Appendix 26B: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I

This contract solicits proposals for NASA’s SBIR Phase I funding opportunity under solicitation number 80NSSC26R0006, issued by the NASA Shared Services Center as a total small business set-aside for the FY2026-2027 cycle. The opportunity is open to small businesses seeking to develop innovative technologies aligned with NASA’s exploration missions, with a focus on areas such as robotic mobility, AI-driven design, cryogenic systems, and high-performance onboard computing. Proposals must be submitted electronically through the ProSAMS portal by 5:00 p.m. ET on May 21, 2026, and are limited to 15 pages for the technical proposal with strict formatting requirements. The contract type is implicitly firm fixed price, and proposals are evaluated non-price factors in order of importance: scientific and technical merit, experience and qualifications of the team, effectiveness of the work plan, and commercial potential, with the government employing a trade-off approach rather than lowest price technically acceptable for award selection. The offeror must be a U.S.-based small business certified in SAM.gov with a unique entity ID, and must comply with SBIR program rules including the requirement that the principal investigator be primarily employed by the small business and dedicate significant time to the effort. Subcontracting is strictly limited: at least two-thirds of the Phase I work must be performed by the small business, and restrictions apply to foreign affiliations, notably prohibiting use of funds for activities involving China without prior authorization. Key administrative provisions include mandatory electronic fund transfers for payments via SAM, compliance with NASA’s scientific and technical information distribution protocols, and specific cybersecurity and information technology supply chain risk requirements. Performance occurs primarily at Stennis Space Center, Mississippi, and deliverables for Phase I include proof-of-concept demonstrations, feasibility studies, and technical reports advancing technologies from TRL 2–4 to TRL 4–5. Patent rights are retained by the contractor under modified FAR clauses, and all data produced must be submitted to NASA’s STI program. Additional requirements include adherence to whistleblower protections, sensitivity controls for information access, and the completion of various certifications and representations regarding size status, foreign ownership, and commercialization plans.