SBIR Phase I — USDA (NIFA)
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Up to $175K (Phase I)
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
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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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.