between-intakes Federal Grant

SBIR Phase I — USDA (NIFA)

USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Up to $175K (Phase I)

See if you qualify — free Visit official program ↗

Researched for this program: 5 rejection traps · 8 required documentsWhat decides this award ↓

The short version

USDA seed fund for ag and food R&D

USDA NIFA's SBIR Phase I awards up to $175,000 for 8 months of feasibility R&D in agriculture, food, forestry, aquaculture, rural development, and related bio-based technologies. One annual solicitation with topic areas set by NIFA. Non-dilutive federal grant, submitted via Grants.gov. Unique among SBIR agencies: USDA topics include food safety, nutrition, sustainable agriculture, and rural economic development — not just pure hard-science R&D. 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: $175,000
Realistic amount: USDA SBIR Phase I awards are typically at or near the $175,000 cap. Phase II awards average $400,000–$450,000 — lower th…
Deadline: Between intakes — USDA NIFA SBIR releases one annual solicitation, typically in October–November with proposals due January–February. The FY2025 solicitation closed February 2025. FY2026 solicitation expected October–November 2025 (now past); FY2027 solicitation expected October–November 2026.
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, OR more than 50% owned by another qualifying US small business
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 R&D must fall within one of the topic areas listed in the current NIFA SBIR solicitation
All R&D work must be performed primarily within the United States
Active 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 PI and technical personnel
Fringe benefits on qualifying salaries
Materials and supplies consumed in the R&D
Equipment necessary for Phase I feasibility work
Subcontractor costs (must be justified; majority of work performed by the small business)
Consultant fees for specialized expertise
Travel related to the research (domestic; field work, USDA facility visits)
Indirect (F&A) 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
Costs incurred before the award start date
Marketing, advertising, or non-technical 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 (allow 2–3 weeks for new registrations), SBA SBIR Company Registry at sbir.gov, and a Grants.gov applicant account. USDA SBIR uses Grants.gov workspace — unlike NASA which uses NSPIRES. Begin SAM.gov registration well before the solicitation deadline.

~5 hrs
2

Read the annual NIFA SBIR solicitation and identify your topic

Download the current NIFA SBIR solicitation from grants.gov or nifa.usda.gov. Topics are grouped into USDA Research Priority Areas: Plant Production/Protection, Animal Production/Protection, Food Science and Nutrition, Aquaculture, Forestry, Rural and Community Development, Biofuels/Biobased, and Natural Resources/Environment. Identify the specific subtopic that best matches your technology. NIFA Program Officers are accessible — email them to confirm topic fit before writing the proposal.

~8 hrs
3

Write the technical proposal and commercialization plan

USDA SBIR Phase I proposals include: (1) Project Narrative (15 pages maximum) covering objectives, hypothesis, approach, and expected outcomes; (2) a Commercialization Plan describing the commercial path from Phase I to Phase II to market; (3) a detailed budget and justification; (4) required forms and certifications. The commercialization plan receives significant weight — NIFA reviewers look for realistic pathways to agricultural or food sector adoption, not just technical merit.

~60 hrs
4

Submit via Grants.gov Workspace before the deadline

Assemble the complete application package in Grants.gov Workspace and submit before 5:00 PM Eastern on the published deadline. Allow 2–3 business days before the deadline for Grants.gov processing and error resolution. After submission, verify receipt confirmation from Grants.gov and from NIFA's grants system.

~6 hrs
5

External peer review and award notification

NIFA conducts external peer review using a panel of agricultural scientists and industry experts. Proposals are scored on Scientific Merit, Innovation, Commercialization Potential, and Qualifications. Award notifications typically arrive 6–8 months after the deadline. Phase I performance periods begin October 1 (start of the federal fiscal year). Awardees receive a Notice of Award from NIFA.

~2 hrs

SBIR / STTR details

SBIR phase amounts

Phase	Max award	Duration
Phase1	$175,000	8 months
Phase2	$450,000	24 months

NAICS codes: 541715, 541714, 111000, 112000, 113000, 114000, 311000, 325412

Insider tip

USDA is the right SBIR if your tech applies to agriculture, food processing, forestry, or rural communities — topics NIH/NSF/DOE don't cover. Phase II cap is low ($450K) vs. most agencies, so plan for external investment alongside Phase II if you need substantial development funding.

Deadline & timing

USDA SBIR runs one annual solicitation cycle. The FY cycle starts October 1 — NIFA typically publishes the solicitation in October or November and closes proposals in January or February of the following year. Phase I award notifications arrive approximately 6 months after the proposal deadline. Phase II applications are submitted approximately 2–4 months before Phase I end. Check nifa.usda.gov for current FY solicitation release.

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