ForecastedResearch announcementOpportunity HHS-2027-ACL-NIDILRR-BISB-0309

Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) Phase II

Administration for Community Living · Department of Health and Human Services

At a glance

Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) Phase II is a forecasted federal grant opportunity from the Administration for Community Living (Department of Health and Human Services). The agency's forecast estimates an application due date of February 1, 2027; forecast dates can change. Individual awards are listed as $280K – $288K, with about 4 awards expected and $1.15M in total estimated funding. Applicant types listed as eligible include small businesses. Cost sharing is not required. It is funded under Assistance Listing 93.433 (ACL National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research).

Summary assembled from the official notice's fields. The official notice governs.

Key facts

Sep 25, 2026Forecast posted
Dec 1, 2026 (est.)Full notice expectednext date
Feb 1, 2027 (est.)Application deadline
Jun 1, 2027 (est.)Est. award date

Posted: Sep 25, 2026
Est. close date: Feb 1, 2027
Est. award date: Jun 1, 2027
Award floor: $280,000
Award ceiling: $287,500
Est. total funding: $1,150,000
Expected awards: 4
Cost sharing: Not required
Funding instrument: Grant
Opportunity category: Discretionary
Fiscal year: FY2027

Who can apply

Small businesses

Additional information on eligibility (from the notice)

SBIR Phase I grantees who successfully completed their Phase I grant between October 1, 2024 and December 31, 2026 are eligible to apply. Phase I grantees with funding from NIDILRR or from other agencies are eligible to apply, as long as their applications describe research projects that aim to improve the lives of people with disabilities. Applicants must also continue to be small business concerns. Foreign entities are not eligible to compete for, or receive, awards made under this announcement. Foreign entities are not eligible to compete for, or receive, awards made under this announcement.

Can your organization apply?

A quick check against the listed applicant types — other requirements in the notice still apply.

Based on the published notice. Review the official notice for complete eligibility requirements.

What it funds

Official synopsis as published by the agency, formatted for readability.

The purpose of the Federal SBIR program is to stimulate technological innovation in the private sector, strengthen the role of small business in meeting Federal research or research and development (R/R&D) needs, and improve the return on investment from Federally-funded research for economic and social benefits to the nation. The specific purpose of NIDILRR's SBIR program is to improve the lives of people with disabilities through R/R&D products generated by small businesses, and to increase the commercial application of NIDILRR-supported research results and development products. All SBIR projects funded by NIDILRR must address the needs of people with disabilities and promote their health and function, community living, or employment outcomes. Phase II projects expand on the results of and further pursue the development of Phase I projects. NIDILRR will make four grants under this opportunity. Grants will have a 24-month project period with two 12-month budget periods.

Additional information from the agency ↗

How to apply

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Read the full announcement (NOFO)Eligibility, evaluation criteria, page limits and required attachments are in the full notice on Grants.gov. Open ↗
Confirm eligibility and fitCheck your organization type above; no cost sharing is required.
Register (or renew) in SAM.gov and get a UEIFree. New registrations can take several weeks; registrations must be renewed every year. Open ↗
Set up Grants.gov accessCreate a Grants.gov account and make sure someone has the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) role. Open ↗
Watch for the full noticeThe agency estimates posting it around December 1, 2026. Save this grant to track changes.
Prepare narrative, budget and attachmentsFollow the notice's format exactly — page limits and required forms are common reasons applications are rejected.
Ask the agency contact any questions earlyBrian Bard · brian.bard@acl.hhs.gov Open ↗
Submit before February 1, 2027Submit a few days early and keep your Grants.gov confirmation and validation emails.

Assistance Listing

What is an ALN?

93.433ACL National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation ResearchProgram →

Reported obligations under ALN 93.433

Historical data · not a prediction

FY24

$113M

FY25

$113M

FY26

$111M est.

Source: SAM.gov Assistance Listing 93.433. Program-wide totals, not awards from this specific opportunity.

Agency contact (as published)

Brian Bard
brian.bard@acl.hhs.gov
(202) 795-7298

Quick answers

Is “Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) Phase II” open for applications yet?

Not yet. It is a forecast — an agency's advance notice of an expected opportunity. The agency estimates posting the full notice around December 1, 2026. Forecast details and dates can change.

Who is eligible to apply for “Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) Phase II”?

The official notice names these applicant types as eligible: Small businesses. Additional restrictions may apply; review the full notice.

How much funding is available through “Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) Phase II”?

Per the notice, individual awards are listed as $280k – $288k, total estimated program funding is $1,150,000 and the agency expects to make about 4 awards.

How do I apply for “Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) Phase II”?

Applications are submitted through the official source, not through GrantsJunction. Open the official notice on Grants.gov (opportunity HHS-2027-ACL-NIDILRR-BISB-0309), and review the full announcement and application package. Organizations applying through Grants.gov generally need an active SAM.gov registration and a Grants.gov account, which can take several weeks to set up.

Matched on shared Assistance Listings, agency, categories and eligible applicant types.

ForecastedResearchALN 93.433