SBIR Phase I — DARPA
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DoD)
Up to $250K (Phase I)
DARPA: breakthrough defense tech, highest bar
DARPA SBIR Phase I funds high-risk, high-reward defense technology research — the most technically ambitious and most selective SBIR track within DoD. DARPA publishes a small number of topics per BAA cycle focused on fundamental technology breakthroughs (not incremental improvements) in areas such as AI/ML, quantum computing, biological sciences, microelectronics, hypersonics, and next-generation communications. Phase I awards up to $250,000 for 6–12 months. Like all DoD SBIR, awards are FAR-compliant contracts. DARPA's acceptance rate is among the lowest in federal SBIR (~5–10%). DARPA also has an independent Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) system separate from the DoD-wide BAA for its SBIR topics — some DARPA solicitations appear on BAA-specific FOA pages.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Amount range
- $100,000 – $250,000
- Realistic amount
- DARPA SBIR Phase I awards vary more than other DoD components — some narrow-scope foundational research awards run $100K…
- Deadline
- Topic-dependent — DARPA releases SBIR topics within the DoD BAA cycle (Spring/Fall/Winter) and also through standalone DARPA BAAs. Check darpa.mil/work-with-us/opportunities and dodsbirsttr.mil for current open topics. DARPA BAA windows vary — some are open for 60–180 days, others close quickly.
- Status
- between-intakes
- States
- Nationwide
- Payment model
- milestone
Who qualifies
- For-profit US small business with 500 or fewer employees including all affiliates
- More than 50% owned and controlled by US citizens or permanent legal residents — DARPA applies heightened national security screening given sensitivity of research areas
- New 2026 mandatory requirement: foreign national/ownership screening (FOCI disclosure) for all applicants — DARPA scrutinizes this more rigorously than other DoD components given classified research adjacency
- Principal Investigator must be primarily employed (more than 50% of working time) at the small business at time of award and throughout Phase I performance
- Proposal must address a specific DARPA SBIR topic from the current BAA — DARPA does not accept general technology submissions
- DARPA topics typically require TRL 1–3 (basic research / proof-of-concept) at proposal submission — proposals with technologies already at TRL 4+ may be redirected to other DoD components or DARPA BAA (non-SBIR) tracks
- Active SAM.gov registration with valid UEI required
- SBA SBIR Company Registry registration required at sbir.gov
- DSIP account required for submission through the DoD-wide BAA; standalone DARPA BAAs may use FedConnect or other portals
- No cost-sharing required for Phase I
Hard requirements
- Must be incorporated
- 51%+ US ownership required
- Max 500 employees
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Direct labor at fully-loaded labor rates for scientific and technical personnel
- Fringe benefits on qualifying direct labor
- Subcontract costs for specialized research (DARPA is more flexible on subcontract limits than Army/Navy; document justification thoroughly)
- Consultant fees for specialized expertise
- Materials and supplies consumed in the research
- Equipment necessary for Phase I research
- Specialized facility access (university labs, national labs) with supporting subcontracts
- Travel related to research and program reviews
- Indirect costs at negotiated or proposed rates
Ineligible expenses
- Incremental technology development — DARPA will not fund Phase I that lacks genuine scientific novelty
- Lobbying, political contributions, or advocacy
- Marketing or business development
- Work performed outside the US without prior approval
- Costs incurred before contract award date
- Unallowable costs under FAR Part 31
How to apply
-
1
Register in SAM.gov, SBIR Company Registry, and DSIP or FedConnect
Complete SAM.gov registration (UEI, 7–14 business days), SBA SBIR Company Registry at sbir.gov, and DSIP at dodsbirsttr.mil for DoD BAA-track DARPA topics. For standalone DARPA BAAs, register also on FedConnect (fedconnect.net) — DARPA uses FedConnect for some of its independent solicitations. Check the specific opportunity posting to determine which portal to use.
~5 hrs
-
2
Monitor DARPA BAA announcements and identify a fitting topic
Subscribe to DARPA BAA notifications at darpa.mil/opportunities. DARPA's SBIR topic counts are small — typically 2–8 topics per BAA cycle across all DARPA program offices. When a topic appears in your domain (AI, quantum, bio, hypersonics, materials), read the technical description carefully. DARPA topics are written by program managers who are typically PhD-level scientists with a specific scientific problem they want to see attacked from a fresh commercial angle.
~10 hrs
-
3
Contact the DARPA Program Manager during the Q&A window
Submit technical questions through DSIP or FedConnect during the Q&A window. DARPA PMs are more selective in their Q&A engagement than other DoD components — they do not provide the same level of guidance as Army or Navy TPOCs. However, a well-framed technical question that demonstrates deep domain knowledge can get a substantive response that effectively pre-qualifies your approach. DARPA PMs occasionally schedule one-on-one calls for applicants they find promising during Q&A.
~6 hrs
-
4
Write a breakthrough-framed technical volume (20–35 pages)
DARPA Phase I technical proposals demand a fundamentally different writing approach than standard DoD SBIR. DARPA evaluators are looking for genuine scientific novelty — not incremental improvement. Frame your approach explicitly against the state of the art and articulate what the current scientific barrier is and why your approach bypasses or breaks through it. DARPA values audacity in technical approach combined with rigor in methodology. Include measurable Phase I go/no-go criteria, a Phase II research plan, and — unlike other DoD SBIR — DARPA scores heavily on the novelty of the fundamental scientific contribution.
~70 hrs
-
5
Prepare cost volume and submit
Submit through DSIP or FedConnect depending on the solicitation. DARPA contracts are negotiated by DARPA's contracting office — expect 60–120 days post-close for contract negotiation and award (DARPA often takes longer than other DoD components). DARPA PMs have significant flexibility in adjusting the final award scope and amount during negotiation.
~12 hrs
SBIR / STTR details
SBIR phase amounts
| Phase | Max award | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Phase1 | $250,000 | 6–12 months (DARPA Phase I is often longer than other DoD components) |
| Phase2 | $2,000,000 | 24–36 months |
NAICS codes: 541715, 541714, 541511, 541512, 334413, 336411, 334511, 325411, 541330
DARPA PMs build relationships over years — many successful DARPA SBIR awardees first engaged DARPA through a workshop, conference briefing, or Proposer's Day event before submitting. DARPA funds science that doesn't yet have a constituency, so the proposal that says 'this is impossible with existing approaches but here's why ours works' is exactly the tone DARPA wants. Proposals that sound like mature products ready for commercialization are routinely rejected as too late-stage for DARPA.
Deadline & timing
DARPA participates in the DoD-wide BAA cycle for some SBIR topics and issues standalone BAAs for others. DARPA BAA windows can be short (60 days) with little advance warning — subscribe to BAA notifications at darpa.mil. DARPA also sometimes issues SBIR topics through its Open Catalog of Broad Agency Announcements. Unlike Army or Navy, DARPA may issue 2–5 SBIR-designated topics per cycle rather than dozens. The SBIR/STTR reauthorization lapsed October 1, 2025 and was restored April 13, 2026 with mandatory foreign national screening requirements effective for all awards after that date. DARPA applies particularly stringent national security screening given its classified and sensitive research portfolio.
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Last reviewed 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.