National Cancer Institute (NCI) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Innovative Concept Award Program - Fiscal Year 2026
Cancelled Solicitation Posted
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- Solicitation number
- 75N91025R00005
- Agency
-
National Cancer Institute
National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- Total Small Business
Opportunity facts
- Place of performance
- United States
- Points of contact
-
- Kathleen Sears ncioasbir@mail.nih.gov
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is soliciting proposals from small business concerns to develop innovative technologies addressing pediatric and rare cancers through its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Innovative Concept Award Program for Fiscal Year 2026. The solicitation seeks proposals in two primary areas: developing therapeutic or preventative technologies, and creating devices, diagnostic technologies, or digital health tools for treatment, detection, and diagnosis of pediatric and rare cancers. Proposals are specifically encouraged for rare cancers with a 5-year survival rate below 50%, with a focus on technologies demonstrating technical feasibility and proof-of-concept. Evaluation will emphasize innovative, scientifically sound ideas with a clear development path, though preliminary data is not required. Key submission dates include a white paper deadline of June 4, 2025, and a final proposal submission deadline of September 26, 2025.
The opportunity is designated as a total small business set-aside, with a maximum award of $300,000 for up to 12 months, plus an optional $6,500 for technical assistance. The place of performance is the United States, and the solicitation targets small businesses with no more than 500 employees. Anticipated awards are expected in March 2026, with successful applicants required to participate in entrepreneurship training through the NIH I-Corps program. The program is structured as a Concept Award that could serve as a pipeline for future SBIR funding, with expectations that awardees will develop a business model and commercialization plan. Proposals must clearly identify the specific clinical problem and cancer type, and include experiments to obtain initial de-risking and proof-of-concept data. The solicitation is administered by the Department of Health and Human Services' National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute, operating under the Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences NAICS category.
Notice text
The National Cancer Institute is soliciting proposals from small business concerns to perform key activities to demonstrate technical feasibility and proof-of-concept for the development of highly innovative and potentially transformative technologies in the following areas:
- Development of therapeutic or preventative technologies for treatment or prevention of Pediatric Cancers and/or Rare Cancers.
- Development of devices, diagnostic technologies, or digital health tools for treatment, detection, and diagnosis of Pediatric Cancers and/or Rare Cancers.
For this solicitation rare cancers with a 5-year survival rate of less than 50 % are encouraged and rare cancers would be defined as including all the cancers listed by the NIH Genetics and Rare Diseases Information Center. The list can be found here: https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/search-result?category=Cancer. Access the NCI Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER) database (https://seer.cancer.gov/) for more information regarding 5-year cancer survival rates.
Preliminary data is not required; however, the ideas should have sound scientific premise either based on the offeror’s own research or literature evidence. Proposals will need to identify an anticipated product that will be developed and clearly lay out the anticipated development path. Proposals will need to clearly identify the clinical problem and cancer type(s) that the proposal will focus on with adequate justification. In addition, the offerors should propose experiments to obtain initial de-risking and proof-of-concept data. Awards will also include requirements to enhance entrepreneurship skills and to develop or refine a business model and commercialization plan.
This solicitation is a Concept Award program that could serve as a pipeline for the federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. Background for the SBIR program can be found in the Small Business Administration’s policy directive found here: https://www.sbir.gov/sites/default/files/SBA%20SBIR_STTR_POLICY_DIRECTIVE_May2023.pdf
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| FY26 SBIR Concept Solicitation.pdf | ||
| FY25 Presolicitation Notice.pdf |
Notice history
| Notice | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| National Cancer Institute (NCI) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Innovative Concept Award Program - Fiscal Year 2026 | Solicitation | |
| This notice | Solicitation | |
| National Cancer Institute (NCI) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Innovative Concept Award Program - Fiscal Year 2026 | Pre-Solicitation |
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