2026 Request for White Papers: NASA SBIR/STTR Phase II Sequential Awards
NASA is soliciting white papers from eligible SBIR/STTR small business Phase II awardees to inform possible future Sequential Phase II awards for post-Phase II technology development, but this notice itself does not provide funding.
RESTRICTED TO: SMALL BUSINESS SBIR STTR
⚑ Special Notice / white paper call only; not a funding opportunity or formal competition · Only SBIR/STTR small businesses are eligible to respond; universities may participate only as partners on later STTR awards, not as lead applicants · Potential future Sequential Phase II awards are contingent on NASA invitation and available funds · Future awards, if offered, are anticipated for Phase II awardees to continue prior Phase II work
Unit fits — one characterization, each unit's own rules
| Tom Love Innovation Hub | 100 strong | SBIR/STTR — core Hub pipeline (faculty founders + small-business partners); funds commercialization; prototyping/demonstration stage; deep-tech content |
| Physical Sciences & Engineering (demo) | 45 partial | technical depth: central; funds commercialization (capped) |
| IPPRA | 5 none | outside portfolio topics; social/behavioral work is none; funds commercialization — not a research fit; university can only partner, not lead |
Description
Amendment 1: The NASA 2026 Sequential Call for White Paper (80NSSC26R0014) is modified as to ; 1. Allow for the eligibility of STTR. Reference to STTR's has been added to the Call for White Paper. 2. Allow for the eligibility of non-NASA prior Phase IIs. NASA is considering inviting companies to propose for Sequential Phase II awards with higher award values ranging between $2.5 Million to $4 Million through the Agency’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program in 2027. These awards would facilitate rapid post Phase II development of technologies with the goal to infuse key technologies that reach specific milestones into specific NASA programs. Purpose Why is NASA requesting this information? The NASA SBIR program is performing a portfolio evaluation exercise with the aim of determining what NASA SBIR Phase II technologies show the promise of risk reduction for key programs and what firms are capable candidates for further investment through a potential Sequential Phase II award. NASA has a large SBIR Phase II portfolio to evaluate, and this exercise will help accomplish two objectives: 1. Highlight and map SBIR Phase II technologies to key programs with white papers providing additional context and details about opportunities for small business technology development. 2. Provide a participatory method for interested parties to communicate that they are engaged and ready to support a subset of NASA’s priorities that may be appropriate for small business participation, as described in this call for white papers. Disclaimer NASA reserves the right to use the information received from these white papers in any way it chooses, including determinations to invite companies to propose for a Phase II Sequential award. A Phase II awardee may receive one additional, sequential Phase II award to continue the work of an initial Phase II award without additional competition. Responding to this call for white papers is not a prerequisite to participating in any post-Phase II program. This white paper can be used for programmatic planning to assess the state of small business capability and does not constitute a funding opportunity or a formal competition. Respondents should be advised that NASA takes no financial responsibility for any expenses incurred for responding to the white paper call. Respondents should not expect to receive feedback or response to their submission. Future awards (if any) will be subject to and contingent upon the availability of funds. If proposal invitations do occur, NASA notionally anticipates reaching out to firms around January 2027.
Eligibility
Applicant restrictions (federal contract). Set-aside: Small Business Set Aside - Total. Notice type: Special Notice. Organization: NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION / NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION / NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION.
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Proposal brief SEE AN EXAMPLE →
A one-page internal memo: fit assessment, submission requirements, document scaffold, and next steps dated back from the deadline — tailored to your project idea if you add one.
Proposal shell · Federal (generic) conventions SEE A FEDERAL EXAMPLE →
Funder-faithful document skeletons — Federal (generic)'s document set with section headings, page limits, reviewer guidance, and writing prompts; add a project idea to get [DRAFT] starter bullets. Download as .md for Word or Overleaf.