Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Contracts

• The NIH STTR program does not 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 are offered once a year and 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 process because: 

• A proposal in response to the Contract Topic requires its own separate proposal to the IC that created it; Grants Announcement 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.  
  *Note: Grant applications are submitted through the applicant’s account on the eraCommons portal. 

As in the case of grants, contracts allow for a Phase I or a Fast Track proposal (if a topic allows it). When Fast Track proposals are accepted, a Phase I proposal and a Phase II proposal may be submitted simultaneously.