Scalebiz
Guides

Practical guidance on funding in the EU, US and UK

The Scalebiz guides explain what a funding programme actually requires and whether it is worth your time, using the published rules from TED, SAM.gov, Find a Tender, SEDIA, Grants.gov and UKRI. They are written for the person who has to decide, not for an administrator. To see how Scalebiz applies the same rules automatically, see how the matching engine decides eligibility or check what the Inside subscription costs.

Asking how long a market gives you to bid, rather than what the rules say? Tender response times by market and sector measures every notice published since January 2026: a US construction notice closes in a median 14 days, a French one in 41, on the same CPV code.

WHAT EVERY GUIDE DOES 40 pages of rules one line disqualifies you Do you qualify What it pays Is it worth a week every answer cites the clause it came from WHAT EVERY GUIDE DOES 40 pages of rules one line disqualifies you Do you qualify What it pays Is it worth a week every answer cites its clause
FEATURED GUIDE

Business funding in the EU, US and UK

An overview of the funding a business can apply for across the EU, US and UK: non-repayable grants, public tenders, equity, subsidised debt and guarantee schemes, and which of them a given company is eligible for.

Read the guide to business funding in the EU, US and UK →
CLOSING DATES, ONE MONTH calls closing
GRANTS

A calendar of grant deadlines

When open grant calls close, and how much time is left to prepare an application for each of them.

Read: a calendar of grant deadlines →
MEDIAN DAYS, NOTICE TO DEADLINE EU32 UK31 US11 notices published since Jan 2026
TENDERS

How long you get to answer a public tender

The response windows public buyers give bidders, and what has to be ready before the notice is published.

Read: how long you get to answer a public tender →
EIF commits FUND MANAGER company company company
INVESTORS

Equity funds backed by the EIF

How equity funds supported by the European Investment Fund work, and which companies they are set up to invest in.

Read: equity funds backed by the EIF →
BUSINESS BANK GUARANTEE applies lends covers the loss
DEBT & GUARANTEES

EU loan guarantees, and what they cover

How a state-backed guarantee lowers a lender’s risk, and what a business needs in order to use one.

Read: EU loan guarantees, and what they cover →
PROJECT BUDGET personnel equipment subcontracting purchases action tasks only
GRANTS

Are subcontractor costs eligible under Horizon Europe?

When a subcontract is eligible, the four conditions it has to meet, and why it earns no overhead under the 25% flat rate.

Read: are subcontractor costs eligible under Horizon Europe? →
GRANTS LOANS CONTRACTS SUBPART A SUBPART D SUBPART E SUBPART F
GRANTS

2 CFR Part 200, and who it binds

Which subparts apply to grants, loans and FAR contracts, and which entities the Uniform Guidance actually binds.

Read: 2 CFR Part 200, and who it binds →
CONTRACT COST ALLOWABLE UNALLOWABLE FAR 31.205
TENDERS

Unallowable costs under FAR Part 31

Which cost categories the FAR treats as unallowable, and what that means for an indirect cost rate.

Read: unallowable costs under FAR Part 31 →
WHICH SUBPART REACHES WHOM 31.2 commercial 31.3 education 31.6 state bodies 31.7 non-profits
TENDERS

FAR Part 31, and who it binds

Which cost principles reach which kind of contractor, and where the part stops applying.

Read: FAR Part 31, and who it binds →
WHO MAY BID ONCE IT IS SET ASIDESMALL BUSINESS CONCERNSMAY BIDEVERYONE ELSEREJECTEDTRIGGER: TWO EXPECTED OFFERS. FAR 19.502-2
TENDERS

Small business set-asides, and who qualifies

When a US federal buyer must close a contract to small firms only, how size is judged, and what the limits are once you win.

Read: Small business set-asides, and who qualifies →
WHO DECIDES WHATCONTRACTING OFFICERWHICH PROGRAM, AND WHETHERSBA, UNDER 13 CFRWHETHER YOU QUALIFYEIGHT SUBPARTS. FAR 19.000 AND 19.203
TENDERS

FAR Part 19, and which programs it sets up

The part binds the federal buyer, not you. Which programs it creates, who decides your status, and the order they must be considered in.

Read: FAR Part 19, and which programs it sets up →
THREE CEILINGSAT OR BELOW THE SATSIMPLIFIED IS MANDATORYABOVE IT, UP TO $9MCOMMERCIAL ONLY, 13.5NO SPLITTING A BUY. FAR 13.003(C)(2)
TENDERS

When an agency may skip full competition

Below the threshold simplified procedures are mandatory; above it they are forbidden. The three ceilings Part 13 states, and the rule against splitting a buy.

Read: When an agency may skip full competition →
GRANTS LOANS CONTRACTS SUBPART A SUBPART D SUBPART E SUBPART F
GRANTS

Eligible costs on an Innovate UK project

Labour, overheads, materials, capital usage, subcontract, travel, and everything else. What a day rate may contain, and the costs no category will take.

Read: Which project costs Innovate UK reimburses →