I award — there is no direct Phase II entry. STTR Phase II requires a formal research institution partner with a specific allocation of work. Budget for TABA (Technical and Business Assistance) services is available within the award. Companies owned by VCs, hedge funds, or PE firms face the same SBA small business eligibility scrutiny that applies to all federal SBIR programs.