Sample DoD SBIR Phase I Evaluation: How Navy Reviewers Score Defense Proposals

Defense Grant Writers · February 28, 2026

DoD SBIR proposals are evaluated by panels of subject matter experts against published criteria. Unlike NIH, where applicants receive detailed summary statements with individual reviewer critiques, DoD agencies provide minimal feedback. Most applicants receive only a selection or non-selection notification with a brief paragraph at most.

We created a realistic sample evaluation report to show you what happens behind the panel door. This is a simulated Navy SBIR Phase I evaluation for a NAVAIR topic on corrosion detection. The format, criteria, and types of comments reflect how actual evaluations work based on our team's direct experience as DoD reviewers.

Download the sample DoD SBIR evaluation (PDF)

How DoD SBIR Proposals Are Scored

The evaluation criteria and their weights vary by service branch and solicitation, but the standard DoD SBIR criteria are:

• Technical Merit and Innovation (typically 25-30%): Is the approach novel? Is it technically sound? Is there preliminary evidence?
• Military Relevance and Transition Potential (typically 20-25%): Does the technology address a real warfighter need? Is there a path from Phase I through Phase III?
• Team Qualifications (typically 15-20%): Does the team have the expertise and facilities to execute?
• Cost Realism (typically 10-15%): Is the budget realistic and well-justified?
• Commercialization Potential (typically 10%): Is there dual-use potential beyond the military application?

In the sample evaluation, the proposal scored 8.5/10 overall. Three evaluators provided independent assessments, followed by a panel consensus recommendation.

What Drove the Strong Score

Several elements consistently received high marks across all three evaluators:

Quantified preliminary data. The proposal included specific results: detection of corrosion damage at depths up to 6mm (vs. 4mm for current systems) with 96% ML classification accuracy. These are concrete numbers that reviewers can evaluate, not vague claims about "improved performance."

A letter of support from the end-user. A letter from NAVAIR PMA-265 confirming interest in the technology and willingness to provide test structures. This is the single most powerful element you can include in a DoD SBIR proposal. It tells reviewers that a real program office has validated the need.

Prior SBIR track record. Two completed Navy SBIR Phase II awards in related technologies. This demonstrates the company can execute and transition technology.

What Cost Points

Budget errors. The equipment line item was underestimated, and travel to Fleet Readiness Centers was in the work plan but not in the budget. These inconsistencies are easy to avoid and signal carelessness to reviewers. The panel recommended an adjusted budget of $147,500 (up from $140,000).

Thin commercial analysis. The dual-use market opportunity was described with broad market sizing but no specific commercial customers or partnerships. Reviewers want names, not TAM/SAM/SOM numbers.

Limited test conditions. Preliminary data came from laboratory-prepared specimens. Reviewers flagged the gap between lab conditions and real aircraft structures with paint, sealants, and environmental variability.

The Difference Between DoD and NIH Evaluations

If you are used to NIH summary statements, DoD evaluations are different in several important ways:

• No standardized scoring rubric: NIH uses a 1-9 scale with defined descriptors. DoD criteria and scales vary by agency and solicitation.
• Less feedback: NIH provides detailed individual critiques. DoD typically provides a paragraph or less.
• Military relevance is weighted heavily: NIH evaluates scientific merit. DoD evaluates whether the technology solves a specific warfighter problem.
• Transition path matters more: NIH cares about commercialization. DoD cares about acquisition pathway, which is a different question.
• Letters of support carry more weight: A letter from a program office in a DoD evaluation can be the difference between selection and non-selection.

Download the full sample DoD SBIR evaluation (PDF)

For more on what DoD reviewers look for, see: What DoD Reviewers Actually Score: Inside the Defense Proposal Evaluation Process

For NSF, NIH, and civilian agency SBIR/STTR proposals, visit sbirgrantwriters.com.