Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) Phase II
🏛 Administration for Community Living (HHS-ACL)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 8, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for small businesses developing disability-related innovations. Applicants must be for-profit companies with 500 or fewer employees. Projects must address needs of people with disabilities and advance health, community living, or employment outcomes.
Phase II funding expands promising Phase I results. Applicants typically must have completed a Phase I award first. Cost sharing is not required.
The Administration for Community Living (ACL) expects commercializable R&D products. All work must benefit people with disabilities directly.
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Key dates
- Sep 25, 2026 Applications open
- Feb 1, 2027 Application deadline in 115 days
- Jun 1, 2027 Award announced
- Jun 1, 2027 Project start
Program description
The purpose of the Federal SBIR program is to stimulate technological innovation in the private sector, strengthen the role of small business in meeting Federal research or research and development (R/R&D) needs, and improve the return on investment from Federally-funded research for economic and social benefits to the nation. The specific purpose of NIDILRR’s SBIR program is to improve the lives of people with disabilities through R/R&D products generated by small businesses, and to increase the commercial application of NIDILRR-supported research results and development products. All SBIR projects funded by NIDILRR must address the needs of people with disabilities and promote their health and function, community living, or employment outcomes. Phase II projects expand on the results of and further pursue the development of Phase I projects. NIDILRR will make four grants under this opportunity. Grants will have a 24-month project period with two 12-month budget periods.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Federal Application for Grants and Cooperative Agreements)
- Project Narrative
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Management Plan
- Commercialization Plan
- Evidence of Phase I completion (prior NIDILRR SBIR Phase I award)
Program contact
- 👤 Brian Bard
- 📧 brian.bard@acl.hhs.gov
- 📞 (202) 795-7298
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.433 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$6,230,000
-
$6,230,000
-
$6,230,000
-
$6,230,000
-
$6,229,999
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$5,560,825
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$5,560,824
-
Transcen Inc MD$5,560,823
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$5,557,344
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$5,407,677
Top States by Funding
- IL 15 awards $65.8M
- PA 9 awards $38.4M
- NY 7 awards $33.6M
- MA 6 awards $24.8M
- CA 4 awards $21.7M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.433). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $112,987,188 | |
| 2025 | $112,711,817 | |
| 2026 est. | $110,762,762 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Small for-profit businesses with 500 or fewer employees. You typically must have completed a Phase I SBIR award first.
What must my project address?
All work must improve lives of people with disabilities through health, community living, or employment outcomes. Projects must have clear commercial potential.
What is the deadline and award amount?
The deadline is February 1, 2027. Phase II grants range from $280,000 to $287,500 over 24 months.
Do I need matching funds?
No cost sharing is required for this grant.
How competitive is this program?
NIDILRR expects four grants from this opportunity. Focus on strong commercialization plans and clear disability impact.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Show clear connection between your innovation and disability outcomes. Reviewers want concrete benefits for people with disabilities.
- Emphasize commercialization pathway. SBIR prioritizes products that reach the market and scale.
- Use Phase I results effectively. Build directly on your previous NIDILRR work with specific new milestones.
- Include letters of support from potential customers or disability organizations. External validation strengthens competitiveness.
- Budget strategically for 24 months. Use two 12-month budget periods to show measurable progress checkpoints.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applicants fail to demonstrate specific disability impact and overstate commercial viability without customer validation. Projects lack clear connection between technology and real disability community needs. Weak commercialization plans underestimate market barriers and competition.
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