Department of Education - SBIR/STTR Opportunities (IA, IB, and DT2)
Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).
Executive Summary:
The U.S. Department of Education (ED), through the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), is offering three SBIR funding tracks in 2026: Phase IA, Phase IB, and Direct to Phase II. These programs fund education technology companies at different stages—from early prototype to full-scale commercialization.
Phase IA: Build a brand-new product (early-stage)
Phase IB: Improve an existing product (mid-stage)
Direct to Phase II: Scale a proven innovation (late-stage)
All three tracks are competitive and mutually exclusive (you cannot submit the same or similar proposal across tracks).
Application deadline: June 29, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) for Phase IA and IB, and June 29, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) for Direct to Phase II.
How much funding would I receive?
Phase IA: $250,000 for 9 months
Phase IB: $250,000 for 9 months
Direct to Phase II: $1,000,000 for 2 years
What could I use the funding for?
Across all three tracks, funding supports:
Research and development (R&D)
Product development
Pilot testing with users
Data collection and analysis
Personnel and subcontractors
Key differences:
Phase IA: Build a new prototype from scratch
Phase IB: Develop a new component integrated into an existing product
Direct to Phase II:Scale and commercialize an existing evidence-based innovation
Are there any additional benefits I would receive?
Phase IA and IB awardees can apply for $1,000,000 Phase II funding the following year
All tracks provide federal validation and commercialization support
Direct to Phase II provides immediate access to $1M scale funding without Phase I
What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?
Application timeline:
White Papers per Program: Continuous, after the posting of Q&As (Preferred)
Full proposals: By invitation only
Process:
Submit White Paper
Government evaluates for viability
If selected → invited to submit full proposal
If selected → negotiation → award
Award timing:
Not specified in the solicitation.
Where does this funding come from?
U.S. Department of Education (ED)
Institute of Education Sciences (IES)
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program
Who is eligible to apply?
For-profit small businesses
Track-specific requirements:
Phase IA: Little or no prior product development
Phase IB: Must have an existing functioning prototype or product
Direct to Phase II: Must work with an existing evidence-based innovation developed by a university or nonprofit and include the original researcher on the team
What companies and projects are likely to win?
Phase IA: Novel, high-risk ideas with strong potential impact
Phase IB: Companies with working products and a clear, innovative upgrade
Direct to Phase II: Teams with strong research evidence and a credible plan to scale
Across all tracks:
Clear problem-solution fit
Strong research and technical approach
Path to commercialization
Are there any restrictions I should know about?
Cannot submit the same or similar proposal across Phase IA, IB, or Direct to Phase II
Phase IA: Must be a new, independent product
Phase IB: New component must be distinct and not a continuation
Direct to Phase II:
Innovation must be originally developed by academic or nonprofit researchers
Cannot already be widely deployed at scale
How long will it take me to prepare an application?
Phase IA / IB: Typically 4–8 weeks
Direct to Phase II: Typically 6–10+ weeks
How can BW&CO help?
BW&CO can support:
Identify the right track (IA vs IB vs Direct to Phase II)
Position your company and product for competitiveness
Develop full technical, research, and commercialization narratives
Build compliant budgets and submission packages
