FY 2022 NOAA SBIR Phase II | NOAA OAR OAR TPO 2022 2007174

Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA OAR OAR TPO 2022 2007174

The FY 2022 NOAA SBIR Phase II opportunity is a discretionary grant program run by the Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), focused on advancing research and development that builds on earlier SBIR work and moves innovations closer to real-world use and commercialization. It sits within the broader federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) framework, which was created by Congress to channel a portion of federal R&D spending to small businesses in order to spur new technologies, strengthen the role of small firms in meeting federal R&D needs, and increase the likelihood that federally funded innovations reach the private marketplace.

A key point about this specific notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) is that it is not open to the general public or to unsolicited proposals. NOAA is explicit that SBIR is not a substitute for other proposal pathways, and unsolicited proposals are not accepted under SBIR. Eligibility is tightly limited: only businesses that previously received a FY 2021 NOAA SBIR Phase I award under NOFO number NOAA-OAR-OAR TPO-2021-2006702 can apply, and only if their Phase I project started on September 1, 2021 and ended no later than February 28, 2022. In practice, this means Phase II is a continuation step for a defined cohort of prior awardees, intended to deepen the technical development that was demonstrated as feasible in Phase I.

In terms of funding and scale, the opportunity is offered as a grant with an award ceiling of $500,000 per award, and NOAA anticipated making about 16 awards. The funding activity aligns with environment, natural resources, science and technology, and other research and development categories, and it is listed under CFDA (now commonly referred to as Assistance Listing) number 11.021. The opportunity was created January 18, 2022, with an original closing date of March 18, 2022, establishing a relatively short application window typical of Phase II competitions tied to an earlier Phase I timeline.

Programmatically, the NOFO reflects the statutory purpose of SBIR. SBIR began with the Small Business Innovation Development Act of 1982 (P.L. 97-219), was expanded through the Small Business Research and Development Enhancement Act of 1992 (P.L. 102-564), and has been reauthorized multiple times, with the cited reauthorization extending the program through 2022 (P.L. 114-328). It also references the requirement that federal agencies with large extramural R&D budgets participate and devote a minimum percentage of those budgets to SBIR awards (the notice cites 3.2% in FY 2017, with future percentages governed by statute). The underlying policy intent is consistent across these laws: use targeted federal R&D investments to catalyze innovation in small businesses and encourage commercialization outcomes rather than producing research that stops at proof-of-concept.

Finally, NOAA highlights equity-related goals that are part of SBIR’s mission and NOAA’s broader commitments. The NOFO emphasizes fostering participation by socially and economically disadvantaged and women-owned small businesses, and it ties this to long-standing congressional interest in broadening participation in the scientific and technical workforce. It also notes NOAA’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, pointing to related federal policy (including the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act of 2017) and NOAA’s own DEIA statements. In short, this Phase II opportunity is a continuation funding route for a specific set of NOAA Phase I SBIR awardees, offering up to $500,000 to push validated concepts further toward deployable technology and commercial adoption, while reinforcing SBIR’s statutory emphasis on innovation, small business participation, and inclusive participation in federally supported R&D.

• The Department of Commerce in the environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2022 NOAA SBIR Phase II" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.021.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jan 18, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 18, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 16 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for NOAA OAR OAR TPO 2022 2007174

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