National Cancer Institute (NCI) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Innovative Concept Award Program – Fiscal Year 2027
Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).
Executive Summary:
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) plans to release its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Innovative Concept Award Program – Fiscal Year 2027 to support highly innovative technologies addressing pediatric cancers and rare cancers.
This opportunity is designed to help small businesses demonstrate technical feasibility and proof-of-concept while preparing technologies for future SBIR funding. Unlike many funding opportunities, preliminary data is not required, provided the proposal has a sound scientific premise supported by the company's own research or published literature.
The solicitation is expected to focus on technologies with strong commercial potential and will also include entrepreneurship training and commercialization planning.
The current presolicitation response deadline is July 17, 2026, 5:00 PM EDT. The full solicitation is anticipated to be released on or around July 17, 2026, and is expected to close in late September 2026. An interim white paper deadline is expected in June to allow NCI to provide scope feedback, although no specific date is provided in the presolicitation.
How much funding would I receive?
The FY27 presolicitation does not specify award amounts.
Based on the FY2026 solicitation, Phase I Concept Awards provided up to $300,000 to perform proof-of-concept and feasibility studies for high-risk, high-reward cancer technologies. The full FY27 solicitation will confirm whether funding levels remain the same.
What could I use the funding for?
Funding is intended to support proof-of-concept and technical feasibility work for highly innovative technologies in one of two topic areas:
Topic 1
Development of therapeutic or preventative technologies for the treatment or prevention of pediatric cancers and/or rare cancers.
Topic 2
Development of devices, diagnostic technologies, or digital health tools for the treatment, detection, or diagnosis of pediatric cancers and/or rare cancers.
Applicants are expected to:
Identify a specific product to be developed.
Clearly describe the anticipated development pathway.
Define the clinical problem and cancer type(s).
Justify the proposed approach.
Conduct experiments that generate initial de-risking and proof-of-concept data.
Are there any additional benefits I would receive?
In addition to potential funding, selected performers may receive several forms of Government support during the program.
Government technical support
DARPA anticipates support from:
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
NIST's Precision Photonic Synthesis Group within the Time and Frequency Division
The Government expects to provide information, analysis, and support related to vibration-hardened optical reference cavities and photonic microwave generation techniques.
Government-furnished information
By Month 6, DARPA anticipates providing performers with:
A Government reference design for a vibration-hardened chip-scale optical reference cavity
Associated design details
Test data
Government-furnished testing
At the end of Phase 2:
Final noise-performance testing will occur at a Government test facility.
Testing will use a Government-furnished airborne platform.
The Government will coordinate and execute the testing.
The Government will collect and post-process test data.
Potential follow-on opportunities
The solicitation states that:
Follow-on production contracts or transactions may be awarded pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 4022.
During the transition between Phase 1 and Phase 2, DARPA intends to finalize technology application areas and notes there is potential for additional work based on architectural designs developed during Phase 1.
The solicitation does not guarantee any follow-on funding or production awards.
Are there any additional benefits I would receive?
The FY27 presolicitation states that awardees will receive entrepreneurship and commercialization support.
Based on last year's solicitation, awardees could also:
Participate in the NIH I-Corps commercialization program.
Receive an additional I-Corps option of up to $55,000 if selected.
Request up to $6,500 for Technical and Business Assistance (TABA).
Become eligible to pursue a Phase II SBIR award after successfully completing the Concept Award.
What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?
FY27 Presolicitation
Presolicitation response deadline: July 17, 2026 at 5:00 PM EDT
Full solicitation expected: On or around July 17, 2026
Proposal deadline expected: Late September 2026
White paper deadline expected: June 2026 (date not yet specified)
Based on the FY2026 solicitation
White papers were due July 11, 2025
Full proposals were due October 17, 2025
Awards were anticipated in April 2026
NCI anticipated making 5–15 awards.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include:
Small business concerns eligible for the SBIR program.
Businesses with no more than 500 employees, including affiliates, as required under 13 C.F.R. § 121.702.
Companies proposing technologies aligned with one of the two solicitation topics.
The solicitation states that this is a Total Small Business Set-Aside.
Who is not eligible to apply?
The following are not eligible:
Businesses with more than 500 employees, including affiliates.
Organizations that do not meet SBIR eligibility requirements.
Proposals that fall outside the scope of the solicitation topics.
No additional exclusions are specified in the presolicitation.
What companies and projects are likely to win?
The FY27 presolicitation provides high-level guidance.
Last year's evaluation criteria provide additional insight into what reviewers prioritized:
Innovation (50%) — highly transformative ideas with the potential to change cancer diagnosis, prevention, or treatment.
Scientific rationale and approach (20%) — a strong scientific premise and well-designed proof-of-concept plan.
Commercialization potential (20%) — a credible path toward a future product.
Personnel and resources (10%) — a capable team and appropriate research environment.
How competitive will this solicitation be?
The level of competition is not specified in the presolicitation.
However, the opportunity is a national SBIR competition focused on innovative technologies for pediatric and rare cancers. The inclusion of an optional white paper stage suggests NCI intends to provide early feedback on project fit before full proposal submission.
Are there any restrictions I should know about?
Applicants should note the following:
Only eligible SBIR small businesses may apply.
Businesses must have no more than 500 employees, including affiliates.
Projects must align with one of the two solicitation topics.
Rare cancers are defined according to the FDA Orphan Drug Act as malignancies with a total U.S. prevalence of fewer than 200,000 individuals.
Applicants should support prevalence estimates using authoritative data sources or scientifically justified epidemiologic approximations.
Preliminary data is not required, but proposals must present a sound scientific premise.
Additional requirements may be included in the full solicitation.
How long will it take me to prepare an application?
The presolicitation does not specify application preparation requirements.
Because applicants must define a commercialization pathway, scientific rationale, product development plan, and proof-of-concept experiments, companies should plan to begin preparing well before the anticipated late September proposal deadline.
How can BW&CO help?
BW&CO can help your team:
Evaluate whether your technology fits the solicitation.
Position your innovation around NCI's stated review priorities.
Develop a compelling commercialization strategy.
Build a clear technical development roadmap.
Prepare a competitive SBIR proposal aligned with the solicitation requirements.
Strengthen your proof-of-concept narrative and business case before submission.