NIH Highlighted Topic: Implementation Science to Optimize HIV Prevention and Treatment

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is encouraging innovative research focused on implementation strategies to deliver biomedical HIV prevention and treatment options toward ending the HIV epidemic. This highlighted topic aims to advance the uptake and adoption of long-acting therapeutic options, behavioral interventions for viral suppression, and practices that integrate and sustain evidence-based HIV prevention and care across diverse settings.

Effective HIV prevention and treatment tools already exist, but NIH notes that uptake and adoption remain suboptimal, widening the gap between those who benefit from scientific advances and those who don't. NIH is particularly interested in projects that address provider, clinic, and systems-level barriers to adoption, document implementation costs in comparative trials, and engage meaningful partnerships with communities, public health providers, and people living with or impacted by HIV from idea generation through dissemination. As people with HIV age and experience more comorbid conditions, implementation research addressing this intersection is a growing priority.

Areas of interest include integrating cancer control interventions and care coordination into HIV healthcare settings, overcoming barriers to HIV intervention adoption among older adults, combining alcohol-focused behavioral and pharmacological interventions given elevated Alcohol Use Disorder rates among people with HIV, preparing for implementation of next-generation interventions like long-acting injectable antiretroviral therapy, scaling up evidence-based strategies from single sites to county- or state-wide catchment areas, addressing HIV and oral disease burden through cross-sector community partnerships, and developing female-specific and dual-purpose HIV prevention modalities and community-led implementation projects for women across the life course.

Note: as with prior topics, this is a Highlighted Topic rather than a standalone NOFO, so applicants apply through an appropriate NIH Parent Funding Announcement or other broad opportunity on Grants.gov rather than a dedicated solicitation with its own SBIR/STTR dollar figures.

This highlighted topic is supported by an especially broad coalition of ICOs, including the Office of AIDS Research (OAR), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), NICHD, National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), National Library of Medicine (NLM), Office of Disease Prevention (ODP), Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP), and Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH), reflecting the scale of NIH's coordinated effort to end the HIV epidemic through real-world implementation research.

How much funding would I receive?

Awards provide up to $323,090 for Phase I projects (up to 2 years) and $2,153,927 for Phase II projects (up to 3 years). Some topics approved by NIH may exceed these limits. Fast-Track and Phase IIB (follow-on) options allow continuous or extended funding beyond Phase II.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding may support the research, development, validation, and commercialization of technologies, clinical tools, software platforms, and evidence-based interventions related to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

Eligible activities may include:

• Development of speech-generating devices and AAC communication platforms

• AI and machine learning tools for adaptive communication support

• Personalized AAC assessment and recommendation systems

• Precision measurement tools for tracking communication outcomes

• Digital health platforms supporting AAC users and caregivers

• Literacy instruction technologies for AAC users

• Mobile applications supporting non-speaking and minimally verbal individuals

• Predictive analytics and communication profiling systems

• User-centered design and accessibility research for AAC technologies

• Tools supporting communication partner engagement and training

• Clinical software for AAC implementation and therapy management

• Mixed-methods research platforms for communication needs analysis

• Technologies supporting lifelong AAC adaptation and personalization

• Remote monitoring and telehealth solutions for speech and communication therapy

• Assistive technologies supporting autism, ALS, cerebral palsy, and related conditions

• Research evaluating quality-of-life and well-being outcomes for AAC users

• Prototype development, validation studies, and usability testing

• Commercialization planning and implementation strategy development

Funding may also support personnel, software development, usability studies, clinical testing, cloud infrastructure, AI model development, accessibility design, data collection, intellectual property protection, regulatory preparation, and commercialization activities necessary to advance a scalable and commercially viable AAC solution aligned with NIH priorities.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond the formal funding award, awardees gain several strategic advantages:

• Government Validation and Credibility:
  Being selected for an NIH-backed SBIR grant signals technical excellence and alignment with national health and biomedical priorities. This validation builds investor and partner confidence.

• Enhanced Visibility and Market Recognition:
  Awardees are featured in NIH and HHS announcements, helping attract partnerships, media attention, and future contracting opportunities.

• Access to the Federal Innovation Ecosystem:
  Recipients join a national network of researchers and agencies advancing life science innovation, often opening doors to collaborations with NIH laboratories and federal health programs.

• Stronger Commercial and Exit Potential:
  By maturing technology through nondilutive funding, companies strengthen valuation, de-risk commercialization, and increase attractiveness for acquisition or follow-on private investment.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Applications are accepted each year on January 5th, April 5th, and September 5th. Funding is received approximately 9 months after submission.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with statutory set-asides requiring NIH, CDC, and FDA to devote portions of their extramural R&D budgets (3.2% for SBIR, 0.45% for STTR) to support small business innovation.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must be U.S. small business concerns (SBCs) that:

• Are organized for profit with a U.S. place of business.

• Have ≤ 500 employees including affiliates.

• Are > 50% owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents, qualifying U.S. entities, or combinations thereof.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Projects that demonstrate:

• A clear unmet medical or public-health need,

• Strong scientific rationale and feasibility,

• High commercialization potential, supported by a realistic market and regulatory strategy, and

• Alignment with an NIH Institute’s or CDC/FDA Center’s specific research mission (e.g., infectious disease, digital health, diagnostics, therapeutics, or data analytics).

Competitive applicants often have an early prototype, preliminary data, and a defined path to market adoption.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Companies must complete multiple federal registrations (SAM.gov, Grants.gov, eRA Commons, SBA Company Registry) before applying.

• Foreign entities are not eligible.

• Disclosure of foreign affiliations and compliance with national security screening are mandatory. Currently we do not recommend any sort of foreign affiliation.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive submission will likely take 120–200 hours in total.

How can BW&CO help?

Our team specializes in complex federal R&D proposals and can:

• Triple your likelihood of success through proven strategy and insider-aligned proposal development

• Reduce your time spent on the proposal by 50–80%, letting your team focus on technology and operations

• Ensure you are targeting the best opportunity for your project and positioning your company for long-term growth.

Review solicitation here.

NIH Highlighted Topic: Environmental Contributors to Infertility

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is encouraging innovative research focused on how environmental exposures contribute to infertility in males and females, including longer time to conception and pregnancy loss. This highlighted topic aims to advance understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which hazardous physical, chemical, and biological agents disrupt reproductive function, and to support development of tools to identify and mitigate that risk.

Environmental exposures have been linked to declining male fertility through impaired sperm count, quality, hormonal balance, and genetic integrity, while conditions such as endometriosis, polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (formerly PCOS), and uterine fibroids are common female-specific conditions tied to environmental and endocrine-disrupting exposures. NIH is particularly interested in projects spanning fundamental mechanisms, epigenetics and small RNA regulation of germ cell development, New Approach Methodologies such as organoids and organ-on-chip systems, exposure science and biomonitoring, extracellular vesicle signaling in reproductive communication, and assisted reproductive technology outcomes in exposed populations.

Areas of interest include characterizing known and emerging exposures such as pesticides and micro/nanoplastics in fertility-relevant biological samples, defining core signaling pathways and DNA repair mechanisms governing gametogenesis and meiosis, applying sex as a biological variable to uncover hormonal disruption and oxidative stress pathways affecting implantation and ovarian reserve, studying autoimmune diseases linked to infertility such as autoimmune oophoritis and antiphospholipid syndrome, and examining environmental exposures and reproductive health disparities among American Indian and Alaska Native communities through culturally grounded, Tribe-specific research.

Note: as with prior topics, this is a Highlighted Topic rather than a standalone NOFO, so applicants apply through an appropriate NIH Parent Funding Announcement or other broad opportunity on Grants.gov rather than a dedicated solicitation with its own SBIR/STTR dollar figures.

This highlighted topic is supported primarily by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), with additional participation from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH), and the Tribal Health Research Office (THRO), all of which are seeking mechanistic and exposure-based research into environmental drivers of infertility.

How much funding would I receive?

Awards provide up to $323,090 for Phase I projects (up to 2 years) and $2,153,927 for Phase II projects (up to 3 years). Some topics approved by NIH may exceed these limits. Fast-Track and Phase IIB (follow-on) options allow continuous or extended funding beyond Phase II.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding may support the research, development, validation, and commercialization of technologies, clinical tools, software platforms, and evidence-based interventions related to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

Eligible activities may include:

• Development of speech-generating devices and AAC communication platforms

• AI and machine learning tools for adaptive communication support

• Personalized AAC assessment and recommendation systems

• Precision measurement tools for tracking communication outcomes

• Digital health platforms supporting AAC users and caregivers

• Literacy instruction technologies for AAC users

• Mobile applications supporting non-speaking and minimally verbal individuals

• Predictive analytics and communication profiling systems

• User-centered design and accessibility research for AAC technologies

• Tools supporting communication partner engagement and training

• Clinical software for AAC implementation and therapy management

• Mixed-methods research platforms for communication needs analysis

• Technologies supporting lifelong AAC adaptation and personalization

• Remote monitoring and telehealth solutions for speech and communication therapy

• Assistive technologies supporting autism, ALS, cerebral palsy, and related conditions

• Research evaluating quality-of-life and well-being outcomes for AAC users

• Prototype development, validation studies, and usability testing

• Commercialization planning and implementation strategy development

Funding may also support personnel, software development, usability studies, clinical testing, cloud infrastructure, AI model development, accessibility design, data collection, intellectual property protection, regulatory preparation, and commercialization activities necessary to advance a scalable and commercially viable AAC solution aligned with NIH priorities.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond the formal funding award, awardees gain several strategic advantages:

• Government Validation and Credibility:
  Being selected for an NIH-backed SBIR grant signals technical excellence and alignment with national health and biomedical priorities. This validation builds investor and partner confidence.

• Enhanced Visibility and Market Recognition:
  Awardees are featured in NIH and HHS announcements, helping attract partnerships, media attention, and future contracting opportunities.

• Access to the Federal Innovation Ecosystem:
  Recipients join a national network of researchers and agencies advancing life science innovation, often opening doors to collaborations with NIH laboratories and federal health programs.

• Stronger Commercial and Exit Potential:
  By maturing technology through nondilutive funding, companies strengthen valuation, de-risk commercialization, and increase attractiveness for acquisition or follow-on private investment.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Applications are accepted each year on January 5th, April 5th, and September 5th. Funding is received approximately 9 months after submission.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with statutory set-asides requiring NIH, CDC, and FDA to devote portions of their extramural R&D budgets (3.2% for SBIR, 0.45% for STTR) to support small business innovation.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must be U.S. small business concerns (SBCs) that:

• Are organized for profit with a U.S. place of business.

• Have ≤ 500 employees including affiliates.

• Are > 50% owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents, qualifying U.S. entities, or combinations thereof.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Projects that demonstrate:

• A clear unmet medical or public-health need,

• Strong scientific rationale and feasibility,

• High commercialization potential, supported by a realistic market and regulatory strategy, and

• Alignment with an NIH Institute’s or CDC/FDA Center’s specific research mission (e.g., infectious disease, digital health, diagnostics, therapeutics, or data analytics).

Competitive applicants often have an early prototype, preliminary data, and a defined path to market adoption.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Companies must complete multiple federal registrations (SAM.gov, Grants.gov, eRA Commons, SBA Company Registry) before applying.

• Foreign entities are not eligible.

• Disclosure of foreign affiliations and compliance with national security screening are mandatory. Currently we do not recommend any sort of foreign affiliation.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive submission will likely take 120–200 hours in total.

How can BW&CO help?

Our team specializes in complex federal R&D proposals and can:

• Triple your likelihood of success through proven strategy and insider-aligned proposal development

• Reduce your time spent on the proposal by 50–80%, letting your team focus on technology and operations

• Ensure you are targeting the best opportunity for your project and positioning your company for long-term growth.

Review solicitation here.

NIH Highlighted Topic: Integrating Environmental Science and Engineering with Biomedical Research for Effective Exposure Prevention and Disease Intervention

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is encouraging innovative research focused on multidisciplinary team science that pairs environmental science and engineering (ESE) innovators with biomedical researchers to prevent harmful chemical exposures and reduce disease burden. This highlighted topic aims to close the gap between technologies that remove contaminants from water, air, and soil and the biomedical research needed to validate that these solutions actually reduce toxicity and health risk.

Humans are routinely exposed to mixtures of chemicals, including heavy metals, PFAS, pesticides, and phthalates, through air, water, food, and everyday products, and NIH notes these harmful exposures pose risks across the entire lifespan. NIH is particularly interested in team-based projects where ESE researchers develop exposure-reduction or sensor technologies while biomedical researchers evaluate their effectiveness through validated toxicology models, or where communities affected by hazardous substances partner directly with biomonitoring teams and sensor developers to refine exposure measurement.

Areas of interest include hypothesis-driven research to reduce the amount and toxicity of hazardous substances in environmental media, developing sensor technologies for improved personal and community exposure monitoring, confirming hazard reduction through novel toxicology assays and internal dose biomonitoring, improved clean-up and monitoring approaches at Superfund and other hazardous substance sites, and interdisciplinary research to detect, characterize, and remediate chemical mixtures with attention to sex-specific biology, women-relevant health outcomes, and autoimmune disease risk across the lifespan.

Note: as with prior topics, this is a Highlighted Topic rather than a standalone NOFO, so applicants apply through an appropriate NIH Parent Funding Announcement or other broad opportunity on Grants.gov rather than a dedicated solicitation with its own SBIR/STTR dollar figures.

This highlighted topic is supported primarily by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), including its Superfund Research Program, with additional participation from the Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH), both of which are seeking team-based ESE/biomedical collaborations that translate exposure-reduction technology into measurable health impact.

How much funding would I receive?

Awards provide up to $323,090 for Phase I projects (up to 2 years) and $2,153,927 for Phase II projects (up to 3 years). Some topics approved by NIH may exceed these limits. Fast-Track and Phase IIB (follow-on) options allow continuous or extended funding beyond Phase II.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding may support the research, development, validation, and commercialization of technologies, clinical tools, software platforms, and evidence-based interventions related to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

Eligible activities may include:

• Development of speech-generating devices and AAC communication platforms

• AI and machine learning tools for adaptive communication support

• Personalized AAC assessment and recommendation systems

• Precision measurement tools for tracking communication outcomes

• Digital health platforms supporting AAC users and caregivers

• Literacy instruction technologies for AAC users

• Mobile applications supporting non-speaking and minimally verbal individuals

• Predictive analytics and communication profiling systems

• User-centered design and accessibility research for AAC technologies

• Tools supporting communication partner engagement and training

• Clinical software for AAC implementation and therapy management

• Mixed-methods research platforms for communication needs analysis

• Technologies supporting lifelong AAC adaptation and personalization

• Remote monitoring and telehealth solutions for speech and communication therapy

• Assistive technologies supporting autism, ALS, cerebral palsy, and related conditions

• Research evaluating quality-of-life and well-being outcomes for AAC users

• Prototype development, validation studies, and usability testing

• Commercialization planning and implementation strategy development

Funding may also support personnel, software development, usability studies, clinical testing, cloud infrastructure, AI model development, accessibility design, data collection, intellectual property protection, regulatory preparation, and commercialization activities necessary to advance a scalable and commercially viable AAC solution aligned with NIH priorities.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond the formal funding award, awardees gain several strategic advantages:

• Government Validation and Credibility:
  Being selected for an NIH-backed SBIR grant signals technical excellence and alignment with national health and biomedical priorities. This validation builds investor and partner confidence.

• Enhanced Visibility and Market Recognition:
  Awardees are featured in NIH and HHS announcements, helping attract partnerships, media attention, and future contracting opportunities.

• Access to the Federal Innovation Ecosystem:
  Recipients join a national network of researchers and agencies advancing life science innovation, often opening doors to collaborations with NIH laboratories and federal health programs.

• Stronger Commercial and Exit Potential:
  By maturing technology through nondilutive funding, companies strengthen valuation, de-risk commercialization, and increase attractiveness for acquisition or follow-on private investment.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Applications are accepted each year on January 5th, April 5th, and September 5th. Funding is received approximately 9 months after submission.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with statutory set-asides requiring NIH, CDC, and FDA to devote portions of their extramural R&D budgets (3.2% for SBIR, 0.45% for STTR) to support small business innovation.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must be U.S. small business concerns (SBCs) that:

• Are organized for profit with a U.S. place of business.

• Have ≤ 500 employees including affiliates.

• Are > 50% owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents, qualifying U.S. entities, or combinations thereof.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Projects that demonstrate:

• A clear unmet medical or public-health need,

• Strong scientific rationale and feasibility,

• High commercialization potential, supported by a realistic market and regulatory strategy, and

• Alignment with an NIH Institute’s or CDC/FDA Center’s specific research mission (e.g., infectious disease, digital health, diagnostics, therapeutics, or data analytics).

Competitive applicants often have an early prototype, preliminary data, and a defined path to market adoption.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Companies must complete multiple federal registrations (SAM.gov, Grants.gov, eRA Commons, SBA Company Registry) before applying.

• Foreign entities are not eligible.

• Disclosure of foreign affiliations and compliance with national security screening are mandatory. Currently we do not recommend any sort of foreign affiliation.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive submission will likely take 120–200 hours in total.

How can BW&CO help?

Our team specializes in complex federal R&D proposals and can:

• Triple your likelihood of success through proven strategy and insider-aligned proposal development

• Reduce your time spent on the proposal by 50–80%, letting your team focus on technology and operations

• Ensure you are targeting the best opportunity for your project and positioning your company for long-term growth.

Review solicitation here.

NIH Highlighted Topic: Computational Modeling of Complex Processes Across Biological Scales

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is encouraging innovative research focused on developing multiscale computational models that integrate biological processes across spatial and temporal levels, from molecular to organismal to epidemiologic scales. This highlighted topic aims to build a collaborative research community that improves the replicability and reproducibility of these models, advancing their reuse across the biomedical research enterprise.

Multiscale computational models offer a comprehensive understanding of complex systems by revealing how molecular and cellular interactions influence larger population-, geographical-, or global-scale phenomena. NIH is particularly interested in projects that leverage these models as Novel Alternative Methods (NAMs) to investigate the mechanism and safety of medical interventions in preclinical, translational, and clinical development, reducing reliance on animal studies while accelerating discovery.

Areas of interest include modeling infection and transmission mechanisms and immune system regulation for allergic and infectious diseases, developing whole-person computational frameworks for complementary and integrative health outcomes, building scalable modeling capabilities for cancer biomarker discovery and patient stratification, integrating sex differences and heterogeneous data to simulate heart, lung, blood, and sleep disease trajectories, modeling aging clocks and hallmark interactions relevant to Alzheimer's disease, linking molecular changes to systemic effects in alcohol use disorder and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, developing brain-body models of substance use disorder and HIV, modeling dental and craniofacial disease processes from molecular to population levels, and building digital phenotypes that mechanistically link genetic and circuit-level processes to mental health outcomes.

Note: as with prior topics, this is a Highlighted Topic rather than a standalone NOFO, so applicants apply through an appropriate NIH Parent Funding Announcement or other broad opportunity on Grants.gov rather than a dedicated solicitation with its own SBIR/STTR dollar figures.

This highlighted topic is supported by an unusually broad coalition of ICOs, including the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Library of Medicine (NLM), Office of Data Science Strategy (ODSS), and Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH), reflecting how foundational multiscale modeling has become across nearly every corner of NIH's research mission.

How much funding would I receive?

Awards provide up to $323,090 for Phase I projects (up to 2 years) and $2,153,927 for Phase II projects (up to 3 years). Some topics approved by NIH may exceed these limits. Fast-Track and Phase IIB (follow-on) options allow continuous or extended funding beyond Phase II.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding may support the research, development, validation, and commercialization of technologies, clinical tools, software platforms, and evidence-based interventions related to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

Eligible activities may include:

• Development of speech-generating devices and AAC communication platforms

• AI and machine learning tools for adaptive communication support

• Personalized AAC assessment and recommendation systems

• Precision measurement tools for tracking communication outcomes

• Digital health platforms supporting AAC users and caregivers

• Literacy instruction technologies for AAC users

• Mobile applications supporting non-speaking and minimally verbal individuals

• Predictive analytics and communication profiling systems

• User-centered design and accessibility research for AAC technologies

• Tools supporting communication partner engagement and training

• Clinical software for AAC implementation and therapy management

• Mixed-methods research platforms for communication needs analysis

• Technologies supporting lifelong AAC adaptation and personalization

• Remote monitoring and telehealth solutions for speech and communication therapy

• Assistive technologies supporting autism, ALS, cerebral palsy, and related conditions

• Research evaluating quality-of-life and well-being outcomes for AAC users

• Prototype development, validation studies, and usability testing

• Commercialization planning and implementation strategy development

Funding may also support personnel, software development, usability studies, clinical testing, cloud infrastructure, AI model development, accessibility design, data collection, intellectual property protection, regulatory preparation, and commercialization activities necessary to advance a scalable and commercially viable AAC solution aligned with NIH priorities.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond the formal funding award, awardees gain several strategic advantages:

• Government Validation and Credibility:
  Being selected for an NIH-backed SBIR grant signals technical excellence and alignment with national health and biomedical priorities. This validation builds investor and partner confidence.

• Enhanced Visibility and Market Recognition:
  Awardees are featured in NIH and HHS announcements, helping attract partnerships, media attention, and future contracting opportunities.

• Access to the Federal Innovation Ecosystem:
  Recipients join a national network of researchers and agencies advancing life science innovation, often opening doors to collaborations with NIH laboratories and federal health programs.

• Stronger Commercial and Exit Potential:
  By maturing technology through nondilutive funding, companies strengthen valuation, de-risk commercialization, and increase attractiveness for acquisition or follow-on private investment.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Applications are accepted each year on January 5th, April 5th, and September 5th. Funding is received approximately 9 months after submission.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with statutory set-asides requiring NIH, CDC, and FDA to devote portions of their extramural R&D budgets (3.2% for SBIR, 0.45% for STTR) to support small business innovation.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must be U.S. small business concerns (SBCs) that:

• Are organized for profit with a U.S. place of business.

• Have ≤ 500 employees including affiliates.

• Are > 50% owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents, qualifying U.S. entities, or combinations thereof.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Projects that demonstrate:

• A clear unmet medical or public-health need,

• Strong scientific rationale and feasibility,

• High commercialization potential, supported by a realistic market and regulatory strategy, and

• Alignment with an NIH Institute’s or CDC/FDA Center’s specific research mission (e.g., infectious disease, digital health, diagnostics, therapeutics, or data analytics).

Competitive applicants often have an early prototype, preliminary data, and a defined path to market adoption.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Companies must complete multiple federal registrations (SAM.gov, Grants.gov, eRA Commons, SBA Company Registry) before applying.

• Foreign entities are not eligible.

• Disclosure of foreign affiliations and compliance with national security screening are mandatory. Currently we do not recommend any sort of foreign affiliation.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive submission will likely take 120–200 hours in total.

How can BW&CO help?

Our team specializes in complex federal R&D proposals and can:

• Triple your likelihood of success through proven strategy and insider-aligned proposal development

• Reduce your time spent on the proposal by 50–80%, letting your team focus on technology and operations

• Ensure you are targeting the best opportunity for your project and positioning your company for long-term growth.

Review solicitation here.

NIH Highlighted Topic: Health and Extreme Weather: Advancing Critical Research to Address the Direct and Indirect Health Impacts of Weather-Related Natural Disasters and Emerging Weather-Related Harms

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is encouraging innovative research focused on understanding and mitigating the direct and indirect health impacts of extreme weather, weather-related natural disasters, and emerging weather-related harms. This highlighted topic, part of the NIH Health and Extreme Weather (HEW) Program, aims to advance mechanistic research, interventions, and prevention strategies that protect communities and populations at heightened risk for mortality, chronic disease, and lifelong health impacts.

The HEW Program's scope spans temperature and precipitation extremes, wildfires, hurricanes, droughts, floods, heatwaves, harmful algal blooms, and snowpack loss, along with weather's downstream influence on other environmental exposures. NIH is particularly interested in projects spanning the full translational continuum, from in vivo, in vitro, and in silico mechanistic models to evidence-based interventions, with strong emphasis on populations at heightened risk such as children, pregnant women, outdoor workers, older adults, military personnel, and those with limited economic resources. Methods to aggregate and link health and weather-related data, along with training and community engagement, are also priorities.

Areas of interest include characterizing weather-related environmental exposures like airborne pollutants and heavy metals within the broader exposome, understanding extreme weather's effects on cancer risk and treatment delivery for patients and survivors, studying cumulative environmental exposure impacts on heart, lung, blood, and sleep conditions, examining how extreme weather affects aging processes and caregiver wellbeing, investigating weather-related variations in infectious and allergic disease incidence and severity, identifying biomarkers linking extreme weather to flares in arthritis, lupus, and skin conditions, measuring mental health impacts of extreme weather on children and at-risk populations, addressing health disparities in outdoor workers and rural or coastal residents, and evaluating how extreme weather and displacement affect women's health across reproductive stages.

Note: as with prior topics, this is a Highlighted Topic rather than a standalone NOFO, so applicants apply through an appropriate NIH Parent Funding Announcement or other broad opportunity on Grants.gov rather than a dedicated solicitation with its own SBIR/STTR dollar figures.

This highlighted topic is supported by an unusually broad coalition of ICOs, including the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR), Office of Disease Prevention (ODP), and Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH), reflecting how far-reaching extreme weather's health impacts are across NIH's research mission.

How much funding would I receive?

Awards provide up to $323,090 for Phase I projects (up to 2 years) and $2,153,927 for Phase II projects (up to 3 years). Some topics approved by NIH may exceed these limits. Fast-Track and Phase IIB (follow-on) options allow continuous or extended funding beyond Phase II.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding may support the research, development, validation, and commercialization of technologies, clinical tools, software platforms, and evidence-based interventions related to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

Eligible activities may include:

• Development of speech-generating devices and AAC communication platforms

• AI and machine learning tools for adaptive communication support

• Personalized AAC assessment and recommendation systems

• Precision measurement tools for tracking communication outcomes

• Digital health platforms supporting AAC users and caregivers

• Literacy instruction technologies for AAC users

• Mobile applications supporting non-speaking and minimally verbal individuals

• Predictive analytics and communication profiling systems

• User-centered design and accessibility research for AAC technologies

• Tools supporting communication partner engagement and training

• Clinical software for AAC implementation and therapy management

• Mixed-methods research platforms for communication needs analysis

• Technologies supporting lifelong AAC adaptation and personalization

• Remote monitoring and telehealth solutions for speech and communication therapy

• Assistive technologies supporting autism, ALS, cerebral palsy, and related conditions

• Research evaluating quality-of-life and well-being outcomes for AAC users

• Prototype development, validation studies, and usability testing

• Commercialization planning and implementation strategy development

Funding may also support personnel, software development, usability studies, clinical testing, cloud infrastructure, AI model development, accessibility design, data collection, intellectual property protection, regulatory preparation, and commercialization activities necessary to advance a scalable and commercially viable AAC solution aligned with NIH priorities.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond the formal funding award, awardees gain several strategic advantages:

• Government Validation and Credibility:
  Being selected for an NIH-backed SBIR grant signals technical excellence and alignment with national health and biomedical priorities. This validation builds investor and partner confidence.

• Enhanced Visibility and Market Recognition:
  Awardees are featured in NIH and HHS announcements, helping attract partnerships, media attention, and future contracting opportunities.

• Access to the Federal Innovation Ecosystem:
  Recipients join a national network of researchers and agencies advancing life science innovation, often opening doors to collaborations with NIH laboratories and federal health programs.

• Stronger Commercial and Exit Potential:
  By maturing technology through nondilutive funding, companies strengthen valuation, de-risk commercialization, and increase attractiveness for acquisition or follow-on private investment.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Applications are accepted each year on January 5th, April 5th, and September 5th. Funding is received approximately 9 months after submission.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with statutory set-asides requiring NIH, CDC, and FDA to devote portions of their extramural R&D budgets (3.2% for SBIR, 0.45% for STTR) to support small business innovation.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must be U.S. small business concerns (SBCs) that:

• Are organized for profit with a U.S. place of business.

• Have ≤ 500 employees including affiliates.

• Are > 50% owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents, qualifying U.S. entities, or combinations thereof.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Projects that demonstrate:

• A clear unmet medical or public-health need,

• Strong scientific rationale and feasibility,

• High commercialization potential, supported by a realistic market and regulatory strategy, and

• Alignment with an NIH Institute’s or CDC/FDA Center’s specific research mission (e.g., infectious disease, digital health, diagnostics, therapeutics, or data analytics).

Competitive applicants often have an early prototype, preliminary data, and a defined path to market adoption.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Companies must complete multiple federal registrations (SAM.gov, Grants.gov, eRA Commons, SBA Company Registry) before applying.

• Foreign entities are not eligible.

• Disclosure of foreign affiliations and compliance with national security screening are mandatory. Currently we do not recommend any sort of foreign affiliation.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive submission will likely take 120–200 hours in total.

How can BW&CO help?

Our team specializes in complex federal R&D proposals and can:

• Triple your likelihood of success through proven strategy and insider-aligned proposal development

• Reduce your time spent on the proposal by 50–80%, letting your team focus on technology and operations

• Ensure you are targeting the best opportunity for your project and positioning your company for long-term growth.

Review solicitation here.

NIH Highlighted Topic: Enhancing Data Usage and Utility to Advance Biomedical Research

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is encouraging innovative research focused on maximizing the utilization of publicly accessible, high-quality datasets to enhance reproducibility, enable data-driven hypothesis generation, and accelerate scientific discovery. This highlighted topic aims to advance computational methods, novel biostatistical approaches, and privacy-preserving strategies that turn NIH's substantial investments in data infrastructure and FAIR data management into improved disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

NIH notes that while multiple institutes have independently invested in demonstrating the value of data sharing and reuse, greater strategic alignment and coordination across NIH is needed to address ongoing data underutilization. NIH is particularly interested in projects that develop AI/ML methods for data discovery and integration across distributed ecosystems, enhance rigor and reproducibility through cross-cohort validation, and implement privacy-preserving strategies such as federated learning and differential privacy to enable responsible data sharing.

Areas of interest include secondary analyses elucidating tumor initiation and therapeutic resistance mechanisms, harmonizing eye imaging modalities across devices and institutions, leveraging genomic and multi-omic datasets to improve rare disease diagnostic yield, secondary analyses of longitudinal cohorts to identify drivers of Alzheimer's disease and aging-related conditions, integrating clinical and omics data using established cohorts like All of Us and ABCD to study alcohol use disorder, harmonizing datasets for arthritis and musculoskeletal disease research, leveraging environmental exposure and geospatial data for exposome characterization, and incorporating sex as a biological variable and developing female-specific common data elements across research designs.

Note: as with prior topics, this is a Highlighted Topic rather than a standalone NOFO, so applicants apply through an appropriate NIH Parent Funding Announcement or other broad opportunity on Grants.gov rather than a dedicated solicitation with its own SBIR/STTR dollar figures.

This highlighted topic is supported by an unusually broad coalition of ICOs, including the National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), National Eye Institute (NEI), National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Library of Medicine (NLM), Office of Data Science Strategy (ODSS), and Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH), reflecting how central secondary data analysis and data infrastructure have become across nearly every NIH institute's research priorities.

How much funding would I receive?

Awards provide up to $323,090 for Phase I projects (up to 2 years) and $2,153,927 for Phase II projects (up to 3 years). Some topics approved by NIH may exceed these limits. Fast-Track and Phase IIB (follow-on) options allow continuous or extended funding beyond Phase II.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding may support the research, development, validation, and commercialization of technologies, clinical tools, software platforms, and evidence-based interventions related to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

Eligible activities may include:

• Development of speech-generating devices and AAC communication platforms

• AI and machine learning tools for adaptive communication support

• Personalized AAC assessment and recommendation systems

• Precision measurement tools for tracking communication outcomes

• Digital health platforms supporting AAC users and caregivers

• Literacy instruction technologies for AAC users

• Mobile applications supporting non-speaking and minimally verbal individuals

• Predictive analytics and communication profiling systems

• User-centered design and accessibility research for AAC technologies

• Tools supporting communication partner engagement and training

• Clinical software for AAC implementation and therapy management

• Mixed-methods research platforms for communication needs analysis

• Technologies supporting lifelong AAC adaptation and personalization

• Remote monitoring and telehealth solutions for speech and communication therapy

• Assistive technologies supporting autism, ALS, cerebral palsy, and related conditions

• Research evaluating quality-of-life and well-being outcomes for AAC users

• Prototype development, validation studies, and usability testing

• Commercialization planning and implementation strategy development

Funding may also support personnel, software development, usability studies, clinical testing, cloud infrastructure, AI model development, accessibility design, data collection, intellectual property protection, regulatory preparation, and commercialization activities necessary to advance a scalable and commercially viable AAC solution aligned with NIH priorities.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond the formal funding award, awardees gain several strategic advantages:

• Government Validation and Credibility:
  Being selected for an NIH-backed SBIR grant signals technical excellence and alignment with national health and biomedical priorities. This validation builds investor and partner confidence.

• Enhanced Visibility and Market Recognition:
  Awardees are featured in NIH and HHS announcements, helping attract partnerships, media attention, and future contracting opportunities.

• Access to the Federal Innovation Ecosystem:
  Recipients join a national network of researchers and agencies advancing life science innovation, often opening doors to collaborations with NIH laboratories and federal health programs.

• Stronger Commercial and Exit Potential:
  By maturing technology through nondilutive funding, companies strengthen valuation, de-risk commercialization, and increase attractiveness for acquisition or follow-on private investment.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Applications are accepted each year on January 5th, April 5th, and September 5th. Funding is received approximately 9 months after submission.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with statutory set-asides requiring NIH, CDC, and FDA to devote portions of their extramural R&D budgets (3.2% for SBIR, 0.45% for STTR) to support small business innovation.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must be U.S. small business concerns (SBCs) that:

• Are organized for profit with a U.S. place of business.

• Have ≤ 500 employees including affiliates.

• Are > 50% owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents, qualifying U.S. entities, or combinations thereof.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Projects that demonstrate:

• A clear unmet medical or public-health need,

• Strong scientific rationale and feasibility,

• High commercialization potential, supported by a realistic market and regulatory strategy, and

• Alignment with an NIH Institute’s or CDC/FDA Center’s specific research mission (e.g., infectious disease, digital health, diagnostics, therapeutics, or data analytics).

Competitive applicants often have an early prototype, preliminary data, and a defined path to market adoption.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Companies must complete multiple federal registrations (SAM.gov, Grants.gov, eRA Commons, SBA Company Registry) before applying.

• Foreign entities are not eligible.

• Disclosure of foreign affiliations and compliance with national security screening are mandatory. Currently we do not recommend any sort of foreign affiliation.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive submission will likely take 120–200 hours in total.

How can BW&CO help?

Our team specializes in complex federal R&D proposals and can:

• Triple your likelihood of success through proven strategy and insider-aligned proposal development

• Reduce your time spent on the proposal by 50–80%, letting your team focus on technology and operations

• Ensure you are targeting the best opportunity for your project and positioning your company for long-term growth.

Review solicitation here.

NIH Highlighted Topic: Behavioral and Cognitive Signals of Aging in Real-World Contexts

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is encouraging innovative research focused on identifying reproducible, interpretable behavioral and cognitive signals from real-world data to advance understanding of aging, disease progression, and functional decline. This highlighted topic aims to translate computational models of temporally structured human behavior into life span developmental and aging research through the development of "cognitive vital signs" and behavioral pattern analysis.

Recent computational advances have highlighted the value of studying recurring behavioral patterns, such as sequences, transitions, and rhythms of daily activity, rather than isolated events or aggregate summary measures. NIH notes that growing interest in continuous, real-world cognitive assessment has motivated development of longitudinal indicators derived from everyday behavior, speech, and interaction patterns that complement traditional clinic-based assessments. NIH is particularly interested in projects that ensure these behavioral and cognitive signals are interpretable, robust, and valid across diverse real-world settings, populations, and contexts.

Areas of interest include characterizing recurring behavioral patterns like sleep-wake cycles, navigation routines, and social interaction rhythms as indicators of functional change with aging, developing and validating cognitive vital signs from speech, response timing, and repeated task performance, building computational methods to extract and compare temporally structured behavioral patterns, detecting early or preclinical stages of dementia through subtle daily cognition changes, identifying behavioral signals linked to cancer-related cognitive impairment and accelerated aging in survivors, and validating interpretable digital biomarkers from passive sensing and speech for mental health risk and resilience.

Note: as with prior topics, this is a Highlighted Topic rather than a standalone NOFO, so applicants apply through an appropriate NIH Parent Funding Announcement or other broad opportunity on Grants.gov rather than a dedicated solicitation with its own SBIR/STTR dollar figures.

This highlighted topic is supported primarily by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), with additional participation from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR), and National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), all of which are seeking research that translates real-world behavioral and cognitive signals into meaningful markers of aging, disease, and functional change.

How much funding would I receive?

Awards provide up to $323,090 for Phase I projects (up to 2 years) and $2,153,927 for Phase II projects (up to 3 years). Some topics approved by NIH may exceed these limits. Fast-Track and Phase IIB (follow-on) options allow continuous or extended funding beyond Phase II.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding may support the research, development, validation, and commercialization of technologies, clinical tools, software platforms, and evidence-based interventions related to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

Eligible activities may include:

• Development of speech-generating devices and AAC communication platforms

• AI and machine learning tools for adaptive communication support

• Personalized AAC assessment and recommendation systems

• Precision measurement tools for tracking communication outcomes

• Digital health platforms supporting AAC users and caregivers

• Literacy instruction technologies for AAC users

• Mobile applications supporting non-speaking and minimally verbal individuals

• Predictive analytics and communication profiling systems

• User-centered design and accessibility research for AAC technologies

• Tools supporting communication partner engagement and training

• Clinical software for AAC implementation and therapy management

• Mixed-methods research platforms for communication needs analysis

• Technologies supporting lifelong AAC adaptation and personalization

• Remote monitoring and telehealth solutions for speech and communication therapy

• Assistive technologies supporting autism, ALS, cerebral palsy, and related conditions

• Research evaluating quality-of-life and well-being outcomes for AAC users

• Prototype development, validation studies, and usability testing

• Commercialization planning and implementation strategy development

Funding may also support personnel, software development, usability studies, clinical testing, cloud infrastructure, AI model development, accessibility design, data collection, intellectual property protection, regulatory preparation, and commercialization activities necessary to advance a scalable and commercially viable AAC solution aligned with NIH priorities.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond the formal funding award, awardees gain several strategic advantages:

• Government Validation and Credibility:
  Being selected for an NIH-backed SBIR grant signals technical excellence and alignment with national health and biomedical priorities. This validation builds investor and partner confidence.

• Enhanced Visibility and Market Recognition:
  Awardees are featured in NIH and HHS announcements, helping attract partnerships, media attention, and future contracting opportunities.

• Access to the Federal Innovation Ecosystem:
  Recipients join a national network of researchers and agencies advancing life science innovation, often opening doors to collaborations with NIH laboratories and federal health programs.

• Stronger Commercial and Exit Potential:
  By maturing technology through nondilutive funding, companies strengthen valuation, de-risk commercialization, and increase attractiveness for acquisition or follow-on private investment.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Applications are accepted each year on January 5th, April 5th, and September 5th. Funding is received approximately 9 months after submission.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with statutory set-asides requiring NIH, CDC, and FDA to devote portions of their extramural R&D budgets (3.2% for SBIR, 0.45% for STTR) to support small business innovation.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must be U.S. small business concerns (SBCs) that:

• Are organized for profit with a U.S. place of business.

• Have ≤ 500 employees including affiliates.

• Are > 50% owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents, qualifying U.S. entities, or combinations thereof.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Projects that demonstrate:

• A clear unmet medical or public-health need,

• Strong scientific rationale and feasibility,

• High commercialization potential, supported by a realistic market and regulatory strategy, and

• Alignment with an NIH Institute’s or CDC/FDA Center’s specific research mission (e.g., infectious disease, digital health, diagnostics, therapeutics, or data analytics).

Competitive applicants often have an early prototype, preliminary data, and a defined path to market adoption.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Companies must complete multiple federal registrations (SAM.gov, Grants.gov, eRA Commons, SBA Company Registry) before applying.

• Foreign entities are not eligible.

• Disclosure of foreign affiliations and compliance with national security screening are mandatory. Currently we do not recommend any sort of foreign affiliation.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive submission will likely take 120–200 hours in total.

How can BW&CO help?

Our team specializes in complex federal R&D proposals and can:

• Triple your likelihood of success through proven strategy and insider-aligned proposal development

• Reduce your time spent on the proposal by 50–80%, letting your team focus on technology and operations

• Ensure you are targeting the best opportunity for your project and positioning your company for long-term growth.

Review solicitation here.

NIH Highlighted Topic: Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Approaches for Biomedical, Biobehavioral and Social Science Research

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is encouraging innovative research focused on developing and validating AI and data science approaches that harmonize, decipher, and extract complex patterns from the massive multimodal, high-dimensional data generated by biomedical research and electronic health records. This highlighted topic aims to advance interpretable, reproducible, and scalable AI methods that improve modeling of risk and resilience trajectories, disease mechanisms, and integrated prevention and treatment services.

Data science and AI hold significant promise for addressing complex biomedical problems, yet NIH notes that heterogeneous, fragmented data lacking uniform standards remains a major barrier to widespread adoption in research and clinical practice. This topic is issued as part of the Make America Healthy Again initiative, aligning with NIH's expanded focus on mental health and addiction research, screentime effects in children and adolescents, and an AI-driven approach to pediatric cancer research and clinical trials. NIH is particularly interested in projects that make large-scale biomedical data AI-ready and integrate disparate systems, such as EHRs, surveillance, and community services, for coordinated longitudinal care.

Areas of interest include interpretable and explainable AI for mechanistic insight, AI modeling of longitudinal risk and disease trajectories across substance use, HIV, and comorbidities, generative AI applications for chronic recurrent eye disorders and precision diagnostics, multimodal data integration for Alzheimer's disease and aging biology, AI/ML models for alcohol use disorder prevention using real-world environmental and social data, computational tools for complementary and integrative health approaches, AI applications across hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, and language disorders, and sex-based biology modeling for chronic disease risk, relapse, and treatment response in women.

Note: as with prior topics, this is a Highlighted Topic rather than a standalone NOFO, so applicants apply through an appropriate NIH Parent Funding Announcement or other broad opportunity on Grants.gov rather than a dedicated solicitation with its own SBIR/STTR dollar figures.

This highlighted topic is supported by an especially broad coalition of ICOs, including the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), National Library of Medicine (NLM), Office of Data Science Strategy (ODSS), and Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH), reflecting how foundational AI and data science approaches have become across nearly every corner of NIH's research mission.

How much funding would I receive?

Awards provide up to $323,090 for Phase I projects (up to 2 years) and $2,153,927 for Phase II projects (up to 3 years). Some topics approved by NIH may exceed these limits. Fast-Track and Phase IIB (follow-on) options allow continuous or extended funding beyond Phase II.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding may support the research, development, validation, and commercialization of technologies, clinical tools, software platforms, and evidence-based interventions related to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

Eligible activities may include:

• Development of speech-generating devices and AAC communication platforms

• AI and machine learning tools for adaptive communication support

• Personalized AAC assessment and recommendation systems

• Precision measurement tools for tracking communication outcomes

• Digital health platforms supporting AAC users and caregivers

• Literacy instruction technologies for AAC users

• Mobile applications supporting non-speaking and minimally verbal individuals

• Predictive analytics and communication profiling systems

• User-centered design and accessibility research for AAC technologies

• Tools supporting communication partner engagement and training

• Clinical software for AAC implementation and therapy management

• Mixed-methods research platforms for communication needs analysis

• Technologies supporting lifelong AAC adaptation and personalization

• Remote monitoring and telehealth solutions for speech and communication therapy

• Assistive technologies supporting autism, ALS, cerebral palsy, and related conditions

• Research evaluating quality-of-life and well-being outcomes for AAC users

• Prototype development, validation studies, and usability testing

• Commercialization planning and implementation strategy development

Funding may also support personnel, software development, usability studies, clinical testing, cloud infrastructure, AI model development, accessibility design, data collection, intellectual property protection, regulatory preparation, and commercialization activities necessary to advance a scalable and commercially viable AAC solution aligned with NIH priorities.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond the formal funding award, awardees gain several strategic advantages:

• Government Validation and Credibility:
  Being selected for an NIH-backed SBIR grant signals technical excellence and alignment with national health and biomedical priorities. This validation builds investor and partner confidence.

• Enhanced Visibility and Market Recognition:
  Awardees are featured in NIH and HHS announcements, helping attract partnerships, media attention, and future contracting opportunities.

• Access to the Federal Innovation Ecosystem:
  Recipients join a national network of researchers and agencies advancing life science innovation, often opening doors to collaborations with NIH laboratories and federal health programs.

• Stronger Commercial and Exit Potential:
  By maturing technology through nondilutive funding, companies strengthen valuation, de-risk commercialization, and increase attractiveness for acquisition or follow-on private investment.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Applications are accepted each year on January 5th, April 5th, and September 5th. Funding is received approximately 9 months after submission.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with statutory set-asides requiring NIH, CDC, and FDA to devote portions of their extramural R&D budgets (3.2% for SBIR, 0.45% for STTR) to support small business innovation.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must be U.S. small business concerns (SBCs) that:

• Are organized for profit with a U.S. place of business.

• Have ≤ 500 employees including affiliates.

• Are > 50% owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents, qualifying U.S. entities, or combinations thereof.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Projects that demonstrate:

• A clear unmet medical or public-health need,

• Strong scientific rationale and feasibility,

• High commercialization potential, supported by a realistic market and regulatory strategy, and

• Alignment with an NIH Institute’s or CDC/FDA Center’s specific research mission (e.g., infectious disease, digital health, diagnostics, therapeutics, or data analytics).

Competitive applicants often have an early prototype, preliminary data, and a defined path to market adoption.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Companies must complete multiple federal registrations (SAM.gov, Grants.gov, eRA Commons, SBA Company Registry) before applying.

• Foreign entities are not eligible.

• Disclosure of foreign affiliations and compliance with national security screening are mandatory. Currently we do not recommend any sort of foreign affiliation.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive submission will likely take 120–200 hours in total.

How can BW&CO help?

Our team specializes in complex federal R&D proposals and can:

• Triple your likelihood of success through proven strategy and insider-aligned proposal development

• Reduce your time spent on the proposal by 50–80%, letting your team focus on technology and operations

• Ensure you are targeting the best opportunity for your project and positioning your company for long-term growth.

Review solicitation here.

NIH Highlighted Topic: Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence Tools for Biomedical and Behavioral Research: Validity and Utility

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is encouraging innovative research focused on evaluating the validity and clinical utility of digital health and artificial intelligence (AI) tools across biomedical and behavioral research. This highlighted topic aims to advance rigorous validation of computing platforms, sensors, wearables, telehealth, and AI-based risk assessment and diagnostic algorithms used in healthcare and health-related research.

Rapidly evolving digital and AI technologies have accelerated scientific breakthroughs and surpassed human performance on several task-specific benchmarks, yet NIH notes their analytical validity, clinical validity, reliability, and utility in real-world research and clinical settings have often not been thoroughly examined. NIH is particularly interested in projects that assess these tools' impact and utility across the lifespan and among populations with limited access to traditional healthcare, with strong emphasis on risk assessment, data security, AI governance, and minimizing bias in underlying datasets.

Areas of interest include validating digital and AI tools for cancer risk factor measurement and cancer control continuum applications, assessing AI/ML tools for heart, lung, blood, and sleep condition diagnosis and monitoring, evaluating multimodal AI analysis of aging biology and Alzheimer's disease/related dementias biomarkers, validating smartphone and wearable sensing tools for alcohol use and relapse risk detection, developing AI clinical decision support tools for mental health and HIV prevention with attention to bias and model drift, validating digital tools for substance use disorder treatment (including SBIR/STTR-eligible commercialization pathways), and building generalizable, disease-agnostic benchmarking frameworks for digital health AI.

Note: as with prior topics, this is a Highlighted Topic rather than a standalone NOFO, so applicants apply through an appropriate NIH Parent Funding Announcement or other broad opportunity on Grants.gov rather than a dedicated solicitation with its own SBIR/STTR dollar figures. That said, NIDA explicitly calls out SBIR/STTR applications as encouraged where market need and commercialization potential are well defined, so this topic may be worth flagging for wearable medtech or digital health clients with clear commercial pathways.

This highlighted topic is supported by an unusually broad coalition of ICOs, including the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR), National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), NICHD, National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Library of Medicine (NLM), Office of Data Science Strategy (ODSS), and Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH), reflecting how central digital health and AI validation has become across nearly every NIH institute's research priorities.

How much funding would I receive?

Awards provide up to $323,090 for Phase I projects (up to 2 years) and $2,153,927 for Phase II projects (up to 3 years). Some topics approved by NIH may exceed these limits. Fast-Track and Phase IIB (follow-on) options allow continuous or extended funding beyond Phase II.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding may support the research, development, validation, and commercialization of technologies, clinical tools, software platforms, and evidence-based interventions related to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

Eligible activities may include:

• Development of speech-generating devices and AAC communication platforms

• AI and machine learning tools for adaptive communication support

• Personalized AAC assessment and recommendation systems

• Precision measurement tools for tracking communication outcomes

• Digital health platforms supporting AAC users and caregivers

• Literacy instruction technologies for AAC users

• Mobile applications supporting non-speaking and minimally verbal individuals

• Predictive analytics and communication profiling systems

• User-centered design and accessibility research for AAC technologies

• Tools supporting communication partner engagement and training

• Clinical software for AAC implementation and therapy management

• Mixed-methods research platforms for communication needs analysis

• Technologies supporting lifelong AAC adaptation and personalization

• Remote monitoring and telehealth solutions for speech and communication therapy

• Assistive technologies supporting autism, ALS, cerebral palsy, and related conditions

• Research evaluating quality-of-life and well-being outcomes for AAC users

• Prototype development, validation studies, and usability testing

• Commercialization planning and implementation strategy development

Funding may also support personnel, software development, usability studies, clinical testing, cloud infrastructure, AI model development, accessibility design, data collection, intellectual property protection, regulatory preparation, and commercialization activities necessary to advance a scalable and commercially viable AAC solution aligned with NIH priorities.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond the formal funding award, awardees gain several strategic advantages:

• Government Validation and Credibility:
  Being selected for an NIH-backed SBIR grant signals technical excellence and alignment with national health and biomedical priorities. This validation builds investor and partner confidence.

• Enhanced Visibility and Market Recognition:
  Awardees are featured in NIH and HHS announcements, helping attract partnerships, media attention, and future contracting opportunities.

• Access to the Federal Innovation Ecosystem:
  Recipients join a national network of researchers and agencies advancing life science innovation, often opening doors to collaborations with NIH laboratories and federal health programs.

• Stronger Commercial and Exit Potential:
  By maturing technology through nondilutive funding, companies strengthen valuation, de-risk commercialization, and increase attractiveness for acquisition or follow-on private investment.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Applications are accepted each year on January 5th, April 5th, and September 5th. Funding is received approximately 9 months after submission.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with statutory set-asides requiring NIH, CDC, and FDA to devote portions of their extramural R&D budgets (3.2% for SBIR, 0.45% for STTR) to support small business innovation.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must be U.S. small business concerns (SBCs) that:

• Are organized for profit with a U.S. place of business.

• Have ≤ 500 employees including affiliates.

• Are > 50% owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents, qualifying U.S. entities, or combinations thereof.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Projects that demonstrate:

• A clear unmet medical or public-health need,

• Strong scientific rationale and feasibility,

• High commercialization potential, supported by a realistic market and regulatory strategy, and

• Alignment with an NIH Institute’s or CDC/FDA Center’s specific research mission (e.g., infectious disease, digital health, diagnostics, therapeutics, or data analytics).

Competitive applicants often have an early prototype, preliminary data, and a defined path to market adoption.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Companies must complete multiple federal registrations (SAM.gov, Grants.gov, eRA Commons, SBA Company Registry) before applying.

• Foreign entities are not eligible.

• Disclosure of foreign affiliations and compliance with national security screening are mandatory. Currently we do not recommend any sort of foreign affiliation.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive submission will likely take 120–200 hours in total.

How can BW&CO help?

Our team specializes in complex federal R&D proposals and can:

• Triple your likelihood of success through proven strategy and insider-aligned proposal development

• Reduce your time spent on the proposal by 50–80%, letting your team focus on technology and operations

• Ensure you are targeting the best opportunity for your project and positioning your company for long-term growth.

Review solicitation here.

NIH Highlighted Topic: Research on the Role of Post-Translational Modifications in Human Health and Disease

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is encouraging innovative research focused on the mechanistic roles of understudied post-translational modifications (PTMs) and PTM crosstalk in human health and disease, including cancer, aging, and substance use disorders. This highlighted topic aims to broaden the field beyond a narrow set of well-characterized modifications and reveal previously overlooked roles and functions of PTMs.

More than 400 different kinds of PTMs have been detected, yet only about a quarter have been linked to human disease, with phosphorylation, acetylation, methylation, and ubiquitination accounting for the largest share of known disease-associated modifications while others such as glycosylation, lactylation, and sumoylation remain understudied. NIH notes that current research also concentrates narrowly on a few substrate types like histones, transcription factors, and signaling molecules, leaving a knowledge gap around how varied PTMs crosstalk to influence protein function and cellular state. NIH is particularly interested in projects that leverage recent technological breakthroughs, including mass spectrometry enrichment, single-cell omics, and AlphaFold protein structure databases, to study diverse PTMs and their coordinated roles.

Areas of interest include dissecting mechanisms of understudied PTMs and PTM crosstalk in cancer initiation and progression, defining the role of PTM readers, writers, and erasers, evaluating PTM-based biomarkers for cancer risk assessment and early detection, mapping PTM landscapes across tissues, cell types, sex, and lifespan in aging and Alzheimer's disease/related dementias, studying PTMs that drive drug-seeking behavior and addiction-relevant neuronal plasticity, and examining sex-specific differences and comorbid conditions such as HIV infection affecting PTM-mediated substance use vulnerability.

Note: as with prior topics, this is a Highlighted Topic rather than a standalone NOFO, so applicants apply through an appropriate NIH Parent Funding Announcement or other broad opportunity on Grants.gov rather than a dedicated solicitation with its own SBIR/STTR dollar figures.

This highlighted topic is supported primarily by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), with additional participation from the National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), all of which are seeking mechanistic research into understudied PTMs and their disease relevance.

How much funding would I receive?

Awards provide up to $323,090 for Phase I projects (up to 2 years) and $2,153,927 for Phase II projects (up to 3 years). Some topics approved by NIH may exceed these limits. Fast-Track and Phase IIB (follow-on) options allow continuous or extended funding beyond Phase II.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding may support the research, development, validation, and commercialization of technologies, clinical tools, software platforms, and evidence-based interventions related to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

Eligible activities may include:

• Development of speech-generating devices and AAC communication platforms

• AI and machine learning tools for adaptive communication support

• Personalized AAC assessment and recommendation systems

• Precision measurement tools for tracking communication outcomes

• Digital health platforms supporting AAC users and caregivers

• Literacy instruction technologies for AAC users

• Mobile applications supporting non-speaking and minimally verbal individuals

• Predictive analytics and communication profiling systems

• User-centered design and accessibility research for AAC technologies

• Tools supporting communication partner engagement and training

• Clinical software for AAC implementation and therapy management

• Mixed-methods research platforms for communication needs analysis

• Technologies supporting lifelong AAC adaptation and personalization

• Remote monitoring and telehealth solutions for speech and communication therapy

• Assistive technologies supporting autism, ALS, cerebral palsy, and related conditions

• Research evaluating quality-of-life and well-being outcomes for AAC users

• Prototype development, validation studies, and usability testing

• Commercialization planning and implementation strategy development

Funding may also support personnel, software development, usability studies, clinical testing, cloud infrastructure, AI model development, accessibility design, data collection, intellectual property protection, regulatory preparation, and commercialization activities necessary to advance a scalable and commercially viable AAC solution aligned with NIH priorities.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond the formal funding award, awardees gain several strategic advantages:

• Government Validation and Credibility:
  Being selected for an NIH-backed SBIR grant signals technical excellence and alignment with national health and biomedical priorities. This validation builds investor and partner confidence.

• Enhanced Visibility and Market Recognition:
  Awardees are featured in NIH and HHS announcements, helping attract partnerships, media attention, and future contracting opportunities.

• Access to the Federal Innovation Ecosystem:
  Recipients join a national network of researchers and agencies advancing life science innovation, often opening doors to collaborations with NIH laboratories and federal health programs.

• Stronger Commercial and Exit Potential:
  By maturing technology through nondilutive funding, companies strengthen valuation, de-risk commercialization, and increase attractiveness for acquisition or follow-on private investment.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Applications are accepted each year on January 5th, April 5th, and September 5th. Funding is received approximately 9 months after submission.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with statutory set-asides requiring NIH, CDC, and FDA to devote portions of their extramural R&D budgets (3.2% for SBIR, 0.45% for STTR) to support small business innovation.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must be U.S. small business concerns (SBCs) that:

• Are organized for profit with a U.S. place of business.

• Have ≤ 500 employees including affiliates.

• Are > 50% owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents, qualifying U.S. entities, or combinations thereof.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Projects that demonstrate:

• A clear unmet medical or public-health need,

• Strong scientific rationale and feasibility,

• High commercialization potential, supported by a realistic market and regulatory strategy, and

• Alignment with an NIH Institute’s or CDC/FDA Center’s specific research mission (e.g., infectious disease, digital health, diagnostics, therapeutics, or data analytics).

Competitive applicants often have an early prototype, preliminary data, and a defined path to market adoption.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Companies must complete multiple federal registrations (SAM.gov, Grants.gov, eRA Commons, SBA Company Registry) before applying.

• Foreign entities are not eligible.

• Disclosure of foreign affiliations and compliance with national security screening are mandatory. Currently we do not recommend any sort of foreign affiliation.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive submission will likely take 120–200 hours in total.

How can BW&CO help?

Our team specializes in complex federal R&D proposals and can:

• Triple your likelihood of success through proven strategy and insider-aligned proposal development

• Reduce your time spent on the proposal by 50–80%, letting your team focus on technology and operations

• Ensure you are targeting the best opportunity for your project and positioning your company for long-term growth.

Review solicitation here.

NIH Highlighted Topic: Cellular Quiescence, Senescence, and Cell Death in Aging and Disease

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is encouraging innovative research focused on understanding the mechanistic and functional interrelationships among cellular quiescence, senescence, regulated cell death, and other cell-fate decisions. This highlighted topic aims to uncover the molecular logic governing cell fate under stress and during aging, moving beyond simple classification to establish a foundation for next-generation therapeutics targeting aging and age-related diseases.

While a decade of senescence research has revealed extraordinary heterogeneity among senescent cells shaped by stressors, tissue origin, and organismal age, NIH notes that fundamental mechanistic questions remain unresolved, including whether quiescence, senescence, and apoptosis represent separate endpoints, a continuum, or probabilistic outcomes of cell-cycle re-entry. NIH is particularly interested in projects that clarify how aging reshapes these decision pathways and whether they can be therapeutically redirected to prevent or delay age-related disease and extend healthspan.

Areas of interest include determining whether quiescence and senescence are discrete or continuum-based cell fates, defining molecular factors governing senescence versus apoptosis, identifying cell fate decisions that can be selectively promoted or redirected during aging, examining cell fate determination in brain aging including post-mitotic neurons and glial populations, evaluating how senolytics affect quiescent and reprogramming cell populations, and characterizing cell-cycle exit and re-entry mechanisms in quiescent, senescent, stem, progenitor, and dormant tumor or stromal cells relevant to cancer initiation, progression, and therapy response.

Note: as with prior topics, this is a Highlighted Topic rather than a standalone NOFO, so applicants apply through an appropriate NIH Parent Funding Announcement or other broad opportunity on Grants.gov rather than a dedicated solicitation with its own SBIR/STTR dollar figures.

This highlighted topic is supported primarily by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), with additional participation from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), both of which are seeking mechanistic research into cell-fate decision pathways relevant to aging, cancer, and age-related disease.

How much funding would I receive?

Awards provide up to $323,090 for Phase I projects (up to 2 years) and $2,153,927 for Phase II projects (up to 3 years). Some topics approved by NIH may exceed these limits. Fast-Track and Phase IIB (follow-on) options allow continuous or extended funding beyond Phase II.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding may support the research, development, validation, and commercialization of technologies, clinical tools, software platforms, and evidence-based interventions related to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

Eligible activities may include:

• Development of speech-generating devices and AAC communication platforms

• AI and machine learning tools for adaptive communication support

• Personalized AAC assessment and recommendation systems

• Precision measurement tools for tracking communication outcomes

• Digital health platforms supporting AAC users and caregivers

• Literacy instruction technologies for AAC users

• Mobile applications supporting non-speaking and minimally verbal individuals

• Predictive analytics and communication profiling systems

• User-centered design and accessibility research for AAC technologies

• Tools supporting communication partner engagement and training

• Clinical software for AAC implementation and therapy management

• Mixed-methods research platforms for communication needs analysis

• Technologies supporting lifelong AAC adaptation and personalization

• Remote monitoring and telehealth solutions for speech and communication therapy

• Assistive technologies supporting autism, ALS, cerebral palsy, and related conditions

• Research evaluating quality-of-life and well-being outcomes for AAC users

• Prototype development, validation studies, and usability testing

• Commercialization planning and implementation strategy development

Funding may also support personnel, software development, usability studies, clinical testing, cloud infrastructure, AI model development, accessibility design, data collection, intellectual property protection, regulatory preparation, and commercialization activities necessary to advance a scalable and commercially viable AAC solution aligned with NIH priorities.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond the formal funding award, awardees gain several strategic advantages:

• Government Validation and Credibility:
  Being selected for an NIH-backed SBIR grant signals technical excellence and alignment with national health and biomedical priorities. This validation builds investor and partner confidence.

• Enhanced Visibility and Market Recognition:
  Awardees are featured in NIH and HHS announcements, helping attract partnerships, media attention, and future contracting opportunities.

• Access to the Federal Innovation Ecosystem:
  Recipients join a national network of researchers and agencies advancing life science innovation, often opening doors to collaborations with NIH laboratories and federal health programs.

• Stronger Commercial and Exit Potential:
  By maturing technology through nondilutive funding, companies strengthen valuation, de-risk commercialization, and increase attractiveness for acquisition or follow-on private investment.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Applications are accepted each year on January 5th, April 5th, and September 5th. Funding is received approximately 9 months after submission.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with statutory set-asides requiring NIH, CDC, and FDA to devote portions of their extramural R&D budgets (3.2% for SBIR, 0.45% for STTR) to support small business innovation.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must be U.S. small business concerns (SBCs) that:

• Are organized for profit with a U.S. place of business.

• Have ≤ 500 employees including affiliates.

• Are > 50% owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents, qualifying U.S. entities, or combinations thereof.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Projects that demonstrate:

• A clear unmet medical or public-health need,

• Strong scientific rationale and feasibility,

• High commercialization potential, supported by a realistic market and regulatory strategy, and

• Alignment with an NIH Institute’s or CDC/FDA Center’s specific research mission (e.g., infectious disease, digital health, diagnostics, therapeutics, or data analytics).

Competitive applicants often have an early prototype, preliminary data, and a defined path to market adoption.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Companies must complete multiple federal registrations (SAM.gov, Grants.gov, eRA Commons, SBA Company Registry) before applying.

• Foreign entities are not eligible.

• Disclosure of foreign affiliations and compliance with national security screening are mandatory. Currently we do not recommend any sort of foreign affiliation.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive submission will likely take 120–200 hours in total.

How can BW&CO help?

Our team specializes in complex federal R&D proposals and can:

• Triple your likelihood of success through proven strategy and insider-aligned proposal development

• Reduce your time spent on the proposal by 50–80%, letting your team focus on technology and operations

• Ensure you are targeting the best opportunity for your project and positioning your company for long-term growth.

Review solicitation here.

NIH Highlighted Topic: New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) for Dietary Supplement and Nutrition research

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is encouraging innovative research focused on human-relevant new approach methodologies (NAMs)—such as organoids, tissue chips, microphysiological systems, multi-omics technologies, and computational models—to evaluate the safety and efficacy of foods, food components, and dietary supplements for health optimization and chronic disease risk reduction across the lifespan.

Traditional diet-related health research has relied heavily on animal studies and population-level endpoints, which NIH notes have limited relevance to human biology and metabolism, poor sensitivity for detecting subtle or life-stage-specific effects, and an inability to assess complex foods, novel ingredients, or matrix effects. NIH is particularly interested in projects that develop and validate human-based NAMs to investigate nutrient absorption, distribution, and metabolic processes, and to simulate health-relevant interactions between cellular, organ, and body systems in response to complex food or supplement matrices. This topic is issued as part of the Make America Healthy Again initiative, and the EPA, FDA, and NIH have all committed to expanding use of NAMs moving forward.

Areas of interest include identifying and validating bioactive compound exposure biomarkers, quantifying bioaccessibility and bioavailability of nutrients in multi-ingredient supplements or processed foods, modeling diet-related chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and cystic fibrosis, examining nutrition's role in ocular health and vision-loss conditions, capturing age-related changes in nutrient metabolism among older adults, validating dietary assessment methodologies and noninvasive biomarkers relevant to heart, lung, blood, and sleep outcomes, assessing dietary supplement interactions in cancer risk and treatment contexts, and characterizing dietary bioactive substances' impact on fetal and early childhood neurodevelopment.

Note: as with prior topics, this is a Highlighted Topic rather than a standalone NOFO, so applicants apply through an appropriate NIH Parent Funding Announcement or other broad opportunity on Grants.gov rather than a dedicated solicitation with its own SBIR/STTR dollar figures.

This highlighted topic is supported primarily by the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS), with additional participation from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), Office of Nutrition Research (ONR), and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), all of which are seeking human-relevant methodologies to advance nutrition and dietary supplement science.

How much funding would I receive?

Awards provide up to $323,090 for Phase I projects (up to 2 years) and $2,153,927 for Phase II projects (up to 3 years). Some topics approved by NIH may exceed these limits. Fast-Track and Phase IIB (follow-on) options allow continuous or extended funding beyond Phase II.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding may support the research, development, validation, and commercialization of technologies, clinical tools, software platforms, and evidence-based interventions related to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

Eligible activities may include:

• Development of speech-generating devices and AAC communication platforms

• AI and machine learning tools for adaptive communication support

• Personalized AAC assessment and recommendation systems

• Precision measurement tools for tracking communication outcomes

• Digital health platforms supporting AAC users and caregivers

• Literacy instruction technologies for AAC users

• Mobile applications supporting non-speaking and minimally verbal individuals

• Predictive analytics and communication profiling systems

• User-centered design and accessibility research for AAC technologies

• Tools supporting communication partner engagement and training

• Clinical software for AAC implementation and therapy management

• Mixed-methods research platforms for communication needs analysis

• Technologies supporting lifelong AAC adaptation and personalization

• Remote monitoring and telehealth solutions for speech and communication therapy

• Assistive technologies supporting autism, ALS, cerebral palsy, and related conditions

• Research evaluating quality-of-life and well-being outcomes for AAC users

• Prototype development, validation studies, and usability testing

• Commercialization planning and implementation strategy development

Funding may also support personnel, software development, usability studies, clinical testing, cloud infrastructure, AI model development, accessibility design, data collection, intellectual property protection, regulatory preparation, and commercialization activities necessary to advance a scalable and commercially viable AAC solution aligned with NIH priorities.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond the formal funding award, awardees gain several strategic advantages:

• Government Validation and Credibility:
  Being selected for an NIH-backed SBIR grant signals technical excellence and alignment with national health and biomedical priorities. This validation builds investor and partner confidence.

• Enhanced Visibility and Market Recognition:
  Awardees are featured in NIH and HHS announcements, helping attract partnerships, media attention, and future contracting opportunities.

• Access to the Federal Innovation Ecosystem:
  Recipients join a national network of researchers and agencies advancing life science innovation, often opening doors to collaborations with NIH laboratories and federal health programs.

• Stronger Commercial and Exit Potential:
  By maturing technology through nondilutive funding, companies strengthen valuation, de-risk commercialization, and increase attractiveness for acquisition or follow-on private investment.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Applications are accepted each year on January 5th, April 5th, and September 5th. Funding is received approximately 9 months after submission.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with statutory set-asides requiring NIH, CDC, and FDA to devote portions of their extramural R&D budgets (3.2% for SBIR, 0.45% for STTR) to support small business innovation.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must be U.S. small business concerns (SBCs) that:

• Are organized for profit with a U.S. place of business.

• Have ≤ 500 employees including affiliates.

• Are > 50% owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents, qualifying U.S. entities, or combinations thereof.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Projects that demonstrate:

• A clear unmet medical or public-health need,

• Strong scientific rationale and feasibility,

• High commercialization potential, supported by a realistic market and regulatory strategy, and

• Alignment with an NIH Institute’s or CDC/FDA Center’s specific research mission (e.g., infectious disease, digital health, diagnostics, therapeutics, or data analytics).

Competitive applicants often have an early prototype, preliminary data, and a defined path to market adoption.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Companies must complete multiple federal registrations (SAM.gov, Grants.gov, eRA Commons, SBA Company Registry) before applying.

• Foreign entities are not eligible.

• Disclosure of foreign affiliations and compliance with national security screening are mandatory. Currently we do not recommend any sort of foreign affiliation.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive submission will likely take 120–200 hours in total.

How can BW&CO help?

Our team specializes in complex federal R&D proposals and can:

• Triple your likelihood of success through proven strategy and insider-aligned proposal development

• Reduce your time spent on the proposal by 50–80%, letting your team focus on technology and operations

• Ensure you are targeting the best opportunity for your project and positioning your company for long-term growth.

Review solicitation here.

NIH Highlighted Topic: Breaking Barriers: Integrating Immunology and Neuroscience to Transform AD/ADRD Research and Bring a Better Understanding of the Aging Brain

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is encouraging innovative research focused on integrating immunology, neuroscience, and biogerontology to advance the prevention, treatment, and understanding of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Alzheimer's Disease-Related Dementias (ADRD). This highlighted topic aims to accelerate discovery at the intersection of immune-nervous system interactions across the aging lifespan and support development of improved diagnostics, risk stratification tools, and immunotherapeutic strategies.

Accumulating evidence implicates dysregulation of both innate and adaptive immune responses in the aging brain as a significant contributor to AD/ADRD pathogenesis, with clinical studies reporting changes in T-cells, B-cells, the complement system, and disease-specific autoantibodies in individuals living with AD/ADRD. NIH notes that a major obstacle to progress has been insufficient sustained collaboration between immunologists, infectious disease experts, and neuroscientists, leaving critical knowledge gaps around the links between autoimmunity, infectious disease, and neurodegeneration. NIH is particularly interested in projects using cutting-edge technology, including AI and novel model systems such as organoids and microphysiological systems, to close these gaps.

Areas of interest include innate and adaptive immunity crosstalk in healthy aging and AD/ADRD, links among immunosenescence, neuroinflammation, infection, and autoimmunity, mechanisms of immune dysfunction underlying neuropsychiatric symptoms, novel biomarker discovery and validation, environmental exposure effects on the immune-brain axis, sex-specific and lifespan immunophenotype changes, and chronic immune dysregulation accelerating neuroimmune senescence in the context of people with HIV.

Note: as with prior topics, this is a Highlighted Topic rather than a standalone NOFO, so applicants apply through an appropriate NIH Parent Funding Announcement or other broad opportunity on Grants.gov rather than a dedicated solicitation with its own SBIR/STTR dollar figures.

This highlighted topic is supported primarily by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), with additional participation from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), and National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), all of which are seeking interdisciplinary research that bridges immunology and neuroscience to transform understanding of the aging brain and AD/ADRD.

How much funding would I receive?

Awards provide up to $323,090 for Phase I projects (up to 2 years) and $2,153,927 for Phase II projects (up to 3 years). Some topics approved by NIH may exceed these limits. Fast-Track and Phase IIB (follow-on) options allow continuous or extended funding beyond Phase II.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding may support the research, development, validation, and commercialization of technologies, clinical tools, software platforms, and evidence-based interventions related to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

Eligible activities may include:

• Development of speech-generating devices and AAC communication platforms

• AI and machine learning tools for adaptive communication support

• Personalized AAC assessment and recommendation systems

• Precision measurement tools for tracking communication outcomes

• Digital health platforms supporting AAC users and caregivers

• Literacy instruction technologies for AAC users

• Mobile applications supporting non-speaking and minimally verbal individuals

• Predictive analytics and communication profiling systems

• User-centered design and accessibility research for AAC technologies

• Tools supporting communication partner engagement and training

• Clinical software for AAC implementation and therapy management

• Mixed-methods research platforms for communication needs analysis

• Technologies supporting lifelong AAC adaptation and personalization

• Remote monitoring and telehealth solutions for speech and communication therapy

• Assistive technologies supporting autism, ALS, cerebral palsy, and related conditions

• Research evaluating quality-of-life and well-being outcomes for AAC users

• Prototype development, validation studies, and usability testing

• Commercialization planning and implementation strategy development

Funding may also support personnel, software development, usability studies, clinical testing, cloud infrastructure, AI model development, accessibility design, data collection, intellectual property protection, regulatory preparation, and commercialization activities necessary to advance a scalable and commercially viable AAC solution aligned with NIH priorities.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond the formal funding award, awardees gain several strategic advantages:

• Government Validation and Credibility:
  Being selected for an NIH-backed SBIR grant signals technical excellence and alignment with national health and biomedical priorities. This validation builds investor and partner confidence.

• Enhanced Visibility and Market Recognition:
  Awardees are featured in NIH and HHS announcements, helping attract partnerships, media attention, and future contracting opportunities.

• Access to the Federal Innovation Ecosystem:
  Recipients join a national network of researchers and agencies advancing life science innovation, often opening doors to collaborations with NIH laboratories and federal health programs.

• Stronger Commercial and Exit Potential:
  By maturing technology through nondilutive funding, companies strengthen valuation, de-risk commercialization, and increase attractiveness for acquisition or follow-on private investment.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Applications are accepted each year on January 5th, April 5th, and September 5th. Funding is received approximately 9 months after submission.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with statutory set-asides requiring NIH, CDC, and FDA to devote portions of their extramural R&D budgets (3.2% for SBIR, 0.45% for STTR) to support small business innovation.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must be U.S. small business concerns (SBCs) that:

• Are organized for profit with a U.S. place of business.

• Have ≤ 500 employees including affiliates.

• Are > 50% owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents, qualifying U.S. entities, or combinations thereof.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Projects that demonstrate:

• A clear unmet medical or public-health need,

• Strong scientific rationale and feasibility,

• High commercialization potential, supported by a realistic market and regulatory strategy, and

• Alignment with an NIH Institute’s or CDC/FDA Center’s specific research mission (e.g., infectious disease, digital health, diagnostics, therapeutics, or data analytics).

Competitive applicants often have an early prototype, preliminary data, and a defined path to market adoption.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Companies must complete multiple federal registrations (SAM.gov, Grants.gov, eRA Commons, SBA Company Registry) before applying.

• Foreign entities are not eligible.

• Disclosure of foreign affiliations and compliance with national security screening are mandatory. Currently we do not recommend any sort of foreign affiliation.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive submission will likely take 120–200 hours in total.

How can BW&CO help?

Our team specializes in complex federal R&D proposals and can:

• Triple your likelihood of success through proven strategy and insider-aligned proposal development

• Reduce your time spent on the proposal by 50–80%, letting your team focus on technology and operations

• Ensure you are targeting the best opportunity for your project and positioning your company for long-term growth.

Review solicitation here.

NIH Highlighted Topic: School Mental and Behavioral Health: Expanding Access to Evidence-Based Interventions and Services

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is encouraging innovative research focused on optimizing and testing mental and behavioral health interventions and service delivery models within school and afterschool settings. This highlighted topic aims to advance approaches that can be rapidly deployed and sustained using existing school personnel, contracted providers, and referral networks, rather than requiring extensive new infrastructure.

Schools function as de facto points of service for health promotion in many communities, and NIH is particularly interested in research that validates sustainable strategies for detecting at-risk students, matching them to appropriate interventions, and building decision-support tools to guide selection of research-informed approaches based on available resources. Projects addressing the full multitiered system of supports continuum, from universal prevention to indicated treatment, are of interest, along with strategies to promote adoption and sustained fidelity of evidence-based practices, including the judicious use of non-specialty providers to extend a stretched mental health workforce.

Areas of interest include community-engaged research addressing access barriers, workforce shortages, and privacy concerns in schools, research-practice partnerships leveraging existing infrastructure such as SAMHSA-supported behavioral health services, substance use risk screening and prevention programming for high-risk youth, nurse-led preventive interventions incorporating students' daily living conditions, sex-specific strategies for detecting and treating at-risk girls and young women, and rigorous multi-site or cluster randomized trials evaluating school-based service delivery models.

Note: as with prior topics, this is a Highlighted Topic rather than a standalone NOFO, so applicants apply through an appropriate NIH Parent Funding Announcement or other broad opportunity on Grants.gov rather than a dedicated solicitation with its own SBIR/STTR dollar figures.

This highlighted topic is supported primarily by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), with additional participation from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), Office of Disease Prevention (ODP), and Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH), all of which are seeking research that expands sustainable, evidence-based mental and behavioral health access in school settings.

How much funding would I receive?

Awards provide up to $323,090 for Phase I projects (up to 2 years) and $2,153,927 for Phase II projects (up to 3 years). Some topics approved by NIH may exceed these limits. Fast-Track and Phase IIB (follow-on) options allow continuous or extended funding beyond Phase II.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding may support the research, development, validation, and commercialization of technologies, clinical tools, software platforms, and evidence-based interventions related to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

Eligible activities may include:

• Development of speech-generating devices and AAC communication platforms

• AI and machine learning tools for adaptive communication support

• Personalized AAC assessment and recommendation systems

• Precision measurement tools for tracking communication outcomes

• Digital health platforms supporting AAC users and caregivers

• Literacy instruction technologies for AAC users

• Mobile applications supporting non-speaking and minimally verbal individuals

• Predictive analytics and communication profiling systems

• User-centered design and accessibility research for AAC technologies

• Tools supporting communication partner engagement and training

• Clinical software for AAC implementation and therapy management

• Mixed-methods research platforms for communication needs analysis

• Technologies supporting lifelong AAC adaptation and personalization

• Remote monitoring and telehealth solutions for speech and communication therapy

• Assistive technologies supporting autism, ALS, cerebral palsy, and related conditions

• Research evaluating quality-of-life and well-being outcomes for AAC users

• Prototype development, validation studies, and usability testing

• Commercialization planning and implementation strategy development

Funding may also support personnel, software development, usability studies, clinical testing, cloud infrastructure, AI model development, accessibility design, data collection, intellectual property protection, regulatory preparation, and commercialization activities necessary to advance a scalable and commercially viable AAC solution aligned with NIH priorities.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond the formal funding award, awardees gain several strategic advantages:

• Government Validation and Credibility:
  Being selected for an NIH-backed SBIR grant signals technical excellence and alignment with national health and biomedical priorities. This validation builds investor and partner confidence.

• Enhanced Visibility and Market Recognition:
  Awardees are featured in NIH and HHS announcements, helping attract partnerships, media attention, and future contracting opportunities.

• Access to the Federal Innovation Ecosystem:
  Recipients join a national network of researchers and agencies advancing life science innovation, often opening doors to collaborations with NIH laboratories and federal health programs.

• Stronger Commercial and Exit Potential:
  By maturing technology through nondilutive funding, companies strengthen valuation, de-risk commercialization, and increase attractiveness for acquisition or follow-on private investment.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Applications are accepted each year on January 5th, April 5th, and September 5th. Funding is received approximately 9 months after submission.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with statutory set-asides requiring NIH, CDC, and FDA to devote portions of their extramural R&D budgets (3.2% for SBIR, 0.45% for STTR) to support small business innovation.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must be U.S. small business concerns (SBCs) that:

• Are organized for profit with a U.S. place of business.

• Have ≤ 500 employees including affiliates.

• Are > 50% owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents, qualifying U.S. entities, or combinations thereof.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Projects that demonstrate:

• A clear unmet medical or public-health need,

• Strong scientific rationale and feasibility,

• High commercialization potential, supported by a realistic market and regulatory strategy, and

• Alignment with an NIH Institute’s or CDC/FDA Center’s specific research mission (e.g., infectious disease, digital health, diagnostics, therapeutics, or data analytics).

Competitive applicants often have an early prototype, preliminary data, and a defined path to market adoption.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Companies must complete multiple federal registrations (SAM.gov, Grants.gov, eRA Commons, SBA Company Registry) before applying.

• Foreign entities are not eligible.

• Disclosure of foreign affiliations and compliance with national security screening are mandatory. Currently we do not recommend any sort of foreign affiliation.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive submission will likely take 120–200 hours in total.

How can BW&CO help?

Our team specializes in complex federal R&D proposals and can:

• Triple your likelihood of success through proven strategy and insider-aligned proposal development

• Reduce your time spent on the proposal by 50–80%, letting your team focus on technology and operations

• Ensure you are targeting the best opportunity for your project and positioning your company for long-term growth.

Review solicitation here.

NIH Highlighted Topic: Implementation Science to Optimize Alcohol Misuse Prevention and Treatment in the Criminal Justice System

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is encouraging innovative research focused on preventing alcohol misuse and treating alcohol use disorder (AUD) within the U.S. criminal justice and juvenile justice systems. This highlighted topic aims to advance prevention interventions, treatment approaches, and implementation strategies that address the under-detection and under-treatment of alcohol problems in these settings.

Criminal justice populations, including jail, parole, probation, juvenile justice, and prison populations, report elevated levels of AUD and high-risk drinking compared to the general population, often alongside co-morbid drug use disorders. NIH notes that alcohol misuse research in these settings is challenging given rapid cycling of detainees back into the community, and that individuals face a critical gap in care upon release, where relapse risk increases with renewed exposure to people, places, and things tied to substance use. NIH is particularly interested in projects that build on promising approaches such as brief motivational interviewing-based interventions and extended-release naltrexone, which require confirmation through larger, longer-duration studies combined with behavioral interventions.

Areas of interest include developing and testing brief motivational interviewing-based alcohol interventions for integration into criminal justice settings, optimizing Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) models for these populations, evaluating pre-release motivational interventions to reduce substance use and relapse risk post-release, combining motivational enhancement with cognitive behavioral therapy, building implementation strategies for care linkages as individuals return to the community, developing remote intervention technology adapted for correctional settings, and creating cost-effective prevention and treatment approaches for corrections officials themselves.

Note: as with prior topics, this is a Highlighted Topic rather than a standalone NOFO, so applicants apply through an appropriate NIH Parent Funding Announcement or other broad opportunity on Grants.gov rather than a dedicated solicitation with its own SBIR/STTR dollar figures.

This highlighted topic is supported primarily by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), with additional input from the Office of Disease Prevention (ODP), both of which are seeking implementation science that closes gaps in alcohol misuse prevention and treatment across criminal justice settings.

How much funding would I receive?

Awards provide up to $323,090 for Phase I projects (up to 2 years) and $2,153,927 for Phase II projects (up to 3 years). Some topics approved by NIH may exceed these limits. Fast-Track and Phase IIB (follow-on) options allow continuous or extended funding beyond Phase II.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding may support the research, development, validation, and commercialization of technologies, clinical tools, software platforms, and evidence-based interventions related to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

Eligible activities may include:

• Development of speech-generating devices and AAC communication platforms

• AI and machine learning tools for adaptive communication support

• Personalized AAC assessment and recommendation systems

• Precision measurement tools for tracking communication outcomes

• Digital health platforms supporting AAC users and caregivers

• Literacy instruction technologies for AAC users

• Mobile applications supporting non-speaking and minimally verbal individuals

• Predictive analytics and communication profiling systems

• User-centered design and accessibility research for AAC technologies

• Tools supporting communication partner engagement and training

• Clinical software for AAC implementation and therapy management

• Mixed-methods research platforms for communication needs analysis

• Technologies supporting lifelong AAC adaptation and personalization

• Remote monitoring and telehealth solutions for speech and communication therapy

• Assistive technologies supporting autism, ALS, cerebral palsy, and related conditions

• Research evaluating quality-of-life and well-being outcomes for AAC users

• Prototype development, validation studies, and usability testing

• Commercialization planning and implementation strategy development

Funding may also support personnel, software development, usability studies, clinical testing, cloud infrastructure, AI model development, accessibility design, data collection, intellectual property protection, regulatory preparation, and commercialization activities necessary to advance a scalable and commercially viable AAC solution aligned with NIH priorities.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond the formal funding award, awardees gain several strategic advantages:

• Government Validation and Credibility:
  Being selected for an NIH-backed SBIR grant signals technical excellence and alignment with national health and biomedical priorities. This validation builds investor and partner confidence.

• Enhanced Visibility and Market Recognition:
  Awardees are featured in NIH and HHS announcements, helping attract partnerships, media attention, and future contracting opportunities.

• Access to the Federal Innovation Ecosystem:
  Recipients join a national network of researchers and agencies advancing life science innovation, often opening doors to collaborations with NIH laboratories and federal health programs.

• Stronger Commercial and Exit Potential:
  By maturing technology through nondilutive funding, companies strengthen valuation, de-risk commercialization, and increase attractiveness for acquisition or follow-on private investment.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Applications are accepted each year on January 5th, April 5th, and September 5th. Funding is received approximately 9 months after submission.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with statutory set-asides requiring NIH, CDC, and FDA to devote portions of their extramural R&D budgets (3.2% for SBIR, 0.45% for STTR) to support small business innovation.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must be U.S. small business concerns (SBCs) that:

• Are organized for profit with a U.S. place of business.

• Have ≤ 500 employees including affiliates.

• Are > 50% owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents, qualifying U.S. entities, or combinations thereof.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Projects that demonstrate:

• A clear unmet medical or public-health need,

• Strong scientific rationale and feasibility,

• High commercialization potential, supported by a realistic market and regulatory strategy, and

• Alignment with an NIH Institute’s or CDC/FDA Center’s specific research mission (e.g., infectious disease, digital health, diagnostics, therapeutics, or data analytics).

Competitive applicants often have an early prototype, preliminary data, and a defined path to market adoption.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Companies must complete multiple federal registrations (SAM.gov, Grants.gov, eRA Commons, SBA Company Registry) before applying.

• Foreign entities are not eligible.

• Disclosure of foreign affiliations and compliance with national security screening are mandatory. Currently we do not recommend any sort of foreign affiliation.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive submission will likely take 120–200 hours in total.

How can BW&CO help?

Our team specializes in complex federal R&D proposals and can:

• Triple your likelihood of success through proven strategy and insider-aligned proposal development

• Reduce your time spent on the proposal by 50–80%, letting your team focus on technology and operations

• Ensure you are targeting the best opportunity for your project and positioning your company for long-term growth.

Review solicitation here.

NIH Highlighted Topic: Increasing Engagement in Treatment for Behavioral Health

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is encouraging innovative research focused on increasing engagement with treatment among individuals with psychiatric disorders, particularly conditions with significant treatment gaps. This highlighted topic aims to advance outreach strategies, care design, and access improvements that help patients both initiate and sustain evidence-based treatment.

Psychiatric disorders affect an estimated 1-20% of the U.S. population depending on diagnosis, yet the majority of affected individuals never receive specific treatment, worsening prognosis and increasing burden on individuals and communities. Alcohol use disorder illustrates this gap starkly, impacting roughly 10% of U.S. adults while fewer than 20% receive treatment, and NIH notes that many psychiatric conditions have lengthy prodromal phases that offer a window for preventive intervention before severe disease onset. NIH is particularly interested in projects that address not just initial engagement but sustained retention in care, given high dropout rates for chronic mental illness.

Areas of interest include qualitative research and provider education to identify best practices for treatment engagement, screening and brief intervention models embedded in general mental health settings, digital and telehealth interventions for alcohol-related and co-occurring disorders, integration of complementary and integrative health approaches into primary care for mild-to-moderate symptoms, implementation-effectiveness studies of integrated care models, and AI- and technology-based approaches to reach rural, underserved, and high-risk youth populations.

Note: as with prior topics, this is a Highlighted Topic rather than a standalone NOFO, so applicants apply through an appropriate NIH Parent Funding Announcement or other broad opportunity on Grants.gov rather than a dedicated solicitation with its own SBIR/STTR dollar figures.

This highlighted topic is supported primarily by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), with additional behavioral and social science input from the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR), all of which are seeking strategies to close persistent gaps in behavioral health treatment engagement.

How much funding would I receive?

Awards provide up to $323,090 for Phase I projects (up to 2 years) and $2,153,927 for Phase II projects (up to 3 years). Some topics approved by NIH may exceed these limits. Fast-Track and Phase IIB (follow-on) options allow continuous or extended funding beyond Phase II.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding may support the research, development, validation, and commercialization of technologies, clinical tools, software platforms, and evidence-based interventions related to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

Eligible activities may include:

• Development of speech-generating devices and AAC communication platforms

• AI and machine learning tools for adaptive communication support

• Personalized AAC assessment and recommendation systems

• Precision measurement tools for tracking communication outcomes

• Digital health platforms supporting AAC users and caregivers

• Literacy instruction technologies for AAC users

• Mobile applications supporting non-speaking and minimally verbal individuals

• Predictive analytics and communication profiling systems

• User-centered design and accessibility research for AAC technologies

• Tools supporting communication partner engagement and training

• Clinical software for AAC implementation and therapy management

• Mixed-methods research platforms for communication needs analysis

• Technologies supporting lifelong AAC adaptation and personalization

• Remote monitoring and telehealth solutions for speech and communication therapy

• Assistive technologies supporting autism, ALS, cerebral palsy, and related conditions

• Research evaluating quality-of-life and well-being outcomes for AAC users

• Prototype development, validation studies, and usability testing

• Commercialization planning and implementation strategy development

Funding may also support personnel, software development, usability studies, clinical testing, cloud infrastructure, AI model development, accessibility design, data collection, intellectual property protection, regulatory preparation, and commercialization activities necessary to advance a scalable and commercially viable AAC solution aligned with NIH priorities.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond the formal funding award, awardees gain several strategic advantages:

• Government Validation and Credibility:
  Being selected for an NIH-backed SBIR grant signals technical excellence and alignment with national health and biomedical priorities. This validation builds investor and partner confidence.

• Enhanced Visibility and Market Recognition:
  Awardees are featured in NIH and HHS announcements, helping attract partnerships, media attention, and future contracting opportunities.

• Access to the Federal Innovation Ecosystem:
  Recipients join a national network of researchers and agencies advancing life science innovation, often opening doors to collaborations with NIH laboratories and federal health programs.

• Stronger Commercial and Exit Potential:
  By maturing technology through nondilutive funding, companies strengthen valuation, de-risk commercialization, and increase attractiveness for acquisition or follow-on private investment.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Applications are accepted each year on January 5th, April 5th, and September 5th. Funding is received approximately 9 months after submission.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with statutory set-asides requiring NIH, CDC, and FDA to devote portions of their extramural R&D budgets (3.2% for SBIR, 0.45% for STTR) to support small business innovation.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must be U.S. small business concerns (SBCs) that:

• Are organized for profit with a U.S. place of business.

• Have ≤ 500 employees including affiliates.

• Are > 50% owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents, qualifying U.S. entities, or combinations thereof.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Projects that demonstrate:

• A clear unmet medical or public-health need,

• Strong scientific rationale and feasibility,

• High commercialization potential, supported by a realistic market and regulatory strategy, and

• Alignment with an NIH Institute’s or CDC/FDA Center’s specific research mission (e.g., infectious disease, digital health, diagnostics, therapeutics, or data analytics).

Competitive applicants often have an early prototype, preliminary data, and a defined path to market adoption.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Companies must complete multiple federal registrations (SAM.gov, Grants.gov, eRA Commons, SBA Company Registry) before applying.

• Foreign entities are not eligible.

• Disclosure of foreign affiliations and compliance with national security screening are mandatory. Currently we do not recommend any sort of foreign affiliation.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive submission will likely take 120–200 hours in total.

How can BW&CO help?

Our team specializes in complex federal R&D proposals and can:

• Triple your likelihood of success through proven strategy and insider-aligned proposal development

• Reduce your time spent on the proposal by 50–80%, letting your team focus on technology and operations

• Ensure you are targeting the best opportunity for your project and positioning your company for long-term growth.

Review solicitation here.

NIH Highlighted Topic: Characterizing Indoor Exposures to Advance Exposome Research

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is encouraging innovative research focused on characterizing indoor environmental exposures as a critical, understudied component of the human exposome. This highlighted topic aims to advance exposure detection technologies, measurement tools, and biomarkers that improve understanding of how indoor pollutants and conditions contribute to overall exposure and health burden across the lifespan.

People spend 80-90% of their time indoors on average, making indoor environments a primary determinant of total exposure, yet thousands of contaminants from building materials, furnishings, cleaning products, and biological sources like mold remain difficult to assess with existing tools. NIH is particularly interested in projects that address the complex mixture effects, secondary chemical reaction products, and multiple exposure sources that current single-pollutant studies fail to capture.

Areas of interest include developing novel biomarkers and personal monitoring devices for indoor exposure assessment, characterizing the chemical and biological composition of indoor exposure mixtures across residential, school, work, and mixed-use settings, understanding how combined indoor exposures and chemical reactions shape the exposome's impact on health, and developing measurement metrics to evaluate interventions such as HEPA filtration.

Note: as with the RNA metabolism topic, this is a Highlighted Topic rather than a standalone NOFO, so applicants apply through an appropriate NIH Parent Funding Announcement or other broad opportunity on Grants.gov rather than a dedicated solicitation with its own SBIR/STTR dollar figures.

This highlighted topic is supported primarily by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), which is seeking innovative exposure assessment technologies and biomarker-driven strategies to better understand and manage indoor exposure's contribution to human health outcomes.

How much funding would I receive?

Awards provide up to $323,090 for Phase I projects (up to 2 years) and $2,153,927 for Phase II projects (up to 3 years). Some topics approved by NIH may exceed these limits. Fast-Track and Phase IIB (follow-on) options allow continuous or extended funding beyond Phase II.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding may support the research, development, validation, and commercialization of technologies, clinical tools, software platforms, and evidence-based interventions related to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

Eligible activities may include:

• Development of speech-generating devices and AAC communication platforms

• AI and machine learning tools for adaptive communication support

• Personalized AAC assessment and recommendation systems

• Precision measurement tools for tracking communication outcomes

• Digital health platforms supporting AAC users and caregivers

• Literacy instruction technologies for AAC users

• Mobile applications supporting non-speaking and minimally verbal individuals

• Predictive analytics and communication profiling systems

• User-centered design and accessibility research for AAC technologies

• Tools supporting communication partner engagement and training

• Clinical software for AAC implementation and therapy management

• Mixed-methods research platforms for communication needs analysis

• Technologies supporting lifelong AAC adaptation and personalization

• Remote monitoring and telehealth solutions for speech and communication therapy

• Assistive technologies supporting autism, ALS, cerebral palsy, and related conditions

• Research evaluating quality-of-life and well-being outcomes for AAC users

• Prototype development, validation studies, and usability testing

• Commercialization planning and implementation strategy development

Funding may also support personnel, software development, usability studies, clinical testing, cloud infrastructure, AI model development, accessibility design, data collection, intellectual property protection, regulatory preparation, and commercialization activities necessary to advance a scalable and commercially viable AAC solution aligned with NIH priorities.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond the formal funding award, awardees gain several strategic advantages:

• Government Validation and Credibility:
  Being selected for an NIH-backed SBIR grant signals technical excellence and alignment with national health and biomedical priorities. This validation builds investor and partner confidence.

• Enhanced Visibility and Market Recognition:
  Awardees are featured in NIH and HHS announcements, helping attract partnerships, media attention, and future contracting opportunities.

• Access to the Federal Innovation Ecosystem:
  Recipients join a national network of researchers and agencies advancing life science innovation, often opening doors to collaborations with NIH laboratories and federal health programs.

• Stronger Commercial and Exit Potential:
  By maturing technology through nondilutive funding, companies strengthen valuation, de-risk commercialization, and increase attractiveness for acquisition or follow-on private investment.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Applications are accepted each year on January 5th, April 5th, and September 5th. Funding is received approximately 9 months after submission.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with statutory set-asides requiring NIH, CDC, and FDA to devote portions of their extramural R&D budgets (3.2% for SBIR, 0.45% for STTR) to support small business innovation.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must be U.S. small business concerns (SBCs) that:

• Are organized for profit with a U.S. place of business.

• Have ≤ 500 employees including affiliates.

• Are > 50% owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents, qualifying U.S. entities, or combinations thereof.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Projects that demonstrate:

• A clear unmet medical or public-health need,

• Strong scientific rationale and feasibility,

• High commercialization potential, supported by a realistic market and regulatory strategy, and

• Alignment with an NIH Institute’s or CDC/FDA Center’s specific research mission (e.g., infectious disease, digital health, diagnostics, therapeutics, or data analytics).

Competitive applicants often have an early prototype, preliminary data, and a defined path to market adoption.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Companies must complete multiple federal registrations (SAM.gov, Grants.gov, eRA Commons, SBA Company Registry) before applying.

• Foreign entities are not eligible.

• Disclosure of foreign affiliations and compliance with national security screening are mandatory. Currently we do not recommend any sort of foreign affiliation.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive submission will likely take 120–200 hours in total.

How can BW&CO help?

Our team specializes in complex federal R&D proposals and can:

• Triple your likelihood of success through proven strategy and insider-aligned proposal development

• Reduce your time spent on the proposal by 50–80%, letting your team focus on technology and operations

• Ensure you are targeting the best opportunity for your project and positioning your company for long-term growth.

Review solicitation here.

NIH Highlighted Topic: RNA Metabolism in Aging and Healthy Lifespan

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is encouraging innovative research focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms by which RNA metabolism influences aging and aging-related diseases. This highlighted topic aims to advance studies on RNA editing, alternative splicing, and RNA modification, and how these processes drive cellular deterioration, disease etiology, and biomarker discovery for age-related conditions.

RNA metabolism governs how genetic information moves from DNA to functional protein, and NIH notes that over 170 distinct post-transcriptional chemical modifications have been identified in cellular RNAs, each shaping RNA function in different ways. NIH is particularly interested in projects that leverage cutting-edge sequencing and RNA modification detection technologies to dissect the complexity and specificity of aging processes, including in populations affected by substance use.

Areas of interest include characterizing RNA metabolism changes associated with aging and aging-related diseases, determining causal roles of RNA changes in aging or disease etiology, identifying reliable RNA-based biomarkers of aging, discovering therapeutic targets among "non-druggable" proteins via their RNA regulators, and elucidating RNA-mediated mechanisms linking aging, drug use, and comorbidities such as HIV infection and polysubstance use.

This highlighted topic is supported primarily by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), both of which are seeking research that identifies mechanistic, biomarker, and therapeutic insights into how RNA metabolism shapes aging and age-related disease.

How much funding would I receive?

Awards provide up to $323,090 for Phase I projects (up to 2 years) and $2,153,927 for Phase II projects (up to 3 years). Some topics approved by NIH may exceed these limits. Fast-Track and Phase IIB (follow-on) options allow continuous or extended funding beyond Phase II.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding may support the research, development, validation, and commercialization of technologies, clinical tools, software platforms, and evidence-based interventions related to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

Eligible activities may include:

• Development of speech-generating devices and AAC communication platforms

• AI and machine learning tools for adaptive communication support

• Personalized AAC assessment and recommendation systems

• Precision measurement tools for tracking communication outcomes

• Digital health platforms supporting AAC users and caregivers

• Literacy instruction technologies for AAC users

• Mobile applications supporting non-speaking and minimally verbal individuals

• Predictive analytics and communication profiling systems

• User-centered design and accessibility research for AAC technologies

• Tools supporting communication partner engagement and training

• Clinical software for AAC implementation and therapy management

• Mixed-methods research platforms for communication needs analysis

• Technologies supporting lifelong AAC adaptation and personalization

• Remote monitoring and telehealth solutions for speech and communication therapy

• Assistive technologies supporting autism, ALS, cerebral palsy, and related conditions

• Research evaluating quality-of-life and well-being outcomes for AAC users

• Prototype development, validation studies, and usability testing

• Commercialization planning and implementation strategy development

Funding may also support personnel, software development, usability studies, clinical testing, cloud infrastructure, AI model development, accessibility design, data collection, intellectual property protection, regulatory preparation, and commercialization activities necessary to advance a scalable and commercially viable AAC solution aligned with NIH priorities.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

Beyond the formal funding award, awardees gain several strategic advantages:

• Government Validation and Credibility:
  Being selected for an NIH-backed SBIR grant signals technical excellence and alignment with national health and biomedical priorities. This validation builds investor and partner confidence.

• Enhanced Visibility and Market Recognition:
  Awardees are featured in NIH and HHS announcements, helping attract partnerships, media attention, and future contracting opportunities.

• Access to the Federal Innovation Ecosystem:
  Recipients join a national network of researchers and agencies advancing life science innovation, often opening doors to collaborations with NIH laboratories and federal health programs.

• Stronger Commercial and Exit Potential:
  By maturing technology through nondilutive funding, companies strengthen valuation, de-risk commercialization, and increase attractiveness for acquisition or follow-on private investment.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

Applications are accepted each year on January 5th, April 5th, and September 5th. Funding is received approximately 9 months after submission.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with statutory set-asides requiring NIH, CDC, and FDA to devote portions of their extramural R&D budgets (3.2% for SBIR, 0.45% for STTR) to support small business innovation.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must be U.S. small business concerns (SBCs) that:

• Are organized for profit with a U.S. place of business.

• Have ≤ 500 employees including affiliates.

• Are > 50% owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents, qualifying U.S. entities, or combinations thereof.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Projects that demonstrate:

• A clear unmet medical or public-health need,

• Strong scientific rationale and feasibility,

• High commercialization potential, supported by a realistic market and regulatory strategy, and

• Alignment with an NIH Institute’s or CDC/FDA Center’s specific research mission (e.g., infectious disease, digital health, diagnostics, therapeutics, or data analytics).

Competitive applicants often have an early prototype, preliminary data, and a defined path to market adoption.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Companies must complete multiple federal registrations (SAM.gov, Grants.gov, eRA Commons, SBA Company Registry) before applying.

• Foreign entities are not eligible.

• Disclosure of foreign affiliations and compliance with national security screening are mandatory. Currently we do not recommend any sort of foreign affiliation.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

For a first-time applicant, preparing a competitive submission will likely take 120–200 hours in total.

How can BW&CO help?

Our team specializes in complex federal R&D proposals and can:

• Triple your likelihood of success through proven strategy and insider-aligned proposal development

• Reduce your time spent on the proposal by 50–80%, letting your team focus on technology and operations

• Ensure you are targeting the best opportunity for your project and positioning your company for long-term growth.

Review solicitation here.

NASA ROSES A.13: Accelerating Earth Solutions (AES)

Quick Answer

NASA's Accelerating Earth Solutions (AES) program element is a newly amended addition to ROSES-2025 that consolidates what were previously separate program elements, including agriculture, disaster resilience, natural resources, health and air quality, water resources, wildland fire, energy systems, and resilient infrastructure, into a single, broader solicitation. The program seeks to accelerate the use of Earth-observing satellite data in real-world decision-making by funding work across three distinct tracks: Needs and Opportunities, Solutions Development, and Scaling Impact.

Selection priority is given to proposals that align with US resilience, resources, economic growth, health, and security; that increase the use of AI and machine learning; that cross boundaries between Earth Action thematic areas; that translate basic research or remote sensing advances into deployable solutions; and that draw on data from NASA's Earth observing missions, particularly NISAR, PACE, and SWOT, including combined approaches that pair NASA data with commercial satellite data available under the CSDA program.

Three Funding Sub-Elements

1. Needs and Opportunities (up to 1 year)

Supports early-stage engagement with federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial decision-makers to identify needs, build partnerships, and co-design solution concepts so that NASA Earth data can be meaningfully integrated into decision-making frameworks. Required activities include understanding societal decision-making challenges, identifying relevant end-user organizations, assessing end-user needs and data practices, evaluating end-user capacity to adopt new solutions, and determining feasibility and viability of potential solution concepts. Deliverables include a project/engagement plan, a midpoint report, communications materials, and a final report identifying opportunities for integrating NASA Earth data into future solutions.

2. Solutions Development (up to 3 years)

Focused on co-developing, validating, and transitioning solutions into operational deployment within an end-user's decision-making workflow. Applicants must have already identified users and conceptualized a solution determined to be desirable, feasible, and viable. At least one end-user representative with direct decision-making authority must be a formal member of the project team. Continuation beyond Year 1 depends on quarterly progress reports and an annual report demonstrating assessed end-user needs and expected outputs from models, applications, or decision support tools.

3. Scaling Impact (up to 2 years)

Aimed at expanding existing NASA Earth observation decision-support capabilities, either horizontally (reaching more users) or vertically (new tools or new observations), building on existing operational systems whether or not previously NASA-funded. Proposers with prior NASA Applied Sciences or Earth Action funding must document the achieved impact of that prior work and show how it informs the proposed scaling effort. As with Solutions Development, at least one end-user representative with decision-making authority must be on the project team, and continuation beyond Year 1 depends on quarterly and annual reporting demonstrating end-user needs assessment, how existing capabilities inform the scaling effort, and expected outputs.

Proposers may submit multiple proposals but each individual proposal may address only one sub-element, and multiple proposals within the same sub-element must be differentiated by distinct topics, goals, or objectives.

Scope of Solicited Work

Proposed work must primarily benefit the United States, focusing on US states, territories, and tribal lands, or demonstrating direct benefit to national priorities. Eligible thematic areas include agriculture, disasters, natural resources, health and air quality, water, wildland fire, energy, and infrastructure, with cross-cutting challenges especially encouraged. Examples cited in the solicitation include wind damage risk assessments, agricultural pest and nutrient stress management (including screwworm and armyworm), early warning systems for infectious and vector-borne disease, integrated terrestrial and coastal water monitoring, conservation and hunting/fishing community support, urban and rural infrastructure resilience, and improved real-time multi-sensor Earth observability.

Eligibility

Open to US institutions of all types, including academic institutions, non-governmental organizations, non-profits, and private sector for-profit entities. Non-traditional and cross-sector partners are explicitly welcomed. Work that relies on proprietary data or methods that will not be publicly disseminated is ineligible for this element and should instead be directed to ROSES element A.10 (INNOVATE). Federal agencies other than NASA are not eligible for funding under this element, though government personnel may participate as unfunded collaborators. Non-US organizations may participate on a no-exchange-of-funds basis, with their portion of the work funded through other sources.

Proposal Format and Page Limits

The Science/Technical/Management (S/T/M) section is limited to 10 pages, excluding references and the Table of Work Effort. All proposals must describe alignment with the Scope of Solicited Work and the Earth Science to Action (ES2A) strategy. Needs and Opportunities proposals must describe the user engagement and co-design strategy and the potential for improving decision-making. Solutions Development and Scaling Impact proposals must additionally describe current and expected decision-making methods, the end-user's authority to act on project results, at least one supporting NASA Earth observation or model, methodology rationale (including AI/ML use where applicable), anticipated impact, and a transition plan. Scaling Impact proposals must also describe existing decision-support capabilities and the demonstrated impact of prior solutions.

Dual-Anonymous Peer Review

All proposals will be evaluated under NASA's dual-anonymous peer review (DAPR) process, meaning proposers do not know reviewer identities and reviewers do not learn proposer identities until after evaluation. The anonymized proposal document may name the end-user organization but not the individual Co-I representing it. Required anonymized components include the S/T/M section (with numerically formatted reference callouts), references, an anonymized Table of Personnel and Work Effort, and a redacted budget and budget narrative. A separate, non-anonymized "Expertise and Resources Not Anonymized" document must be uploaded containing team member roles and affiliations, a non-anonymized Table of Personnel and Work Effort, biographical sketches and Current and Pending Support in SciENcv format, letters of support, and facilities/equipment descriptions. The Open Science and Data Management Plan (2 pages) must also be anonymized. Total Budget must be uploaded separately and unredacted. Proposals that fail to follow anonymization or formatting requirements may be returned without review.

Research Security Training Requirement

Effective August 5, 2026, all PIs and any Co-Is dedicating 10% or more of their time to a proposed award must certify completion of research security training, satisfied by either the four NSF Research Security Training modules or the SECURE Center's condensed equivalent.

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals are evaluated on Intrinsic Merit, Relevance, and Cost. Relevance evaluation considers alignment with the program's priority topics, the Scope of Solicited Work, and the ES2A strategy, along with the scalability and substance of the proposed decision-making impact. For Needs and Opportunities, Intrinsic Merit considers the quality of the user engagement and needs assessment strategy and its potential for lasting impact. For Solutions Development and Scaling Impact, Intrinsic Merit considers the likelihood of substantive, scalable impact; the quality of the co-development and adoption strategy; clarity around the end-user's decision-making authority and process; innovation and technical feasibility; and the quality of the transition plan into user operations. Cost evaluation includes the quality of the management plan and project timeline.

What are the formatting and page limits?

Technical proposals are capped at 15 pages (graphs, charts, and tables may run up to 10 additional oversized pages), submitted as unclassified PDFs in 12-point Times New Roman with one-inch margins. The mandatory cover page and signed Representation and Certification (Attachment 0002) are excluded from the page count, as are supplementary appendices.

Data and Publication Policy

All useful data, software, and peer-reviewed publications resulting from funded work must be made publicly available by the end of the award period of performance, consistent with NASA's Science Information Policy. The program also seeks science conducted per Executive Order 14303, Restoring Gold Standard Science, meaning work that is reproducible, transparent, communicative of error and uncertainty, collaborative, interdisciplinary, skeptical of its own findings, structured for falsifiability, and treats negative results as valid outcomes.

Pre-Proposal Teleconference

NASA will hold an optional pre-proposal teleconference on Monday, August 31, 2026, from 1:00 to 2:30 PM Eastern Time, on a first-to-dial-in basis with no advance reservation required. The session will be hosted by program officer Dr. Erin Urquhart. Connection details:

Submission Logistics

Proposals must be submitted electronically through NSPIRES at https://nspires.nasaprs.com. No hard copies are permitted. Applicants who need to submit via Grants.gov must request access at least 30 days before the due date from the main point of contact, with a copy to sara@nasa.gov. The Grants.gov funding opportunity number is NNH25ZDA001N-AES.

Additional Resources

Contact our team for the PDF solicitation.

Cornerstone CIR CS-24-1801: Defense Industrial Base Workforce Development Initiative

Quick Answer

CIR CS-24-1801 is a Cornerstone Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) solicitation from Army Contracting Command-Rock Island seeking fixed-price prototype proposals to build workforce development programs across Critical Minerals, Kinetics, Industrial Manufacturing Technologies, and Microelectronics, with the Government planning to award at least ten agreements and proposals due October 30, 2026.

What is CIR CS-24-1801?

It is a Project Call issued under the overarching SAMDIB Cornerstone Initiative Request, administered by Army Contracting Command-Rock Island in support of the Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center. It falls under the Cornerstone Other Transaction Agreement (COTA), meaning only registered Cornerstone consortium members are eligible to respond.

What problem is this initiative trying to solve?

The defense industrial base is losing ground to persistent technical skill gaps, an aging workforce, and rising system complexity across four sectors the Department of War considers pivotal to production capacity and readiness: Critical Minerals, Kinetics (hypersonics, UAS, munitions), Industrial Manufacturing Technologies (castings and forgings, robotics and automation, additive and subtractive manufacturing), and Microelectronics. Without a modernized, scalable talent pipeline, the Department sees a direct risk to its ability to build and sustain next-generation defense systems.

What is the Government actually looking to fund?

Scalable workforce development models that combine modernized, industry-aligned curricula with hands-on apprenticeship or internship components. Classroom-only or purely theoretical programs will not meet the intent of the call. Proposals are expected to be built around Public-Private-Academic Partnerships (PPAP), incorporate industry-recognized certification pathways (examples cited include NIMS for machining and AWS for welding), integrate K-12 STEM outreach to build a longer-term pipeline, and include a system for tracking personnel trained, certified, and placed within the DIB.

Are there "above and beyond" capabilities the Government wants to see?

Yes. The solicitation includes a wish list of stretch capabilities offerors can incorporate to strengthen a proposal, including AI, quantum computing, and biotechnology workforce pilots; XR/VR and digital twin training environments for high-cost equipment like semiconductor fabs; regional training hubs in defense-dense locations such as Huntsville and Guam; predictive analytics platforms for employer-candidate matching; robotic welding and AI-driven quality control training; alignment with allied workforce standards such as AUKUS; and wraparound apprentice support like housing, transportation, and childcare.

How many awards will the Government make, and what type?

The Government intends to award at least ten fixed-price prototype Other Transaction agreements, though it reserves the right to award more, fewer, or none if submissions don't meet the bar. Period of performance runs up to four years, with the potential for a follow-on production award under 10 U.S.C. 4022(f) if a prototype is completed successfully. There is no guarantee of follow-on work.

Who is eligible to submit a proposal?

Offerors must be registered Cornerstone consortium members and must hold an active Joint Certification Program (JCP) registration in order to handle the unclassified military technical data associated with this initiative. Given the sensitivity of the Kinetics and Microelectronics focus areas, programs must also prioritize training for U.S. citizens eligible for security clearances and adhere to ITAR/EAR requirements.

What does the proposal need to include?

At minimum: an innovative technical approach to the problem statement, available and planned facilities, positive impact across four IBAS Workforce lines of effort (recruiting and awareness, training and capacity increase, hiring and retention, and data and analytics), a method for collecting and presenting return on investment, and risk mitigation factors. A separate fixed-price cost proposal is required, with any cost sharing clearly identified per 10 U.S.C. 4022.

What are the formatting and page limits?

Technical proposals are capped at 15 pages (graphs, charts, and tables may run up to 10 additional oversized pages), submitted as unclassified PDFs in 12-point Times New Roman with one-inch margins. The mandatory cover page and signed Representation and Certification (Attachment 0002) are excluded from the page count, as are supplementary appendices.

What is the timeline?

The CIR was issued July 9, 2026. Questions must be submitted by 12:00 PM Central on August 31, 2026, and proposals are due by 12:00 PM Central on October 30, 2026. Proposals must remain valid for six months from the closing date.

How are proposals evaluated?

This is a one-step evaluation weighing technical merit, feasibility of implementation, past performance on similar efforts, and total project risk, with proposed price, schedule, and data rights assertions considered as part of the overall risk-reward assessment. The Government places specific emphasis on how innovative and unique the proposed approach is relative to the stated requirements.

What happens to intellectual property?

IP terms are negotiated case-by-case, generally under Government Purpose Rights or Limited Rights. Offerors submit their data rights assertions using the template provided in Enclosure 2 of the CIR.

Additional Resources

Contact our team for the PDF solicitation.