Program Descriptions

SBIR Program Description:

• Phase I: Offers the opportunity to establish feasibility and technical merit of a proposed innovation. Selected competitively, Phase I contracts last 6 months with a maximum funding of $70,000.
• Phase II: Encompasses the major R&D effort in SBIR and emphasizes evidence of commercial development. Contracts are usually awarded for a period of 24 months with a maximum funding of $600,000.
• Phase III: Infuses Phase II results into regular NASA programs and/or the commercial marketplace. Projects are funded with money from a source other than the SBIR Program to carry on further development. PhaseIII funding is granted based on the merits of PhaseI and/or II without further need for competitive bids.

• Awards contracts to small business concerns (SBC’s) for cooperative research and development with a nonprofit research institution (RI).
• Phase I: Offers up to $100,000 in funds for a maximum 1-year effort.
• Phase II: Limited to $600,000 for a maximum of 2 years.

• Independently owned small business concerns (SBC’s) with 500 or fewer employees operated in the U.S. by U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens.
• Nonprofit research institutions (RI’s), such as a university or research laboratory, with ties to an SBC.
• To participate, SBC’s must respond to the solicitations published annually by each field center, deliver the product described in the contract, and submit the required reports.