Is this actionable now?

open. DARPA releases SBIR/STTR topics monthly through the Defense SBIR/STTR Innovation Portal; each topic has pre-release, open and close dates.

US for-profit small business ( 50% US-owned; US-based work. STTR requires a US research-institution partner. Strong technical novelty and DARPA-mission relevance expected.

What burden and restrictions apply?

Competitive contract with technical volumes, cost proposal, milestones, cybersecurity and pre-award diligence; Phase II and Enhancement add transition and matching obligations. Funds are restricted to the approved work plan, budget, eligible cost categories and award period; unrelated, unsupported, double-funded and noncompliant expenditure is excluded.

DARPA SBIR/STTR

Typical DARPA Phase I: USD 250,000 over about six months; Phase II: USD 1.8 million over 24-36 months; Enhancement may add up to USD 500,000 in 1:1 matching funds. · Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) — DoD

DARPA's SBIR/STTR program funds small businesses on high-risk, high-reward defense R&D aligned to DARPA's cutting-edge topic areas. Topics release under the DoD BAA schedule and submit through DSIP; DARPAConnect offers proposal support, mentoring, and coaching for first-time performers. Current lifecycle: open. Real economics: Typical DARPA Phase I: USD 250,000 over about six months; Phase II: USD 1.8 million over 24-36 months; Enhancement may add up to USD 500,000 in 1:1 matching funds..

Tier 1sbirsttrdarpadefense

Apply Official site Open in the live directory

Key facts

Funder	Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) — DoD
Amount	Typical DARPA Phase I: USD 250,000 over about six months; Phase II: USD 1.8 million over 24-36 months; Enhancement may add up to USD 500,000 in 1:1 matching funds.
Decision time	Electronic DSIP submission is screened for responsiveness and then scientifically evaluated; topic-specific notices control selection and contracting timing.
Eligibility	US for-profit small business (<500 employees), >50% US-owned; US-based work. STTR requires a US research-institution partner. Strong technical novelty and DARPA-mission relevance expected.
Restrictions	Competitive contract with technical volumes, cost proposal, milestones, cybersecurity and pre-award diligence; Phase II and Enhancement add transition and matching obligations. Funds are restricted to the approved work plan, budget, eligible cost categories and award period; unrelated, unsupported, double-funded and noncompliant expenditure is excluded.
Status	open

Always confirm on the official page before applying — dates and terms change.

Application process

Register SAM.gov (UEI), SBIR.gov company registration, and DSIP account
Review DARPA SBIR/STTR topics released under the DoD BAA and use DARPAConnect resources
Engage with the topic author during the pre-release Q&A period
Submit proposal (technical + cost + commercialization) via DSIP
DARPA technical evaluation and selection
Phase I award; invited Phase II follows

Background

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) — DoD operates DARPA SBIR/STTR. This pass separates direct cash, repayable finance, credits, incentives and umbrella programs so later ranking does not compare unlike instruments. DARPA publishes monthly topics tied to program-manager needs. Typical Phase II funding is USD 1.8 million with a possible USD 500,000 matched Enhancement. DARPA publishes SBIR success stories and transition support.

How the application really works

Register SAM.gov (UEI), SBIR.gov company registration, and DSIP account → Review DARPA SBIR/STTR topics released under the DoD BAA and use DARPAConnect resources → Engage with the topic author during the pre-release Q&A period → Submit proposal (technical + cost + commercialization) via DSIP → DARPA technical evaluation and selection → Phase I award; invited Phase II follows

Tips

Show direct fit with DARPA mission technology.
Show direct fit with defense deep tech.
Show direct fit with monthly topic areas.

Watch out for

Current lifecycle is open.
Competitive contract with technical volumes, cost proposal, milestones, cybersecurity and pre-award diligence; Phase II and Enhancement add transition and matching obligations.
Funds are restricted to the approved work plan, budget, eligible cost categories and award period; unrelated, unsupported, double-funded and noncompliant expenditure is excluded.

Track record

DARPA publishes monthly topics tied to program-manager needs.
Typical Phase II funding is USD 1.8 million with a possible USD 500,000 matched Enhancement.
DARPA publishes SBIR success stories and transition support.

The reviewed official corpus does not publish a comparable applicant denominator and selection rate.

Frequently asked questions

Is this actionable now?: open. DARPA releases SBIR/STTR topics monthly through the Defense SBIR/STTR Innovation Portal; each topic has pre-release, open and close dates.
What is the real economic value?: Typical DARPA Phase I: USD 250,000 over about six months; Phase II: USD 1.8 million over 24-36 months; Enhancement may add up to USD 500,000 in 1:1 matching funds.
Who is eligible?: US for-profit small business (<500 employees), >50% US-owned; US-based work. STTR requires a US research-institution partner. Strong technical novelty and DARPA-mission relevance expected.
How does selection work?: Register SAM.gov (UEI), SBIR.gov company registration, and DSIP account; Review DARPA SBIR/STTR topics released under the DoD BAA and use DARPAConnect resources; Engage with the topic author during the pre-release Q&A period; Submit proposal (technical + cost + commercialization) via DSIP; DARPA technical evaluation and selection; Phase I award; invited Phase II follows. Electronic DSIP submission is screened for responsiveness and then scientifically evaluated; topic-specific notices control selection and contracting timing.
What burden and restrictions apply?: Competitive contract with technical volumes, cost proposal, milestones, cybersecurity and pre-award diligence; Phase II and Enhancement add transition and matching obligations. Funds are restricted to the approved work plan, budget, eligible cost categories and award period; unrelated, unsupported, double-funded and noncompliant expenditure is excluded.
What evidence exists?: DARPA publishes monthly topics tied to program-manager needs. Typical Phase II funding is USD 1.8 million with a possible USD 500,000 matched Enhancement. DARPA publishes SBIR success stories and transition support. The reviewed official corpus does not publish a comparable applicant denominator and selection rate.

Sources

www.darpa.mil/work-with-us/communities/small-business/sbir-sttr-overview — Official phases, amounts, eligibility, schedule and contact (checked 2026-08-10)
www.darpa.mil/work-with-us/communities/small-business/sbir-sttr-participate — Official DSIP application and responsiveness review workflow (checked 2026-08-10)
www.darpa.mil/work-with-us/communities/small-business/resources — Official proposal, cost, Phase II and transition resources (checked 2026-08-10)