SBIR FAQs

The timeline varies each year; however, topics are typically prepared beginning in the summer (July/August of each year) for the following year’s solicitation. Topics are selected by each participating agency and align with their respective research needs and Departmental priorities.

You can suggest a topic. U.S. DOT reviews all suggested topics; however, please be aware that topics are limited and chosen according to U.S. DOT research priorities. 

All proposals must respond to a specific topic in an open solicitation in order to be considered for an award through U.S.DOT’s SBIR program. 

You can suggest a topic for consideration. All ideas submitted will be shared with the U.S. DOT agencies participating in SBIR on a quarterly basis. If any ideas are used for future solicitation topics, they will be shared publicly and will be open to all eligible U.S. small businesses.

In addition, there are other ways to do business with U.S. DOT and the federal government. Visit the U.S. DOT Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization web page and SAM.gov to search for contract opportunities that match your idea and/or your capabilities. SAM.gov is the primary location to learn about U.S. DOT contract opportunities. Information about additional federal government funding opportunities can be found on the U.S. DOT SBIR site’s Additional Resources page.

Contact a small business specialist to learn about other opportunities within agencies.

During a pre-solicitation period, you may submit technical questions to the U.S. DOT topic authors concerning the proposed research topics via the online forum listed in the pre-solicitation notice (please see the FY 2022 Pre-Solicitation Q&A Forum as an example). This forum provides small businesses an opportunity to submit clarifying questions on the topics published in the pre-solicitation. All questions and answers are posted publicly.

During an open solicitation, direct contact with topic authors is not permitted.
 

A single offer must address one research topic. There is no limit on the number of offers that can be submitted.

A small business may submit multiple offers for the same topic. However, the small business must ensure that the offers are sufficiently differentiated to truly be different approaches. 

Research that involves human subjects may be subject to additional regulations found in 49 CFR Part 11 (Part 11) as well as other applicable federal and state laws and regulations. Research will be considered to involve human subjects under Part 11 if the research obtains (1) data through intervention or interaction with an individual(s), and/or (2) identifiable private information.

Unless exempt under 49 CFR §11.101(b) or §11.101(i), human subject research must adhere to the regulations of Part 11, which includes review and approval of the research by a federally approved Institutional Review Board (IRB).

Due to the short timeframe associated with Phase I of the SBIR process, U.S. DOT does not recommend the submission of Phase I offers that require the use of human subjects testing. For example, the ability to obtain IRB approval for offers that involve human subjects can take 6-12 months, and that lengthy process can be at odds with the Phase I goal for time to award.

Before U.S. DOT makes any award that involves an IRB or similar approval requirement, the offeror must demonstrate compliance with relevant regulatory approval requirements that pertain to offers involving human protocols. It will not impact U.S. DOT’s evaluation, but requiring IRB approval may delay the start time of the Phase I award, and if approvals are not obtained within two months of notification of selection, the decision to award may be rescinded.