EPA’s 2026 SBIR Phase I solicitation is anticipated to open soon! The solicitation will support eligible small businesses in the development and commercialization of innovative environmental technologies. EPA is one of 11 federal agencies that participate in the SBIR Program. With this solicitation, EPA is calling for American small businesses to apply for Phase I awards of up to $100,000 to demonstrate proof of concept of their technologies that are responsive to one of this year’s SBIR solicitation topics. A list of this year’s topics has been released on the How to Apply for an SBIR Contract page of the EPA SBIR website.
CLEAN AND SAFE WATER
- Topic 1A: Monitoring Technologies for Water Reuse
- Topic 1B: Treatment of PFAS in Wastewater Sewage Sludge and Biosolids
- Topic 1C: Technologies for the Removal and/or Destruction of PFAS in Groundwater
Note: Technologies for Sensors to Detect PFAS in Water are responsive to Topic 2A. Please see Topic 2A below for information.
AIR QUALITY
- Topic 2A: Sensors to Detect PFAS in Environmental Matrices
- Topic 2B: Advancing Technologies to Monitor Carbon Monoxide
CIRCULAR ECONOMY/SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS
- Topic 3A: Innovative Technologies to Prevent and Recycle Food Waste
- Topic 3B: Critical Mineral Recovery from Lithium-Ion Batteries and Safe Recycling/Reuse of Batteries
- Topic 3C: Technologies that Mitigate the Impacts of Critical Mineral Mining or Extract Critical Minerals from Acid Mine Drainage
SAFER CHEMICALS
- Topic 4A: Rubber Anti-Degradants That Are Lower Concern for Human Health and The Environment
- Topic 4B: Improved Lead Test Kits
If you are considering submitting a proposal, be sure to check out EPA’s registration requirements. More information can be found on the EPA SBIR Funding Opportunities Page.
PhI Informational Webinar
Join the EPA SBIR team on Wednesday, September 16th at 1:30 p.m. ET for an informational webinar discussing the upcoming 2026 EPA SBIR PhI solicitation release. This webinar will provide an overview of this year’s topics and proposal requirements. This session will be held via Zoom.
Sign up for the EPA SBIR Listserv to receive more information about this year’s solicitation topics and the EPA SBIR Program.