The long-awaited legislation to reauthorize the SBIR/STTR program was Presented to the President on April 2, 2026. There are three outcomes at this point:
The President signs S.3971 and it immediately becomes law
The President ignores S.3971. After 10 days (not counting Sundays), the Bill becomes law as if the President signed the Bill (Article I, Section 7, Clause 2 of the US Constitution). That would be April 13, 2026
The President Vetoes S.3971, which then would go back to both the House and Senate. An override requires 2/3 majority in both chambers.
WHAT CHANGES FROM S.3971 ONCE IT BECOMES LAW? Read on
Preparing for Reauthorization
The six-month lapse in SBIR/STTR program reauthorization has created significant uncertainty for companies with submitted applications to the NSF, NIH, and other agencies. As reported above, the SBIR/STTR programs will be reauthorized soon. Once this occurs, agencies will resume activity for submissions that were under serious consideration for awards. There is also the possibility that some agencies will revisit submissions that were previously reviewed and were considered competitive but not funded in recent cycles. If your application falls into either of these categories, now is a good time to be proactive. Read more on how you can prepare.
From the Source's Mouth with DoN
Don’t miss your chance to hear directly from Mr. Brian Shipley, Director for the Department of the Navy (DoN) SBIR/STTR Program and learn why the Navy SBIR is considered one of the more attractive SBIR programs for defense-tech startups looking to eventually sell into the military market.
For small businesses seeking non-dilutive federal funding, engaging with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is worth your time. Known for backing high-risk, high-reward innovation, DARPA funds transformative technologies that traditional investors often consider too early or too bold. Discover how to navigate the DARPA and its high-risk, high-reward innovation ecosystem, including SBIR/STTR programs, and learn about the resources provided by DARPAConnect.
