If you’ve been waiting on SBIR, I have good news: the programs are officially back. On April 13, 2026, the President signed S. 3971 – the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act – into law, reauthorizing both SBIR and STTR through September 30, 2031. After a six-and-a-half month lapse that started when the programs expired on September 30, 2025, agencies can finally issue new solicitations and commit new funds.
But the reauthorization comes with a compressed timeline and the first post-reauthorization solicitations are going to move fast. We are already seeing it. This is great news for small businesses, but if you’re not already positioned and thinking about it, you’re already behind.
What the Lapse Actually Cost
First, lets put some numbers behind this. From fiscal years 2020 through 2024, federal agencies averaged roughly 6,700 SBIR and STTR awards per year. In fiscal year 2025, that dropped to approximately 4,700 – a gap of nearly 2,000 awards representing an estimated $490 million in funding that never reached small businesses.
NASA was hit hardest, dropping from 437 awards in fiscal year 2024 to just 8 in 2025. The Department of Energy fell by 63%. Even the Air Force, historically the single largest SBIR funder within DoD, dropped over 37%. For small businesses that depend on SBIR as a pathway into federal work, this wasn’t just an inconvenience. It disrupted R&D timelines, created cash flow gaps, and forced some companies to put growth plans on hold entirely.
The practical consequence right now is that agencies are under real pressure to obligate FY2026 funds before September 30. That means solicitations will open and close on compressed timelines. The companies that move fast and are already prepared are the ones that will benefit most from this first cycle.
What’s Happening Right Now by Agency
The restart isn’t happening all at once or at the same pace across agencies. Here’s where things stand as of April 2026.
Department of Defense
DoD didn’t wait a single day. Within hours of the bill being signed on April 13, 115 new open and pre-release topics appeared on the DSIP portal. The 2025.4 solicitation topics close May 13, 2026, and the FY2026 BAA releases are running through the summer. Army, Air Force, DARPA, and SOCOM topics are open now. If DoD is your target, you need to get started now.
NSF
NSF is prepared to reopen its Project Pitch portal now that reauthorization has passed. The next full proposal deadline is anticipated around July 2026. If you already completed a successful Project Pitch, your open invitation remains valid.
NASA
NASA released its FY2026 SBIR/STTR Broad Agency Announcement on April 17, 2026. This is a real structural change from how NASA has historically operated. Instead of one large solicitation in January, Phase I subtopics will now be released in multiple appendices throughout the year. One important nuance: proposal limits reset with each appendix. So if a relevant subtopic doesn’t appear in the first release, watch for future ones – and if it does appear, don’t hesitate.
NIH
NIH’s picture is more complex. Review processes were disrupted during the lapse. Study sections were delayed or temporarily halted, and timelines vary significantly by institute. Proposals submitted in September 2025 at NHLBI may still be funded before the end of FY2026. NIAID proposals submitted on or after April 2025 are being considered for FY2027 funding. The key here is to follow each institute’s specific guidance rather than assuming a single NIH-wide timeline.
Department of Education (IES)
This is the one I want to call out specifically, because I think it’s being underestimated. Despite all the federal-level uncertainty, IES has already posted pre-solicitation notices for Phase IA, Phase IB, and Direct to Phase II SBIRs on SAM.gov, with a full solicitation opening date of April 30, 2026. That’s ten days from now.
IES administers its SBIR program with an annual budget of approximately $13 million and a tight focus on rigorous R&D and evaluation of education technology products. If your company is in the edtech space and you’re not already pulling together your technical narrative and team documentation, you’re cutting it close.
Use This Pre-Solicitation Time Wisely
I’ve written before about why the companies that win SBIR awards aren’t the ones who start working when the solicitation drops. They’re the ones who’ve been building their proposal infrastructure for months. That’s even more true right now, when the timeline is compressed and the agencies moving fastest will reward companies that are ready.
Here’s a link to my prior blog post about what you need to get ready. Agencies need to obligate funds before September 30, solicitations will move fast, and the companies that come in prepared will have a real advantage.
If you’re not sure where you stand or what it would take to get ready for your target solicitation – that’s exactly what I’m here for. Reach out at amisha@proposalarc.com and let’s take a look at where you are and what the best strategic options are for your company.
– Amisha Prakash, Proposal Architect
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