r/SBIR

Hi All,

Now that the SBIR program has been reauthorized, I've received a few JITs and emails from POs, but I have seen zero awards yet. My company has been waiting on a few Phase I to Phase II transition approvals as well and this also seems to be delayed. Has anyone received a NOA for an NIH SBIR in 2026 yet?! The https://www.sbir.gov/awards says "no", and I'm aware that the new foreign assessment process along with lack of personnel at the NIH is slowing this down, but I'm curious if anyone has heard anything positive yet?

The OMB is accepting comments on their plan to end all the "fraud, waste, and abuse" in science funding, by giving trump appointees the authority to decide which grants get funded. The OMB is using the same language used by trump and DOGE to destroy other federal programs.

In the current process, a panel of scientists scores the grant applications for scientific impact, societal benefit, and innovation. Only about 15% of the grant applications survive this scientific review. Detailed budgets must be presented before any money gets awarded to the best proposals, followed by strict accounting after the money is awarded.

The purpose of this OMB proposal is to replace this process with something Vought, RFK jr, and trump consider useful (that is, promoting fraud, waste, and abuse that benefits trump).

Please leave a comment at the website below to tell the OMB to let scientists continue to be gatekeepers of science in the US:

https://www.regulations.gov/document/OMB-2026-0034-0001

When budgeting for Phase 1 STTR does the company workshare % get calculated over the total spending during two year period of the grant, or do they require the company to spend 40% during each individual budget period.
Im over 40% in year one (budget period 1), less than 40% in year two, but right at 40% over the combined budget periods.
Thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge and experience. Its my first grant.

After attending a webinar last month, I was under the impression that we were FINALLY looking at a DOE SBIR Phase II NOFO release in June. Now that we're in July with no NOFO, I was wondering if anyone has any other info on when the release might happen?

I’m basically a single founder situation and trying to address an JIT of phase one, regarding book keeping and accounting. I reached out to an accountant consulting company and they quoted me for $300+ per hour to start with. Is that typical?

"Competitive for funding" email for my NIH STTR came after weeks of no PO contact requesting budget clarification. Already sent in most JIT documents especially foreign involvement. Tell me this is a good sign? Any things to watch for? Frankly I'd take a budget cut for the credibility this funding would bring to my fledgling company.

I need advice for funding, would greatly appreciate any thoughts.

Submitted an NSF STTR P1 proposal during the July window last year, was recommended in Feb, received updated admin questions and cybersecurity plan last month, radio silence since then. PO is unresponsive, our funds are running out. I'm afraid of telling my PO our startup is about to die, maybe they'll think our application is no longer worth considering?

We're running on fumes and passion (mostly passion)

My immediate thought is securing short term loans from bank and angels to be paid off as soon as the grant comes in, but if anyone has other ideas, I'd love to hear them.

We completed the CAP review and cybersecurity plan last month, but things have been quiet since then. Has anyone received a recommendation or heard any updates recently?

I'm trying to figure out if getting the notification is a good sign or not. It seems like the Army is the only one missing funding.