DOT SBIR awards and R&D opportunities
DOT's SBIR program is run by the Volpe Center, with topics from its modal agencies such as the FAA and the Federal Highway Administration. DOT's official SBIR site has its current topics and deadlines.
- Awards, 2022–2026
- 137
- Awarded
- $58.5 million
- Phase II share
- 43%
- Open DOT R&D notices
- 14
Open DOT R&D opportunities, due soonest
14 open notices on SAM.gov have an R&D NAICS code or a BAA, SBIR, STTR or commercial solutions opening in the title.
- AI-Enabled Incident Response System with sUAS and Human Copilots (AIRS-COP)
✦ The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is asking companies whether they can build and flight-test an AI-enabled drone system (called AIRS-COP) that flies to highway crashes…
Due in 5 daysOct 16, 2026
- FTA Broad Agency Announcement (FY26) -- “Research Initiatives in Support of Safety, Accessibility, and Mobility in Public Transportation
✦ The Federal Transit Administration (U.S. DOT) is asking for short concept papers for applied research projects that make public transit safer, more accessible and more efficient,…
Due in 9 daysOct 20, 2026
- Pipeline Safety Research and Development (R&D) - Research Announcement 12
✦ The U.S. DOT's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is asking for research proposals on 16 pipeline safety topics (inspection, leak detection, LNG,…
Due in 23 daysNov 2, 2026
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Research And Commercial Solutions Opening (RCSO) Area Of Interest (AOI) - Complexity Of Systems And Operations
✦ The FAA is asking for innovative aviation human-factors research on how complex aircraft systems, automation and airspace affect pilots and maintenance staff.
Due in 23 daysNov 2, 2026
- Office of Hazardous Materials Safety Research Initiative – FY2026 BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA)
✦ The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA, part of the Department of Transportation) wants research proposals to make hazardous materials transportation…
Due in 38 daysNov 18, 2026
- FY 26 Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) - Federal Railroad Administration
Due in 354 daysSep 30, 2027
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Get R&D alertsDOT and the 2026 SBIR restart
SBIR and STTR lapsed from October 1, 2025 until the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act reauthorized them on April 13, 2026, through September 30, 2031. DOT released fiscal year 2026 Phase I topics on June 3, 2026 (closed July 7), and the Volpe Center says those awards have been announced.
DOT SBIR and STTR awards by year
| Award year | Phase I | Phase II | Dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 28 | 17 | $20.4 million |
| 2024 | 26 | 14 | $14.4 million |
| 2023 | 12 | 11 | $10.3 million |
| 2022 | 12 | 17 | $13.4 million |
| 2021 | 19 | 19 | $14.8 million |
| 2020 | 33 | 12 | $9.4 million |
| 2019 | 0 | 14 | $10.2 million |
| 2018 | 15 | 9 | $5.2 million |
| 2017 | 14 | 15 | $10.9 million |
| 2016 | 3 | 15 | $10.7 million |
2025 and 2026 are low because the programs' authority lapsed from October 2025 to April 2026, and because agencies report new awards to SBIR.gov months late (some agencies' newest reported awards are from 2024 or 2025).
Top DOT SBIR recipients
Small businesses with the most DOT SBIR and STTR dollars since 2022:
| Company | State | Awards | Dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design Interactive, LLC | FL | 4 | $3.4 million |
| Creare LLC | NH | 3 | $2.2 million |
| Pulsar Informatics, Inc. | WA | 2 | $2 million |
| Energy Storage Safety Products International LLC | MI | 2 | $2 million |
| Newport Sensors Inc | CA | 4 | $1.9 million |
| Tda Research, Inc. | CO | 4 | $1.8 million |
| X-Wave Innovations, Inc. | MD | 2 | $1.7 million |
| Innotech Systems LLC | CA | 2 | $1.7 million |
| Aiwaysion Inc | WA | 6 | $1.7 million |
| Infrasense, Inc. | MA | 2 | $1.5 million |
| Oceanit Laboratories Inc | HI | 3 | $1.5 million |
| Legacy Innovation Inc. | ID | 2 | $1.4 million |
| Haas, Inc. | IL | 2 | $1.2 million |
| Saferstreet Solutions LLC | NY | 2 | $1.2 million |
| Aries Science & Technology LLC | OH | 2 | $1.2 million |
Newest DOT SBIR and STTR awards
| Awarded | Company | Project | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 29, 2025 | Protection Engineering Consultants LLC | SBIR Phase II Risk Alleviation via Detection of Information Anomalies in Network Cybersecurity Events (RADIANCE) | $299,981 |
| Sep 26, 2025 | Legacy Innovation Inc. | SBIR Phase II Blood Logistics Integrity | Security (BLIS): A Comprehensive Prehospital Blood Logistics Solution for… | $1.2 million |
| Sep 26, 2025 | X-Wave Innovations, Inc. | SBIR Phase II Detect3C: Advancing the Assessment of Concrete Chloride Content Through Non-Destructive Techniques | $1.5 million |
| Sep 19, 2025 | Saferstreet Solutions LLC | SBIR Phase II Development of an Automated Seat Belt Detection and Driver Feedback System | $999,992 |
| Sep 18, 2025 | Nanosonic Inc. | SBIR Phase II Flame and Environment Resistant Multilayer Hazardous Materials Placard | $300,000 |
| Sep 12, 2025 | Physical Sciences Inc. | SBIR Phase II Deployable Vehicle Interface Mechanism (DVIM) | $999,431 |
| Sep 5, 2025 | Innotech Systems LLC | SBIR Phase II Enhanced Decentralized V2V Communications Leveraging the Potential of Automotive RADAR | $1.5 million |
| Aug 21, 2025 | Rix Industries | SBIR Phase I Autonomous Dynamic Load Adjusted Central Tire Inflation System (ADLACTIS) | $204,573 |
| Aug 21, 2025 | Diamond Age Technology LLC | SBIR Phase I Portable LiDAR Tire Diagnostics System: Improving Safety and Reducing Downtime | $206,450 |
| Aug 21, 2025 | Kitware Inc | SBIR Phase I FIELDViewR: Field-Focused Inspection, Engineering, and Logistics Digital Viewer for Roadways | $206,500 |
| Aug 20, 2025 | X-Wave Innovations, Inc. - FR1B | SBIR Phase I Non-Contact Ultrasonic System for Measuring Rail Neutral Temperature | $206,500 |
| Aug 20, 2025 | Mosaic Atm, Inc. | SBIR Phase I Fatigue Assessment for Transportation Engineer Determination | $199,873 |
Frequently asked questions
How many SBIR awards does DOT make?
Department of Transportation made 137 SBIR awards worth $58.5 million from 2022 through the latest SBIR.gov data, 59 of them Phase II. The average Phase I award was about $187,875 and average Phase II about $742,304.
Where does DOT post SBIR topics?
On its official SBIR/STTR site (www.volpe.dot.gov/work-with-us/small-business-innovation-research). Related R&D solicitations and broad agency announcements are also posted on SAM.gov.
Is DOT accepting SBIR proposals in 2026?
SBIR and STTR lapsed from October 1, 2025 until the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act reauthorized them on April 13, 2026, through September 30, 2031. DOT released fiscal year 2026 Phase I topics on June 3, 2026 (closed July 7), and the Volpe Center says those awards have been announced.
Other SBIR agencies
DoD · HHS · DOE · NASA · NSF · USDA · Commerce · DHS · EPA · Education
Award data from SBIR.gov's public award file, updated monthly; contact and researcher names are left out. Open notices from SAM.gov, updated daily.