Key Dates

Related Announcements

• March 27, 2024 - Notice of Information - Technical and Business Assistance (TABA) Funding May be Added to an SBIR/STTR Award by Administrative Supplement. See Notice NOT-OD-24-077.

Issued by

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH)

Purpose

The purpose of this notice is to inform HHS Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) recipients and applicants of the change in policy around discretionary technical and business assistance. This policy serves as an update to the NIH Application Guide and will be incorporated in an updated publication. 

Background

The Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act (the Act), signed into law by President Trump on April 13, 2026, reauthorized the SBIR, STTR and related pilot programs through September 30, 2031, including discretionary technical and business assistance (TABA). The statutory purpose of TABA is to assist SBIR and STTR recipients in making better technical decisions, solving technical problems, minimizing technical risks, developing and commercializing new commercial products and processes (including intellectual property protections), and screening for potential foreign involvement in technology development or commercial activities.

Applicability

This policy applies all SBIR and STTR awards and supplements to existing awards made on or after April 13, 2026.

Policy

SBIR and STTR recipients are allowed to request and receive up to $6,500 per Phase I project (across all years) and $50,000 per Phase II project (across all years) to meet the goals of TABA. A small business may, by contract or otherwise:

(A) Select one or more vendors to assist the small business

(B) Hire new staff, augment staff, or direct staff to conduct or participate in training activities

Activities that can be supported by TABA funding include, but are not limited to:

• Assistance with product sales
• Intellectual property protections
• Cybersecurity assistance
• Market research and/or validation
• Development of regulatory plans
• Development of manufacturing plans
• Access to technical and business literature available through on-line databases
• Participation in NIH I-Corps

TABA Funding cannot support:

• Contributions to the SBIR/STTR fee
• Audit services
• Bookkeeping services, including payroll management or general accounting services
• Patent costs above and beyond those outlined for the NIH-funded program

TABA funding is not available to Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP) Program recipients.

To access technical and business assistance (TABA) funds, small business concerns are required to include the request in the application. Small business concerns should:

• Indicate the application includes a request of SBIR or STTR funds for Technical and Business Assistance (TABA) on the B.440 SBIR/STTR Information Form.
• Label the requested costs “Technical Assistance” on one of the other direct cost lines (8-17).
• Include in the Budget Justification a detailed description of the technical or business assistance, including the name of the vendor if applicable, and the expected benefits and results of the technical or business assistance provided.

SBIR and STTR recipients may become aware of technical or business needs after award that necessitate requesting TABA funds through an Administrative Supplement. Recipients may include TABA funds as part of a supplement request through PA-26-001 - Administrative Supplements to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Parent Admin Supp Clinical Trial Optional) and subsequent reissues. Recipients should follow instructions in the “How To Apply – Application Guide” to include and justify TABA funds in the R&R Budget Form, and otherwise follow the administrative supplement NOFO instructions.  

Please note: NIH Institutes and Centers may decline a TABA supplement request for budgetary, administrative, or programmatic reasons, and some may have additional requirements. Consult with the NIH grants management officer and program official assigned to your award before submitting a request. 

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

SEED (Small business Education and Entrepreneurial Development)
Office of Extramural Research
[email protected]