The EPA SBIR 2026 Phase I Solicitation is officially open as of September 24, 2026, and will close on November 8, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET. EPA is accepting proposals from small businesses for Phase I SBIR awards of up to $100,000 that demonstrate proof of concept for specific topics under the broad focus areas of clean and safe water, air quality, circular economy/sustainable materials, and safer chemicals. Successful Phase I awardees are eligible to receive Phase II funding, up to $400,000 for two years, through an additional application process.
Enviromental Protection Agency (EPA) Opens 2026 SBIR Phase I Solicitation
Required Registrations
Applicants must complete and maintain an active SAM.gov registration. SAM.gov assigns the company’s Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), and the registration must allow federal contract awards. Select “All Awards” when registering.
The SBA Company Registry provides the SBC Control ID required with the proposal. FedConnect is EPA’s proposal submission platform. EPA advises allowing six to eight weeks for the registration process, so applicants should begin as early as possible.
Key Dates
- Solicitation opened: September 24, 2026
- Proposal deadline: November 8, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time / 10:59 p.m. Central Time
- Estimated Phase I project start: February 2027, according to EPA’s informational webinar
Phase I Funding
EPA reported a 16% funding rate for its previous 2025 Phase I cycle. This historical rate does not predict the outcome of the current solicitation.
- Maximum Phase I award: Up to $100,000
- Period of performance: Six months
- Award type: Firm-fixed-price contract
- Purpose: Establish technical feasibility, demonstrate proof of concept, and assess commercial potential
Additional Funding
EPA allows up to $6,500 in Technical and Business Assistance (TABA) funding, separate from the Phase I award. Applicants must address the applicable requirements; this support is not automatically guaranteed.
- Up to an additional $6,500, separate from the SBIR award.
- Support for market analysis, intellectual property strategy, marketing, and commercialization planning.
- May also be used for I-Corps fees, hiring new staff, augmenting staff, or directing staff to conduct or participate in training activities.
- Applicants requesting TABA must include a detailed description of proposed activities and a TABA budget in their Phase I proposal.
Topic Areas
Proposals must respond to a specific solicitation topic. The 2026 topics include:
Clean and Safe Water
- 1A: Monitoring Technologies for Water Reuse
- 1B: Treatment of PFAS in Wastewater Sewage Sludge and Biosolids
- 1C: Technologies for the Removal and/or Destruction of PFAS in Groundwater
Air Quality
- 2A: Sensors to Detect PFAS in Environmental Matrices
- 2B: Advancing Technologies to Monitor Carbon Monoxide
Circular Economy/Sustainable Materials
- 3A: Innovative Technologies to Prevent and Recycle Food Waste
- 3B: Critical Mineral Recovery from Lithium-Ion Batteries and Safe Recycling/Reuse of Batteries
- 3C: Technologies that Mitigate the Impacts of Critical Mineral Mining or Extract Critical Minerals from Acid Mine Drainage
Safer Chemicals
- 4A: Rubber Anti-Degradants That Are Lower Concern for Human Health and the Environment
- 4B: Improved Lead Test Kits
Topic selection note: Sensors to detect PFAS in water fall under Topic 2A.
Webinar
EPA held its informational webinar on September 16, 2026. The recording, presentation slides, and written questions and answers are available on the EPA webinar resources page.
Other Notes
- One proposal per company: EPA’s webinar Q&A states that each small business may submit one proposal per solicitation.
- Commercialization matters: Technical merit, topic relevance, and commercialization each account for one-third of the overall evaluation score.
- Foreign-risk requirements: EPA’s webinar identifies foreign-affiliation disclosures for companies selected for award and cybersecurity education for awardees.
- Submission: Proposals must be submitted through FedConnect’s response function.
Before Preparing a Proposal
Prospective applicants should:
- Review the requirements: Read the full solicitation, Amendment 1, and the latest proposal instructions for solicitation number 68HERW26R0102. Confirm small business eligibility and review the foreign-affiliation disclosure and cybersecurity requirements.
- Confirm topic fit: Identify the specific topic that best matches the technology and its intended environmental benefit.
- Check registrations: Complete all required registrations and verify that SAM.gov remains active.
- Define the research: Identify the technical uncertainty Phase I will resolve, the preliminary evidence supporting the approach, and measurable objectives achievable within six months and the $100,000 budget.
- Support the commercial opportunity: Gather evidence of customer demand and explain how the technology could reach the market.
- Verify completeness: Use the solicitation checklist to confirm that all required proposal elements are included before submitting.
Minnesota-based small businesses seeking assistance with SBIR/STTR readiness and proposal development may begin with the MNSBIR Start Your Journey page.
Official Resources
- Solicitation, Amendments, and Proposal Instructions — FedConnect
- EPA: How to Apply for an SBIR Contract
- EPA SBIR Funding Opportunities
- 2026 Informational Webinar Recording, Slides, and Q&A
- Sign Up for EPA SBIR Email Alerts
The solicitation and its amendments govern all application requirements.