SBIR Phase I — Missile Defense Agency (MDA)
Missile Defense Agency (DoD)
Up to $250K (Phase I)
Missile defense R&D: sensors, interceptors, BMS
MDA SBIR Phase I funds small businesses to validate the technical feasibility of advanced technologies for the US ballistic missile defense system — covering sensors, interceptors, battle management systems, directed energy, and advanced manufacturing for missile defense components. Awards up to $250,000 over 6 months as FAR-compliant contracts through DSIP. MDA is one of the smaller DoD SBIR topic issuers by volume but has high per-topic budgets in Phase II. Topics are classified-sensitive and technology areas require US citizenship for certain performance requirements. MDA participates in the standard DoD BAA cycle.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Amount range
- $100,000 – $250,000
- Realistic amount
- MDA Phase I awards typically run at or near the $250,000 ceiling. MDA topics are narrowly technical and the Phase I scop…
- Deadline
- Three cycles per year within the DoD BAA schedule (Spring/Fall/Winter). MDA typically issues 5–15 topics per cycle. Check dodsbirsttr.mil and mda.mil/business/sbir.html for current MDA topic list and close dates.
- 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
- New 2026 mandatory requirement: foreign national/ownership screening (FOCI disclosure) — MDA applies heightened scrutiny given the classified nature of missile defense systems
- 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
- Many MDA topics require security clearances — facility clearances (SECRET or TOP SECRET) are commonly required for Phase I performance on MDA contracts; verify clearance requirements in each topic's eligibility section
- PI and key personnel must be US citizens for clearance-required topics — permanent legal residents (LPRs) typically cannot obtain the required clearances for classified MDA work
- Proposal must address a specific MDA topic from the current BAA — no open innovation track
- Active SAM.gov registration with valid UEI required
- SBA SBIR Company Registry registration required at sbir.gov
- DSIP account required for submission
- No cost-sharing required for Phase I
- Work must be performed in the United States
Hard requirements
- Must be incorporated
- 51%+ US ownership required
- Max 500 employees
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Direct labor at fully-loaded rates for cleared personnel performing R&D
- Fringe benefits on qualifying direct labor
- Subcontract costs for specialized research (document clearance requirements for subcontractors accessing classified information)
- Consultant fees for technical expertise directly supporting research scope
- Materials, supplies, and components consumed in the R&D
- Equipment necessary for Phase I research
- Classified facility costs if work requires secure facilities
- Travel at GSA rates for research and program reviews
- Indirect costs at negotiated or proposed rates
Ineligible expenses
- Lobbying, political contributions, or advocacy
- Marketing or business development costs
- Work performed outside the United States without prior approval
- Costs incurred before contract award date
- Unallowable costs under FAR Part 31
- Personnel costs for non-cleared staff on topics requiring cleared personnel
How to apply
-
1
Register in SAM.gov, SBIR Company Registry, DSIP, and verify clearance status
Complete SAM.gov (UEI, 7–14 business days), SBA SBIR Company Registry, and DSIP registrations. Additionally: if you do not already have a facility security clearance (FCL) and the target MDA topic requires one, contact DCSA (Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency) to initiate the FCL process before applying — FCL processing takes 6–18 months for a new company and you cannot perform classified work without it. Verify whether your target topic requires a clearance before investing proposal-writing time.
~6 hrs
-
2
Review MDA topics on dodsbirsttr.mil and mda.mil
Navigate to DSIP and filter for MDA topics in the current BAA. Cross-reference with mda.mil/business/sbir.html for MDA's own SBIR page. MDA topics are dense with technical specifications — they describe specific performance gaps in the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) including Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD), Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), Aegis BMD, and related systems. Identify topics where your technology directly addresses the gap described.
~8 hrs
-
3
Submit Q&A via DSIP during the Q&A window
Submit technical questions to the MDA topic's Technical Point of Contact during the Q&A window. MDA TPOCs are highly technical (often PhD-level scientists or engineers working on active missile defense programs). Q&A is critical for MDA because topics often reference classified system context that is not fully visible in the unclassified topic description — TPOCs can provide additional context within the limits of what's releasable.
~5 hrs
-
4
Write the technical volume (20–30 pages)
MDA technical proposals require precise language — describe exactly how your technology addresses the stated missile defense gap with testable Phase I milestones. MDA evaluators have deep domain expertise in ballistic missile defense; they will identify vague claims about 'applicable to missile defense' and discount proposals that don't demonstrate system-level understanding. Include team qualifications, facility capabilities (including clearance status), and a Phase II transition plan that maps to a specific BMDS element or program.
~60 hrs
-
5
Submit cost volume and negotiate MDA contract
Submit cost volume through DSIP. MDA contracting offices handle negotiations — typically 60–90 days post-close for contract award. MDA Phase I contracts include standard FAR SBIR provisions plus potentially facility security clearance requirements in the Statement of Work. Ensure your labor rates are defensible (DCAA audit readiness) and your subcontract costs (if any) include justification for university or lab access.
~12 hrs
SBIR / STTR details
SBIR phase amounts
| Phase | Max award | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Phase1 | $250,000 | 6 months typical |
| Phase2 | $2,000,000 | 24 months typical; MDA Phase II awards are consistently at or near the $2M ceiling |
NAICS codes: 541715, 541714, 541330, 334511, 336411, 336412, 334220, 541512
MDA has one of the strongest Phase I-to-Phase II transition rates in DoD SBIR. Companies that successfully complete Phase I on schedule and within scope are almost always invited to Phase II — MDA's program managers have program-of-record budgets and want to transition technology into active missile defense systems. The catch: getting the clearance infrastructure in place before applying adds months of lead time most founders don't budget for.
Deadline & timing
MDA participates in the same three-cycle-per-year DoD BAA schedule as Army, Navy, and Air Force. MDA publishes fewer topics per cycle than Army or Navy — typically 5–15 topics — but they are narrowly technical with high Phase II conversion rates. Q&A windows open approximately 3–4 weeks before topic close. The SBIR/STTR reauthorization lapsed October 1, 2025 and was restored April 13, 2026 through September 30, 2031 with mandatory foreign national screening requirements. MDA applies particularly stringent national security screening due to the classified nature of the missile defense system.
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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.