About this programme
The Federal Funding Assistance Program (FFAP) is run by the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC), which is Virginia's lead organization for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) support. FFAP identifies and accelerates opportunities for Virginia's small technology businesses to win these competitively-awarded, three-phase federal programs, which are designed to stimulate technological innovation and fund early-stage R&D that is often too risky for traditional venture capital.
VIPC provides guidance, direction, training and other resources to strengthen the competitiveness of a company's SBIR/STTR proposal strategy. Virginia's SBIR/STTR performance is strong: the state is consistently ranked 3rd in the country in SBIR/STTR funding, at roughly $130 million per year, out of more than $2.5 billion available nationally through these programs.
How it works
SBIR/STTR are federal, not VIPC, award programs. Phase I awards run $100K-$225K for a 6-month SBIR or 12-month STTR project. Phase II awards go up to $750K for a 2-year project, and a company must complete Phase I before it can submit a Phase II proposal.
VIPC's own support includes low-cost training workshops held 6-8 times a year across Virginia's regions (training more than 300 companies and researchers annually), SBIR strategy consultation and mentoring, discounts with proposal consultants and proposal-preparation software, free referrals for IP and patent consultation, funding assistance for qualified first-time Phase I or Phase II applicants, and help building a commercialization plan.
Nationally, more than half of all Phase I awards go to companies that have never won before, about one in nine Phase I proposals get funded, and almost half of Phase II proposals are funded.
Who can apply
Applicant must be an organized, for-profit U.S. business with 500 or fewer employees, at least 51% U.S.-owned, and independently operated.
The Primary Investigator's primary employment must be with the small business during the project, and all project work must be completed in the United States.
Eligibility is determined at the time of award, not at the time of submission.
How to apply
- Identify relevant R&D topics in federal agency solicitations, which open and close at different times throughout the year.
- Prepare a proposal, typically around 20 pages, following the specific agency's format and instructions.
- Submit the proposal to the agency for evaluation.
- Await the Phase I award decision.
- If successful in Phase I, complete that project, then submit a Phase II proposal.
Frequently asked
How much funding can I get through SBIR/STTR?
Phase I awards run $100K to $225K for a 6-month SBIR or 12-month STTR project. Phase II awards go up to $750K for a 2-year project, and require completing Phase I first.
Does VIPC give me the SBIR/STTR money directly?
No, SBIR and STTR are federal award programs; VIPC provides guidance, training, proposal support and, for qualified first-time applicants, funding assistance to strengthen your proposal.
How do I find open solicitations?
Search www.sbir.gov by keyword, or contact Virginia's Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTAC), which offer a daily solicitation search service.
What are my odds of winning?
About one in nine Phase I proposals are funded nationally, and more than half of all Phase I awards go to companies that have never won an award before. Almost half of Phase II proposals are funded.
Who do I contact at VIPC?
Robert Brooke, Director of Federal Funding Programs, at Robert.brooke@VirginiaIPC.org or 703-689-3080, based at VIPC's Herndon, Virginia office.
More funding in Virginia
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Virginia Venture Partners (Pre-Seed & Seed Funds)
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Virginia's state-backed venture arm invests directly in Virginia tech, life-science and cleantech companies from pre-seed through Series A.
All 9 programmes in Virginia →
Reviewed 2026-09-25. Programmes change, so check eligibility, amounts and deadlines on the official page before you apply. CapEasy is a private firm and is not part of any government body.