Accelerating Defense Innovation Act of 2019

To amend title 10, United States Code, and the Small Business Act to improve innovation in defense procurement, and for other purposes. 1. Short title and table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Accelerating Defense Innovation Act of 2019 (b) Table of contents Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents. Sec. 2. Alignment of the Small Business Innovation Research Program and Small Business Technology Transfer Program of the Department of Defense with the National Defense Science and Technology Strategy. Sec. 3. Pilot program for domestic investment under the SBIR program. Sec. 4. Cybersecurity technical and business assistance for SBIR and STTR programs. Sec. 5. Phase 0 proof of concept partnership program for the Department of Defense. Sec. 6. Modification to the Defense Research and Development Rapid Innovation Program. Sec. 7. Establishment of joint reserve detachments at Defense Innovation Unit. 2. Alignment of the Small Business Innovation Research Program and Small Business Technology Transfer Program of the Department of Defense with the National Defense Science and Technology Strategy (a) In general The Secretary of Defense and Secretaries of the military departments shall, to the extent possible, align the research topics selected for activities conducted under the Small Business Innovation Research Program and Small Business Technology Transfer Program (as defined under section 9 of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 638 Public Law 115–232 (b) Use of National Defense Science and Technology Strategy To determine research topics Section 9 of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 638 (1) in subsection (g)(3)(B), by striking , in the 1992 report that authority in the National Defense Science and Technology Strategy established under section 218 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 ( Public Law 115–232 (2) in subsection (o)(3)(B), by striking , in accordance with section 2522 of title 10, United States Code in the National Defense Science and Technology Strategy established under section 218 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 ( Public Law 115–232 3. Pilot program for domestic investment under the SBIR program (a) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that the Administrator of the Small Business Administration should promulgate regulations to carry out the requirements under section 9(dd) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 638(dd) (1) permit small business concerns that are majority-owned by multiple venture capital operating companies, hedge funds, or private equity firms to participate in the SBIR program in accordance with such section; (2) provide specific information regarding eligibility, participation, and affiliation rules to such small business concerns; and (3) preserve and maintain the integrity of the SBIR program as a program for small business concerns in the United States by prohibiting large entities or foreign-owned entities from participation in the SBIR program. (b) Domestic investment pilot program (1) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act and notwithstanding the requirements of section 9(dd) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 638(dd) Domestic Investment Pilot Program (2) Limitation The Secretary of Defense may award not more than 15 percent of the funds allocated for the SBIR program of the Department of Defense under section 9(f) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 638(f) (3) Evaluation criteria In carrying out the Domestic Investment Pilot Program, the Secretary of Defense may not use investment of venture capital or investment from hedge funds or private equity firms as a criterion for the award of contracts under the SBIR program or STTR program. (4) Annual reporting The Secretary of Defense shall include as part of each annual report required under section 9(b)(7) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(9)(b)(7))— (A) information on the implementation of the Domestic Investment Pilot Program; (B) the number of proposals received from small business concerns that are majority-owned by multiple venture capital operating companies, hedge funds, or private equity firms for the Domestic Investment Pilot Program; and (C) the number of awards made to such small business concerns. (5) Termination The Domestic Investment Pilot Program established under this subsection shall terminate on September 30, 2022. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) SBIR The term SBIR 15 U.S.C. 638(e) (2) Small Business Act definitions The terms small business concern venture capital operating company hedge fund private equity firm 15 U.S.C. 632 4. Cybersecurity technical and business assistance for SBIR and STTR programs Section 9(q)(1) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 638(q)(1) (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting cybersecurity, product sales, (2) in subparagraph (A), by striking decisions decisions, including decisions relating to cybersecurity practices 5. Phase 0 proof of concept partnership program for the Department of Defense Section 9(jj) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 638 (1) in paragraph (1), by striking The Director of the National Institutes of Health A covered agency head (2) by striking The Director A covered agency head (3) by striking the Director a covered agency head (4) in paragraph (2)— (A) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as follows: (A) the term covered agency head (i) with respect to the STTR program of the National Institutes of Health, the Director of the National Institutes of Health; or (ii) with respect to the STTR program of the Department of Defense, the Secretary of Defense; ; and (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking in the National Institutes of Health’s STTR program in either the STTR program of the Department of Defense or the STTR program of the National Institutes of Health (5) in paragraph (4)(A), by inserting participating in the STTR program administered by such agency head a qualifying institution 6. Modification to the Defense Research and Development Rapid Innovation Program (a) Increase to funding Section 2359a(b)(3) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking $3,000,000 $6,000,000 (b) Report Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the program established under section 2359a(b)(3) of title 10, United States Code (commonly known as the Defense Research and Development Rapid Innovation Program (1) with respect to the two fiscal years preceding the submission of the report— (A) a description of the total number of proposals funded under the program; (B) the percent of funds made available under the program for Small Business Innovation Research Program projects; and (C) a list of Small Business Innovation Research Program projects that received funding under the program that were included in major defense acquisition programs (as defined in section 2430 of title 10, United States Code) and other defense acquisition programs that meet critical national security needs; and (2) an assessment on the effectiveness of the program in stimulating innovation technologies, reducing acquisition or life-cycle costs, addressing technical risk, and improving the timeliness and thoroughness of test and evaluation outcomes. 7. Establishment of joint reserve detachments at Defense Innovation Unit (a) Establishment The Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretaries of the military departments, shall establish not fewer than three joint reserve detachments (referred to in this section as Detachments (1) to support engagement and collaboration with commercial innovation hubs; and (2) to accelerate the transition and adoption of commercial technologies for national security purposes. (b) Composition Each Detachment shall be composed of members of the reserve components who possess relevant private sector experience in the fields of business, acquisition, intelligence, engineering, technology transfer, science, mathematics, contracting, procurement, logistics, cyberspace security, or such other fields as are determined to be relevant by the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. (c) Responsibilities The Detachments shall have the following responsibilities: (1) Each Detachment shall provide the Department of Defense with expertise, analysis, alternatives for innovation, and opportunities for greater engagement and collaboration between the defense innovation ecosystem and commercial industry. (2) Each Detachment shall, on an ongoing basis— (A) recruit, retain, and employ members of the reserve components who possess relevant private sector experience, as described in subsection (b); (B) partner with the military services, the combatant commands, and other Department of Defense organizations to seek and rapidly prototype advanced commercial solutions while lowing the barrier to entry to serve defense requirements; (C) increase awareness of— (i) the technology portfolios of the Defense Innovation Unit; and (ii) the technology requirements of the Department of Defense as identified in the National Defense Science and Technology Strategy developed under section 218 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 ( Public Law 115–232 (D) capitalize on the growing investment in research and development made by the commercial industry in assessing and maturing dual-use technologies; and (E) carry out such other activities as may be directed by the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. (d) Deadline for establishment of Detachments The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that— (1) at least one Detachment is established on or before October 1, 2020; and (2) all three Detachments required under subsection (a) are established on or before October 1, 2022. (e) Implementation report (1) In general Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that includes— (A) an organizational plan for the Detachments; (B) the estimated costs of establishing the Detachments; and (C) a timeline specifying when each Detachment will attain initial operational capability and full operational capability, respectively. (2) Consultation In preparing the report required under paragraph (1), the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering shall consult with the Director of the Defense Innovation Unit and the head of each military service.

Summary: Accelerating Defense Innovation Act of 2019 This bill establishes a pilot program within the Department of Defense (DOD) to grant money to certain small businesses and modifies provisions related to DOD funding of small businesses through Small Business Administration programs. Specifically, the bill creates the Domestic Investment Pilot Program, which allows DOD and service acquisition executives for each military department to make a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program award to small businesses that are majority-owned by multiple domestic venture investors. However, no more than 15% of DOD SBIR funds may be awarded to such small businesses. In addition, the bill doubles funding for the Defense Research and Development Rapid Innovation Program, which is a competitive, merit-based program designed to accelerate the deployment of technologies developed through SBIR projects. The bill also allows DOD to award Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program funds to accelerate the creation of small businesses and the commercialization of research innovations. Further, the bill authorizes discretionary technical and business assistance through the SBIR and STTR programs for the purpose of aiding small businesses with cybersecurity decision-making, problem-solving, and development and commercialization of new products and processes. Lastly, DOD, in consultation with the military departments, must establish at least three joint reserve detachments at locations of the Defense Innovation Unit to (1) support engagement and collaboration with commercial innovation hubs, and (2) accelerate the transition and adoption of commercial technologies for national security purposes.