Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA SBIR 005455
Apply for USDA NIFA SBIR 005455
- The USDA-NIFA in the agriculture, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Small Business Innovation Research Program Phase II Fiscal Year 2016" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.212.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 10, 2015 and posted on Nov 10, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 25, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program Phase II Fiscal Year 2016 opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number: USDA NIFA SBIR 005455) was a discretionary grant competition run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA). It supported research and development under the broad areas of agriculture, science and technology, and other R&D, and it was listed under CFDA 10.212. The application deadline for this specific solicitation was February 25, 2016 (original and current closing date were the same), with the opportunity posted and created on November 10, 2015. While the listing does not provide an award ceiling or the number of expected awards, it clearly frames the program intent and eligibility pathway.
Phase II funding was only available to small businesses that had already completed a successful USDA SBIR Phase I project. In other words, this was not an entry point for new applicants; it was the next-step award meant to continue, scale, and further validate work that had already shown promise during Phase I. The description notes that historical success rates for Phase II applicants were relatively strong, around 50 to 60 percent, which suggests a competitive process but one where proposals that build convincingly on Phase I results had a meaningful chance of being funded.
The solicitation encouraged proposals across all 2015 SBIR topic areas, with particular interest in projects related to agriculturally focused manufacturing and in alternative and renewable energy technologies. The broader framing emphasizes that USDA SBIR maintains flexible research areas so that funded innovations can align with USDA's vision of a healthy and productive nation that remains in harmony with natural resources such as land, air, and water. The program positions itself as both an innovation engine and a commercialization catalyst, pointing out that since 1983 USDA SBIR has funded more than 2,000 R&D projects. That track record is presented as evidence that the program helps small businesses test and prove technical concepts, reduce development risk, and move toward market-ready products and services that can generate commercial returns while advancing agricultural and environmental goals.
Eligibility in the source data is summarized as "Others" with a reference to additional eligibility language in the full announcement, but the central eligibility condition highlighted here is the Phase I prerequisite. Overall, this Phase II opportunity was designed to help qualified small businesses transition from early feasibility work into more advanced development, pushing innovations with agricultural impact and renewable energy relevance closer to real-world deployment and commercialization.
FAQs - USDA-NIFA SBIR Program Phase II (FY 2016) - USDA NIFA SBIR 005455
What is this grant opportunity?
This opportunity was the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program Phase II Fiscal Year 2016 discretionary grant competition run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA). The Funding Opportunity Number (FON) was USDA NIFA SBIR 005455.
Which agency administered the competition?
The competition was administered by USDA-NIFA (U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture).
What type of funding mechanism was it?
It was a discretionary grant competition under the SBIR Program, specifically for Phase II awards.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The listing identified the program under CFDA 10.212.
What was the application deadline?
The application deadline for this specific solicitation was February 25, 2016. The original and current closing date were the same.
When was the opportunity posted and created?
The opportunity was posted and created on November 10, 2015.
Who was eligible to apply for Phase II funding?
Phase II funding was only available to small businesses that had already completed a successful USDA SBIR Phase I project. This solicitation was not an entry point for new applicants.
Can a new applicant apply if they have not completed USDA SBIR Phase I?
No. The key eligibility condition highlighted in the listing is the Phase I prerequisite: applicants needed to have already completed a successful USDA SBIR Phase I project.
Does the opportunity provide any other eligibility details?
The source data summarized eligibility as "Others" and referenced additional eligibility language in the full announcement. However, the central eligibility condition clearly emphasized here is that applicants must have completed a successful USDA SBIR Phase I project.
What was the purpose of SBIR Phase II in this solicitation?
This Phase II opportunity was designed as a next-step award to continue, scale, and further validate work that had already shown promise during Phase I, moving from early feasibility into more advanced development.
What kinds of projects did the solicitation encourage?
The solicitation encouraged proposals across all 2015 SBIR topic areas, with particular interest in projects related to agriculturally focused manufacturing and in alternative and renewable energy technologies.
Were the research areas narrowly defined or flexible?
The program emphasized flexible research areas so funded innovations could align with USDA's vision of a healthy and productive nation in harmony with natural resources such as land, air, and water.
What broader fields did the program support?
It supported research and development under broad areas including agriculture, science and technology, and other R&D.
Did the listing include an award ceiling?
No. The listing did not provide an award ceiling.
Did the listing specify how many awards were expected?
No. The listing did not state the number of expected awards.
How competitive was Phase II, based on the information provided?
The description noted historical success rates for Phase II applicants of around 50 to 60 percent, suggesting a competitive process where proposals that build convincingly on Phase I results had a meaningful chance of being funded.
What does the program say about commercialization?
The program positioned itself as both an innovation engine and a commercialization catalyst, noting that it helps small businesses test and prove technical concepts, reduce development risk, and move toward market-ready products and services that can generate commercial returns while advancing agricultural and environmental goals.
What track record does USDA SBIR cite?
The description states that since 1983, USDA SBIR has funded more than 2,000 R&D projects, presenting this as evidence of an established funding track record.
What was the intended outcome for Phase II awardees?
The opportunity was intended to help qualified small businesses transition from Phase I feasibility work into more advanced development, pushing innovations with agricultural impact and renewable energy relevance closer to real-world deployment and commercialization.
Was this opportunity meant for first-time SBIR participants?
No. It was explicitly framed as Phase II, available only to small businesses that had already completed a successful USDA SBIR Phase I project.
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| Global Feed the Future Agricultural Biotechnology Program Apply for 7200AA20RFA00002 Funding Number: 7200AA20RFA00002 Agency: Agency for International Development Category: Agriculture, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $20,000,000 |
| Small Business Innovation Research Program - Phase I Apply for USDA NIFA SBIR 006365 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SBIR 006365 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Agricultural Biotechnology for Global Food Security Apply for 7200AA20APS00003 Funding Number: 7200AA20APS00003 Agency: Agency for International Development Category: Agriculture, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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