Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA SBIR 011120
The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is offering FY 2025 Phase II funding under its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs (Assistance Listing/CFDA 10.212). This opportunity is designed to help small U.S. businesses push promising agricultural and food-related innovations beyond early feasibility work and closer to real-world products and services. Phase II specifically supports continued research and development while putting a much stronger spotlight on commercialization, meaning applicants are expected not only to advance the science or engineering, but also to show a credible plan for moving the technology into the private sector and generating market impact.
The broader policy framework comes from the Small Business Administration (SBA) SBIR/STTR Policy Directive, which guides how agencies run these programs. The underlying legislative purpose is to stimulate technological innovation, strengthen small business participation in federally supported R&D, and increase the commercialization of innovations that emerge from that R&D. In practical terms, the program is trying to turn research into usable solutions that can compete in the marketplace, contribute to a strong U.S. economy, and reinforce the free enterprise system. For STTR in particular, the emphasis includes technology transfer through formal cooperative research and development partnerships between a small business and a nonprofit research institution, so that discoveries made in labs and universities are more likely to become deployable commercial technologies.
Eligibility is narrowly targeted. Only prior SBIR/STTR Phase I awardees are eligible to apply for Phase II under this specific FY 2025 Request for Applications (RFA). That includes Phase I awardees that have undergone certain administrative changes, such as being listed under a novation agreement or recognized as a successor-in-interest through a revised funding agreement. Beyond having the right Phase I status, the applicant must qualify as a Small Business Concern (SBC) and be properly registered with the SBA for research and R&D purposes at the time of selection. If an applicant does not meet eligibility requirements by the application deadline, NIFA can exclude the application from consideration, or even if it is reviewed, eligibility issues can still prevent an award from being made.
The program rules are meant to ensure federal funds go to genuinely small, independent U.S. businesses rather than larger firms or entities that do not meet statutory intent. As a result, requirements focus on the kind of firm applying, how it is owned and controlled, and whether it meets size limits, including restrictions tied to the number of employees. Applicants that are newer to federal funding are encouraged to review NIFA grants process materials, since compliance, registrations, and documentation can affect eligibility and award readiness.
From the funding details provided, this is a mandatory grant opportunity administered by NIFA within the agriculture funding activity category. The opportunity number is USDA NIFA SBIR 011120, and the application deadline (original closing date) is September 23, 2025. The maximum award amount listed is $650,000 per award (award ceiling). The posting date shown is July 16, 2025. While the summary mentions expected awards, the exact number is not provided in the source text excerpt.Apply for USDA NIFA SBIR 011120
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs Phase II" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.212.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2025-07-16.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-09-23. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $650,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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FY 2025 USDA NIFA SBIR/STTR Phase II (CFDA/Assistance Listing 10.212) - FAQs
1) What is this funding opportunity?
This is the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) FY 2025 Phase II funding opportunity under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs (Assistance Listing/CFDA 10.212). It supports agricultural and food-related innovations that are ready to move beyond early feasibility work.
2) What does "Phase II" mean in this program?
Phase II is intended for continued research and development following Phase I. Compared with Phase I, Phase II places a much stronger emphasis on commercialization, meaning applicants are expected to advance the technology and also present a credible plan to move it into the private sector and create market impact.
3) Who is the administering agency?
The administering agency is the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
4) What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?
The Assistance Listing/CFDA number is 10.212.
5) What is the opportunity number?
The opportunity number is USDA NIFA SBIR 011120.
6) When was this opportunity posted?
The posting date shown is July 16, 2025.
7) What is the application deadline?
The original closing date (application deadline) is September 23, 2025.
8) What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling listed is $650,000 per award.
9) Is this a competitive grant?
The opportunity is described as a mandatory grant opportunity administered by NIFA in the agriculture funding activity category.
10) What kinds of projects is this opportunity trying to support?
The focus is on promising agricultural and food-related innovations that have progressed beyond early feasibility and are ready for further R&D while moving closer to real-world products and services.
11) What is the main difference in emphasis between Phase I and Phase II, based on the description provided?
Phase II continues the R&D effort but places much more attention on commercialization. Applicants are expected to show not only technical progress but also a credible path to private-sector deployment and market impact.
12) What policy framework governs how these SBIR/STTR programs operate?
The broader policy framework referenced is the Small Business Administration (SBA) SBIR/STTR Policy Directive, which guides how federal agencies run these programs.
13) What is the legislative purpose of the SBIR/STTR programs as described here?
The stated purpose is to stimulate technological innovation, strengthen small business participation in federally supported R&D, and increase commercialization of innovations resulting from that R&D. In practical terms, the program aims to turn research into market-ready solutions that support the U.S. economy and the free enterprise system.
14) Who is eligible to apply for this Phase II opportunity?
Eligibility is limited to prior SBIR/STTR Phase I awardees under this specific FY 2025 Request for Applications (RFA). The applicant must also qualify as a Small Business Concern (SBC) and be properly registered with the SBA for research and R&D purposes at the time of selection.
15) Are Phase I awardees with administrative changes still eligible?
Yes. The description notes that Phase I awardees that have undergone certain administrative changes may still be eligible, including those listed under a novation agreement or recognized as a successor-in-interest through a revised funding agreement.
16) Does the business need to be registered with the SBA?
Yes. The applicant must be properly registered with the SBA for research and R&D purposes at the time of selection.
17) What happens if an applicant does not meet eligibility requirements by the application deadline?
If eligibility requirements are not met by the application deadline, NIFA may exclude the application from consideration. The description also notes that even if an application is reviewed, eligibility issues can still prevent an award from being made.
18) Why are eligibility rules described as narrow and strict?
The rules are intended to ensure federal funds go to genuinely small, independent U.S. businesses rather than larger firms or entities that do not meet the statutory intent. Requirements therefore focus on the type of firm applying, ownership and control, and size limits (including restrictions tied to the number of employees).
19) Is the program limited to U.S. small businesses?
Yes. The opportunity is designed to support small U.S. businesses, and eligibility requirements emphasize small, independent U.S. businesses consistent with SBIR/STTR statutory intent.
20) What additional emphasis applies to STTR projects?
For STTR, the emphasis includes technology transfer through formal cooperative research and development partnerships between a small business and a nonprofit research institution, with the goal of moving discoveries from labs and universities into deployable commercial technologies.
21) Is commercialization required, or just encouraged?
Based on the description provided, Phase II places a strong spotlight on commercialization. Applicants are expected to provide a credible plan for moving the technology into the private sector and generating market impact, not only to advance the underlying science or engineering.
22) How many awards will be made?
The summary mentions expected awards, but the exact number of awards is not provided in the information excerpt.
23) What should applicants who are newer to federal funding do?
Applicants new to federal funding are encouraged to review NIFA grants process materials, because compliance steps, registrations, and documentation can affect eligibility and overall readiness for award.
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