National Science Foundation (NSF) SBIR/STTR

Differentiating between the two recent NSF SBIR solicitations 26-510 & 26-511

by Jerry Hollister | Jul 10, 2026 | NSF SBIR/STTR

There’s been a lot of questions about the recent “SBIR pilot project” solicitation for scientific instrumentation (NSF 26-511). The confusion stems from the fact that NSF released TWO SBIR solicitations on May 22: NSF 26-510 and NSF 26-511, here is a brief summary.

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Fast Facts

NSF is a “granting” agency
Investigator-initiated projects
Peer reviewers evaluate proposals
Both SBIR and STTR programs
Fund ~400 companies/year
Rolling submission with three submission windows per year
Phase I: 6-12 months $305,000 Phase II: 24 months $1,250,000
Typical success rates: Phase I: ~10-15% Phase II: ~40-50%
Proposals are submitted through the Research.gov portal

Step 1: Project Pitch

NSF requires that you submit a Project Pitch. You may submit your Project Pitch at any time, and you will usually hear back within one month. If your Pitch is accepted, then you will receive an official invitation from the Program Director to submit a full proposal. Only one Project Pitch or Full Proposal is allowed in the NSF pipeline at a time.

Step 2: Full Proposal

You must submit your Full Proposal within the next two deadlines of the email date of your official Project Pitch acceptance. Proposals are then reviewed three times per year at the close of each submission window: Nov. 6, Mar. 5, and July 2. Only one Project Pitch or Full Proposal is allowed in the NSF pipeline at a time.

Step 3: Proposal Review & Decision

Proposals are reviewed by a panel for intellectual and technical merit, broader impacts, and commercial impact. You will usually be notified 5-7 months after your respective submission window closes whether your proposal is accepted or declined. You must wait for a determination from NSF on the pending proposal before submitting a new proposal in the next window.

Proposal Assistance

BBCetc’s team are current NSF reviewers and experts who offer one-on-one assistance with proposal development. To start working with BBCetc, please complete and submit our online Intake Form.Then we will set up a free call to talk about your project, answer questions and decide on next steps.