About the Small Business Innovation Research Program

Key points

  • The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program encourages small business to engage in research and development (R&D). SBIR targets innovations in diagnostics, data science (e.g., artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, etc.), surveillance, occupational safety and health, and public health to support the health promotion and disease prevention needs of CDC.

Overview

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program is a set-aside program (3.2% of an agency's extramural budget) for domestic small business concerns to engage in Research/Research and Development (R/R&D) that has the potential for commercialization and public benefit. The SBIR program was established under the Small Business Innovation Development Act of 1982 (P.L. 97-219).

CDC's SBIR Program targets innovations in diagnostics, data science (e.g., artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, etc.), surveillance, occupational safety and health, and public health to support the health promotion and disease prevention needs of CDC. Today, CDC's SBIR program is under the stewardship of the Office of Science (OS). CDC is committed to ensuring a competitive award process that results in projects of scientific excellence and technological innovation with the potential for commercialization.

The SBIR Program encourages small business to engage in research and development (R&D). Program goals include:

  • Use small businesses to stimulate technological innovation,
  • Strengthen the role of small business in meeting Federal R/R&D needs,
  • Increase private-sector commercialization of innovations derived from Federal research and development funding,
  • Increase small business participation in Federal R/R&D, and
  • Foster and encourage participation in innovation and entrepreneurship by socially and economically disadvantaged (SDB) persons and women-owned small businesses (WOSB).

Eligible institutions/organizations

Only U.S.-based small business concerns (SBCs) are eligible to submit SBIR applications. A SBC is one that, on the date of award for both Phase I and Phase II funding agreements, meets ALL of the criteria as described in the current SBIR parent funding opportunity announcements available at the NIH Small Business Funding Opportunities.

Three phases of SBIR

Funding is awarded competitively and is available for only Phases I and II of the SBIR Program:

  • Phase I contract awards up to $243,500 for approximately 6 months and Phase I grant awards up to $314,363* for project timeline that is typically 6 months (but may extend to 12 months) to support exploration of the technical merit or feasibility of an idea or technology.
  • Phase II awards projects that expand Phase I results. Awards can range up to $2,095,748* for a project period of up to 2 years. During this time, the R&D work is performed, and the developer evaluates commercialization potential.
  • Phase III is the period during which Phase II innovation moves from the laboratory into the marketplace. At this stage, the small business must find funding in the private sector or other non-SBIR federal agency funding.

*CDC has a waiver from the Small Business Administration to exceed these budgets for CDC's Grant Topic Areas of Interest. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact CDC program officials early in the application planning process and before submitting any application in excess of the total award amounts listed above.

CDC's SBIR funding opportunities

SBIR report fraud, waste, and abuse

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) promotes the effective, efficient, and economical operation of Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) programs and operations through audits, inspections, investigations, and other reviews. The HHS OIG Hotline accepts tips from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in HHS programs. The reporting individual should indicate the fraud, waste, and/or abuse concerns for a SBIR grant or contract, if relevant.

Combating fraud

What types of fraud are found in the SBIR Programs?

See Fraud, Waste, and Abuse details.

Knowing the rules

Which SBIR rules should you become particularly familiar with?

See Fraud, Waste, and Abuse details.

Consequences

What happens if you break the rules?

See Fraud, Waste, and Abuse details.

For more information or to report wrongdoing

HHS OIG Website

HHS Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Fraud

HHS OIG Hotline Operations

Please direct all inquiries to: Office of Science, SBIR@cdc.gov, or 404-718-1386.

For questions related to fraud, waste, or abuse, contact us or the Strategic Business Initiatives (SBI) Unit, Office of the Chief Operating Officer (OCOO), at ERM@cdc.gov.

Resources

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Content Source:
Technology Transfer Office; Office of Science