This is a “live update” post on the April 2026 SBIR/STTR Re-authorization. As new solicitations are posted this month, we will add details here, so please check back frequently. If you want some advice about how to take advantage of the reauthorized program, check out my post from a couple of months ago!
From the NSF SBIR/STTR Seedfund site as of 4/17/2026: “NSF will resume the submission of new Project Pitches to the SBIR/STTR programs in the coming weeks. Program Directors will continue to process Project Pitches that were previously received. Please direct any questions to sbir@nsf.gov.” Visit the NSF pitch page for the pitch outline and a link to the new TIPS submission portal (not available yet for SBIR pitch submission)
NIh finally announced their SBIR/STTR program re-opening on April 21, 2026 with the headline
“It’s Official: NIH’s Small Business Program Is Back”
Big news for innovators, founders, and R&D-driven small companies: NIH’s Seed Fund is back in action!
An excerpt from their email below shows that opportunities are not yet open, but the grants.gov link shows “forecasted” opportunities.
From NIH: What You Should Know
If you’ve been building toward a breakthrough, now is the moment to get organized, get registered, and get your plan in motion. We strongly encourage you to review the forecasted funding opportunities for the small business Notices of Funding Opportunities on Grants.gov. In general, forecasts are intended to help researchers prepare for potential funding opportunities, but they are informational only. The funding opportunities may take some time to be issued and begin accepting applications.
And here is the official email from the SBA Office of Investment and Innovation on 4/1/4/2026.
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Here’s what happened as we waited for reauthorization!
The morning of 4/13/26, one SBIR colleage sent out an email that outlined the final stages of the SBIR Reauthorization as follows:
S3971 WAS Officially Presented to the President on April 3, 2026!
What does this mean?
1) If the President signs it, it becomes law.
2) If the President ignores it, in 10 days (not including Sundays) it becomes law on April 15 at 12AM (midnight).
3) If the President vetoes the Bill, then it goes back to Congress, and IF BOTH Chambers approve by more than 2/3, then it becomes law.
By 4:18pm (MDT) on 4/13/26, the DoD/DoW had sent out an email highlighting 115 new open and pre-release topics available on DSIP. (See the detailed email and links lower down). Clearly DoD/DoW is ready to go!
At 6:20am (MDT) on 4/14/26, NASA emailed with this headline, “NASA SBIR/STTR Program Reauthorized | Phase I & II Updates”. We’ve included the full email including a new BAA structure, lower down.
Expect shorter deadlines for the first round or rounds of SBIR/STTR solicitations.
Some other thoughts on what we may expect to see on or after 4/15/26 and official reauthorization:
- Rapid releases and short deadlines
- S3971 makes some changes to the program many of which shouldn’t impact the writing of proposals, but may change auxiliary details!
- Each agency will have to set proposal limits starting Oct 1, 2026
- Strategic Breakthrough Awards authorized up to $30M (impact still unkown – whill awards actually be that large? Maybe only for DoD/DoW? Will some agencies choose not to implement?)
- Foreign Risk requirements are updated across all agencies – this will be new for many proposing teams but more familiar to DoD/DoW applicants. Note that this may be onerous!
- TABA program will be more flexible and include more areas of work that are permitted. (email us at venturewrenchommunity [at] gmail.com if you need a TABA support letter!)
- Focus on Phase III awards and specifying enhanced training for procurement teams (I expect DoD/DoW is the key target here) to help them to better understand the process of Phase III awards, sole source ability to SBIR/STTR Awardees, and to speed transition to market.
- Once S3971 becomes law, rollout of solicitations will vary by Agency
- Expect shorter deadlines for the first round or rounds of solicitations.
- Expect Agencies to offer official statements after Reauthorization is formalDOD/DoW – already issued! Note 1 month from Open to Close!
- NIH: no official statement except April deadline not expected. Sept. 5 is next official deadline, but watch for a deadline between now and Sept.
- DOE: Organizational changes ongoing – details TBD
- NSF: Will issue new solicitation right away, plan on July deadline
- USDA: No official statements until Reauthorization
- DHS: Still not funded for FY26 so no SBIR until that is completed
- DOT: No official statements until Reauthorization
- DOC/NIST & NOAA: No official statements until Reauthorization
- EPA: No official statements until Reauthorization
- ED: No official statements until Reauthorization
Below is the email I received (emphasis added) from the DoD/DoW announcing new open and pre-release Topics on April 13, 2026. 115 topics are listed on the DSIP site. I found the most useful links to be these:
https://www.dodsbirsttr.mil/topics-app/
https://www.dodsbirsttr.mil/submissions/
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