Navy$600M+ annually

SBIR Grants from Department of the Navy (Navy)

Researched by the BidStride Research Team

Agency overview

The Department of the Navy — encompassing the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps — is one of the largest individual DoD SBIR funders. Navy SBIR topics span undersea warfare, surface ship systems, naval aviation, Marine Corps ground combat, autonomous systems, and expeditionary logistics. The Office of Naval Research (ONR) and Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) are particularly active SBIR sponsors. Navy SBIR runs in conjunction with the DoD-wide solicitation cycle.

Award details

Phase 1 — Feasibility

Typical Award Amount

$250,000

Duration

9 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

$1,750,000

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 the Navy 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.

Undersea WarfareAutonomous SystemsNaval AviationElectronic WarfareShip SystemsMarine Corps Ground CombatExpeditionary LogisticsDirected Energy

Solicitation cycle

3 per year aligned with DoD SBIR schedule

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 Navy’s official portal

How to apply for Navy SBIR funding

  1. 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. 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. 3

    Review open Navy solicitations

    Visit https://www.navysbir.com/ 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. 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. 5

    Submit through SBIR.gov or the agency portal

    Navy 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 Navy SBIR

Track Navy SBIR opportunities with BidStride

BidStride monitors SAM.gov and agency-specific portals for new SBIR solicitations. Set your NAICS codes once — Navy opportunities show up in your daily bid feed automatically, with deadlines tracked in your calendar.

All SBIR agencies

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.