DARPA BTO SBIR deadline June 3, 2026

DARPA’s Biological Technologies Office has a live small-business funding window that closes on June 3, 2026, and it is more specific than the social-media shorthand made it sound. DARPA’s SBIR/STTR topics page shows four Biological Technologies topics in the current FY2026 batch, with pre-release beginning April 13, opening on May 6, and closing on June 3. (darpa.mil) The solicitation is part of DARPA’s Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs, which the agency describes as competitive contracts for small businesses and research partners. (darpa.mil) DARPA says proposals must be submitted electronically through the Defense SBIR/STTR Innovation Portal, or DSIP. (darpa.mil) ### Which DARPA office is behind this deadline? DARPA’s Biological Technologies Office, or BTO, is the sponsoring office for the topics in question. The office says it develops biological technologies for warfighter protection, including diagnostics for chemical and biological threats, medical countermeasures, tactical care, resilient supply chains and novel sensors. (darpa.mil) DARPA’s topics page lists the relevant office simply as “Biological Technologies” for the June 3 opportunities. That matters because the deadline is not a generic biosecurity call covering every defense biology theme; it is a defined BTO topic round inside DARPA’s monthly SBIR/STTR cycle. (darpa.mil) ### What are the actual topics open until June 3? DARPA lists four BTO topics in the current round. The first is Smart Whole Blood Field Transfusion system, or SWiFT, which seeks a self-contained device for blood collection, temporary storage, diagnostic testing and transfusion with donor and recipient monitoring. (darpa.mil) The second is EXPOSITION — short for Extremity Platform for On-demand Surgical Implantation and Tissue Integration with Osteochondral Neogenesis — which seeks an on-demand regenerative medicine platform for complete finger restoration after trauma. The third is BARK, or Broadening Availability of Regimens for K-9s, which seeks medical products interoperable across humans and dogs for warfighters and military working dogs. (darpa.mil) DARPA’s page also shows a fourth BTO topic in the June 3 batch, though the excerpted listing surfaced here does not fully display its title. The key point for applicants is that the active BTO round is broader than a generic “synthetic biology tools” label and includes battlefield care, regenerative medicine and canine-human medical interoperability. (darpa.mil) ### Is this a grant, a contract, or something else? DARPA describes its SBIR/STTR efforts as competitive contracts managed by its Small Business Programs Office. The agency’s program overview says SBIR and STTR are designed to stimulate technological innovation and are a major source of early-stage financing for U.S. small businesses. (darpa.mil) DARPA says typical Phase I funding is about $250,000 over roughly six months, while typical Phase II funding is about $1.8 million over 24 to 36 months. Individual topic structures can differ, so applicants need to read the topic-specific instructions rather than rely on general averages. (darpa.mil) ### Who can apply, and what is different between SBIR and STTR? DARPA says SBIR projects allow partnerships but do not require them, and the principal investigator must be employed at least half-time by the awardee. For STTR projects, DARPA says a partnership with a university or other nonprofit research institution is required, with minimum work-share requirements for both the small business and the partner institution. (darpa.mil) DARPA’s participation guide says proposers should review eligibility rules first, then find a topic, ask technical questions during the pre-release period, and monitor published Q&As once the submission window is open. Proposals that do not meet the submission requirements are screened out as non-responsive, according to the agency. (darpa.mil) ### What, exactly, has to happen before June 3? June 3, 2026 is the close date for the BTO topics now listed on DARPA’s SBIR/STTR topics page. DARPA says applicants can edit proposal materials in DSIP until the announcement closes, but they must click “Submit Proposal” or the application remains “In Progress” and is not considered submitted. (darpa.mil) DARPA’s page says the current Department of War SBIR/STTR announcement cycle uses pre-release, open and close periods, and direct communication with topic authors is encouraged during pre-release. For this round, the next concrete milestone is the June 3 close of the Biological Technologies topics on the DARPA topics page and in DSIP. (darpa.mil 1) (darpa.mil 2) (darpa.mil 3)