Supply Chain Acceleration and Logistics Enablement (SCALE) Program

The Supply Chain Acceleration and Logistics Enablement Program is administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration through its Office of Investment and Innovation. The agency, established in 1953, is responsible for supporting small businesses across the United States through financial assistance, policy oversight, and technical support programs. This funding opportunity is authorized under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026, which allocated nine million dollars to support growth accelerators and organizations that assist entrepreneurs in starting and scaling businesses. The program is structured as a competitive federal grant designed to strengthen supply chain participation and performance among small businesses. The purpose of the program is to address barriers that prevent small businesses from effectively participating in critical supply chains. These barriers may include operational limitations, workforce gaps, technical constraints, and restricted access to markets. The program focuses on improving supplier readiness, production capacity, and industry engagement. Applicants are required to target one strategically important supply chain area, including advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, defense industrial base technologies, energy and critical materials, food and agriculture systems, or transportation and logistics infrastructure. The program emphasizes measurable improvements in small business development and supply chain integration. Funding provided through this program must be used strictly for allowable costs aligned with federal cost principles. Eligible uses include accelerator programming, technical assistance, supplier matchmaking, workforce development, and technology deployment support. Funds cannot be used as pass-through funding to other entities, and organizations may not distribute funds directly to participating small businesses. Additionally, no more than forty nine percent of the work may be contracted out to third parties. All costs must meet standards of allowability, allocability, and reasonableness as defined under federal regulations. Eligible applicants include public and private entities, nonprofit organizations, and institutions that provide programming or services to support small businesses in the targeted supply chain sectors. Applicants must demonstrate organizational capacity, relevant experience, and the ability to execute a two year project plan. Certain entities are ineligible, including those with unresolved federal financial obligations, recent bankruptcy filings, or suspension from federal funding. Applicants must also maintain an active Unique Entity Identifier and complete registration through federal systems prior to submission. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov and includes several components such as a cover letter, technical proposal, organizational qualifications, budget forms, and supporting documentation. The technical proposal must outline the supply chain challenge being addressed, describe the proposed activities, and provide measurable outcomes. Organizational qualifications must demonstrate experience, partnerships, and management capabilities. Evaluation criteria are weighted heavily toward the technical approach, accounting for eighty percent of the total score, with organizational qualifications comprising the remaining twenty percent. The funding opportunity opened on July 7, 2026, with a submission deadline of August 7, 2026, and an earlier required submission cutoff of July 28, 2026 at four pm Eastern Time through Grants.gov. Applications submitted after this deadline are not considered. The program anticipates awarding approximately twenty grants, each with a maximum value of five hundred thousand dollars over a twenty four month project period. Projects are expected to begin on September 30, 2026. Applicants are evaluated based on their understanding of supply chain challenges, the quality and feasibility of their programming approach, and the strength of their partnerships and outcomes. Selected applicants undergo further review and risk assessment prior to award issuance. Award recipients must comply with federal reporting requirements, including quarterly financial and performance reports. Questions regarding the program can be directed to the official program email provided by the Small Business Administration.

Focus on clearly defining supply chain challenges with strong data support and aligning activities with measurable outcomes; demonstrate strong partnerships and implementation feasibility