NSF SBIR
NSF SBIR format and font requirements
NSF applies its formatting rules strictly, and a proposal that breaks them can be returned without review. This is the checklist our writers work to before an NSF SBIR or STTR submission goes near Research.gov. Always confirm against the current solicitation and the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide, which are revised each year.
Approved fonts and sizes
| Font | Minimum size |
|---|---|
| Arial, Courier New or Palatino Linotype | 10 point or larger |
| Times New Roman | 11 point or larger |
| Computer Modern family | 11 point or larger |
| Any other font | Not compliant. Substitute before you submit |
Page layout rules
| Element | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Margins | At least 1 inch on all sides. No text, headers or footers inside the margin. |
| Line spacing | No more than 6 lines of text within a vertical inch. |
| Paper size | Standard US Letter, 8.5 x 11 inches, single column. |
| Page numbering | Applied automatically by Research.gov. Do not add your own. |
| URLs | Links to additional content are not permitted in the narrative. |
| Colour and figures | Allowed, but text inside figures must stay legible in greyscale print. |
Page limits by document
| Document | Limit |
|---|---|
| Project Pitch | Structured web form with per-field character limits, roughly 500 words per section. |
| Phase I Project Description | 15 pages, including all figures and tables. |
| Phase II Project Description | 15 pages, with additional required sections outside the limit. |
| Project Summary | 1 page, with separate overview, intellectual merit and broader impacts statements. |
| Biographical Sketch | 2 pages per senior person, in the current NSF-approved format. |
| References Cited | No page limit, but only cited works belong here. |
| Budget Justification | 5 pages for the small business, 5 pages per subawardee. |
Compliance failures we see most often
- A non-approved font used inside figures, tables or captions.
- Line spacing compressed to squeeze a 17-page description into 15.
- Text placed in headers or footers, which counts as margin violation.
- Missing Project Summary sections, which Research.gov blocks at upload.
- SAM.gov or SBA company registration lapsed or incomplete at deadline.
- A biosketch in an outdated template or missing SciENcv certification.
Formatting questions
- What font should an NSF SBIR proposal use?
- Arial, Courier New or Palatino Linotype at 10 point or larger, or Times New Roman and the Computer Modern family at 11 point or larger. The same rule applies to text inside figures and tables.
- How long is an NSF SBIR Phase I proposal?
- The Project Description is limited to 15 pages including figures and tables. Project Summary, References Cited, Biographical Sketches and Budget Justification are separate documents with their own limits.
- Will NSF return a proposal for a formatting error?
- Yes. Proposals that breach font, margin, spacing or page limit rules can be returned without review, and a return means waiting for the next window.
- Where are the current rules published?
- The NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide sets the formatting standard, and the current SBIR/STTR Phase I solicitation adds program-specific requirements. Check both, because they are revised regularly.
Want a compliance review before you submit?
Our team runs formatting, budget and scoring checks on every NSF submission we handle. Book a call and we will tell you what a reviewer would flag.