NOAA SBIR Phase I

NOAA SBIR Phase I sits under NOAA Technology Partnerships Office and funds small U.S. businesses building technologies tied to NOAA mission areas. Awards go up to $190,000 for as long as six months, and the program is built around proof of technical feasibility rather than full commercialization. The portfolio is narrow and mission-led: citizen science, data, cloud computing, uncrewed systems, artificial intelligence, and omics. Annual solicitations run through Grants.gov, women-led and disadvantaged businesses receive bonus consideration, and as of May 2026 the FY2025 NOFO was closed while the next notice was still pending. The best proposals are small, focused, and tied to NOAA's operational needs. Applicants need to show clear commercial potential and technical merit, then keep the project inside the six-month, early-stage window. NOAA does not run an STTR track, so Phase I is the main entry point for new small-business teams. The route remains open only to U.S. small businesses with a credible early-stage concept.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.