PHS 2017-02 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH for Small Business Technology Transfer Grant Applications (Parent STTR [R41/R42]) | PA 17 303

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 17 303

The PHS 2017-02 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH for Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Grant Applications, also known as the Parent STTR (R41/R42) opportunity, is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding announcement designed to help U.S. small business concerns develop early-stage, high-impact biomedical and behavioral technologies in partnership with a research institution. It is published as a discretionary grant program under Funding Opportunity Number PA 17 303 and supports research and development efforts that align with the missions of the various NIH awarding components participating in the omnibus solicitation. In practical terms, this is a broad, multi-institute entry point into NIH STTR funding for small companies that are building innovations with strong scientific rationale and a clear pathway toward commercialization or broader public health impact.

The core purpose of this opportunity is to encourage U.S. small businesses with relevant technical expertise to propose R and D projects that match the NIH topic areas listed in the PHS 2017-2 SBIR/STTR Program Descriptions and Research Topics. Because it is an omnibus solicitation, it covers a wide range of health-related and life science areas rather than focusing on a single disease or technology domain. The activity categories tied to this announcement reflect that breadth and include health along with overlapping public benefit areas such as education, environment, food and nutrition, and income security and social services. This wide scope is reinforced by the extensive list of CFDA program numbers associated with the announcement, which correspond to multiple NIH institutes and centers and their distinct funding authorities.

Funding is provided through the STTR mechanism using the R41 and R42 activity codes. These generally map to a phased development model, where Phase I (R41) typically supports proof-of-concept or feasibility work and Phase II (R42) supports more advanced research, development, and validation that moves the technology toward readiness for commercialization, adoption, or downstream product development. While the specific budget limits, project periods, and detailed requirements are set by NIH STTR policy and by institute-specific guidance, the general expectation is that applicants propose a coherent, milestone-driven plan that shows both scientific merit and a plausible route to real-world use.

Eligibility is centered on U.S. small business concerns, which are listed as the eligible applicant type for this opportunity. The announcement explicitly states that non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, including foreign institutions, are not eligible to apply. It also clarifies that non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. At the same time, the NIH may allow certain foreign components as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, meaning that while the applicant organization must be a qualifying U.S. small business, limited parts of the project may potentially be performed outside the United States if properly justified and consistent with NIH policy. A defining feature of STTR, compared to some other small business programs, is the required collaboration between the small business and a U.S. research institution; applicants are expected to structure the project so that both parties meaningfully contribute to the R and D effort in a way that strengthens the science and accelerates translation.

Administratively, this opportunity was created on 2017-06-05 and lists an original closing date of 2018-01-05. It is offered by the National Institutes of Health, and applicants are directed to respond to specific topic areas described in the omnibus PHS 2017-2 SBIR/STTR materials rather than treating the FOA as a purely open-ended research call. The opportunity entry indicates that an award ceiling and expected number of awards were not specified in the provided summary data, which is common in omnibus solicitations where funding levels and award counts can vary by institute, topic, and application quality. Overall, the announcement functions as a broad NIH-wide gateway for qualified U.S. small businesses to seek STTR support for collaborative, innovation-focused R and D projects that fit NIH priorities and can move toward commercialization or other forms of deployment that benefit public health.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, food and nutrition, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "PHS 2017-02 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH for Small Business Technology Transfer Grant Applications (Parent STTR [R41/R42])" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113, 93.121, 93.172, 93.173, 93.213, 93.233, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.307, 93.350, 93.351, 93.361, 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.399, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.846, 93.847, 93.853, 93.855, 93.856, 93.859, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867, 93.879.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-06-05.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-01-05. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: Small businesses.

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