U.S. SBA’s Office of Investment and Innovation - Supply Chain Acceleration and Logistics Enablement (SCALE) Program - SBA-OIIGA-26-001
Quick Answer
The Supply Chain Acceleration and Logistics Enablement (SCALE) Program is a new FY 2026 grant opportunity from the U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of Investment and Innovation. SCALE funds organizations that deliver accelerator programming, technical assistance, and industry engagement to help small businesses overcome supply chain barriers in strategically important industries.
Funding Opportunity Number: SBA-OIIGA-26-001
How Much Funding Is Available Through SCALE?
SBA has allocated $9,000,000 in total FY 2026 funding under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026. SBA expects to make approximately 20 awards, each up to $500,000, over a 24-month period of performance. Awards begin September 30, 2026.
When Is the SCALE Program Deadline?
The application window opened July 7, 2026 and closes August 7, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov. Late submissions are rejected without evaluation, and Grants.gov registration alone can take one to two weeks, so organizations should begin the process immediately.
Who Is Eligible to Apply for SCALE Funding?
Eligible applicants are public or private entities, for-profit organizations, nonprofits, or institutions that plan to deliver accelerator programming, technical assistance, or industry engagement supporting small businesses in one of six priority supply chains:
Advanced Manufacturing
Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Supply Chains
Defense Industrial Base Technologies and Components
Energy, Critical Materials, and Industrial Inputs
Food Supply and Agricultural Systems
Transportation, Logistics, and Industrial Infrastructure
Each applicant may submit only one proposal. Organizations must have an active Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) through SAM.gov to register on Grants.gov and receive an award.
Who Is Ineligible for the SCALE Program?
Applications are automatically rejected without evaluation if the organization:
Owes an unresolved financial obligation to the federal government
Is currently suspended or debarred from federal awards
Has an unresolved Single Audit Act deficiency within the past three years
Filed for bankruptcy within the past five years
Proposes to act as a pass-through entity
Was convicted of a federal felony, or had an officer or agent convicted, within the preceding two years
What Does a SCALE Proposal Need to Include?
A complete SCALE application consists of five parts:
Cover Letter (1 page)
Technical Approach and Organizational Qualifications (5 pages each, single-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman)
Attachments and Exhibits, including resumes, consulting agreements, and an organizational chart
Budget Information, including SF-424, SF-424A, a Budget Detail Worksheet, Budget Narrative, Cost Policy Statement, and Indirect Cost Statement
Certification Forms and Assurances, including a recent A-133 audit or financial statements
How Are SCALE Applications Scored?
Applications are evaluated on a 100-point scale:
Technical Approach: 80 points total, covering Supply Chain Challenge and Opportunity (20 points), Small Business Support Programming (45 points), and Key Milestones and Outcomes (15 points)
Organizational Qualifications: 20 points total, covering Organizational Mission and Long-Term Viability (4 points), Project Team and Management Approach (4 points), Data Collection and Performance Management (4 points), and Relevant Experience and Past Performance (8 points)
SBA sets a minimum acceptable score before evaluation begins and also considers overall portfolio balance, meaning a high-scoring proposal can still be passed over if it duplicates the industry focus of another selected applicant. Per Executive Order 14332, SBA gives preference to organizations with lower indirect costs when all else is equal.
How BW&CO Can Help
BW&CO Consulting helps deep-tech, biotech, medtech, healthtech, and defense-adjacent organizations position competitive federal funding applications, including complex multi-part submissions like SCALE. Our team supports technical narrative development, budget structuring, partnership alignment, and Grants.gov submission logistics so applicants can meet the August 7, 2026 deadline with a complete, evaluation-ready package.
Contact BW&CO Consulting to discuss SCALE Program eligibility and proposal strategy.
Additional Resources
Review the solicitation here: Subnet BAA