Promoting Small Business Innovation through Partnerships with National Labs Act of 2018

To amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to require the establishment of a small business voucher program, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Promoting Small Business Innovation through Partnerships with National Labs Act of 2018 2. Small business advocacy and assistance Section 1003 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 ( 42 U.S.C. 16393 (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking , and may require the Director of a single-purpose research facility, (as defined in section 2) and the Director of each single-purpose research facility (B) in paragraph (1)— (i) by striking increase encourage (ii) by striking collaborative research, research, development, demonstration, and commercial application activities, including product development, (C) in paragraph (2), by striking procurement and collaborative research the activities described in paragraph (1) (D) in paragraph (3)— (i) by inserting facilities, training (ii) by striking procurement and collaborative research activities the activities described in paragraph (1) (E) in paragraph (5), by striking for the program under subsection (b) and metrics for the programs under subsections (b) and (c) (2) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections (d) and (e), respectively; (3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following: (c) Small business voucher program (1) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Director The term Director (i) the Director of each National Laboratory; and (ii) the Director of each single-purpose research facility. (B) National Laboratory The term National Laboratory (C) Program The term program (2) Establishment The Secretary, working with the Office of Technology Transitions and the Technology Transfer Coordinator appointed under section 1001(a), and in consultation with the Directors, shall establish a program to provide small business concerns with vouchers under paragraph (3)— (A) to achieve the goal described in subsection (a)(1); and (B) to improve the products, services, and capabilities of small business concerns in the mission space of the Department. (3) Vouchers Under the program, the Directors are authorized to provide to small business concerns vouchers to be used at National Laboratories and single-purpose research facilities for— (A) research, development, demonstration, technology transfer, or commercial application activities; or (B) any other activities that the applicable Director determines appropriate. (4) Expedited contracting (A) In general The Secretary, working with the Directors, shall establish a streamlined approval process for expedited contracting between— (i) small business concerns selected to receive a voucher under the program; and (ii) the National Laboratories and single-purpose research facilities. (B) Decisionmaking authority The Secretary shall determine the appropriate decisionmaking authority at the National Laboratories and single-purpose research facilities with respect to the expedited contracting described in subparagraph (A). (5) Cost-sharing requirement In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall require cost-sharing in accordance with section 988. ; and (4) in subsection (e) (as so redesignated), by striking $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2008 $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2018 and each fiscal year thereafter

Summary: Promoting Small Business Innovation through Partnerships with National Labs Act of 2018 This bill directs the Department of Energy to establish a program to provide qualified small business concerns with vouchers that may be used at National Laboratories and single-purpose research facilities for activities such as research and development.