Pilot Small Business Technology Transfer Program Extension Act of 1996

Summary: Pilot Small Business Technology Transfer Program Extension Act of 1996 - Amends the Small Business Act to:  (1) extend through FY 2000 the Small Business Technology Transfer (SBTT) Program under which specified portions of each Federal agency's research and development (R&D) budget are reserved for small business cooperative R&D; and (2) increase for FY 1997 and thereafter the portion reserved for small businesses under such program. 
Directs the Comptroller General to conduct an assessment of the ongoing implementation of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program and the pilot SBTT Program.  Outlines issues to be addressed in such assessment, requiring a focus on programs implemented during the period beginning October 1, 1995, and ending September 30, 1999.  Requires a report from the Comptroller General to the small business committees. 
Requires the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to convene and supervise an interagency task force on fostering commercialization of the results of projects being undertaken by small businesses through the SBIR and SBTT programs.  Outlines task force duties and membership requirements.  Requires:  (1) public participation in task force activities; and (2) a notice and initial call for such participation by the Administrator.  Directs the Administrator to report to the small business committees on the work of the task force, including recommendations for legislative or administrative action.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Pilot Small Business Technology 
Transfer Program Extension Act of 1996''.

SEC. 2. PROGRAM EXTENSION.

    Section 9(n) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(n)) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) by striking ``in fiscal year 1994, 1995, or 
                1996,'';
                    (B) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph 
                (B);
                    (C) by striking the comma at the end of 
                subparagraph (C) and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (D) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the 
                following new subparagraph:
                    ``(D) not less than 0.25 percent of such budget in 
                fiscal year 1997 and each succeeding fiscal year,''; 
                and
             (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(4) Program expiration.--Authorization to carry out the 
        STTR program pursuant to this subsection (and subsections (o) 
        and (p) of this section) shall expire on September 30, 2000.''.

SEC. 3. ASSESSMENT BY THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL.

    (a) Assessment Required.--The Comptroller General of the United 
States shall conduct an assessment of the ongoing implementation of the 
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program and the pilot Small 
Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program. The assessment shall 
address the following issues with respect to each program:
            (1) The extent of competition and the quality of proposals 
        submitted for the award of SBIR and STTR agreements, and the 
        quality of subsequent performance by the recipients of such 
        awards.
            (2) Whether any adverse effects on the research or research 
        and development programs of any sponsoring agency are 
        attributable to the agency's participation in the SBIR program 
        or the pilot STTR program.
            (3) Whether any awards by a sponsoring agency in each 
        fiscal year represent the applicable percentages of such 
        agency's extramural budget, identifying any systemic management 
        weaknesses contributing to such limitation on implementation.
            (4) Any management techniques initiated by sponsoring 
        agencies that attempt to minimize delays between the successful 
        completion of a Phase I agreement and the award (and 
        commencement of performance) under a Phase II agreement or 
        ameliorate the adverse effects of such delays.
            (5) The implementation of Phase III by participating 
        agencies, including awards in support of Phase III and other 
        techniques adopted by the agencies to foster commercialization.
            (6) The extent to which small business participants in each 
        program, especially recipients of STTR awards, utilize the 
        results of research undertaken for Federal agencies by 
        universities, federally funded research and development 
        centers, and other research institutions, and the extent to 
        which the results were subsequently developed by such small 
        firms to meet the needs of Federal, State, and local government 
        or advanced to use in the commercial marketplace.
            (7) Whether the required and structured collaboration 
        between a small business and a research institution under the 
        pilot STTR program is necessary in light of the experiences 
        with voluntary collaborations under the SBIR program.
            (8) Any duplication between the SBIR program and the pilot 
        STTR program.
            (9) The extent to which each agency participating in the 
        SBIR program has complied with the policy directives to enhance 
        outreach efforts to increase the participation of socially and 
        economically disadvantaged small business concerns and women-
        owned small business concerns issued under section (9)(j)(2)(F) 
        of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(j)(2)(F)) and the 
        extent to which each agency participating in the STTR program 
        has made outreach efforts to increase the participation of such 
        concerns in the agency's STTR program.
            (10) Any other relevant information as determined by the 
        Comptroller General.
    (b) Period of Assessment.--The assessment required by subsection 
(a) shall focus on the implementation of each program during the period 
beginning October 1, 1995, and ending September 30, 1999.
    (c) Report.--
            (1) Submission of report.--The Comptroller General shall 
        submit a report of the assessment required by subsection (a) to 
        the Committees on Small Business of the Senate and House of 
        Representatives not later than February 1, 2000.
            (2) Appendices to report.--The report shall include--
                    (A) an appendix summarizing the findings of 
                previous reports issued by the Comptroller General with 
respect to the SBIR program and the pilot STTR program; and
                    (B) an appendix listing reports of other 
                assessments of the SBIR program or the pilot STTR 
                program issued by the Small Business Administration, 
                any of the sponsoring agencies, and any other entities 
                determined by the Comptroller General to be useful 
                resources to the Congress in evaluating each program 
                for reauthorization.

SEC. 4. INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE ON COMMERCIALIZATION.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator of the Small Business 
Administration shall convene and supervise an interagency task force on 
fostering commercialization of the results of projects being undertaken 
by small business concerns through the SBIR program and the pilot STTR 
program.
    (b) Duties.--The interagency task force shall--
            (1) review existing studies and analyses and conduct 
        independent assessments, as may be appropriate, regarding the 
        obstacles faced by small business entrepreneurs seeking to 
        commercialize results of basic research or research and 
        development undertaken through Federal funding;
            (2) devise recommendations to overcome (or minimize the 
        effects of) such obstacles; and
            (3) address other matters that the Administrator determines 
        are appropriate to ensure a comprehensive analysis and the 
        development of practical recommendations.
    (c) Participation.--
            (1) Task force membership.--The interagency task shall 
        include participation by representatives of--
                    (A) the Office of the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of 
                the Small Business Administration;
                    (B) the 5 Executive agencies having the greatest 
                dollar value of awards under the SBIR program in fiscal 
                year 1995;
                    (C) the Executive agencies participating in the 
                pilot STTR program in fiscal year 1995;
                    (D) the Office of Science and Technology Policy, 
                Executive Office of the President; and
                    (E) any other Executive agencies invited by the 
                Administrator.
            (2) Public participation.--In undertaking its assessments 
        and fashioning its recommendations, the interagency task force 
        shall provide opportunities for consultation with 
        representatives of--
                    (A) small businesses and other entities that have 
                participated in the SBIR program or the pilot STTR 
                program;
                    (B) organizations representing small business 
                concerns;
                    (C) organizations representing venture capital 
                sources, especially those focusing on the needs of 
                small high-technology entrepreneurs; and
                    (D) any other public or private entities that the 
                Administrator determines are appropriate.
    (d) Schedule.--
            (1) Notice and initial call for public participation.--Not 
        earlier than May 1, 1997, the Administrator shall publish in 
        the Federal Register (and through other means likely to result 
        in broad dissemination) a notice, which at a minimum, announces 
        the existence of the interagency task force, identifies the 
        members of task force, summarizes purposes and objectives of 
        the task force, requests suggestions and recommendations from 
        the public regarding the work of the task force, providing at 
        least 180 days to make a submission in response to such notice, 
        and announces any schedule of meetings of the task force or 
        other public meetings.
            (2) Ongoing public participation.--In conducting its 
        assessments and fashioning its recommendations the task force 
        shall make every reasonable effort to solicit ideas from the 
        public.
    (e) Report.--Not later than March 1, 1999, the Administrator shall 
submit to the Committees on Small Business of the Senate and House of 
Representatives a report of the work of the interagency task force, 
including such recommendations for legislative or administrative 
action.

SEC. 5. TECHNICAL CORRECTION.

    Section 9(e)(4)(A) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
638(e)(4)(A)) is amended by striking ``(B)(ii)'' and inserting ``(B)''.