How do I request funding for technical and business assistance (TABA)?

The U.S. DOT SBIR TABA Program is designed to help its small businesses jumpstart commercialization efforts. As of May 2025, the U.S. DOT SBIR Program does not have a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) in place to provide Phase I TABA services to its SBIR awardees. Any small business interested in utilizing technical and business assistance (TABA) will need to secure its own vendor. Please notify the U.S. DOT SBIR Program at dotsbir@dot.gov within 15 days after the award recommendation notice, if you are interested in pursuing your own TABA services or opting out of TABA.

The U.S. DOT SBIR Program Office and contracting officer will request information on the proposed vendor and services to include:

• Contact information of the vendor (name, address, phone number, email address, and website). 
• Description of the vendor’s expertise and knowledge of providing the desired technical and business assistance services. 
• Itemized list of services and associated costs for each service the TABA vendor will provide; this includes the number of hours and hourly cost for each service, when appropriate. 
• Description of the deliverable(s) the TABA vendor will provide for each service summarizing the outcome of the TABA services.

If you are unsure of where to start, you can turn to your local Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program awardee or Small Business Development Center for assistance.