The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a federal agency under the U.S. Department of Commerce, is accepting applications for the Fiscal Year 2025 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program Phase II, designated under Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Number 2025-NIST-SBIR-02. This Phase II solicitation is strictly open to small business concerns (SBCs) that were awarded Phase I SBIR grants in Fiscal Year 2024 by NIST. The SBIR program, initially established in 1982, supports research and development (R&D) by small businesses to stimulate technological innovation and facilitate the commercialization of federally funded innovations.

The primary objective of this Phase II funding opportunity is to support the continued development of projects initially funded under Phase I, with the aim of creating commercially viable products, services, or standards. The funded projects must align with NIST’s mission areas and may involve collaboration with NIST scientists, particularly in areas related to prestandardization research and development. Applicants are encouraged to align their research with potential standardization goals and may include deliverables such as validated datasets, frameworks, or performance metrics.

NIST anticipates awarding approximately five cooperative agreements of up to $400,000 each, which includes an optional allocation of up to $50,000 for Technical and Business Assistance (TABA). The project performance period is up to 24 months. No cost sharing is required. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov and received by June 14, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Paper submissions will not be accepted. Applications will undergo a multi-phase evaluation process, beginning with an initial screening for eligibility and completeness, followed by a merit review by at least three reviewers. Evaluation criteria include the soundness of the technical approach, potential for commercial application, and qualifications of key personnel.

Eligibility is restricted to small businesses that received a NIST Phase I SBIR award in FY 2024. Applicants must meet the SBIR definition of a small business concern at the time of the Phase II award and must ensure the principal investigator is primarily employed by the applicant business throughout the project duration. The work must be performed in the United States unless a rare exemption is granted.

Applicants are required to include a technical proposal (not to exceed 15 pages), a commercialization plan, and the Phase I final report, along with several standardized forms and certifications detailed in Section 7.03 of the NOFO. Applications must include disclosures related to foreign affiliations, cybersecurity certifications, and commercialization reporting. Specific attention is given to applicants' prior commercialization record, especially for firms with multiple previous SBIR/STTR awards. All research involving human subjects or animals must comply with applicable federal regulations and undergo review.

For programmatic and technical questions, applicants can contact Jacqueline Gray at jacqueline.gray@nist.gov or (240) 306-5564, and Nicole Berry at nicole.berry@nist.gov or (202) 235-3675. Questions related to grants rules should be directed to Dean Iwasaki at nofo@nist.gov.