NOAA SBIR: Answers to Common Application Questions

To apply to the NOAA SBIR program, your company must meet strict federal eligibility requirements. Only U.S.-based, for-profit small businesses with 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates) are eligible. The business must be at least 51% owned and controlled by U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

Startups are welcome—even those recently formed or spun out of universities—so long as they’ve completed all required registrations and are operational by the time of application. Prior revenue or past federal funding is not required.

The lead researcher, or Principal Investigator (PI), must be primarily employed by the small business (i.e., working more than 50% of their time there) at the time of award. NOAA also requires that the majority of work be done in the U.S.: at least two-thirds of Phase I and half of Phase II work must be conducted by the small business itself.

While universities and non-profits can’t apply directly, they can participate as subcontractors or consultants. Just ensure any outside partner’s effort stays within subcontracting limits—and secure commitment letters as part of the application.

As for your team, NOAA strongly encourages using U.S.-based staff. While foreign nationals legally permitted to work in the U.S. may contribute, be mindful of any export control issues. The PI and core team should be based in the U.S. throughout the award period.

What does NOAA fund, and how is the program structured?

The NOAA SBIR program follows the standard three-phase model used across federal SBIR agencies, but with specific features tailored to NOAA’s mission.

In Phase I, the focus is on feasibility. NOAA awards up to $190,000 for a 6-month project to test whether your idea could realistically work. You must demonstrate technical merit and potential for commercialization, all while addressing a NOAA-prioritized research topic.

Only Phase I awardees may apply for Phase II, which funds more in-depth research and development. NOAA offers up to $690,000 over 24 months. This stage supports prototype development, performance validation, and early-stage commercialization planning. A detailed commercialization plan is required as part of your Phase II proposal.

Phase III is not funded by SBIR dollars. Instead, it’s about commercialization—scaling up, securing private capital, or transitioning to operational use within NOAA or another agency. One unique advantage: SBIR allows for sole-source contracts in Phase III, meaning NOAA or other federal entities can fund follow-on work without re-competing it.

When and how can I apply?

NOAA issues one SBIR solicitation each year, typically in the fall. This is the only time you can submit a proposal—NOAA does not accept unsolicited submissions. The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is posted on both Grants.gov and the NOAA SBIR website and usually remains open for about 60 days.

To apply, you must submit your application package through Grants.gov. The submission process is entirely electronic, and you’ll need to complete several required registrations before you can access or submit the application forms.

Required Registrations

Before applying, your business must be registered with the following:

• SAM.gov: Your company must be “active” in the System for Award Management. This registration can take several weeks, so start early.
• Grants.gov: You’ll need a Grants.gov account linked to your SAM registration and designate an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) to submit.
• SBIR.gov Company Registry: You must register your company at SBIR.gov and include the PDF certificate in your application.
• eRA Commons (if specified): NOAA sometimes requires this additional registration; always check the current NOFO for confirmation.

Start SAM.gov registration early
This process can take weeks to finalize. Delays here could prevent on-time submission.

NOAA does not require a Letter of Intent for Phase I applications. You can proceed directly to preparing and submitting the full proposal by the deadline. Keep in mind that NOAA often hosts informational webinars or bidder’s Q&A sessions early in the open period—these are excellent opportunities to get procedural questions answered.

Your final submission on Grants.gov must include:

• Completed SF-424 and other required federal forms
• Your Technical Narrative in PDF format
• Budget forms and justification
• Attachments (e.g., resumes, letters of support, SBIR.gov certificate)

Aim to submit several days before the deadline to allow time for any Grants.gov errors or rejections due to incomplete forms. NOAA does not accept late applications under any circumstances.

What should I include in my application?

Your NOAA SBIR Phase I proposal must be complete, properly formatted, and follow the NOFO instructions exactly. Incomplete or incorrectly formatted applications may be rejected without review.

Key Components of a Complete Application

Formatting Details

Use at least 10-point font (Arial or Times New Roman recommended), maintain standard U.S. letter-size pages, and label any proprietary information. The Cover Page, Abstract, and References all count toward the 15-page limit.

Also note: if your project will generate environmental or scientific data, NOAA requires a separate Data Management Plan (DMP). This plan—usually two pages—is not counted toward the narrative limit and must describe how data will be collected, stored, and potentially shared.

Can I submit more than one proposal or to multiple agencies?

Yes, NOAA allows small businesses to submit more than one proposal, as long as each addresses a distinct technical topic or concept. Each submission is evaluated independently. However, NOAA expects applicants to disclose related or overlapping submissions clearly.

If you’re applying to multiple SBIR agencies with similar proposals, that’s acceptable—just not for the exact same work. You must disclose any other federal submissions in your NOAA application. If two agencies fund the same project, you’ll have to decline one award to avoid duplicate funding.

It’s also possible (though rare) for a single firm to receive multiple NOAA SBIR awards in the same cycle. That said, NOAA may consider portfolio diversity when selecting winners, so weigh your team’s bandwidth and delivery capacity.

Disclose related submissions
If you’re submitting similar proposals to NOAA and other agencies, include that information in your NOAA application—even if the other awards haven’t been decided yet.

What happens after I apply?

Once the NOAA SBIR submission window closes, all complete proposals are reviewed by a panel of subject matter experts. Reviewers evaluate your application on three main criteria: technical merit, qualifications of the team, and potential for commercialization.

Expect the review process to take a few months. For example, if you submit in January, you might hear back in late spring. Notifications are sent via email and posted in your Grants.gov account.

If selected for funding, you’ll receive a formal award letter and instructions on next steps, including how to onboard through NOAA’s grant or contract system. If not selected, NOAA typically does not provide reviewer comments or feedback.

You can reach out to the NOAA SBIR program office at any time for clarifications about process, forms, or policy. However, staff cannot discuss or comment on the substance of your idea, proposal competitiveness, or likelihood of award.

If NOAA offers a bidder’s webinar or Q&A session (usually posted on the NOAA SBIR site), attend early. It’s a useful chance to get procedural guidance straight from the source.