FAQs on SBIR/STTR Proposal Submission
FAQ: Do I need to choose an NIH institute or center for my SBIR/STTR proposal?
Answer: No. The NIH Center for Scientific Review (CSR) Receipt and Referral Office makes the assignment. You may, however, request a specific institute or center using the Assignment Request Form in the SF424 forms.
FAQ: If my proposal is successful, how long after the due date would my project funding start?
Answer: You’ll get the funding around six months after the due date.
FAQ: Can I correct errors in my proposal after it is submitted but before it is reviewed?
Answer: No. Your proposal should be error-free by the due date at 5:00 p.m.
Resources
FAQs for the NIH SBIR/STTR Programs – See the NIH institutes’ websites for additional, specific information, such as the following:
Proposal Application Resources
How to Apply – NIH Application Guide
For Grant Application Forms
- Instructions: Follow the application guide for SBIR/STTR grant applications (SF 424 (R&R)) except when there are specific instructions to do otherwise in the funding opportunity announcement (FOA) or program-specific instructions in section IV.
Proposal Submission
For Grant and Contract Submissions
- Successfully Submitting a Small Business Grant Application to NIH – Describes an overview of the whole process and steps involved. 2015.
- Contract Proposal Submission (eCPS) – For contracts.
Submission Portals
NIH: Grants are submitted via ASSIST or Grants.gov. All documents uploaded for submission must be converted to PDF format. You will also need a compatible version of Adobe Reader. Use Login.gov to log in, which requires two-step verification.
Tips:
- Refer to the annotated form set for SBIR/STTR to understand what is being asked for in each field and what is required vs. optional information.
- Use meaningful file names for the documents you upload.
- Follow the rules, such as page limits and guidelines for text fields, and use no headers or footers.
NSF: Use Research.gov or Grants.gov
Deadlines
NIH SBIR/STTR Grants: Standard receipt dates for NIH Phase I/Phase II proposals are January 5, April 5, and September 5. If the receipt date is on a holiday, it is delayed until the next working day. View the NIH’s “How to Apply” page.
The deadline is 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on the respective date. Submit a few days early so that you have time to address all technical problems, warnings, or errors.
NSF SBIR Grants: Unlike the NIH, you can submit a Phase I proposal at almost any time. There are multiple submission windows throughout the year. Look at the NSF’s Get Started page for a description of the required steps.
NSF SBIR Phase II proposals can be submitted six months to two years after the Phase I award date.
