Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 14 002
Apply for RFA CA 14 002
- The National Institutes of Health in the education health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "SBIR Phase IIB Bridge Awards to Accelerate the Development of Cancer Therapeutics, Imaging Technologies, Interventional Devices, Diagnostics, and Prognostics toward Commercialization" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.394 Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research 93.395 Cancer Treatment Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 12, 2014 and posted on Feb 12, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 21, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $10,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Small businesses.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are not eligible to apply. Non domestic (non U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, may be allowed.
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Opportunity Summary:
The SBIR Phase IIB Bridge Awards FOA (RFA-CA-14-002) is a National Institutes of Health funding opportunity designed to help small businesses push promising, federally funded cancer-related innovations past the Phase II proof-of-concept stage and into the final, commercialization-focused development work that is often the most expensive and difficult to finance. It targets companies that have already completed an SBIR or STTR Phase II award (from NIH or any other federal agency) and now need additional support to complete the next steps required to bring a product or service to market. The central goal is to reduce the gap between successful Phase II outcomes and real-world commercial readiness by funding the kinds of late-stage, capital-intensive activities that investors and strategic partners typically expect a company to execute before broad adoption, major partnering, or significant revenue can occur.
Projects submitted under this announcement must fall into one of three cancer-focused areas. First, it supports cancer therapeutics, meaning drugs, biologics, and other treatment approaches intended to prevent, manage, or cure cancer. Second, it funds cancer imaging technologies, interventional devices, and in vivo diagnostics, which can include imaging platforms, image-guided tools, minimally invasive devices used in clinical interventions, and diagnostic technologies used within the body. Third, it supports in vitro and ex vivo cancer diagnostics and prognostics, which generally includes tests run on samples such as blood, tissue, or other specimens outside the body, as well as tools that help predict disease course, recurrence risk, treatment response, or patient outcomes. Across all three areas, the emphasis is not on early discovery science but on development work that directly moves a product toward practical use and commercialization.
A defining feature of this Phase IIB Bridge concept is that it aims to promote partnerships between prior SBIR/STTR Phase II awardees and outside capital sources such as third-party investors or strategic partners. The FOA is structured around the idea that commercialization is rarely achieved with federal funds alone at this stage; instead, it often requires a blend of non-dilutive funding plus private-sector commitment. In practice, applicants are expected to be positioned for, and actively pursuing, these kinds of external relationships to accelerate product development, de-risk the technology, and demonstrate market and adoption readiness. The program is meant to catalyze that transition by helping companies complete the final development steps that can unlock follow-on investment, licensing, acquisition interest, or early market entry.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant program under NIH, aligned with health-related research and development and associated with CFDA numbers 93.394 (Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research) and 93.395 (Cancer Treatment Research). The opportunity does not require cost sharing or matching as a formal requirement, even though the programmatic intent strongly encourages third-party participation and commercialization-focused partnerships. The estimated total funding amount listed for the FOA is $10,000,000, with an award ceiling of $1,000,000 per award, indicating that projects are intended to be substantial enough to meaningfully advance late-stage development but still scoped as targeted bridge support rather than full commercialization financing.
Eligibility is limited to small businesses. Non-U.S. entities (foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible. However, foreign components, as NIH defines them in its Grants Policy Statement, may be allowed in some cases, which typically means discrete elements of the project could occur outside the U.S. if they are well justified and meet NIH policy requirements. The key eligibility requirement is that the proposed work must represent the next stage of development for a project that was previously supported by an SBIR or STTR Phase II award from any federal agency, reinforcing that this is not an entry point for new concepts but a continuation pathway for technologies already validated through Phase II.
The FOA was posted on February 12, 2014, with an original and current closing date of April 21, 2014, and it was archived on May 22, 2014. While those dates mean this specific announcement is historical, it still reflects a common NIH approach to bridging the Phase II-to-commercialization gap in oncology through structured late-stage SBIR support, often tied to investor engagement and strategic partnering. For full official details, NIH provided an announcement link and support contacts through the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster channels.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - SBIR Phase IIB Bridge Awards (RFA-CA-14-002)
What is the SBIR Phase IIB Bridge Awards FOA (RFA-CA-14-002)?
It is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant funding opportunity intended to help small businesses advance cancer-related innovations beyond the SBIR/STTR Phase II proof-of-concept stage and into late-stage, commercialization-focused development work that is often expensive and difficult to finance.
What problem is this program designed to address?
The program aims to reduce the gap between successful Phase II outcomes and real-world commercial readiness by supporting the types of late-stage development activities that are typically expected before broad adoption, major partnering, significant revenue, licensing, or acquisition interest can occur.
Who is this funding opportunity intended for?
It targets small businesses that have already completed an SBIR or STTR Phase II award (from NIH or any other federal agency) and now need additional support to complete the next development steps required to bring a cancer-related product or service to market.
Is this opportunity for early discovery research?
No. The emphasis is not on early discovery science. It focuses on development work that directly moves a product toward practical use and commercialization after Phase II proof-of-concept.
What types of projects are eligible in terms of cancer focus areas?
Projects must fall into one of three cancer-focused areas: (1) cancer therapeutics, (2) cancer imaging technologies, interventional devices, and in vivo diagnostics, or (3) in vitro and ex vivo cancer diagnostics and prognostics.
What is included under the cancer therapeutics area?
Cancer therapeutics include drugs, biologics, and other treatment approaches intended to prevent, manage, or cure cancer.
What is included under cancer imaging technologies, interventional devices, and in vivo diagnostics?
This area can include imaging platforms, image-guided tools, minimally invasive devices used in clinical interventions, and diagnostic technologies used within the body (in vivo).
What is included under in vitro and ex vivo cancer diagnostics and prognostics?
This area generally includes tests run on specimens such as blood, tissue, or other samples outside the body, as well as tools that help predict disease course, recurrence risk, treatment response, or patient outcomes.
What stage of development is this funding meant to support?
It is meant to support the next stage after SBIR/STTR Phase II, specifically the final, commercialization-focused development work that helps move a validated technology toward market entry and adoption.
Does the program encourage outside investment or strategic partnerships?
Yes. A defining feature of the Phase IIB Bridge concept is to promote partnerships between prior SBIR/STTR Phase II awardees and outside capital sources such as third-party investors or strategic partners.
Why does the FOA emphasize third-party participation?
The FOA is structured around the idea that commercialization at this stage is rarely achieved with federal funds alone, and that a blend of non-dilutive funding plus private-sector commitment can accelerate development, reduce risk, and demonstrate market and adoption readiness.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity does not require cost sharing or matching as a formal requirement, even though the programmatic intent strongly encourages third-party participation and commercialization-focused partnerships.
What is the estimated total funding amount for this FOA?
The estimated total funding amount listed is $10,000,000.
What is the maximum award amount per award?
The award ceiling is $1,000,000 per award.
What does the award ceiling imply about the intended scope?
It indicates projects are intended to be substantial enough to meaningfully advance late-stage development, while still serving as targeted bridge support rather than full commercialization financing.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to small businesses, and the proposed work must represent the next stage of development for a project previously supported by an SBIR or STTR Phase II award from any federal agency.
Are non-U.S. entities eligible to apply?
No. Non-U.S. entities (foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply.
Are non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations eligible?
No. Non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible.
Are any foreign components allowed at all?
Foreign components, as NIH defines them in its Grants Policy Statement, may be allowed in some cases. This typically means discrete elements of the project could occur outside the U.S. if well justified and consistent with NIH policy requirements.
Does the Phase II award have to be from NIH?
No. The FOA targets companies that have completed an SBIR or STTR Phase II award from NIH or any other federal agency.
What is the central goal of the Phase IIB Bridge Awards?
The central goal is to help companies bridge from Phase II success to commercial readiness by funding late-stage, capital-intensive development work and encouraging investor or strategic partner engagement.
How does this program relate to commercialization outcomes?
The program is intended to help companies complete final development steps that can unlock follow-on investment, licensing opportunities, acquisition interest, or early market entry.
What CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
This FOA is associated with CFDA 93.394 (Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research) and 93.395 (Cancer Treatment Research).
When was this FOA posted and when did it close?
The FOA was posted on February 12, 2014. The original and current closing date listed was April 21, 2014.
Is this funding opportunity still active?
No. It was archived on May 22, 2014, and the dates indicate this specific announcement is historical.
Where were applicants directed for official details and support?
NIH provided an announcement link and support contacts through the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster channels.
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