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NIH SBIR/STTR Omnibus Solicitation

Seed funding from the National Institutes of Health for small businesses and research institutions to develop biomedical innovations through SBIR and STTR awards.

JJ Ben-Joseph
JJ Ben-Joseph
💰 Funding Phase I up to $300,000; Phase II up to $2 million (budget waivers available)
📅 Deadline September 5, January 5, and April 5 (moved to the next business day if on a weekend or Federal holiday)
📍 Location United States
🏛️ Source National Institutes of Health
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Program overview

  • Non-dilutive funding for early-stage research and development.
  • Applications are accepted three times per year.
  • NIH advertises grant support through notices of funding opportunities (NOFOs), previously referred to as funding opportunity announcements (FOAs).
  • Omnibus Solicitations (Parent Announcements) are for researcher-initiated ideas; they do not specify a topic and point to identified topics of interest for each participating awarding component. Most small business applications to NIH are submitted to the Omnibus solicitations.
  • Standard application due dates are September 5, January 5, and April 5. Due dates that fall on weekends or Federal holidays are moved to the next business day.
  • For topics that require additional funding to reach the marketplace, refer to the list of SBA-approved waiver-eligible topics.
  • More information on HHS SBIR contracts is available on the NIH SBIR contracts webpage.

Eligibility pathway

  • The webpage states these grant opportunities offer small business entrepreneurs a chance to obtain non-dilutive funding for early-stage research and development.
  • Detailed eligibility criteria (e.g., size standards, ownership, PI employment) are not specified on this page and should be confirmed in the relevant NOFO.

Application guidance

  • Identify the correct mechanism:
    • Omnibus Solicitations (Parent Announcements) for researcher-initiated ideas.
    • Specific Funding Opportunities (e.g., RFAs or PASs) for targeted research areas; some have funding set-aside in the participating Institute/Center’s budget.
  • Read the Program Descriptions and Research Topics to understand awarding components, topics of interest, and staff contacts.
  • Observe the clinical trial policy stated in each NOFO (e.g., Clinical Trial Optional, Required, or Not Allowed) and align your application accordingly.

Key requirements and compliance

  • Use the appropriate NOFO instructions and observe all stated due dates and expiration dates in the announcement.
  • If a due date falls on a weekend or Federal holiday, submit by the next business day, per this page.

Execution tips

  • Track NOFO-specific instructions (including clinical trial allowance) and any set-aside indications (RFAs/PASs).
  • Monitor the Omnibus page and Specific Opportunities list for updates across participating awarding components.

Advanced strategies

  • Choose between Omnibus (broad, researcher-initiated) and specific NOFOs (targeted topics, sometimes with set-aside funds) based on project fit.
  • Consult Program Descriptions and Research Topics to match your proposal to the most aligned awarding component.

Timeline templates

  • Standard application cycle anchor dates:
    • January 5
    • April 5
    • September 5
  • If any of these dates fall on a weekend or Federal holiday, use the next business day.

Real examples (selected specific NOFOs listed on the page)

Note: The entries below are transcribed from the webpage text. See each announcement for full details.

  • Analytical Validation of a Candidate Biomarker for Neurological or Neuromuscular Disorders (U44 Clinical Trial Optional) — PAR-24-098 | NINDS | 01/22/2024 | Multiple dates, see announcement | Expires 06/26/2026
  • Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network (BPN): Biologic-based Drug Discovery and Development for Disorders of the Nervous System (U44 Clinical Trial Optional) — PAR-24-294 | NINDSNCCIHNEINIANIAAANIDANIDCRNIEHSNIMHOBSSR | 10/01/2024 | Multiple dates, see announcement | Expires 08/19/2027
  • Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network (BPN): Small Molecule Drug Discovery and Development for Disorders of the Nervous System (U44 Clinical Trial Optional) — PAR-24-063 | NINDSNCCIHNEINIANIAAANICHDNIDANIDCRNIMHOBSSR | 11/01/2023 | Expires 08/19/2026
  • Clinical Validation of a Candidate Biomarker for Neurological or Neuromuscular Disorders (U44 Clinical Trial Optional) — PAR-24-096 | NINDS | 01/22/2024 | Multiple dates, see announcement | Expires 06/23/2026
  • Innovations for Healthy Living - Improving Minority Health and Eliminating Health Disparities (R43/R44 - Clinical Trial Optional) — RFA-MD-24-006 | NIMHDNCATSNHLBINIANIBIBNIDCRNIDDKNINDSNINR | 03/08/2024 | Multiple dates, see announcement | Expires 12/10/2026
  • Miniaturization and Automation of Tissue Chip Systems (MATChS) (U43/U44 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) — RFA-TR-23-017 | NCATS | 11/21/2023 | Multiple dates, see announcement | Expires 09/05/2026
  • Miniaturization and Automation of Tissue Chip Systems (MATChS) (UT1/UT2 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) — RFA-TR-23-018 | NCATS | 11/21/2023 | Multiple dates, see announcement | Expires 09/05/2026
  • NEI Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Cooperative Agreement for Early-Stage Clinical Trials with Greater than Minimal Risk (U44-Clinical Trial Required) — PAR-24-066 | NEI | 12/01/2023 | Multiple dates, see announcement | Expires 01/08/2027
  • NeuroNEXT Small Business Innovation in Clinical Trials (U44 Clinical Trial Optional) — PAR-25-133 | NINDS | 11/12/2024 | Multiple dates, see announcement | Expires 09/06/2027
  • NHLBI SBIR Phase IIB Bridge Awards to Accelerate the Commercialization of Technologies for Heart, Lung, Blood, and Sleep Disorders and Diseases (R44 Clinical Trial Optional) — RFA-HL-26-014 | NHLBI | 11/18/2024 | Not Applicable | Expires 02/27/2027
  • NHLBI SBIR Phase IIB Small Market Awards to Accelerate the Commercialization of Technologies for Heart, Lung, Blood, and Sleep Disorders and Diseases (R44 Clinical Trial Optional) — RFA-HL-26-015 | NHLBINCATS | 11/18/2024 | Not Applicable | Expires 02/27/2027
  • NIAID SBIR Phase II Clinical Trial Implementation Cooperative Agreement (U44 Clinical Trial Required) — PAR-24-099 | NIAID | 01/29/2024 | Multiple dates, see announcement | Expires 01/14/2027
  • NINDS Exploratory Clinical Trials for Small Business (R41/R42 Clinical Trial Required) — PAR-24-044 | NINDS | 11/27/2023 | Multiple dates, see announcement | Expires 09/06/2026
  • NINDS Exploratory Clinical Trials for Small Business (R43/R44 Clinical Trial Required) — PAR-23-311 | NINDS | 11/27/2023 | Multiple dates, see announcement | Expires 09/06/2026
  • NINDS Renewal Awards of SBIR Phase II Grants (Phase IIB) for Clinical Trials and Clinical Research (R44 Clinical Trial Optional) — PAR-24-221 | NINDS | 06/20/2024 | Multiple dates, see announcement | Expires 04/06/2027
  • NINDS Renewal Awards of SBIR Phase II Grants (Phase IIB) for Pre-Clinical Research (R44 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) — PAR-24-222 | NINDS | 06/21/2024 | Not Applicable | Expires 04/06/2027
  • Seeking Products to Address Social Needs impacting Substance Use Disorders (SUD) (R41/R42 Clinical Trial Optional) — RFA-DA-25-047 | NIDA | 09/28/2023 | 03/14/2026
  • Seeking Products to Address Social Needs impacting Substance Use Disorders (SUD) (R43/R44 Clinical Trial Optional) — RFA-DA-25-048 | NIDA | 09/28/2023 | 03/14/2026
  • Small Business Transition Grant for New Entrepreneurs (R41/R42 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) — PAR-24-133 | NIHNCATSNCCIHNEINHGRINHLBINIANIAAANIAMSNICHDNIDANIDCDNIDCRNIEHSNIGMSNINRNLM | 04/25/2024 | Multiple dates, see announcement | Expires 04/06/2027
  • Small Business Transition Grant for New Entrepreneurs (R41/R42 Clinical Trial Required) — PAR-24-134 | NIHNCCIHNEINHGRINHLBINIANIAAANICHDNIDANIDCDNINRNLM | 04/25/2024 | Multiple dates, see announcement | Expires 04/06/2027
  • Small Business Transition Grant for New Entrepreneurs (R43/R44 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) — PAR-24-131 | NIHNCATSNCCIHNEINHGRINHLBINIANIAAANIAMSNICHDNIDANIDCDNIDCRNIDDKNIEHSNIGMSNINRNIOSHNLM | 04/25/2024 | Multiple dates, see announcement | Expires 04/06/2027
  • Small Business Transition Grant for New Entrepreneurs (R43/R44 Clinical Trial Required) — PAR-24-132 | NIHNCCIHNEINHGRINHLBINIANIAAANICHDNIDANIDCDNINRNIOSHNLM | 04/26/2024 | Multiple dates, see announcement | Expires 04/06/2027
  • Technologies for Improving Minority Health and Eliminating Health Disparities (R41/R42- Clinical Trial Optional) — RFA-MD-24-007 | NIMHDNCATSNIBIBNIDCRNINDSNINR | 03/08/2024 | Multiple dates, see announcement | Expires 12/10/2026

Validation notes and warnings

  • Omnibus status anomaly: The page currently displays “No SBIR/STTR Omnibus Solicitations (Parent Announcements) found.” This contradicts the general guidance that most small business applications are submitted to the Omnibus solicitations. Verify the current Omnibus Parent Announcement(s) and NOFO numbers before applying.
  • Deadlines: The page explicitly lists standard application due dates as September 5, January 5, and April 5, with weekend/Federal holiday dates moved to the next business day.
  • Funding amounts: This page does not state funding amounts or caps. Consult the applicable NOFO for budgets and any waiver-eligible topics.
  • Eligibility details: Only “small business entrepreneurs” are mentioned on this page. Specific eligibility requirements (e.g., business size standards, ownership, PI employment) are not provided here and must be verified in the NOFO.
  • Referenced resources without visible URLs on this page: “Program Descriptions and Research Topics,” the “SBA-approved waiver-eligible topics” list, and the “NIH SBIR contracts webpage.” Ensure you locate and use the official links when preparing an application.