About this programme
NOAA's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program is run by the agency's Technology Partnerships Office (TPO) and invests federal research funds in American small businesses to develop and commercialize technology relevant to NOAA's mission. It sits inside the government-wide SBIR/STTR framework that Congress requires federal agencies with large extramural R&D budgets to run.
The program's stated goals are to stimulate technological innovation in the private sector, strengthen the role of small business in meeting federal R&D needs, foster participation by disadvantaged and women-owned businesses, and increase the commercialization of innovations that come out of federally funded research.
Awards are non-dilutive: the business keeps its intellectual property and does not give up equity or repay the funds. NOAA structures the program in three phases — Phase I feasibility, Phase II development, and Phase III private-sector commercialization without further SBIR funding.
How it works
Phase I awards fund up to $190,000 over up to 6 months to establish the technical merit, feasibility, and commercial potential of the proposed technology.
Phase II awards fund up to $690,000 over up to 24 months, and are open only to businesses that completed a Phase I award — the money goes toward continued R&D that moves the Phase I result toward commercialization.
Phase III involves no SBIR funding. The business pursues private-sector capital or non-SBIR federal contracts to commercialize the technology; NOAA notes this stage can include sole-source acquisition opportunities across the 11 federal agencies that run SBIR programs.
The annual funding opportunity is published as a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and proposals are submitted through Grants.gov, not through the NOAA website directly.
Who can apply
The applicant must be an American-owned, independently operated, for-profit small business with 500 or fewer employees including affiliates.
The Principal Investigator must be employed by the applying small business at least 51% of the time — this cannot be an academic or outside researcher leading the work.
The small business must perform at least two-thirds of the Phase I work itself, and at least half of the Phase II work itself, rather than subcontracting it out. All work must be carried out in the United States.
How to apply
- Watch for the annual NOFO from NOAA's Technology Partnerships Office, which sets that cycle's topics, deadline, and any changes to forms.
- Confirm your company meets the size, ownership, and PI-employment eligibility rules before drafting a proposal.
- Register on SAM.gov and Grants.gov (proposals are submitted through Grants.gov, not the NOAA site) with enough lead time, since federal registrations can take days to clear.
- Assemble the required forms: the Phase I (or Phase II) cover page for that fiscal year, the Research & Related Personal Data form, the Disclosure of Foreign Affiliations form, and complete the mandatory Fraud, Waste, and Abuse (FWA) training and certificate.
- Write the proposal against the current cycle's topic areas and NOAA's evaluation criteria, then submit through Grants.gov before the NOFO deadline.
Documents you’ll typically need
- Phase I or Phase II cover page (fiscal-year-specific version, published with the NOFO)
- Research & Related Personal Data form
- Disclosure of Foreign Affiliations form
- Completed application checklist (separate checklists exist for Phase I and Phase II)
- Fraud, Waste, and Abuse (FWA) training certificate — mandatory before submission
Frequently asked
How much can a NOAA SBIR award be worth?
Phase I awards go up to $190,000 for up to a 6-month period of performance. Phase II awards go up to $690,000 for up to 24 months, and are only available to businesses that already hold a Phase I award.
Do I have to give up equity or repay the award?
No. SBIR funding is non-dilutive federal research funding — the small business keeps its intellectual property and does not repay the award or give up equity.
Can I apply for Phase II without a Phase I award?
No. NOAA's Phase II is a continuation award open only to small businesses that completed a Phase I award; it funds further R&D on the Phase I result toward commercialization.
Who can lead the project as Principal Investigator?
NOAA requires the Principal Investigator to be employed by the applying small business at least 51% of the time. An outside academic or contract researcher cannot serve as PI.
Can I subcontract most of the R&D work to a university or contractor?
Not the majority of it. The applicant small business must perform at least two-thirds of the Phase I work and at least half of the Phase II work itself, and all work must be done in the United States.
Where do I submit a NOAA SBIR proposal?
Through Grants.gov, in response to that year's Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) published by NOAA's Technology Partnerships Office — not through the NOAA website itself.
How are proposals evaluated?
NOAA scores proposals on four factors: scientific merit and technical approach (40 points), level of innovation to the topic area (20 points), commercial and societal impact potential (20 points), and personnel qualifications plus facility availability (20 points). Geographic/institutional diversity and past performance can be secondary factors.
What kind of technology areas does NOAA fund?
NOAA states its SBIR program seeks highly innovative products with strong commercial potential, and that every proposal must relate to NOAA's mission and have commercial applications beyond NOAA. Specific topic areas are set fresh in each fiscal year's NOFO — check the current NOFO for the exact list, since topics change year to year.
Reviewed 2026-08-16. Programmes change — confirm current eligibility, amounts and deadlines on the official page before you apply. CapEasy is a private consultancy and is not affiliated with any government authority.