Grant Development Phases

Phase 1 - Feasibility Study

  • $100,000 maximum award
  • 6 month work performance period
  • Work explores and establishes concept feasibility and technical merit
  • 2/3 of work done by small business and completed in USA
  • 1/3 of work may be subcontracted to profit or non-profit organizations or individuals
  • Principle investigator (PI) primary employment with small business

Phase 2 - Prototype Development

  • $750,000 maximum award
  • 2 year work performance period
  • Develop prototype product or service, expand upon Phase 1 results
  • 2/3 of work done by small business and completed in USA
  • 1/3 of work may be contracted out to either profit or non-profit organizations or individuals
  • Principle investigator (PI) may be from research institution or small business
  • Only Phase 1 award winners are considered for Phase 2

Phase 3 - Commercialization

  • Not generally federal funded
  • Capitalization is responsibility of small business
  • Proposals must present a capital and commercialization plan
  • Best commercialization plan gets award if competitors of equivalent merit
  • Innovation prototype taken to market place
  • Private sector or other non-SBIR federal funding