Federal Funding · Reference

SBIR/STTR Agency Calendar

All eleven federal agencies run their own SBIR/STTR schedule — their own topics, portal, and deadlines. This is a plain-language reference to each agency's recurring annual pattern, with the current 2026 status where it is known, and a link to the official portal. For live opportunities and news, see Fed Funding News.

Updated July 29, 2026 · confirm current dates on the agency portal before acting

2026 is not a normal year

SBIR/STTR authorization lapsed on October 1, 2025 and was reauthorized through 2031 by S. 3971, signed April 13, 2026. Agencies are republishing solicitations on compressed, shifting timelines, so this year's windows do not match the usual calendar. The typical window below is the normal recurring pattern; the current note reflects the latest known 2026 status. Always verify on the agency portal or SBIR.gov.

Agency	Programs	Typical window & current status	Portal
Defense — DoDArmy, Navy, Air Force/AFWERX, Space Force, DARPA, MDA & others	SBIR + STTR	About three release cycles a year (26.1, 26.2, 26.3), plus a growing share of open-topic / CSO awards on a rolling basis.Now: FY26 Release 2 topics closing on staggered dates through Jul–Oct 2026.	dodsbirsttr.mil
Health & Human ServicesNIH, CDC, FDA — the largest SBIR funder	SBIR + STTR	Standing "Parent/Omnibus" solicitations with three standard receipt dates a year, historically ~Jan 5, Apr 5, and Sep 5.Now: FY26 solicitations open; next standard deadline Sep 8, 2026. ARPA-H runs its own separate SBIR/STTR.	sbir.nih.gov
Energy — DOEOffice of Science SBIR/STTR	SBIR + STTR	Two topic releases a year (Release 1 ~fall, Release 2 ~winter).Now: program restructuring; a select Phase II opportunity is expected summer 2026. DOE program offices also issue separate NOFOs — see Fed Funding News.	science.osti.gov/sbir
National Science Foundation"America's Seed Fund"	SBIR + STTR	A short Project Pitch on a rolling basis; if invited, a full proposal in periodic submission windows.Now: FY26 windows resuming through mid-2026.	seedfund.nsf.gov
NASA	SBIR + STTR	A Broad Agency Announcement with phased "appendix" topic releases spread across the year.Now: FY26–27 BAA is active and valid through Sep 30, 2027; watch for appendix releases.	sbir.nasa.gov
Agriculture — USDANational Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)	SBIR only	A single annual solicitation; the Phase I request has typically opened ~July and closed ~early October. Phase I awards ~$175K.Now: FY26 timing compressed; sign up for Grants.gov alerts.	nifa.usda.gov
Homeland Security — DHSScience & Technology Directorate	SBIR only	One annual cycle — pre-release ~November, opens ~December, closes ~late January.Now: FY26 cycle disrupted by the lapse; no new date confirmed yet.	dhs.gov/science-and-technology/sbir
Commerce — NIST & NOAA	SBIR only	NIST: one Phase I deadline ~December, Phase II ~June. NOAA: one annual deadline ~Jan/Feb.Now: NOAA has no FY26 solicitation — FY27 expected after Oct 1, 2026. NIST FY26 date not yet confirmed.	nist.gov (SBIR) · NOAA
Education — EDInstitute of Education Sciences (IES)	SBIR only	One annual solicitation, historically with ~Feb/Mar deadlines.Now: FY26 Phase IA, IB, and Direct-to-Phase II closed June 29, 2026.	ies.ed.gov/sbir
Transportation — DOT	SBIR only	One cycle a year, historically opening ~February and closing ~March. Phase II is invitation-only, ~6 months after Phase I.Now: FY26 Phase I closed July 9, 2026.	transportation.gov/sbir
Environmental Protection Agency	SBIR only	One annual solicitation with variable timing; recent deadlines have fallen ~late July. Awarded as SBIR contracts.Now: FY26 timing not yet confirmed.	epa.gov/sbir

How to use this. Five agencies run STTR alongside SBIR — DoD, HHS, DOE, NASA, and NSF; the other six are SBIR only. Portal links go to each agency's official SBIR page. The master indexes for every open solicitation are SBIR.gov and Grants.gov — start there if an agency link has moved. Windows are recurring patterns, not fixed dates; the reauthorization means 2026 is shifting week to week, so confirm before you build.

Not sure which agency fits your technology?

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Reference only — informational, not advice. Compiled from public agency and SBIR.gov information as of the date shown. Agency schedules change, especially during the 2026 post-reauthorization restart; always confirm the current solicitation, deadline, and eligibility on the official agency portal before acting. External links open the official source and are not endorsements.