between-intakes Federal Grant

SBIR Phase I — Department of Education (IES)

Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education

Up to $250K (Phase I)

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Researched for this program: 5 rejection traps · 9 required documentsWhat decides this award ↓

The short version

IES seed fund for education technology R&D

The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) runs the Department of Education's SBIR program — funding up to $250,000 for 9 months of early-stage development of educational technologies, assessments, curricula, and learning tools with a strong evidence base. Unlike most SBIR agencies, IES requires proposals to include a logic model or theory of action connecting the technology to student learning outcomes. Non-dilutive federal grant, submitted via Grants.gov. One annual solicitation. NOTE: The SBIR/STTR reauthorization lapsed October 1, 2025 and was restored April 13, 2026 with reauthorization through September 30, 2031. The 2026 reauthorization added a mandatory foreign national screening requirement for all applicants.

Funding type: Grant
Level: Federal
Amount range: $250,000
Realistic amount: IES Phase I awards are typically at or near the $250,000 cap, used for 9 months of feasibility development and initial usability/piloting. Phase II awards of up to $900,000 over 36 months are among the longer Phase II windows of any SBIR agency, reflecting the time needed for rigorous educational effectiveness research.
Deadline: Between intakes — ED/IES SBIR releases solicitations once a year. The FY2026 Phase IA, Phase IB and Direct to Phase II solicitations were released April 30, 2026 and closed June 29, 2026. The FY2027 solicitation has not been announced; check ies.ed.gov/sbir for current status.
Status: between-intakes
States: Nationwide
Payment model: advance

Who qualifies

For-profit US small business concern with 500 or fewer employees including affiliates
More than 50% owned and controlled by US citizens or permanent resident aliens
Mandatory foreign national screening: the April 2026 reauthorization requires all applicants to disclose foreign ownership, foreign control, or foreign influence (FOCI) — new compliance requirement effective for all awards issued after April 13, 2026
Principal Investigator must be primarily employed (>50% time) by the small business at time of award
Proposed work must fall within one of the IES SBIR topic areas (typically: reading/literacy, mathematics, science, special education, assessments, or general ed technology tools)
Proposals must include a logic model or theory of action linking the product to learning outcomes — IES requires an evidence-based framework, not just a product description
Primary R&D performance within the United States
SAM.gov registration with valid UEI required
SBA SBIR Company Registry registration required before award
No cost-sharing required

Hard requirements

Must be incorporated
51%+ US ownership required

How it compares with other federal grants

Of the 109 federal grants we track, the SBIR Phase I — Department of Education (IES) has the 78th-largest published amount ($250K, against a $1M median across the 99 that publish one). Applying takes about 85 hours by our estimate, close to the 80-hour median. It needs no cash match, though 37% of federal grants do. Like 92% of federal grants, it needs SAM.gov registration.

Top amount: $250K · 78th largest of 99
Median, federal grants: $1M
Hours to apply: About 85 · peers' median 80
Cash match: Not required · 37% of peers require it
SAM.gov: Required · 92% of peers require it

Source: the GrantCompass catalog of 770 US programs. Browse grants in the catalog.

What it covers

Eligible expenses

Salaries and wages for the PI, developers, researchers, and support staff working on the project
Fringe benefits on qualifying salaries
Materials, software, and supplies consumed in product development
Equipment necessary for the research
Subcontractor costs for research institutions, school districts, or specialized vendors (subject to majority-performance rule)
Consultant fees for education researchers, curriculum experts, or statistical consultants
Stipends or payments to school districts or teachers for participation in usability studies (participant costs — verify allowability in solicitation)
Domestic travel for field testing or school partnership activities
Indirect costs at negotiated or de minimis rates
SBIR fee on direct and indirect costs

Ineligible expenses

Work performed outside the United States without prior approval
Lobbying or political activities
Entertainment, alcohol, or personal expenses
Pre-award costs
Marketing, sales, or commercial business development activities
Construction or major facility renovation

How to apply

1

Register in SAM.gov, SBIR Company Registry, and Grants.gov

Complete three prerequisite registrations: SAM.gov for UEI (2–3 weeks for new registrations), SBA SBIR Company Registry at sbir.gov, and a Grants.gov applicant account. IES SBIR submissions use Grants.gov Workspace. Ensure your organizational SAM.gov account is linked to your Grants.gov profile before the deadline.

~5 hrs
2

Read the IES SBIR solicitation and understand the Evidence Standards

Download and read the full IES SBIR solicitation from ies.ed.gov/sbir. IES uses its own What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) evidence standards — your Phase I proposal must describe how the proposed work relates to the WWC standards and include a theory of action (logic model) connecting product features to specific learning outcomes. This is the single most IES-specific requirement that catches ed-tech founders off-guard.

~10 hrs
3

Develop the project narrative with logic model and research design

IES Phase I proposals center on a 25-page Project Narrative covering: (1) significance and need, (2) innovation, (3) approach — including the logic model/theory of action and a Phase I research plan focused on product development and initial piloting, (4) team qualifications. The Phase I research plan typically includes a usability study or small-scale pilot with real students or teachers. IES expects a clear articulation of what will be 'ready' at Phase I end for a Phase II efficacy study.

~70 hrs
4

Submit via Grants.gov Workspace

Assemble the complete application package in Grants.gov Workspace and submit before 5:00 PM Eastern on the deadline. Allow 3 business days before the deadline for Grants.gov processing and error corrections. IES requires specific application forms matching the Grants.gov package for the active SBIR program — verify you are using the correct forms package for the current IES solicitation cycle.

~6 hrs
5

Scientific review and award notification

IES convenes a formal scientific peer review panel — a process more rigorous and academic in character than most other SBIR agencies. Reviewers include education researchers, assessment specialists, and ed-tech practitioners. Review scores weight scientific rigor heavily. Award notifications typically arrive in April–June, approximately 6–8 months after the December deadline. Phase I grants start July 1.

~2 hrs

SBIR / STTR details

SBIR phase amounts

Phase	Max award	Duration
Phase1	$250,000	9 months
Phase2	$900,000	36 months

NAICS codes: 541715, 541714, 541511, 541512, 611430, 611710

Insider tip

IES is the only federal SBIR funder that requires a logic model and evidence framework — read the What Works Clearinghouse standards before writing your theory of action. Education researchers on the team (not just engineers) substantially improve review scores.

Deadline & timing

IES SBIR follows an annual cycle with one solicitation per fiscal year. The FY solicitation typically opens in August–September and closes in October–December. Phase I award notifications arrive approximately 6–8 months after the deadline (April–June). Phase I performance begins July 1 (start of IES's award cycle). Unlike most SBIR programs, Phase II at IES is 36 months — designed to accommodate the time required for rigorous educational research designs (RCTs, quasi-experimental studies).

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