Overview

Use this guide to help you submit a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I or Phase II proposal in Research.gov.

New in November 2022, NSF will only accept full proposals from startups and small businesses via Research.gov, a new proposal submission portal that allows applicants to create, submit, track and update full proposals. (The system and process used to submit Project Pitches has not changed.)

Access Research.gov to submit a full Phase I or Phase II SBIR/STTR proposal. Visit the Research.gov About Page to help you prepare and submit your proposal. (Download a PDF version of this guide.)

Research.gov help desk

Please contact the Research.gov Help Desk (1-800-381-1532 or rgov@nsf.gov ) for IT system or accessibility-related questions (7:00 AM – 9:00 PM Eastern Time; Monday – Friday except federal holidays).

Before you submit

Were you invited to submit a proposal?

NSF SBIR/STTR Phase I applicants are REQUIRED to submit a “Project Pitch” that outlines the project objectives, technical innovation and associated technical risks. Projects that seem to be a good fit will be officially INVITED to submit a full proposal.

Only invited SBIR/STTR proposals will be reviewed by NSF. To learn more about the Project Pitch, please visit How It Works.

Applying for Phase II?

Only NSF Phase I SBIR/STTR awardees are permitted to submit a Phase II proposal.

We encourage you to follow guidance from your program director about when and how to submit your Phase II proposal.

Preparing your proposal

Read the SBIR/STTR Solicitations

The Phase I and Phase II SBIR/STTR Solicitations explain the content needed in your proposal. We also encourage you to join an upcoming webinar to help you prepare your proposal or to reach out to the relevant SBIR/STTR program director if you have questions about the proposal and review process.

Proposal content questions

SBIR and STTR program-related questions should be directed to sbir@nsf.gov.