I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3169 
To amend the Small Business Act to reauthorize and modify the Small 
Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer 
Research programs, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 1, 2025 
Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Small Business, and in addition to the Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend the Small Business Act to reauthorize and modify 
the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Busi-
ness Technology Transfer Research programs, and for 
other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘SBIR/STTR Reau-
thorization Act of 2025’’. 
SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
The table of contents for this Act is as follows: 
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Sec. 1. Short title. 
Sec. 2. Table of contents. 
TITLE I—REAUTHORIZATION OF PROGRAMS 
Sec. 101. Extension of SBIR and STTR authority. 
Sec. 102. Extension of FAST Program. 
TITLE II—ENHANCING COMPETITION 
Sec. 201. Increasing agency expenditures for SBIR and STTR programs. 
Sec. 202. SBIR and STTR fellowships. 
Sec. 203. Application assistance to broaden participation. 
Sec. 204. Technical and business assistance improvements. 
Sec. 205. Improvements to website relating to the SBIR program or STTR 
program. 
TITLE III—COMMERCIALIZATION IMPROVEMENTS 
Sec. 301. Phase III award education. 
Sec. 302. Technology Commercialization Official. 
Sec. 303. Phase III improvements. 
TITLE IV—PILOT PROGRAMS 
Sec. 401. Extend and modify assistance for administrative, oversight, and con-
tract processing costs. 
Sec. 402. Extend and expand the direct to Phase II authority. 
Sec. 403. Extend commercialization readiness program for civilian agencies. 
Sec. 404. Extension of certain SBIR and STTR pilot programs. 
Sec. 405. Extension of due diligence program to assess security risks. 
TITLE V—OVERSIGHT AND SIMPLIFICATION INITIATIVES 
Sec. 501. Annual reports to Congress. 
Sec. 502. Comptroller General report on diversification and commercialization. 
Sec. 503. Extend the report on award timeliness. 
Sec. 504. Pilot program to accelerate National Institutes of Health evaluation 
process. 
Sec. 505. Codifying safeguards for small business concerns majority-owned by 
venture capital operating companies, hedge funds, or private 
equity firms. 
Sec. 506. Commercialization impact assessment. 
TITLE VI—TECHNICAL CHANGES 
Sec. 601. Inclusion of SBICs in the SBIR and STTR programs. 
Sec. 602. Phase III and sole-source awards. 
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TITLE I—REAUTHORIZATION OF 
PROGRAMS 
SEC. 101. EXTENSION OF SBIR AND STTR AUTHORITY. 
(a) SBIR.—Section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 
U.S.C. 638) is amended by striking subsection (m). 
(b) STTR.—Section 9(n)(1)(A) of the Small Busi-
ness Act (15 U.S.C. 638(n)(1)(A)) is amended by striking 
‘‘through fiscal year 2025’’. 
SEC. 102. EXTENSION OF FAST PROGRAM. 
Section 34(i) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
657d(i)) is amended by striking ‘‘September 30, 2005’’ 
and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2030’’. 
TITLE II—ENHANCING 
COMPETITION 
SEC. 201. INCREASING AGENCY EXPENDITURES FOR SBIR 
AND STTR PROGRAMS. 
Section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638) 
is amended— 
(1) in subsection (f)(1)— 
(A) in subparagraph (H), by striking 
‘‘and’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (I), by striking ‘‘fiscal 
year 2017 and each fiscal year thereafter,’’ and 
inserting ‘‘each of fiscal years 2017 through 
2025;’’; and 
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(C) by inserting after subparagraph (I) the 
following new subparagraphs: 
‘‘(J) not less than 4 percent of such budg-
et in fiscal years 2026 and 2027; 
‘‘(K) not less than 5 percent of such budg-
et in fiscal years 2028 and 2029; 
‘‘(L) not less than 6 percent of such budg-
et in fiscal years 2030 and 2031; and 
‘‘(M) not less than 7 percent of such budg-
et in fiscal year 2032 and each fiscal year 
thereafter,’’; and 
(2) in subsection (n)(1)(B)— 
(A) in clause (iv), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and 
inserting a semicolon; 
(B) in clause (v), by striking ‘‘fiscal year 
2016 and each fiscal year thereafter.’’ and in-
serting ‘‘each of fiscal years 2016 through 
2025;’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(vi) 0.5 percent for fiscal year 2026 
and 2027; 
‘‘(vii) 0.65 percent for fiscal year 
2028 and 2029; 
‘‘(viii) 0.8 percent for fiscal year 2030 
and 2031; and 
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‘‘(ix) 1 percent for fiscal year 2032 
and each fiscal year thereafter.’’. 
SEC. 202. SBIR AND STTR FELLOWSHIPS. 
Section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638) 
is amended— 
(1) in subsection (f), by adding at the end the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(5) FELLOWSHIPS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—A Federal agency may 
provide grants or awards, either directly or in 
partnership with a third party, to small busi-
ness concerns that have received SBIR or 
STTR Phase II awards to provide fellowship 
and internship opportunities at the under-
graduate, 
baccalaureate, 
graduate, 
and 
postdoctoral levels in fields that are important 
to such Federal agency. 
‘‘(B) ENHANCED OUTREACH.—Each Fed-
eral agency that makes an award or enters into 
a partnership under subparagraph (A) shall 
provide for enhanced outreach to increase the 
participation of women, socially disadvantaged 
individuals (as described in section 8(a)(5)), 
and economically disadvantaged individuals (as 
described section 8(a)(6)(A)) in the fellowship 
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and internship opportunities described under 
subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(C) 
SUPPORT
ORGANIZATION.—Each 
Federal agency that makes an award or enters 
into a partnership under subparagraph (A) may 
partner with or provide grants or awards to a 
third-party organization to support and facili-
tate the enhanced outreach under subparagraph 
(B) provided that such third-party organization 
is a nonprofit organization with relevant experi-
ence and demonstrated expertise in delivery of 
services described in subparagraph (B). 
‘‘(D) FUNDING.—In carrying out this 
paragraph, a Federal agency may use only the 
following amounts: 
‘‘(i) With respect to a Federal agency 
that uses the authority under subsection 
(mm), the funds authorized under such 
subsection. 
‘‘(ii) With respect a Federal agency 
other than a Federal agency described in 
clause (i), not more than three percent of 
the funds required to be expended under 
paragraph (1).’’; and 
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(2) in subsection (n), by adding at the end the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(4) FELLOWSHIPS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—A Federal agency may 
provide grants or awards, either directly or in 
partnership with a third party, to small busi-
ness concerns that have received SBIR or 
STTR Phase II awards to provide fellowship 
and internship opportunities at the under-
graduate, 
baccalaureate, 
graduate, 
and 
postdoctoral levels in fields that are important 
to such Federal agency. 
‘‘(B) ENHANCED OUTREACH.—Each Fed-
eral agency that makes an award or enters into 
a partnership under subparagraph (A) shall 
provide for enhanced outreach to increase the 
participation of women, socially disadvantaged 
individuals (as described in section 8(a)(5)), 
and economically disadvantaged individuals (as 
described section 8(a)(6)(A)) in the fellowship 
and internship opportunities described under 
subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(C) 
SUPPORT
ORGANIZATION.—Each 
Federal agency that makes an award or enters 
into a partnership under subparagraph (A) may 
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partner with or provide grants or awards to a 
third-party organization to support and facili-
tate the enhanced outreach under subparagraph 
(B) provided such third-party organization is a 
nonprofit organization with relevant experience 
and demonstrated expertise in delivery of serv-
ices described in subparagraph (B). 
‘‘(D) FUNDING.—In carrying out this 
paragraph, a Federal agency may use only the 
following amounts: 
‘‘(i) With respect to a Federal agency 
that uses the authority under subsection 
(mm), the funds authorized under such 
subsection. 
‘‘(ii) With respect a Federal agency 
other than a Federal agency described in 
clause (i), not more than three percent of 
the funds required to be expended under 
paragraph (1).’’. 
SEC. 203. APPLICATION ASSISTANCE TO BROADEN PARTICI-
PATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 9(mm)(1) of the Small 
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(mm)(1)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (J), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
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(2) in subparagraph (K), by striking the period 
at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(L) providing small business concerns 
with assistance applying to the SBIR program 
or STTR program of the Federal agency, in-
cluding providing such assistance to carry out 
the policy directive required under paragraphs 
(2)(F) or (5) of subsection (j) and subsection 
(p)(2)(H) to increase the participation of States 
with respect to which a low level of SBIR or 
STTR awards have historically been awarded.’’. 
(b) ENHANCED MINORITY INSTITUTION PARTICIPA-
TION.— 
(1) SBIR.—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: 
‘‘(5) INCREASED OUTREACH REQUIREMENTS.— 
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this paragraph, the Administration shall 
modify the policy directives issued pursuant to this 
subsection to require enhanced outreach efforts to 
increase the participation of individuals conducting 
research at minority institutions (as defined in sec-
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tion 365 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1067k)) and Hispanic-serving institutions (as 
defined in section 502(a) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 
1101a(a))) in SBIR programs.’’. 
(2) STTR.—Section 9(p)(2) of the Small Busi-
ness Act (15 U.S.C. 638(p)(2)) is amended— 
(A) in subparagraph (F), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(B) in subparagraph (G)(iii), by striking 
the period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; 
and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph: 
‘‘(H) procedures for outreach efforts to in-
crease the participation of individuals con-
ducting research at minority institutions (as de-
fined in section 365 of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067k)) and Hispanic- 
serving institutions (as defined in section 16 
502(a) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1101a(a))) in 
STTR programs.’’. 
SEC. 204. TECHNICAL AND BUSINESS ASSISTANCE IM-
PROVEMENTS. 
Section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638) 
is amended— 
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(1) in subsection (q)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), in the matter pre-
ceding subparagraph (A)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘may enter into an 
agreement with 1 or more vendors selected 
under paragraph (2)(A) to provide small 
business concerns engaged in SBIR or 
STTR projects with technical and business 
assistance services’’ and inserting ‘‘shall 
authorize recipients of awards under the 
SBIR program or the STTR program to 
select, if desired, technical and business as-
sistance provided under subparagraph (A), 
(B), or (C) of paragraph (3) to provide 
such recipients with’’; 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘cybersecurity assist-
ance,’’ after ‘‘intellectual property protec-
tions,’’; and 
(iii) by striking ‘‘such concerns’’ and 
inserting ‘‘such recipients’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(C) STAFF.—A small business concern 
may, by contract or otherwise, use funding pro-
vided under this section to hire new staff, aug-
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‘‘(B) PHASE
II.—A Federal agency de-
scribed in paragraph (1) shall authorize a re-
cipient of a Phase II SBIR or STTR award to 
use not more than $50,000 per project, in-
cluded as part of the award of the recipient or 
in addition to the amount of the award of the 
recipient as determined appropriate by the head 
of the Federal agency, for the services described 
in paragraph (1)— 
‘‘(i) provided through a vendor se-
lected under paragraph (2)(A); 
‘‘(ii) provided through a vendor other 
than a vendor selected under paragraph 
(2)(A); 
‘‘(iii) achieved through the activities 
described in paragraph (2)(C); or 
‘‘(iv) provided through any combina-
tion of clauses (i), (ii), and (iii).’’; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) TARGETED
REVIEW.—A Federal agency 
may perform targeted reviews of technical and busi-
ness assistance funding as described in subsection 
(mm)(1)(F).’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(aaa) I-CORPS PARTICIPATION.— 
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‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Each Federal agency that, 
as of January 1, 2025, was required to conduct an 
SBIR or STTR program with an Innovation Corps 
program (established under section 601 of the Amer-
ican Innovation and Competitiveness Act (42 U.S.C. 
1862s–8) and commonly known as ‘I–Corps’) 
shall— 
‘‘(A) provide an option for participation in 
an I–Corps teams course, I–Corps bootcamp, or 
another equivalent training program to recipi-
ents of an award under the SBIR or STTR 
program; and 
‘‘(B) authorize the recipients described in 
subparagraph (A) to use amounts authorized 
under this subsection to participate in the I– 
Corps teams course, I–Corps bootcamp, or an-
other equivalent training program. 
‘‘(2) COST
OF
PARTICIPATION.—The cost of 
participation by a recipient described in paragraph 
(1)(A) in an I–Corps course, I–Corps bootcamp, or 
another equivalent training program may be pro-
vided by— 
‘‘(A) an I–Corps team grant; 
‘‘(B) funds awarded to the recipient under 
this subsection; 
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‘‘(C) the participating teams or other 
sources as appropriate; or 
‘‘(D) any combination of sources described 
in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C).’’. 
SEC. 205. IMPROVEMENTS TO WEBSITE RELATING TO THE 
SBIR PROGRAM OR STTR PROGRAM. 
(a) SBIR PROGRAM.—Section 9(g)(8) of the Small 
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(g)(8)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(2) in subparagraph (C), by adding ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(D) for each research institution subcon-
tracted by a recipient of a Phase I, Phase II, 
or Phase III SBIR award to perform research 
or research and development with respect to 
such award— 
‘‘(i) the name and location of such re-
search institution; 
‘‘(ii) whether such research institution 
is— 
‘‘(I) an institution of higher edu-
cation (as such term is defined in sec-
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tion 101 of the Higher Education Act 
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)); 
‘‘(II) a nonprofit institution (as 
defined in section 4 of the Stevenson- 
Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 
1980 (15 U.S.C. 3703)) other than an 
institution of higher education; or 
‘‘(III) a federally funded research 
and development center (as identified 
by the National Scientific Foundation 
in accordance with the Federal Acqui-
sition Regulation); and 
‘‘(iii) for each research institution 
that is an institution of higher education, 
whether such research institution is— 
‘‘(I) a part B institution (as de-
fined in section 322 of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1061)); 
‘‘(II) a Hispanic-serving institu-
tion (as defined in section 502 of such 
Act (20 U.S.C. 1101a)); 
‘‘(III) a Tribal College or Univer-
sity (as defined in section 316 of such 
Act (20 U.S.C. 1059c)); 
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‘‘(IV) an Alaska Native-serving 
institution or a Native Hawaiian-serv-
ing institution (as defined in section 
317(b) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 
1059d(b))); 
‘‘(V) a Predominantly Black In-
stitution (as defined in section 371(c) 
of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1067q(c))); 
‘‘(VI) an Asian American and 
Native American Pacific Islander- 
serving institution (as defined in sec-
tion 371(c) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 10 
1067q(c))); or 
‘‘(VII) a Native American-serving 
nontribal institution (as defined in 
section 371(c) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 
1067q(c)));’’. 
(b) STTR PROGRAM.—Section 9(o)(9) of the Small 
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(o)(9)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(2) in subparagraph (C), by adding ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
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‘‘(D) for each research institution subcon-
tracted by a recipient of a Phase I or Phase II 
STTR award to perform research or research 
and development with respect to such award— 
‘‘(i) the name and location of such re-
search institution; 
‘‘(ii) whether such research institution 
is— 
‘‘(I) an institution of higher edu-
cation (as such term is defined in sec-
tion 101 of the Higher Education Act 
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)); 
‘‘(II) a nonprofit institution (as 
defined in section 4 of the Stevenson- 
Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 
1980 (15 U.S.C. 3703)) other than an 
institution of higher education; or 
‘‘(III) a federally funded research 
and development center (as identified 
by the National Scientific Foundation 
in accordance with the Federal Acqui-
sition Regulation); and 
‘‘(iii) for each research institution 
that is an institution of higher education, 
whether such research institution is— 
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‘‘(I) a part B institution (as de-
fined in section 322 the Higher Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061)); 
‘‘(II) a Hispanic-serving institu-
tion (as defined in section 502 of such 
Act (20 U.S.C. 1101a)); 
‘‘(III) a Tribal College or Univer-
sity (as defined in section 316 of such 
Act (20 U.S.C. 1059c)); 
‘‘(IV) an Alaska Native-serving 
institution or a Native Hawaiian-serv-
ing institution (as defined in section 
317(b) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 
1059d(b))); 
‘‘(V) a Predominantly Black In-
stitution (as defined in section 371(c) 
of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1067q(c))); 
‘‘(VI) an Asian American and 
Native American Pacific Islander- 
serving institution (as defined in sec-
tion 371(c) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 25 
1067q(c))); or 
‘‘(VII) a Native American-serving 
nontribal institution (as defined in 
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