DOT SBIR Phase I

DOT SBIR Phase I sits under the U.S. Department of Transportation and is aimed at early transportation, mobility, and safety technologies. The record places typical awards between $100,000 and $200,000, with a median around $150,000, and the program runs on an annual cycle. It is limited to U.S.-incorporated for-profit firms, excludes nonprofits and individuals, and starts at a low technology readiness level, roughly TRL 2 through 4. The record also says projects cannot be double-funded and sets a 50 percent citizenship threshold at the founder level. The strongest fit is a small business that can frame a transport problem clearly and keep the proposal inside an early-stage development window, rather than a general-purpose research pitch. The broader DOT umbrella also runs through several modal administrators, including FAA, FHWA, FRA, FTA, and NHTSA, so applicants should align with the right office and timeline. That makes the application strongest when the match to a modal office is explicit.

No upcoming rounds verified. Cadence: Annual.