MDA SBIR and STTR awards and R&D opportunities
The Missile Defense Agency funds SBIR and STTR research for sensors, interceptors, modeling and other missile defense technology. MDA's official SBIR/STTR site has its current topics and deadlines.
- Awards, 2022–2026
- 500
- Awarded
- $455.9 million
- Phase II share
- 45%
- Open MDA R&D notices
- 6
Open MDA R&D opportunities, due soonest
6 open notices on SAM.gov have an R&D NAICS code or a BAA, SBIR, STTR or commercial solutions opening in the title.
- United States Space Force (USSF) Battle Management, Command, Control, Communication and Space Intelligence (BMC3I) Satellite Communication Augmentation Resource (SCAR) Program Office (PMO) Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) Two Phase Closed Variant
Due in 5 daysOct 15, 2026
- Mentor Protégé Program Broad Agency Announcement
✦ The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is inviting large defense contractors (mentors) to submit white papers proposing mentor-protege agreements that help a small business (protege)…
Due in 689 daysAug 30, 2028
- Mobile Integrated Launch Capability
Due in 721 daysSep 30, 2028
- Missile Defense Agency - Multiple Authority Announcement
✦ The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has set up a Multiple Authority Announcement (MAA), a single umbrella notice for non-traditional buys such as BAAs, CSOs, OTAs and CRADAs.
Due in 1263 daysMar 27, 2030
- Missile Defense Agency - Nimble Options for Buying Layered Effects (NOBLE) Announcement
✦ The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) runs the NOBLE announcement (Nimble Options for Buying Layered Effects), a vehicle for buying missile defense research and prototypes.
Due in 1263 daysMar 27, 2030
- Missile Defense Agency - Advanced Capability Concepts
Due in 1305 daysMay 8, 2030
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Get R&D alertsMDA 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. DoD pre-released its first post-reauthorization topics on April 13, 2026 (open May 6 to June 3) and has released new topics every month since. Its first fiscal year 2027 release pre-released October 7, 2026 and accepts proposals October 28 to November 25, 2026, through the DoD SBIR/STTR Innovation Portal (DSIP).
MDA SBIR and STTR awards by year
| Award year | Phase I | Phase II | Dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (so far) | 1 | 0 | $179,492 |
| 2025 | 19 | 78 | $158.5 million |
| 2024 | 74 | 36 | $69.5 million |
| 2023 | 37 | 52 | $92.5 million |
| 2022 | 142 | 61 | $135.3 million |
| 2021 | 63 | 53 | $104.2 million |
| 2020 | 74 | 55 | $89.5 million |
| 2019 | 68 | 63 | $87.8 million |
| 2018 | 97 | 49 | $70.6 million |
| 2017 | 91 | 92 | $119.2 million |
| 2016 | 124 | 55 | $84.5 million |
125 of the 500 awards since 2022 were STTR, which requires a research institution partner.
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 MDA SBIR recipients
Small businesses with the most MDA SBIR and STTR dollars since 2022:
| Company | State | Awards | Dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical Sciences Inc. | MA | 23 | $26.9 million |
| Corvid Technologies, LLC | NC | 14 | $13.1 million |
| Nou Systems Inc | AL | 14 | $13.1 million |
| Spectral Energies LLC | OH | 10 | $11 million |
| Exquadrum Inc | CA | 7 | $10.5 million |
| Arete Associates | CA | 9 | $8.5 million |
| Exo-Atmospheric Technologies LLC | WI | 8 | $7.8 million |
| Spectral Sciences, Inc | MA | 8 | $7.7 million |
| Optimization Technologies, Inc. | CO | 8 | $7.4 million |
| Rtsync Corp | AZ | 6 | $7.2 million |
| Nokomis Inc | PA | 5 | $6.8 million |
| Control Vision, Inc. | AZ | 3 | $6.6 million |
| Infinity Labs LLC | OH | 5 | $6.4 million |
| Scitec Inc | NJ | 4 | $5.9 million |
| Metrolaser, Incorporated | CA | 3 | $5.7 million |
Newest MDA SBIR and STTR awards
| Awarded | Company | Project | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 5, 2025 | Microcom Design, Inc. | STTR Phase I Captive Carry Transponder for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Interceptor | $179,492 |
| Sep 30, 2025 | Nou Systems Inc | SBIR Phase II Decision Assistant for Battle Management (DABM) | $2 million |
| Sep 30, 2025 | Spectral Sciences, Inc | SBIR Phase II Standardized All-Altitude Modulation Model (SAMM) for Long-wave Infrared through Mid-wave Ultraviolet… | $2 million |
| Sep 30, 2025 | Ata Engineering, Inc. | SBIR Phase II A Machine Learning-Accelerated Framework for Lethality Assessment of Directed Energy Engagements of… | $2 million |
| Sep 30, 2025 | Shepra, Inc. | SBIR Phase II Additive Manufacturing of a Structural Thermal Protection System for Terminal High Altitude Area Defense… | $2 million |
| Sep 30, 2025 | Archem, LLC | SBIR Phase II JETFIRE (JetPace Enhancement Through Fuel Ignition and Range Extension) | $2 million |
| Sep 30, 2025 | Corvid Atea, LLC | SBIR Phase II Novel Effector Payloads | $2 million |
| Sep 30, 2025 | Physical Sciences Inc. | SBIR Phase II Conformal Electromagnetic Radiation Absorptive MXene-Integrated Composite (CERAMIC) | $2 million |
| Sep 30, 2025 | Nokomis Inc | SBIR Phase II “Left of Launch” Indications and Warning for Enhanced Battle Management | $2 million |
| Sep 30, 2025 | Lunar Resources, Inc. | SBIR Phase II Helix High-Power Pulsed Electromagnetic Microwave Power Supply (HEMPS) | $2 million |
| Sep 30, 2025 | Spectral Energies LLC | SBIR Phase II Disruptive Propulsion Technology to Enhance the Missile Defense System | $2 million |
| Sep 29, 2025 | Rtsync Corp | STTR Phase II DEVS-based Virtual As is Simulation Test platform (DVAST) | $2.1 million |
Frequently asked questions
How many SBIR awards does MDA make?
Missile Defense Agency made 500 SBIR and STTR awards worth $455.9 million from 2022 through the latest SBIR.gov data, 227 of them Phase II. The average Phase I award was about $151,131 and average Phase II about $1.8 million.
Where does MDA post SBIR topics?
On its official SBIR/STTR site (www.mda.mil/business/sbir_sttr_programs.html). All DoD components release topics and accept proposals through the DoD SBIR/STTR Innovation Portal (DSIP). Related R&D solicitations and broad agency announcements are also posted on SAM.gov.
Is MDA 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. DoD pre-released its first post-reauthorization topics on April 13, 2026 (open May 6 to June 3) and has released new topics every month since. Its first fiscal year 2027 release pre-released October 7, 2026 and accepts proposals October 28 to November 25, 2026, through the DoD SBIR/STTR Innovation Portal (DSIP).
Other SBIR agencies
Air Force · Navy · Army · DARPA · DHA · DLA · SOCOM · OSD · CBD · DTRA
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.