Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, Phase I | HHS 2024 ACL NIDILRR BISA 0069

Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2024 ACL NIDILRR BISA 0069

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program, Phase I grant opportunity is a federal funding competition designed to help small businesses launch early-stage research and development efforts that can lead to real-world innovations. At the broadest level, the SBIR program exists to spur technological innovation in the private sector, ensure small businesses play a meaningful role in meeting federal research or R&D needs, and increase the payoff from federally funded research by turning it into economic and social benefits. In practical terms, Phase I funding is meant to support feasibility work: proving that an idea is technically sound, showing early evidence that it can be developed into a viable product or service, and positioning the project for later-stage development and commercialization.

This specific opportunity is offered through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Community Living (ACL), via the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). NIDILRRs SBIR focus narrows the mission to disability outcomes: the aim is to improve the lives of people with disabilities by supporting R&D products created by small businesses. Another central goal is commercialization, meaning NIDILRR is looking for projects that not only advance research, but also have a clear path toward becoming usable products, tools, technologies, or solutions that can be adopted in the marketplace and have measurable impact.

The award structure reflects the Phase I, proof-of-concept nature of SBIR. NIDILRR expects to make 11 total awards under this funding announcement. Each grant has a six-month project period, matched by a six-month budget period, which signals a short, focused performance window where applicants should plan to accomplish tightly scoped technical objectives, early prototyping, feasibility testing, user-centered validation activities, or other foundational R&D milestones appropriate for Phase I. The maximum award amount (the award ceiling) is $100,000 per grant, so proposals generally need to be realistic about what can be achieved within that budget and timeframe, while still demonstrating progress toward a product that can eventually be commercialized and used by people with disabilities.

Eligibility is limited to small businesses, consistent with SBIR requirements. The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant within the science and technology and other research and development funding activity area, and it is listed under CFDA number 93.433. The funding opportunity number is HHS-2024-ACL-NIDILRR-BISA-0069, and the opportunity title is Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, Phase I. The notice was created on Oct 18, 2023, with an original application closing date of Dec 18, 2023. Applications must be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date, emphasizing that applicants should plan submissions and validations ahead of the deadline to avoid last-minute technical issues.

Overall, this SBIR Phase I opportunity is best understood as seed funding from NIDILRR for small businesses developing disability-related innovations that are grounded in R&D and aimed at eventual real-world use. The program rewards strong technical ideas, a credible development plan for a six-month Phase I effort, and a convincing commercialization orientation that aligns with NIDILRRs mission to improve independence, participation, and quality of life for people with disabilities.

• The Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, Phase I" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.433.
• This funding opportunity was created on Oct 18, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 18, 2023 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 1159 p.m., ET, on the listed application due date.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 11 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Small businesses.

Apply for HHS 2024 ACL NIDILRR BISA 0069

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: