Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2025 ACL NIDILRR BISB 0109
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number: HHS 2025 ACL NIDILRR BISB 0109) is a discretionary grant competition run by the Administration for Community Living (ACL) through NIDILRR, and it sits in the Science and Technology/Research and Development category (CFDA 93.433). At its core, this program is designed to push promising private-sector technology forward by helping small businesses turn earlier-stage R&D into more mature, usable products and services. It reflects the broader federal SBIR mission of driving technological innovation, strengthening the role small businesses play in meeting federal research and development needs, and increasing the public return on federally supported research through real-world economic and social benefits.
Within that larger SBIR framework, NIDILRRs focus is very specific: projects must be aimed at improving the lives of people with disabilities. The intent is not only to fund R&D, but to support development that leads to practical products with a clear line of sight to commercialization and adoption. Every funded project is expected to address disability-related needs and to support outcomes tied to health and function, community living, or employment. In other words, the work has to be more than general tech development; it must be clearly connected to disability priorities and designed to produce impact for people with disabilities in everyday settings.
This is a Phase II solicitation, meaning it is meant for teams that have already completed Phase I work and are ready to expand and deepen that effort. Phase II awards build directly on Phase I results, supporting further R&D, refinement, validation, and progress toward a deployable solution. The competition anticipates making four awards. Each award covers a 24-month project period structured into two 12-month budget periods, which typically implies continued funding is organized around annual milestones, reporting, and performance expectations.
Eligibility is limited to small business concerns, and applicants must still meet the definition of a small business at the time of application. Only SBIR Phase I grantees who successfully completed their Phase I grant in fiscal years 2023, 2024, or 2025 are eligible to apply. Importantly, Phase I does not have to have been funded by NIDILRR specifically; Phase I awardees from other federal agencies may apply as long as the proposed Phase II project is clearly aimed at improving the lives of people with disabilities and aligns with NIDILRRs mission and outcome areas. Foreign entities are explicitly ineligible to apply for or receive awards under this announcement.
In terms of funding details and timing, the award ceiling is $287,500 per grant, and the application deadline is March 10, 2025 (Original Closing Date). The opportunity was created on January 3, 2025. Overall, this competition is best understood as a targeted Phase II bridge from a proven Phase I concept to a more complete, commercially relevant disability-focused technology or product, with a strong emphasis on measurable benefits for people with disabilities and a credible pathway to real-world use.Apply for HHS 2025 ACL NIDILRR BISB 0109
- The Administration for Community Living in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) Phase II" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.433.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2025-01-03.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-03-10. (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 $287,500.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Small businesses.
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FAQs: SBIR Phase II (HHS 2025 ACL NIDILRR BISB 0109)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II discretionary grant competition run by the Administration for Community Living (ACL) through the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). The Funding Opportunity Number is HHS 2025 ACL NIDILRR BISB 0109, and it falls under the Science and Technology/Research and Development category (CFDA 93.433).
What is the main purpose of this SBIR Phase II program?
The core purpose is to help small businesses advance promising private-sector technology from earlier-stage research and development into more mature, usable products and services. It is intended to strengthen technological innovation, reinforce the role of small businesses in meeting federal R&D needs, and increase the public return on federally supported research through real-world economic and social benefits.
What is NIDILRR specifically looking to fund?
NIDILRR is specifically focused on projects aimed at improving the lives of people with disabilities. The expectation is not just R&D activity, but development that leads to practical products with a clear path to commercialization and adoption, and that produces real impact for people with disabilities in everyday settings.
Does the project have to be disability-related, or can it be general technology development?
The project must be clearly connected to disability priorities. It cannot be framed as general technology development without a direct link to improving the lives of people with disabilities and alignment with NIDILRR mission and outcome areas.
What outcome areas does the proposed work need to support?
Every funded project is expected to address disability-related needs and support outcomes tied to at least one of the following: health and function, community living, or employment.
What does it mean that this is a Phase II solicitation?
Phase II is intended for teams that have already completed Phase I work and are ready to expand and deepen that effort. Phase II awards build directly on Phase I results and support further R&D, refinement, validation, and progress toward a more deployable solution.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to small business concerns, and applicants must meet the definition of a small business at the time of application. In addition, only SBIR Phase I grantees who successfully completed their Phase I grant in fiscal years 2023, 2024, or 2025 are eligible to apply.
Does Phase I have to have been funded by NIDILRR to be eligible?
No. Phase I does not have to have been funded by NIDILRR. Phase I awardees from other federal agencies may apply, as long as the proposed Phase II project is clearly aimed at improving the lives of people with disabilities and aligns with NIDILRR mission and outcome areas.
Are foreign entities allowed to apply?
No. Foreign entities are explicitly ineligible to apply for or receive awards under this announcement.
How many awards does the competition expect to make?
The competition anticipates making four awards.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $287,500 per grant.
How long is the project period?
Each award covers a 24-month project period structured into two 12-month budget periods.
What does the two-budget-period structure imply?
The two 12-month budget periods typically imply that continued funding is organized around annual milestones, reporting, and performance expectations during the 24-month project period.
When is the application deadline?
The application deadline is March 10, 2025 (Original Closing Date).
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on January 3, 2025.
What kind of projects are most competitive based on the description provided?
Projects that build directly on completed Phase I results, clearly target disability-related needs, and show a credible path toward a practical, commercially relevant product or service that can be adopted and used in real-world settings. Competitive proposals also align with NIDILRR priorities and demonstrate measurable benefits connected to health and function, community living, or employment outcomes for people with disabilities.
How should applicants think about commercialization and adoption expectations?
The program emphasizes development leading to practical products with a clear line of sight to commercialization and adoption. The proposed Phase II work should therefore be oriented toward refining and validating the technology in ways that move it closer to real-world use and impact for people with disabilities.
What is the broader federal SBIR mission reflected in this opportunity?
This opportunity reflects the broader SBIR mission of driving technological innovation, strengthening the role of small businesses in meeting federal research and development needs, and increasing the public return on federally supported research through economic and social benefits.
How should an applicant describe alignment with NIDILRR if their Phase I was with another agency?
Based on the eligibility description, the Phase II proposal should clearly explain how the project is aimed at improving the lives of people with disabilities and how it aligns with NIDILRR mission and outcome areas (health and function, community living, or employment), even if the Phase I work was funded by a different federal agency.
Is this a discretionary grant competition?
Yes. The opportunity is described as a discretionary grant competition run by ACL through NIDILRR.
What identifying numbers are associated with this opportunity?
Funding Opportunity Number: HHS 2025 ACL NIDILRR BISB 0109. CFDA: 93.433.
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