(1) SUBMISSION OF REPORT.—The Comptroller
General shall submit a report of the assessment re-
quired by subsection (a) to the Committees on Small
Business of the United States 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 as-
sessments 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 Comp-
troller General to be useful resources to the
Congress in evaluating each program for reau-
thorization.
SEC. 4. INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE ON COMMERCIALIZA-
TION.
(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 appro-
priate, regarding the obstacles faced by small busi-
ness entrepreneurs seeking to commercialize results
of basic research or research and development un-
dertaken through Federal funding;
(2) devise recommendations to overcome (or
minimize the effects of) such obstacles; and
(3) address other matters that the Adminis-
trator determines are appropriate to ensure a com-
prehensive analysis and the development of practical
recommendations.
(c) PARTICIPATION.—
(1) TASK
FORCE
MEMBERSHIP.—The inter-
agency task shall include participation by represent-
atives of—
(A) the Office of the Chief Counsel for Ad-
vocacy 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 busi-
ness 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 appro-
priate.
(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, an-
nounces 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) ON-GOING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.—In con-
ducting its assessments and fashioning its rec-
ommendations the task force shall make every rea-
sonable effort to solicit ideas from the public.
(e) REPORT.—Not later than March 1, 1999, the Ad-
ministrator shall submit to the Committees on Small Busi-
ness of the United States Senate and House of Represent-
atives a report of the work of the interagency task force,
including such recommendations for legislative or adminis-
trative 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’’.
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