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SolicitationsNSF26-511
NSF
Grants.gov · SBIR · Phase I, II & Fast-Track

26-511 · NSF Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I, Phase II, Fast-Track Programs: A Pilot Emphasis on Scientific Instrumentation

NSF Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I, Phase II, Fast-Track Programs: A Pilot Emphasis on Scientific Instrumentation — an open NSF SBIR funding opportunity (26-511), posted on Grants.gov.

Closes Agency portal
Typical administrative requirements11 requirements · confirm against the solicitation
Page limitsNSF PAPPGMECHANICAL
Technical-volume page limit set in the solicitation
The cap differs by program and phase — find it in the live solicitation; cover sheet, cost volume and commercialization material are typically excluded.
See NOFO
FontNSF PAPPGMECHANICAL
≥ 10 pt (11 pt Times New Roman), no compression
Use a standard serif/sans face; condensed or narrow variants are commonly disallowed.
≥ 10 pt (11 pt Times New Roman)
MarginsNSF PAPPGMECHANICAL
≥ 1.0″ on all four sides
Margins are measured from the PDF page box and usually include headers and footers.
≥ 1.0″
Line spacingNSF PAPPGMECHANICAL
Single-spacing minimum
No more restrictive than single; tables and figures are typically exempt.
Single+
Required sectionsNSF PAPPGSEMANTIC
All mandated technical sections present
Match the solicitation's required structure and headings exactly — a mismatched heading is a known reject trigger.
Required
EligibilityNSF PAPPGSEMANTIC
US for-profit small business, ≤ 500 employees with affiliates
>50% US-owned and controlled by individuals; for SBIR the PI's primary employment must be with the firm at award.
SBC
Foreign ownershipNSF PAPPGSEMANTIC
FOCI / foreign-affiliation disclosure
Disclose foreign ownership, control or influence and the foreign affiliations of key personnel where required.
Disclose
RegistrationsNSF PAPPGSEMANTIC
SAM.gov + UEI active; SBC registry
Active SAM.gov registration and a valid Unique Entity ID at submission; SBA Company Registry for SBIR/STTR.
Active
Cost volumeNSF PAPPGSEMANTIC
Separate cost volume within the topic ceiling
Submitted separately from the technical volume and within the program/topic funding ceiling.
Separate
AI-use disclosureNSF PAPPGSEMANTIC
Disclose assistive AI use
Generative AI may typically assist with editing/formatting only; substantive content must be human-authored and any use disclosed where required.
If used
DeadlineNSF PAPPGMECHANICAL
Submit via the agency portal by Nov 4, 2026
The full electronic submission, including every volume, must be certified before the closing date/time.
Nov 4

Every NSF rule SolicitFit checks, with its source: NSF SBIR/STTR page limits, fonts and rules.

AI-use disclosure · NSF
SolicitFit checks compliance — it never writes your proposal.

Confirm this agency's AI-use policy in the current solicitation. Generative AI may typically assist with editing and formatting only; substantive content must be human-authored and any use disclosed where required.

The next step

Check your draft against 26-511

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