Stimulating Innovation through Procurement Act of 2017

Summary:  Stimulating Innovation through Procurement Act of 2017 This bill amends the Small Business Act to require:   the Small Business Administration (SBA) to coordinate with the senior procurement executives of federal agencies participating in a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program or a Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program to assist small businesses participating in such programs with commercializing research before the business is awarded a federal contract; the SBA to modify its policy directives to require procurement center representatives to assist small businesses participating in SBIR or STTR programs with researching solicitations for federal contracts and submitting bids; and each Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization to assist small businesses participating in SBIR or STTR programs with researching solicitations for federal contracts and submitting bids.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Stimulating Innovation through 
Procurement Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF SENIOR PROCUREMENT EXECUTIVE.

    Section 9(e) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(e)) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (12)(B), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (13)(B), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(13) the term `senior procurement executive' means an 
        official designated under section 1702(c) of title 41, United 
        States Code, as the senior procurement executive of a Federal 
        agency participating in a SBIR or STTR program.''.

SEC. 3. INCLUSION OF SENIOR PROCUREMENT EXECUTIVES IN SBIR AND STTR.

    (a) In General.--Section 9(b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
638(b)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (8), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (9), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(10) to coordinate, where appropriate, with the senior 
        procurement executive of the relevant Federal agency to assist 
        small business concerns participating in a SBIR or STTR program 
        with commercializing research developed under such a program 
        before such small business concern is awarded a contract from 
        such Federal agency.''.
    (b) Technical Amendment.--Section 9(b)(3) of the Small Business Act 
(15 U.S.C. 638(b)(3)) is amended by striking ``and'' at the end.

SEC. 4. MODIFICATIONS RELATING TO PROCUREMENT CENTER REPRESENTATIVES 
              AND OTHER ACQUISITION PERSONNEL.

    (a) SBIR Amendment.--Section 9(j) of the Small Business Act (15 
U.S.C. 638(j)) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph:
            ``(4) Modifications relating to procurement center 
        representatives.--Upon the enactment of this paragraph, the 
        Administrator shall modify the policy directives issued 
        pursuant to this subsection to require procurement center 
        representatives (as described in section 15(l)) to assist small 
        business concerns participating in the SBIR program with 
        researching solicitations for the award of a Federal contract 
        (particularly with the Federal agency that has a funding 
        agreement with the concern) and to provide technical assistance 
        to such concerns to submit a bid for an award of a Federal 
        contract. The procurement center representatives shall 
        coordinate with the appropriate senior procurement executive 
        and the appropriate Director of the Office of Small and 
        Disadvantaged Business Utilization established pursuant to 
        section 15(k) for the agency letting the contract.''.
    (b) STTR Amendment.--Section 9(p)(2) of the Small Business Act (15 
U.S.C. 638(p)(2)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (E)(ii), by striking ``and'' at the 
        end;
            (2) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(G) procedures to ensure that procurement center 
                representatives (as described in section 15(l))--
                            ``(i) assist small business concerns 
                        participating in the STTR program with 
                        researching applicable solicitations for the 
                        award of a Federal contract (particularly with 
                        the Federal agency that has a funding agreement 
                        with the concern);
                            ``(ii) provide technical assistance to such 
                        concerns to submit a bid for an award of a 
                        Federal contract; and
                            ``(iii) coordinate with the appropriate 
                        senior procurement executive and the 
                        appropriate Director of the Office of Small and 
                        Disadvantaged Business Utilization established 
                        pursuant to section 15(k) for the Federal 
                        agency letting the contract in providing the 
                        assistance described in clause (i).''.

SEC. 5. AMENDMENT TO DUTIES OF PROCUREMENT CENTER REPRESENTATIVES.

    Section 15(l)(2) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 644(l)(2)) is 
amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (I), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) by redesignating subparagraph (J) as subparagraph (L); 
        and
            (3) by inserting after subparagraph (I) the following new 
        subparagraphs:
                    ``(J) assist small business concerns participating 
                in a SBIR or STTR program under section 9 with 
                researching applicable solicitations for the award of a 
                Federal contract to market the research developed by 
                such concern under such SBIR or STTR program;
                    ``(K) provide technical assistance to small 
                business concerns participating in a SBIR or STTR 
                program under section 9 to submit a bid for an award of 
                a Federal contract, including coordination with the 
                appropriate senior procurement executive and the 
                appropriate Director of the Office of Small and 
                Disadvantaged Business Utilization established pursuant 
                to subsection (k) for the agency letting the contract; 
                and''.

SEC. 6. AMENDMENT TO THE DUTIES OF THE DIRECTOR OF SMALL AND 
              DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS UTILIZATION FOR FEDERAL AGENCIES.

    Section 15(k) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 644(k)) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (19), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (20), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting a semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
            ``(21) shall assist small business concerns participating 
        in a SBIR or STTR program under section 9 with researching 
        applicable solicitations for the award of a Federal contract 
        (particularly with the Federal agency that has a funding 
        agreement (as defined under section 9) with the concern) to 
        market the research developed by such concern under such SBIR 
        or STTR program; and
            ``(22) shall provide technical assistance to small business 
        concerns participating in a SBIR or STTR program under section 
        9 to submit a bid for an award of a Federal contract, including 
        coordination with procurement center representatives and the 
        appropriate senior procurement executive for the agency letting 
        the contract.''.