Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA SBIR 006177
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program - Phase II opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number: USDA NIFA SBIR 006177) is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under CFDA 10.212. It is designed to help small businesses move beyond early feasibility work and continue research and development that builds directly on results achieved in a prior USDA SBIR Phase I project. In other words, Phase II is meant for taking a successfully demonstrated concept from Phase I and advancing it toward a more mature prototype, stronger technical validation, and clearer commercialization potential within agriculture and related industries.
Eligibility is narrow and very specific. Only prior USDA SBIR Phase I awardees who have completed a successful Phase I project and who have not previously applied for Phase II support are allowed to submit an application under this FY 2017 request for applications. Each Phase I project gets only one chance to apply for a Phase II award. If a Phase I awardee already applied for Phase II in the past and did not receive funding, they are not allowed to resubmit a Phase II proposal under this solicitation. The opportunity lists eligible applicants as "Others," which in practice refers to the SBIR-eligible small business community, but the key gatekeeping requirement is being a qualifying USDA Phase I winner with remaining Phase II eligibility.
USDA signals strong interest in projects that connect to agriculturally related manufacturing as well as alternative and renewable energy technologies, and it notes that these kinds of efforts are encouraged across all 2017 SBIR topic areas. The program emphasizes flexible research areas, aiming to support innovation aligned with USDA's broader vision of a healthy and productive nation that stays in harmony with land, air, and water. That framing indicates the agency is open to a range of applied R and D directions as long as the work clearly ties back to agriculture, food systems, natural resources, rural communities, or related USDA mission needs, and has a plausible path to real-world adoption and commercialization.
Competition for Phase II is described as relatively favorable compared with many grant programs, with stated success rates in the 50 to 60 percent range for Phase II applicants. While the notice does not provide an award ceiling or the number of expected awards in the supplied data, it does highlight the long-running scale and track record of the USDA SBIR program, noting that it has funded more than 2,000 research and development projects since 1983. The stated purpose of that investment is to let small businesses explore technological potential while also creating an incentive to commercialize innovative ideas, which is central to the SBIR model.
Key administrative details from the posting include an original closing date of March 2, 2017, and a creation date of December 27, 2016. The opportunity is categorized under Agriculture and Business and Commerce, with the funding instrument type listed as a grant. Overall, the program is best understood as a continuation-stage R and D grant specifically reserved for USDA SBIR Phase I winners, with strict one-application-only rules for Phase II and an emphasis on advancing agriculture-relevant innovations, including manufacturing and renewable energy solutions, toward commercialization.Apply for USDA NIFA SBIR 006177
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture, business and commerce sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Small Business Innovation Research Program - 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 2016-12-27.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-03-02. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program - Phase II grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA NIFA SBIR 006177, and it is listed under CFDA 10.212.
What is the main purpose of USDA SBIR Phase II?
Phase II is designed to help small businesses move beyond early feasibility work and continue research and development that builds directly on results achieved during a prior USDA SBIR Phase I project. The goal is to advance a Phase I concept toward a more mature prototype, stronger technical validation, and clearer commercialization potential in agriculture and related industries.
How is Phase II different from Phase I (based on this posting)?
Based on the description provided, Phase I focuses on early feasibility and demonstrating a concept. Phase II is the continuation stage intended to build directly on Phase I results by advancing the technology further, strengthening validation, and improving readiness for commercialization.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to prior USDA SBIR Phase I awardees who completed a successful Phase I project and who have not previously applied for Phase II support for that Phase I project under this FY 2017 request for applications.
Can any small business apply?
No. While the eligible applicant category is listed as "Others" (referring in practice to SBIR-eligible small businesses), the key requirement is that the applicant must be a qualifying USDA SBIR Phase I awardee with remaining Phase II eligibility.
What does "one chance to apply" for Phase II mean?
Each Phase I project gets only one opportunity to submit a Phase II application. If a Phase I awardee already applied for Phase II previously and was not funded, they are not allowed to submit another Phase II proposal under this solicitation.
If a company applied for Phase II before and was declined, can it reapply under this solicitation?
No. The posting states that if the Phase I awardee already applied for Phase II in the past and did not receive funding, they may not resubmit a Phase II proposal under this solicitation.
Is this program focused on specific topic areas?
The program emphasizes flexible research areas aligned with USDA mission needs. It indicates openness to a range of applied R and D directions as long as the work clearly ties back to agriculture, food systems, natural resources, rural communities, or related USDA priorities, and presents a plausible commercialization path.
Are renewable energy or manufacturing projects relevant here?
Yes. USDA signals strong interest in projects connected to agriculturally related manufacturing and alternative and renewable energy technologies, and notes these efforts are encouraged across all 2017 SBIR topic areas.
What kinds of outcomes is Phase II expected to support?
Phase II is intended to support continued R and D that advances a successfully demonstrated Phase I concept toward a stronger prototype or more mature system, improves technical validation, and strengthens commercialization potential.
What is the funding instrument type?
The funding instrument type is a grant.
Is this a discretionary grant program?
Yes. The opportunity is described as a discretionary grant program administered by USDA NIFA.
What categories does this opportunity fall under?
The opportunity is categorized under Agriculture and Business and Commerce.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is USDA NIFA SBIR 006177.
What is the CFDA number?
The CFDA number provided is 10.212.
What was the original closing date for this opportunity?
The original closing date listed is March 2, 2017.
When was this opportunity created (posting date)?
The creation date listed is December 27, 2016.
How competitive is Phase II funding according to the posting?
The notice describes Phase II competition as relatively favorable compared to many grant programs, citing success rates in the 50 to 60 percent range for Phase II applicants.
Does the posting specify an award ceiling or the number of expected awards?
No. The supplied information states that the notice does not provide an award ceiling or the number of expected awards in the provided data.
What is the broader goal of the USDA SBIR program?
The USDA SBIR program is intended to let small businesses explore technological potential while creating an incentive to commercialize innovative ideas, which is central to the SBIR model.
How long has the USDA SBIR program been operating and what is its track record?
The posting notes the program has funded more than 2,000 research and development projects since 1983, highlighting its scale and long-running track record.
What kind of alignment does USDA expect from proposed work?
The program framing emphasizes innovation aligned with USDA's broader vision of supporting a healthy and productive nation in harmony with land, air, and water, while still requiring a clear connection to agriculture-related mission needs and a realistic path toward adoption and commercialization.
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| Small Business Innovation Research Program Phase II Apply for USDA NIFA SBIR 006428 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SBIR 006428 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture, Business and Commerce Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Small Business Innovation Research Program Phase I Fiscal Year 2019 Apply for USDA NIFA SBIR 006649 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SBIR 006649 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture, Business and Commerce Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| FY19 Small Business Innovation Research Program Phase II Apply for USDA NIFA SBIR 006692 Funding Number: USDA NIFA SBIR 006692 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture, Business and Commerce Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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