Per the White House: https://tinyurl.com/babpzdu5
“On Monday, April 13, 2026, the President signed into law:
S. 3971, the “Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act,” which authorizes, through Fiscal Year 2031, and amends the Small Business Innovation Research program, Small Business Technology Transfer program, and related pilot programs.”
Please stay alert for upcoming SBIR/STTR funding announcements from participating agencies.
Briefly (Summarized by our colleagues @BBCetc) – The new Legislation makes the following program modifications, with each agency articulating how their programs will address these in their funding opportunities/solicitations & websites:
- It Authorizes both SBIR & STTR for 5 years (ending Sept 30, 2031)
- It expands Direct to PhII (D2P2) to the STTR program, adding DOE and NASA to the previously authorized Agencies NIH, DOD & Edu.
- It creates Strategic Breakthrough Awards: Up to $30 M as PhII follow on, requiring outside matching funds. Strategic Breakthrough awards at DOD have additional requirements, and only the larger agencies can participate (DOD, HHS, NSF, DOE, NASA)
- It updates Foreign Influence disclosures:
- A list of Prohibited Entities is mandated that will result in award denial.
- Agencies MUST provide a reason for denials,
- Resubmission of denied proposals is allowed
- It mandates NEW Agency-defined, annual proposal limits starting October 1, 2026. Agencies can choose an annual limit by company, by solicitation, or by topic.
- It mandates NEW PhIII emphasis. The new law requires agency contracting staff training and new simplified & standard PhIII award procedures. These changes aim to help companies sell SBIR/STTR products to contracting agencies.
- Technical and Business Assistance (TABA):
- All Agencies must participate (previously voluntary)
- Amounts remain the same ($6,500 Phase I, $50,000 Phase II),
- NEW—allows company staff to conduct TABA activities
- It instructs NEW I-Corps Participation: Allows TABA funds to be used to pay for I-Corps
- It Requires Several Agency administrative reporting updates
