The National Institutes of Health (NIH) supports research using both grants and contracts. About 95% of NIH SBIR awards are made through the grant (assistance) mechanism, and about 5% of NIH SBIR awards are made through the contract (procurement) mechanism.

Small business concerns are invited to submit Phase I grant applications in any area within the mission of the awarding components identified in the SBIR/STTR Grant Solicitation. Contract proposals are accepted only if they respond specifically to a research topic within the Contract Solicitation. The topics are not the same as those in a grant solicitation. They are much more focused and specific. Also, not all Institutes/Centers (ICs) within NIH post topics to the Contract Solicitation while all 23 ICs post topics in the grant solicitation.

As the primary award mechanism is the grant instrument, NIH, CDC and FDA issue 3 receipt dates for SBIR/STTR Grant Applications (Phase I or Phase II) and only one receipt date for SBIR Contract Proposals.

• The Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH, CDC, and FDA for SBIR and STTR Phase I Grant Applications:
  
  PHS 2012-02 Parent SBIR Solicitation (PA-12-088)
  PHS 2012-02 Parent STTR Solicitation (PA-12-089)
  
  PHS 2012-2 Topics (PDF - 1 MB)
  PHS 2012-2 Topics (MS Word - 1 MB)
  
  Issued/Released: January 2012
  
  Submission Dates: April 5, August 5, December 5
  (Submission Dates for AIDS and AIDS-related SBIR/STTR Grant Application: May 7; September 7; January 7)

• The Solicitation of the Public Health Service for SBIR Contract Proposals (Phase I):
  
  PHS 2012-1 (PDF - 989 KB)
  PHS 2012-1 (MS Word - 950 KB)
  Contract Proposal Forms
  
  Issued/Released: August 2011
  
  (Phase II Contract proposals may only be submitted upon the request of the Contracting Officer.)

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