FAQ

Eligibility for a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant hinges on meeting several criteria primarily related to the structure and ownership of your business. Generally, to be eligible for an SBIR grant, your company must be an organized as a for-profit entity located in the United States. Furthermore, the business must have fewer than 500 employees, including affiliates. The Principal Investigator (PI) must be primarily employed by the small business at the time of award and for the duration of the project. Specific agencies may have additional eligibility requirements, so it's crucial to carefully review the solicitation guidelines of the agency you are targeting.

For a more thorough comparison between SBIR and STTR programs from a BHGC perspective, check out our post SBIR vs. STTR.

Eligibility for Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant shares some similarities with SBIR eligibility but has a key distinction regarding research partnerships. Your company must be an organized for-profit entity located in the United States with fewer than 500 employees. However, STTR requires a formal collaboration between the small business and a non-profit research institution, such as a university. The small business must perform at least 40% of the research, and the non-profit research institution must perform at least 30%. The Principal Investigator (PI) can be primarily employed by either the small business or the collaborating non-profit research institution. Again, always consult the specific solicitation for any agency-specific eligibility criteria.

For a more thorough comparison between SBIR and STTR programs from a BHGC perspective, check out our post SBIR vs. STTR. We are also a TABA service provider. Learn more about TABA below.

The NIH SBIR/STTR programs fund high-risk, high-reward research focused on innovative technologies with significant commercial potential. Ideal projects use scientific breakthroughs to generate a product that aligns with the mission of a specific NIH Institute or Center. Ultimately, funded research should advance healthcare quality through impactful ingenuity. Explore NIH Institute and Center priorities to see if your innovation fits. Get a sense of why significance is so important to us in our Reviewer Mindset: Significance post.

Omnibus Solicitation: National Institutes of Health (NIH) primarily uses the term "omnibus" to refer to its broad, parent solicitations that accept applications across a wide range of research topics within the agency's mission. These omnibus solicitations are typically released once a year and provide a general funding opportunity for investigator-initiated projects that align with NIH's overall goals.

Non-omnibus Solicitations: These are typically focused on specific scientific areas, program priorities, or initiatives identified by a particular Institute or Center (IC) within NIH. These solicitations, often referred to as "targeted" or "specific topic" solicitations, will outline particular research objectives and may have specific eligibility criteria or review considerations beyond those of the omnibus solicitations. If your project aligns with a specific area of interest highlighted in a non-omnibus solicitation, it's often advantageous to apply under that mechanism.

You can explore non-omnibus solicitations in our post Finding “Specialized” and “Off-Cycle” Funding. If you are a Phase II client, we will be actively look to determine if you qualify for follow-on SBIR funding such as Phase IIB and CRO.

Already completing your Phase II, Phase IIB, or CRP project? We are actively developing a network of private investors and other potential collaborators to increase the likelihood that we can connect your company with the resources it needs to complete commercialization of your product or service.

The need for clinical trials in your SBIR/STTR project depends entirely on the nature of your research and proposed product or service. A clinical trial typically involves an experimental group and a control group to evaluate the safety and efficacy of an intervention (e.g., a drug, device, or behavioral therapy) in human subjects.

To be prepared to submit an SBIR/STTR grant application you will generally need to obtain several registrations. These registrations ensure your organization is properly identified and can receive federal funding. Key registrations include:

• You will need a Unique Entity ID (UEI) assigned by System for Award Management (SAM.gov). 

• eRA Commons Registration: For NIH and other Health and Human Services (HHS) agencies, the Principal Investigator (PI) and potentially other key personnel will need an eRA Commons account. This is the online interface used for grant application submission, tracking, and management. Your small business will also need to be registered in the eRA Commons. 

• Grants.gov Registration: While NIH applications are submitted through ASSIST (within eRA Commons), Grants.gov is the central portal for finding and applying for federal grants across all agencies. You'll likely need to register your organization on Grants.gov as well.

• SBIR.gov Registration: This registration is required to obtain the SBC code that is required to submit the application.

Scoring criteria are the specific factors that reviewers will use to evaluate the merit of your SBIR/STTR grant application. These criteria are typically outlined in the funding opportunity announcement and are designed to assess the overall impact, significance, innovation, approach, environment, and team involved in your proposed project. While the specific criteria may vary slightly between agencies and solicitations, common elements often include significance, innovation, investigator(s), approach, and environment. 

Take a deeper dive in our Understanding Scored SBIR/STTR Criteria post.

If your SBIR/STTR grant is approved, you'll receive an official Notice of Award (NoA). It takes on average between 6-12 months to receive a NoA from the submission date. This can vary based on numerous factors.

Phase I: Typically, 6-12 months of funding to explore the feasibility of a technology.

Phase II: Typically, 2 years of funding to further develop and validate the technology.  

Explore your options in further depth in our Where to Start post

A successful SBIR/STTR application hinges on a compelling idea that addresses a significant need and demonstrates commercial potential. The specific aims must clearly articulate the project's objectives and expected outcomes. A well-developed research strategy is crucial. The investigators section should highlight the qualifications and experience of the key personnel and their suitability for the project. A realistic and well-justified budget demonstrates responsible resource management. Finally, a strong commercialization plan outlines a clear pathway to market.

BHGC has curated a variety of valuable resource links on our website:

• Useful SBIR/STTR Link

• SBIR/STTR Program Links

• State Resources