Grants for Small Businesses

DARPA - Tactical Technology Office · Amount varies

This DARPA Tactical Technology Office Broad Agency Announcement seeks innovative proposals to build, adapt, and sustain defense platforms and systems, in focus areas such as Design/Build/Buy, Surge and Sustain, Long Range Effects, and Disruptive Innovation. Eligibility is broadly open to any responsible source capable of meeting the government's needs, but this is specialized defense R&D. No specific award amount is stated. It suits research organizations and contractors with relevant technical capabilities rather than general nonprofits.

National Institute of Food and Agriculture · $10K–$10M

The USDA AFRI Foundational and Applied Science program funds research, education, and extension projects across six agricultural priority areas. Eligibility is broad and includes universities and colleges, state agricultural experiment stations, research institutions, private organizations or corporations, federal agencies, and U.S.-citizen or permanent-resident individuals; foreign and international organizations are not eligible. Awards range widely from about $10,000 up to $10 million depending on project type. Eligibility for specific grant types varies by program area, so applicants should check the RFA.

National Institute of Food and Agriculture · $10K–$650K

The USDA AFRI Education and Workforce Development program funds projects that develop the next generation of food and agricultural sciences professionals, including K-14 educator development, youth education, community-college training, undergraduate research, and pre/postdoctoral fellowships. Eligibility is broad and includes colleges and universities, experiment stations, research institutions, private organizations, federal agencies, and U.S.-citizen or permanent-resident individuals; foreign and international organizations are not eligible. Awards range from about $10,000 to $650,000. Eligibility varies by project type, so applicants should check the NOFO.

Engineer Research and Development Center · $0–$1B

This Army Corps of Engineers ERDC Broad Agency Announcement is a continuously open call for R&D across many engineering and environmental fields, accepting pre-proposals year-round. Eligibility is broadly open to any entity type, subject to clarification in the solicitation. Award amounts are not meaningfully bounded in this record (the listed range spans from $0 to a placeholder maximum), so applicants should consult the announcement. It suits research organizations, universities, and firms with relevant technical capabilities.

Food and Drug Administration · Up to $250K

An FDA R01 funding safety and effectiveness testing to support approval of drugs for minor uses or minor species (MUMS) in veterinary medicine. Eligibility is limited to entities developing such drugs (or their research partners) that already hold an INAD file and a MUMS designation from FDA/CVM, with a protocol pre-reviewed by FDA, so this requires existing regulatory standing with FDA. Awards reach up to about $250,000. Not a fit unless the applicant is already in the FDA veterinary drug development pipeline.

U.S. National Science Foundation · $100K–$750K

An NSF program funding research on the coupling, energetics, and dynamics of the upper atmosphere, including ground- and space-based observations and modeling. Eligibility is relatively broad: U.S. for-profit organizations including small businesses, nonprofit non-academic research organizations, higher-education institutions, and federally recognized Tribal Nations may apply. Awards run roughly $100,000 to $750,000. While the entity types are broad, the work is specialized atmospheric science suited to research-capable applicants.

Munitions Directorate · Up to $750M

A Department of Defense (Munitions Directorate) Broad Agency Announcement for research on air-delivered effects. Eligible applicants include public and private higher-education institutions, 501(c)(3) nonprofits other than higher-education institutions, and small businesses. The listed maximum is very large, up to about $750,000,000, though actual awards depend on the specific proposal and topic. This is a defense research solicitation requiring relevant technical capability, not a fit for general nonprofits or individuals.

Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command · Amount varies

A U.S. Army (West Point / U.S. Military Academy) Broad Agency Announcement soliciting basic and applied research and analysis across science, engineering, education, policy, ethics, history, and economics. Eligibility is broad, including higher-education institutions, nonprofits, state and local governments, for-profit organizations (large and small businesses), and foreign organizations/public entities, with no restriction on place of performance. No award amount is specified, and funding depends on the specific proposal. Proposals must advance the state of the art or basic knowledge rather than target specific devices.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This NIH STTR program (R41/R42) funds U.S. small businesses that partner with a nonprofit research institution to move scientific innovations toward commercialization. Eligibility is limited to U.S. small business concerns as defined by the SBA, and foreign organizations are not eligible. No award amount is listed.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This NIH/CDC/FDA SBIR program (R43/R44) funds U.S. small businesses developing scientific innovations toward commercial products through feasibility and R&D studies. Eligibility is limited to U.S. small business concerns as defined by the SBA, and foreign organizations are not eligible. No award amount is listed.

Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command · Amount varies

This U.S. Army Research Office broad agency announcement funds collaborative research and fellowships in quantum computing and qubit development through the LPS Qubit Collaboratory. Eligibility is broad, including individuals, universities, nonprofits, small businesses, other for-profits, and FFRDCs, with collaboration alongside a government laboratory. No award amount is listed.

USAF 347 Contracting Squadron · From $10K

This U.S. Army (DEVCOM) open broad agency announcement seeks fundamental research collaborations specifically in the Indo-Pacific region. A key restriction: the government supports engagements ONLY in the Indo-Pacific region and does not support work performed in the continental United States, so this is geographically narrow. The minimum award is around $10,000; the maximum is not specified. Eligibility terms are otherwise vague in the available text, so applicants should review the full announcement on SAM.gov to confirm who may apply and the geographic requirements.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This NIH (U01) program funds academic-industry research partnerships that develop and advance bioengineering tools and technologies to address biomedical problems, aiming for solutions deployable within roughly 5-10 years. Eligible applicants are research organizations including universities, colleges, government and tribal entities, and faith- or community-based organizations; it is geared toward multidisciplinary research teams partnered with industry, not individuals or general nonprofits. Award amounts are not specified. Applicants should expect a collaborative, milestone-driven structure.

Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA · Amount varies

This Department of Defense (DHAPP/PEPFAR) program funds HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment interventions delivered through the military health systems of foreign countries. Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to clarification in the announcement, but the work is inherently international and country-specific, so it suits organizations capable of working with foreign militaries. The announcement is revised regularly with country-specific narratives, and award amounts are not specified. Review the full announcement and its country attachments to confirm eligibility and scope.

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.

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.

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.