Grants for Small Businesses

Air Force -- Research Lab · Amount varies

This Air Force Research Laboratory opportunity (CHEERS) solicits white papers, and potentially later technical and cost proposals, on human performance research areas defined in attached statements of objectives. Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to clarification in the full announcement, so a range of organizations including businesses, nonprofits, and universities may be able to apply. Applicants must reference the related Multiple Authority Announcement to obtain required attachments. Award amounts are not specified, and specific eligibility terms are somewhat vague, so review the full solicitation carefully.

Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA · Amount varies

This Defense Health Agency broad agency announcement (BAA) solicits extramural basic and applied medical research and development proposals that benefit both military and civilian medical practice. Eligibility is unrestricted, meaning any type of entity may apply, subject to clarifications in the notice. No award amount is specified. The selection process is highly competitive, and projects must focus on advancing scientific knowledge rather than developing a specific system or product.

Air Force -- Research Lab · Amount varies

This Air Force Research Laboratory solicitation (CHEERS) seeks white papers, and potentially later proposals, on human-effectiveness and aerospace-medicine research for experimental and test purposes in defense development. Eligibility is unrestricted, meaning any type of entity may apply, subject to clarifications in the notice. No award amount is specified. Applicants must reference the related Multiple Authority Announcement to obtain required attachments, and the work is tied to specific defense research objectives.

Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command · Amount varies

This U.S. Army Research Laboratory Broad Agency Announcement solicits foundational (basic and applied) research proposals supporting Army modernization. Eligibility is broad, including universities, nonprofits, state and local governments, foreign organizations, and for-profit firms (large and small businesses). It uses a competitive merit-based process; no specific award amount is stated.

Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command · Amount varies

This U.S. Army DEVCOM Analysis Center Broad Agency Announcement solicits applied-research proposals supporting Army modernization, tool development, and data curation. Eligibility is broad, including universities, nonprofits, state and local governments, foreign organizations, and for-profit firms (large and small businesses). It uses a whitepaper-then-proposal process; no specific award amount is stated.

Washington Headquarters Services · $0–$100M

A Department of War (Washington Headquarters Services) non-research cooperative agreement program to help manage and sustain DoW land in the U.S. through natural and cultural resource projects supporting installation resilience and military readiness. Eligibility is very broad: public and private agencies, organizations, institutions, and individuals are invited to apply. Awards range widely, up to about $100 million. The broad eligibility, including individuals, is unusual, so confirm specific requirements in the announcement.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - ERA · $150K–$975K

Open to universities and researchers, nonprofits, businesses (including small businesses), and individuals with expertise in commercial fishing and maritime safety. Funds research to improve worker safety in commercial fishing — vessel design, survival and emergency equipment, monitoring and communication systems. Awards run roughly $150,000–$975,000, administered by CDC/NIOSH.

Washington Headquarters Services · $100K–$10M

Open to industry, nonprofits, colleges and universities, and state or local educational agencies; foreign entities are not eligible. An ongoing 'open' announcement funding STEM education, outreach, and workforce-development programs for the Department of War's research enterprise, with specific topics released as amendments (often beginning with a white paper). Awards range widely, from about $100,000 to $10 million.

Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command · Amount varies

Open to higher-education institutions, nonprofits, and for-profit organizations, domestic or foreign (security restrictions may limit foreign participants; government labs, FFRDCs, and service academies can't be prime applicants). This Army Research Institute broad agency announcement funds basic, applied, and advanced research in the behavioral and social sciences tied to soldier performance and readiness. Applicants are encouraged to contact the listed technical point of contact first; funding varies by budget cycle.

DOC NOAA - ERA Production · $15K–$75K

Open to individuals (as legal entities), commercial organizations, state/local/tribal governments, universities, and nonprofits; federal agencies and employees can't apply, and projects must be conducted in Alaska. Funds marine workforce training, seafood-safety and management education, fishing innovation, and consumer outreach. Awards are small, roughly $15,000–$75,000.

Food and Drug Administration · $0–$900K

Open to nearly any organization — universities, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3)), for-profits and small businesses, state/local/tribal governments, and foreign organizations. This FDA R01 funds clinical trials of orphan products evaluating safety and efficacy to address unmet needs in rare diseases. Awards up to about $900,000; clinical trials are required.

Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA · $750K–$50M

Open broadly to any type of entity — universities, nonprofits, businesses (including small businesses), and others. This Department of Defense / Defense Health Agency broad agency announcement funds extramural biomedical and human-performance research and development through FY28. Awards span a very wide range, from about $750,000 to $50 million.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This NIH HEAL Initiative UG3/UH3 cooperative agreement funds preclinical optimization and development of safe, non-addictive small-molecule and biologic therapeutics for treating pain, advancing candidates toward Phase II trials. Applicants must already have a promising lead candidate, a strong biological rationale, and established assays. Foreign organizations and foreign components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply.

Fish and Wildlife Service · $0

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offers Cooperative Agriculture Agreements that let private individuals or small businesses farm, hay, or graze on National Wildlife Refuge lands in support of conservation objectives. This is a non-financial program: no federal funds are awarded, and arrangements are cost-sharing or in-kind (labor, equipment, crop yield) and may involve bids or payments to the Service. Pre-application coordination is required, and only private individuals or small business entities are eligible.

Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command · Amount varies

The Army Applications Lab Broad Agency Announcement funds basic and applied scientific research in defense-relevant areas described in the BAA. Eligibility is unusually broad: institutions of higher education, nonprofits, state and local governments, foreign organizations and public entities, and for-profit businesses (large and small) may all apply. No specific award amount is listed, and projects are selected through full and open competition, so applicants should review the BAA's stated research areas of interest.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This NIH SBIR Phase IIB award is restricted to U.S. small business concerns that have previously received an NIH SBIR or STTR Phase II award; it bridges the gap between Phase II and commercialization for later-stage R&D. Only one such award is allowed per project, and applications must be submitted within the first six due dates after the Phase II budget period ends, so it is narrow and limited to existing grantees. Foreign organizations are not eligible to apply.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This NIH SBIR/STTR Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP) is restricted to U.S. small business concerns (as defined by the SBA) and helps move NIH-funded SBIR/STTR projects from late-stage development toward commercialization. It supports later-stage R&D and technical assistance such as replication studies, IND/IDE-enabling work, clinical studies, manufacturing scale-up, and regulatory support, and a significant portion may be subcontracted. Foreign organizations are not eligible to apply.

Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy · $5M–$20M

ARPA-E's SCALEUP READY program funds the scale-up of promising clean and advanced energy technologies, with awards in the range of roughly $5 million to $20 million. It targets organizations developing transformative energy technologies aimed at improving U.S. energy security, efficiency, and emissions. Specific eligibility is set out in the NOFO (Section II.A.) available on the ARPA-E eXCHANGE site; applications must be submitted through that portal rather than Grants.gov, and cost-share is typical for ARPA-E awards, so review the NOFO before applying.

National Institute of Standards and Technology · From $10M

This NIST CHIPS R&D Office Broad Agency Announcement funds research, prototyping, and commercial solutions that advance U.S. microelectronics technology, with a stated floor of about $10 million per award. Eligible applicants include for-profit and non-profit organizations, accredited universities, FFRDCs, and federal entities, but they must be domestic; individuals and unincorporated sole proprietors are not eligible. Some foreign partners may participate as subawardees, subject to restrictions (foreign adversaries excluded). Given the large award size, applicants should review the full BAA for compliance requirements.

Munitions Directorate · Up to $750M

This Air Force (Munitions Directorate) Broad Agency Announcement funds research and development supporting air dominance, with a program ceiling reported up to roughly $750 million. Eligibility is described as unrestricted and open to any type of entity, subject to any clarifications in the full announcement, making it broadly accessible to businesses, universities, and nonprofits. Because it is defense-focused R&D, applicants should expect security and compliance requirements and should review the full BAA for specifics.