Small Business Innovation Research Program Phase I | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program Phase I grant opportunity, offered by the US Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA), is designed to help US-owned, for-profit small businesses pursue innovative applied research and development that tackles major challenges in American agriculture. The central idea is to fund early-stage, high-potential R and D efforts that could produce meaningful public benefits if the underlying science or technology proves workable. This particular funding notice is specifically for Phase I proposals, which are meant to establish the scientific or technical feasibility of a proposed concept before larger-scale development work is undertaken.

Applicants can propose projects across a wide range of agricultural and rural topics. USDA NIFA accepts research proposals in twelve topic areas: Forests and Related Resources; Plant Production and Protection (Biology); Animal Production and Protection; Air, Water, and Soils; Food Science and Nutrition; Rural Development; Aquaculture; Biofuels and Biobased Products; Marketing and Trade; Animal Manure Management; Small and Mid-Size Farms; and Plant Production and Protection (Engineering). This breadth gives small businesses flexibility to propose solutions that span biological innovations, engineering and systems approaches, environmental and natural resource improvements, food and nutrition technologies, and business or market innovations tied to agriculture and rural economies.

The SBIR program is structured in three phases, and this opportunity concerns the first step. Phase I focuses on proving feasibility, typically over an 8-month project period. If Phase I results support moving forward, Phase II represents the main development push, often shifting work from the lab toward field testing, scale-up, or prototype development, and Phase II projects typically last 24 months. Phase III is the commercialization stage, where the business brings the innovation to market, but it is important to note that SBIR does not provide funding support for Phase III under this program structure.

From a funding standpoint, this is a discretionary grant program with an estimated total funding amount of $21,881,251 available under the notice. Individual Phase I awards are expected to fall between a floor of $70,000 and a ceiling of $100,000. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement stated for applicants, which can be significant for small businesses that need to conserve cash while validating a new technology. Eligibility is limited to small business applicants, consistent with SBIR requirements, and the program is oriented toward US-owned, for-profit firms.

Key administrative details include the funding opportunity number USDA NIFA SBIR 003240 and CFDA number 10.212 (Small Business Innovation Research). The opportunity was posted on June 21, 2010, with Phase I applications due on September 2, 2010. For applicants who have trouble accessing the full announcement electronically, NIFA directs them to contact the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 7:00 am to 5:00 pm ET, excluding federal holidays).

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