SBIR Grants from Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Researched by the BidStride Research Team
Agency overview
DHS SBIR is administered by the Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and focuses on homeland security priorities: border security technology, first responder tools, cyber defense, chemical/biological threat detection, and critical infrastructure protection. DHS award sizes are modest but the program offers a clear Phase 3 path: DHS components (CBP, TSA, FEMA, Secret Service, Coast Guard) are active buyers of technologies that successfully complete Phase 2.
Award details
Phase 1 — Feasibility
Typical Award Amount
$150,000
Duration
12 months
Phase 1 establishes the technical merit and feasibility of the proposed R&D. The deliverable is a feasibility report and prototype demonstration where applicable.
Phase 2 — Full R&D
Typical Award Amount
$1,000,000
Duration
24 months
Phase 2 funds the primary R&D effort to develop the technology to a commercializable or deployable state. Only Phase 1 awardees (or those who meet equivalent requirements) may apply.
Research topic areas
Department of Homeland Security SBIR solicitations consistently address the following research areas. Specific topics vary by solicitation — check the current open solicitation for exact topic descriptions and technical points of contact.
Solicitation cycle
2 per year — typically spring and fall windows
Solicitation windows open and close on a defined schedule. Applications submitted after the close date are not accepted. Set a calendar reminder at least 6 weeks before the close date — a well-written SBIR application typically takes 60–90 hours of preparation for a first-time applicant.
View current solicitations on DHS’s official portalHow to apply for DHS SBIR funding
- 1
Confirm eligibility
Your company must be a for-profit U.S. small business with fewer than 500 employees. The principal investigator must spend at least 51% of their time on the project. More than 50% of the company must be owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
- 2
Register in SAM.gov
All SBIR applicants must have an active SAM.gov registration. Registration can take 1–3 weeks. Apply early — the government cannot issue payment on an SBIR award without an active SAM.gov registration.
- 3
Review open DHS solicitations
Visit https://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology/sbir to see currently open solicitations. Read topic descriptions carefully — each topic has a Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) you can contact with technical questions before submitting.
- 4
Contact the TPOC
Each topic lists a Technical Point of Contact. Email them with a 2-3 sentence summary of your approach before writing your full proposal. TPOCs can tell you whether your company's approach aligns with what the agency is looking for — this step alone doubles your success rate.
- 5
Submit through SBIR.gov or the agency portal
DHS SBIR applications are submitted through the agency's designated portal. Most DoD applications go through SBIR.gov. NIH uses ASSIST (grants.nih.gov). NSF uses Research.gov. Check the solicitation for the correct submission system.
Frequently asked questions about DHS SBIR
Some DHS topics involve Sensitive But Unclassified (SBU) or classified data. Clearance requirements are specified in each topic description. Most Phase 1 work does not require a clearance, but Phase 2 and Phase 3 transition work with CBP, TSA, or Secret Service may require facility or personal clearances.
DHS Phase 3 customers include CBP (border technology), TSA (checkpoint screening), FEMA (emergency management tools), Coast Guard (maritime sensors), and the Secret Service (protective technology). DHS S&T actively brokers introductions between SBIR awardees and component acquisition offices.
Yes. CISA-adjacent cybersecurity topics consistently appear across DHS SBIR solicitations, including OT/ICS security, election infrastructure protection, and critical infrastructure threat detection. Cyber companies with a focus on government or industrial systems are well positioned.
Yes, and DHS actually encourages existing relationships. Prior engagement with a DHS component as a vendor or subcontractor demonstrates mission alignment and can strengthen your Phase 1 application narrative.
This guide is for informational purposes only and reflects the BidStride Research Team’s summary of publicly available SBIR program information. Award amounts and solicitation cycles are subject to change. Always verify current program details at SBIR.gov and the agency’s official SBIR portal. BidStride does not provide grant writing services or legal advice.