Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Contracts

• The NIH STTR program does not currently utilize the contract mechanism.
• Contract proposals must respond to a specific topic.
• Only select Institutes and Centers participate in the contract mechanism.

How Do I Apply?

NIH SBIR contract funding opportunities reflect specific need areas (referred to as Contract Topics). These topics are identified by NIH Institute or Center (IC) staff. To submit a contract proposal, your small business must respond to one of these topics.

The contract application process differs from the grants application process because:

• A proposal in response to the Contract Topic requires its own separate proposal to the IC that created it; grant funding announcements allow for a response to multiple IC-identified priorities (or even one not specifically named) in one application.
• Contract proposals must be submitted through the electronic Contract Proposal Submission (eCPS), a component of NIH’s integrated, secure system for the electronic submission, capture, tracking, and review of contract proposals.

As in the case of grants, contracts allow for a Phase I, Fast Track, and Direct to Phase II proposals (as allowed by the topic). When Fast Track proposals are accepted, both a complete Phase I proposal and a separate, complete Phase II proposal must be submitted; the Phase I proposal and Phase II proposal will be evaluated and scored individually.