SBA (U.S. Small Business Administration)

The U.S. Small Business Administration issues the SBIR/STTR Policy Directive, guides and monitors the federal agencies that run SBIR and STTR, and reports on the programs to Congress.

SBA oversees SBIR and STTR but the participating agencies run their own solicitations. As the sponsoring agency, SBA guides each agency's implementation, monitors and reports on program progress to Congress, and collects agency solicitation information.

The Small Business Act requires SBA to issue a policy directive for the participating agencies. Agencies may add their own procedures, but none may adopt policies that contradict, weaken, or conflict with the directive.

Every SBIR or STTR applicant must register in SBA's SBIR/STTR Company Registry before submitting an application. The registry gives your company an SBIR/STTR ID that you use when applying to any agency.

On April 13, 2026, SBA announced that S. 3971, the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act, had been signed into law, reauthorizing and reforming SBIR and STTR through September 30, 2031.