Links & Resources By Agency
This Library is a listing by agency of solicitations and videos to help you to get the information easily and efficiently. It is not an exhaustive list.
General SBIR/STTR Resources
Readiness Levels and Assessments
Understanding Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs)
Technology Readiness Level (TRL) is a framework originally developed by NASA in the 1970s to measure how close a technology is to being ready for real-world use. Today, it’s a common standard across federal agencies — including the Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Energy (DOE), and National Institutes of Health (NIH) — to evaluate technology maturity.
For innovators and small businesses, understanding your TRL is key. It helps you assess where your technology stands in the development process, communicate progress clearly to investors and funding agencies, and identify the most appropriate funding and partnership opportunities. TRLs also provide a shared language for discussing technology development. They help teams manage technical risk, determine next steps in R&D, and make informed decisions about when to transition toward commercialization.
Commonly used technology and commercialization assessments:
- Technology Readiness Levels (TRL)
- Manufacturing Readiness Levels
- Adoption Readiness Levels (ARL)
- Commercial Adoption Readiness Assessment Tool (CARAT) - Used by the Department of Energy
- Market Readiness Levels: https://www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/technology-market
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Department of Defense (DOD) Resources
Department of Defense (DOD)
Website: https://www.defense.gov/Overview: The DOD invests in innovative technologies to enhance national security. Its SBIR/STTR programs support small businesses developing defense-related solutions.
Funding Focus Areas: Defense technology, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, medical technologies.
For Full Topic Listings: https://www.dodsbirsttr.mil/topics-app
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DOD | Navy
Although the Navy's SBIR and STTR programs are a component of the overall Department of Defense (DoD) SBIR/STTR program, the Navy's program is targeted at addressing the needs and areas of interest to the Navy and its System Commands (SYSCOMS).
On a schedule coordinated by DoD, the Navy issues SBIR Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs) or "announcements" (formerly called solicitations), usually 3 per year, that contain a series of "Technical Topics" that describe the areas of interest and needs of the Navy and its SYSCOMS. Small businesses are invited to submit proposals targeted at one or more of the technical topics listed in the announcement. The STTR program works in the same manner, but has only 2 announcements per year.
Videos
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DOD | Army | xTech
Connecting small businesses with the U.S. Army to spur innovation.
The xTech Program manages the Army’s prize competitions to award and accelerate innovative technology solutions that can help solve Army challenges.
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Department of Health and Human Services (NIH, FDA, and CDC) Resources
Department of Energy (DOE) Resources
Department of Energy (DOE) SBIR/STTR Applicant Resources
Collection of applicant resources for DOE, including information about the DOE SBIR Online Learning Center, Phase 0 Applicant Assistance, preparing and submitting a Phase I Letter of Intent, and quick links to relevant application systems.
Department of Commerce (DOC) Resources
Department of Transportation (DOT) Resources
Department of Education (ED) Resources
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Resources
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Department of Homeland Security: DHS SBIR
https://oip.dhs.gov/sbir/public
Funds innovation supporting: Borders and Maritime Security, Chemical and Biological Defense, Critical Infrastructure and Resilience, Cybersecurity, Explosives Detection and Aviation Screening, First Responders, and more.
The DHS SBIR Program issues an annual solicitation with topics that cover DHS mission areas for which proposals are sought. Topics for solicitations are solicited by S&T and and address the needs of DHS Operational Components including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and U.S. Secret Service—as well as first responders. As such, the solicitations typically consist of topics relevant to the following organization focus areas:
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Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Resources
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Resources
NASA SBIR/STTR
National Aeronautics and Space Administration: NASA SBIR/STTR
Overview: NASA explores space and aeronautics, seeking innovative technologies to support its missions.
Funding Focus Areas: Aerospace, robotics, space technology.
Seventeen (17) technology areas, including:
- Propulsion Systems,
- Flight Computing and Avionics,
- Aerospace Power and Energy Storage,
- Robotic Systems,
- Communications,
- Navigation, and
- Orbital Debris Tracking/Characterization Systems.
The 2025 NASA SBIR Ignite Phase I Solicitation is scheduled to open in Summer 2025.
SBIR Ignite is a pilot initiative for high-growth, product-oriented entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses to use NASA as a stepping stone in their path towards commercial success. SBIR Ignite funds U.S. small businesses in their early-stage, high-risk technology development to help make them and their technologies more attractive to private sector investors, customers, and partners.
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NASA SBIR/STTR Sample Proposal and Contract Deliverables
The NASA SBIR/STTR Firm Library contains templates and samples of all potential proposal and contract deliverables for Phase I and Phase II. This library should be utilized by the Firms to aid in the preparation of their deliverables. Firms must submit their deliverables via the Electronic Handbooks (EHBs).
National Science Foundation (NSF) Resources