SBIR Phase I — Department of Homeland Security
Department of Homeland Security
Up to $150K (Phase I)
DHS seed fund for security tech R&D
DHS SBIR Phase I awards up to $150,000 for 6 months of feasibility R&D focused on homeland security technology challenges — cybersecurity, border security, first responder tools, transportation security, disaster response, chemical/biological detection, and critical infrastructure protection. Topic-driven annual solicitation. Awards are grants (not FAR contracts like DoD SBIR). Submitted via DHS's SBIR portal. Relatively accessible for tech startups with a security or resilience angle. NOTE: The SBIR/STTR reauthorization lapsed October 1, 2025 and was restored April 13, 2026 with reauthorization through September 30, 2031. The 2026 reauthorization added a mandatory foreign national screening requirement for all applicants.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Amount range
- $150,000
- Realistic amount
- Most DHS SBIR Phase I awards are at or near the $150,000 cap. Phase II awards typically range from $750,000–$1,500,000 o…
- Deadline
- Between intakes — DHS releases one to two SBIR solicitations annually. Typical cycle: solicitation released March–April, proposals due May–June. Check sbir.dhs.gov for the current open solicitation.
- Status
- between-intakes
- States
- Nationwide
- Payment model
- advance
Who qualifies
- For-profit US small business concern with 500 or fewer employees including affiliates
- More than 50% owned and controlled by US citizens or permanent resident aliens
- Mandatory foreign national screening: the April 2026 reauthorization requires all applicants to disclose foreign ownership, foreign control, or foreign influence (FOCI) — new compliance requirement effective for all awards issued after April 13, 2026
- Principal Investigator must be primarily employed (>50% time) by the small business
- All funded R&D work must be performed within the United States
- Proposed research must address a specific topic area in the current DHS SBIR solicitation
- Active SAM.gov registration with valid UEI required
- SBA SBIR Company Registry registration required before award
- DHS SBIR portal (sbir.dhs.gov) account required for proposal submission
- For CISA-related topics: applicants should verify no conflicts with sensitive government programs; foreign national team members may face additional vetting
Hard requirements
- Must be incorporated
- 51%+ US ownership required
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Salaries and wages for the PI and technical staff
- Fringe benefits on qualifying salaries
- Materials, components, and supplies consumed in R&D
- Equipment required for Phase I feasibility work
- Subcontractor costs (small business must perform majority of work)
- Consultant fees for specialized technical expertise
- Domestic travel for research activities
- Indirect (overhead) costs at negotiated or de minimis rates
- SBIR fee on direct and indirect costs
Ineligible expenses
- Work performed outside the United States without prior approval
- Lobbying, political activities, or advocacy
- Entertainment, alcohol, or personal expenses
- Costs incurred before the grant award date
- Marketing, advertising, or non-technical activities
- Construction or major facility improvements
How to apply
-
1
Register in SAM.gov, SBIR Company Registry, and sbir.dhs.gov
Complete registrations in SAM.gov (UEI — allow 2–3 weeks for new entities), SBA SBIR Company Registry at sbir.gov, and create an account on sbir.dhs.gov. DHS uses its own SBIR submission portal rather than Grants.gov or DSIP — check sbir.dhs.gov for the active solicitation and submission instructions. Some DHS solicitation cycles require registration in an additional DHS-specific grants system.
~5 hrs
-
2
Read the solicitation and identify your DHS topic
DHS SBIR topics are organized by component: CISA (cybersecurity, critical infrastructure), CBP (border technology, sensors), FEMA (disaster response), TSA (transportation security), USCG (maritime), and others. Each topic has a Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) listed in the solicitation. Email the TPOC to confirm your technology's relevance before writing. DHS topics tend to be more operationally specific than NIH or NSF — alignment with the specific stated operational need is essential.
~8 hrs
-
3
Prepare the technical proposal and commercialization plan
DHS Phase I proposals typically include a Technical Volume (12–20 pages depending on the solicitation) covering the technical approach, feasibility methodology, Phase I milestones, and team qualifications. A Commercialization Plan is required describing the path from Phase I to Phase II to DHS acquisition or commercial market adoption. DHS reviewers weight operational relevance heavily — explain how your technology would be actually used by a DHS component, not just what it does technically.
~55 hrs
-
4
Submit via sbir.dhs.gov before the deadline
Submit the complete proposal package through sbir.dhs.gov. Verify submission confirmation before the deadline — DHS SBIR portal has had technical issues in past cycles. Keep a copy of all submitted documents. The DHS grants management office will conduct an administrative completeness check before forwarding to technical reviewers.
~5 hrs
-
5
Technical review, selection, and award
DHS conducts internal technical review with subject matter experts from the relevant component. Award notifications typically arrive 4–6 months after the proposal deadline. Phase I grants are administered by DHS S&T's grants management office. Phase I performance period is 6 months from the award start date.
~2 hrs
SBIR / STTR details
SBIR phase amounts
| Phase | Max award | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Phase1 | $150,000 | 6 months |
| Phase2 | $1,500,000 | 24 months |
NAICS codes: 541715, 541714, 541512, 541511, 334511, 334220, 541330, 611430
DHS SBIR awards are grants, not FAR contracts — lower compliance overhead than DoD for first-time government-funded companies. Focus your application on the specific operational use case described in the topic, not the technology itself. DHS component users are your real reviewers.
Deadline & timing
DHS SBIR typically runs one to two solicitation cycles per fiscal year, with topic areas refreshed annually based on DHS component priorities (CISA, CBP, FEMA, TSA, USCG, ICE, Secret Service). The program has historically been less predictable in its release schedule than NIH or NSF. Phase I performance periods are 6 months. Phase I awardees must apply for Phase II through a separate competitive process — no automatic invitation like NASA.
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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.