SBIR Phase I — Department of Education (IES)
Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education
Up to $250K (Phase I)
IES seed fund for education technology R&D
The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) runs the Department of Education's SBIR program — funding up to $250,000 for 9 months of early-stage development of educational technologies, assessments, curricula, and learning tools with a strong evidence base. Unlike most SBIR agencies, IES requires proposals to include a logic model or theory of action connecting the technology to student learning outcomes. Non-dilutive federal grant, submitted via Grants.gov. One annual solicitation. 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
- $250,000
- Realistic amount
- IES Phase I awards are typically at or near the $250,000 cap, used for 9 months of feasibility development and initial u…
- Deadline
- Between intakes — IES SBIR typically releases one annual solicitation in late summer or fall, with proposals due in October–December. The FY2025 solicitation closed October 2024. FY2026 solicitation expected fall 2025 (now past). Check ies.ed.gov/sbir for current status.
- 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 at time of award
- Proposed work must fall within one of the IES SBIR topic areas (typically: reading/literacy, mathematics, science, special education, assessments, or general ed technology tools)
- Proposals must include a logic model or theory of action linking the product to learning outcomes — IES requires an evidence-based framework, not just a product description
- Primary R&D performance within the United States
- SAM.gov registration with valid UEI required
- SBA SBIR Company Registry registration required before award
- No cost-sharing required
Hard requirements
- Must be incorporated
- 51%+ US ownership required
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Salaries and wages for the PI, developers, researchers, and support staff working on the project
- Fringe benefits on qualifying salaries
- Materials, software, and supplies consumed in product development
- Equipment necessary for the research
- Subcontractor costs for research institutions, school districts, or specialized vendors (subject to majority-performance rule)
- Consultant fees for education researchers, curriculum experts, or statistical consultants
- Stipends or payments to school districts or teachers for participation in usability studies (participant costs — verify allowability in solicitation)
- Domestic travel for field testing or school partnership activities
- Indirect 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 or political activities
- Entertainment, alcohol, or personal expenses
- Pre-award costs
- Marketing, sales, or commercial business development activities
- Construction or major facility renovation
How to apply
-
1
Register in SAM.gov, SBIR Company Registry, and Grants.gov
Complete three prerequisite registrations: SAM.gov for UEI (2–3 weeks for new registrations), SBA SBIR Company Registry at sbir.gov, and a Grants.gov applicant account. IES SBIR submissions use Grants.gov Workspace. Ensure your organizational SAM.gov account is linked to your Grants.gov profile before the deadline.
~5 hrs
-
2
Read the IES SBIR solicitation and understand the Evidence Standards
Download and read the full IES SBIR solicitation from ies.ed.gov/sbir. IES uses its own What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) evidence standards — your Phase I proposal must describe how the proposed work relates to the WWC standards and include a theory of action (logic model) connecting product features to specific learning outcomes. This is the single most IES-specific requirement that catches ed-tech founders off-guard.
~10 hrs
-
3
Develop the project narrative with logic model and research design
IES Phase I proposals center on a 25-page Project Narrative covering: (1) significance and need, (2) innovation, (3) approach — including the logic model/theory of action and a Phase I research plan focused on product development and initial piloting, (4) team qualifications. The Phase I research plan typically includes a usability study or small-scale pilot with real students or teachers. IES expects a clear articulation of what will be 'ready' at Phase I end for a Phase II efficacy study.
~70 hrs
-
4
Submit via Grants.gov Workspace
Assemble the complete application package in Grants.gov Workspace and submit before 5:00 PM Eastern on the deadline. Allow 3 business days before the deadline for Grants.gov processing and error corrections. IES requires specific application forms matching the Grants.gov package for the active SBIR program — verify you are using the correct forms package for the current IES solicitation cycle.
~6 hrs
-
5
Scientific review and award notification
IES convenes a formal scientific peer review panel — a process more rigorous and academic in character than most other SBIR agencies. Reviewers include education researchers, assessment specialists, and ed-tech practitioners. Review scores weight scientific rigor heavily. Award notifications typically arrive in April–June, approximately 6–8 months after the December deadline. Phase I grants start July 1.
~2 hrs
SBIR / STTR details
SBIR phase amounts
| Phase | Max award | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Phase1 | $250,000 | 9 months |
| Phase2 | $900,000 | 36 months |
NAICS codes: 541715, 541714, 541511, 541512, 611430, 611710
IES is the only federal SBIR funder that requires a logic model and evidence framework — read the What Works Clearinghouse standards before writing your theory of action. Education researchers on the team (not just engineers) substantially improve review scores.
Deadline & timing
IES SBIR follows an annual cycle with one solicitation per fiscal year. The FY solicitation typically opens in August–September and closes in October–December. Phase I award notifications arrive approximately 6–8 months after the deadline (April–June). Phase I performance begins July 1 (start of IES's award cycle). Unlike most SBIR programs, Phase II at IES is 36 months — designed to accommodate the time required for rigorous educational research designs (RCTs, quasi-experimental studies).
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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.