Technical and Business Assistance(TABA) funding is intended to help small businesses identify and address their most pressing product development needs. TABA funding assists small businesses in:

• making better technical decisions concerning such projects;
• solving technical problems which arise during the conduct of such projects;
• minimizing technical risks associated with such projects; and
• developing and commercializing new commercial products and processes resulting from such projects, including intellectual property protections;
• screening for potential foreign involvement in technology development or commercialization activities

Small Businesses may request

• up to $6,500 in additional funding across all years for a Phase I project
• up to $50,000 in additional funding across all years for a Phase II project
• up to $50,000 in additional funding across all years for a Phase IIB Strategic Breakthrough project

Fast-Track applications are a combination of both Phase I and Phase II and small businesses can request TABA Funding in both phases within their Fast-Track application up to these amounts for each phase. TABA funds cannot be requested for the Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP) program. TABA funds may be requested in Phase II and again in Phase IIB Strategic Breakthrough.

TABA Funding Can Support

TABA funding can support new or existing staff, vendors, consultants, or subawards to do activities consistent with the goals below. Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Assistance with product sales
• Intellectual property protections
• Cybersecurity assistance
• Market research and/or validation
• Development of regulatory plans
• Development of manufacturing plans
• Access to technical and business literature available through on-line databases
• Participation in NIH I-Corps, or similar training programs

TABA Funding Cannot Support

• Contributions to the SBIR/STTR fee
• Audit services
• Bookkeeping services, including payroll management or general accounting services
• Patent costs above and beyond those outlined for the NIH funded program

Request TABA Funding in Your Application

To access technical and business assistance (TABA) funding, small business concerns should:

• Indicate the application includes a request of SBIR or STTR funds for Technical and Business Assistance (TABA) on the B.440 SBIR/STTR Information Form.
• Label the requested costs “Technical Assistance” on one of the other direct cost lines (8-17).
• Include in the Budget justification a detailed description of the technical or business assistance, including the name of the vendor if applicable, and the expected benefits and results of the technical or business assistance provided.

Request TABA Funding Through an Administrative Supplement

Small businesses may become aware of technical or business needs after award that necessitate requesting TABA funds through an Administrative Supplement. Recipients may include TABA funds as part of a supplement request through PA-26-001 - Administrative Supplements to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Parent Admin Supp Clinical Trial Optional) and subsequent reissues. Recipients should follow instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide" to include and justify TABA funds in the R&R Budget Form, and otherwise follow the administrative supplement NOFO instructions.

Please contact your Program Official if you have any questions. For more information, please see the TABA FAQs.