NASA SBIR and STTR awards and R&D opportunities
NASA funds aerospace and space technology through SBIR and STTR contracts. Since April 2026 it uses a single broad agency announcement, valid through September 30, 2027, with topics in its appendices. NASA's official SBIR/STTR site has its current topics and deadlines.
- Awards, 2022–2026
- 1,833
- Awarded
- $742.7 million
- Phase II share
- 32%
- Open NASA R&D notices
- 14
Open NASA 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.
- NASA FFRDC at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory - Competitive Procurement Request for Information (RFI) / Sources Sought Notice (SSN)
Due in 4 daysOct 14, 2026
- Measurement of Core Temperature and Thermoregulatory Responses during and after Spaceflight in Astronauts
Due in 4 daysOct 14, 2026
- Habitable Worlds Observatory Instrument Concept Assessments in NASA Research Announcement (NRA): RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES IN SPACE AND EARTH SCIENCES (ROSES) 2025
Due in 4 daysOct 15, 2026
- Lunar Enabling Infrastructure Accelerator (LEIA) -Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) NextSTEP-3 Appendix A - Final Solicitation
✦ NASA Glenn Research Center is soliciting proposals under the NextSTEP-3 Broad Agency Announcement (Appendix A, LEIA) to mature five lunar infrastructure technologies toward TRL…
Due in 5 daysOct 15, 2026
- Evaluations, Assessments, and Support Services (EASS)
✦ NASA Langley Research Center (Hampton, VA) has released a draft RFP for a five-year contract to support the Science Office for Mission Assessments: running evaluations of science…
Due in 24 daysNov 3, 2026
- Venus Thrombosis (VT)
✦ NASA Johnson Space Center (Houston, TX) wants a contractor to describe approaches to monitor, reduce the risk of, and prevent or treat Venus Thrombosis (VT) during spaceflight…
Due in 41 daysNov 20, 2026
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Get R&D alertsNASA 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. NASA released its SBIR/STTR broad agency announcement on April 17, 2026. It's valid through September 30, 2027, and NASA posts topic appendices under it.
NASA SBIR and STTR awards by year
| Award year | Phase I | Phase II | Dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 303 | 148 | $188.6 million |
| 2024 | 305 | 140 | $181.5 million |
| 2023 | 307 | 148 | $182.5 million |
| 2022 | 331 | 151 | $190.1 million |
| 2021 | 361 | 173 | $198.7 million |
| 2020 | 409 | 164 | $187.5 million |
| 2019 | 361 | 163 | $165.9 million |
| 2018 | 344 | 170 | $170 million |
| 2017 | 398 | 155 | $165.6 million |
| 2016 | 397 | 156 | $168.7 million |
285 of the 1,833 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 NASA SBIR recipients
Small businesses with the most NASA SBIR and STTR dollars since 2022:
| Company | State | Awards | Dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Astrobotic Technology Inc | PA | 19 | $16.2 million |
| Creare LLC | NH | 26 | $11.4 million |
| Flight Works, Inc | CA | 7 | $10.3 million |
| CFD Research Corporation | AL | 26 | $10 million |
| Physical Sciences Inc. | MA | 21 | $9.3 million |
| Motiv Space Systems, Inc. | CA | 11 | $8.8 million |
| Tda Research, Inc. | CO | 11 | $7.8 million |
| Protoinnovations, LLC | PA | 7 | $7.5 million |
| Intellisense Systems Inc | CA | 18 | $7.1 million |
| Blueshift LLC | CO | 15 | $6.7 million |
| Advanced Cooling Technologies Inc | PA | 16 | $6.7 million |
| Interdisciplinary Consulting Corp | FL | 14 | $6.6 million |
| Alphacore, Inc. | AZ | 18 | $6.4 million |
| Ad Astra Rocket Co | TX | 5 | $6 million |
| Nanosonic Inc. | VA | 14 | $5.5 million |
Newest NASA SBIR and STTR awards
| Awarded | Company | Project | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 30, 2025 | Fibertek, Inc. | SBIR Phase II Compact Lidar Spectrometer for Mars, Lunar Science and ISRU Prospecting | $849,371 |
| Sep 30, 2025 | Kouros Sariri | SBIR Phase I -200°C Rad hard Cold Capable Thermally multiplexed controller | $149,951 |
| Sep 30, 2025 | Giner Inc | SBIR Phase I Multi-Purpose Flame Retardant Materials for Habitation Solutions | $156,491 |
| Sep 30, 2025 | Senseics Corporation | SBIR Phase II Radiation-Hard, Low-Power FMCW Signal Processing ASIC | $844,033 |
| Sep 30, 2025 | Applied Research Team Inc | SBIR Phase II Continuous Snow Monitoring for Improved Water Supply Management | $899,864 |
| Sep 29, 2025 | Ad Astra Rocket Co | SBIR Phase II Technology Maturation of the VASIMR Electric Propulsion System | $4 million |
| Sep 29, 2025 | Combustion Research & Flow Technology Inc | SBIR Phase II Efficient Models for Film Condensation in Cryogenic Tank Applications | $899,999 |
| Sep 29, 2025 | Opal Ai Inc | SBIR Phase II FireVision: An AI-Powered Decision-Support Platform Leveraging NASA Earth Science Data for Wildfire Risk,… | $899,845 |
| Sep 29, 2025 | Alphacore, Inc. | STTR Phase I Novel Imaging Technologies for Optimized Lunar Surface Navigation | $156,380 |
| Sep 29, 2025 | Alphacore, Inc. | SBIR Phase I Asynchronous Star-Tracker for Real-Time, High-Spin Attitude Control | $156,408 |
| Sep 29, 2025 | Alphacore, Inc. | SBIR Phase I Rad-hard Electronic Control and Power Integrated Circuit for Stirling-based Radioisotope Power System | $156,282 |
| Sep 26, 2025 | Physical Sciences Inc. | SBIR Phase II High Energy Density Next-Generation Batteries for Lunar/Mars Surface Missions | $849,997 |
Frequently asked questions
How many SBIR awards does NASA make?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) made 1,833 SBIR and STTR awards worth $742.7 million from 2022 through the latest SBIR.gov data, 587 of them Phase II. The average Phase I award was about $151,704 and average Phase II about $943,184.
Where does NASA post SBIR topics?
On its official SBIR/STTR site (www.nasa.gov/sbir_sttr). Related R&D solicitations and broad agency announcements are also posted on SAM.gov.
Is NASA 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. NASA released its SBIR/STTR broad agency announcement on April 17, 2026. It's valid through September 30, 2027, and NASA posts topic appendices under it.
Other SBIR agencies
DoD · HHS · DOE · NSF · USDA · Commerce · DHS · DOT · 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.