SBIR and STTR Enhancement Act

Bill: 111-hr-2772
Sponsor: Rep. Schock, Aaron [R-IL-18]
Introduced: 2009-06-09 in the House
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Congressional oversight
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Performance measurement
Product development and innovation
Research administration and funding
Research and development
Small business
Technology transfer and commercialization

Summary:
action_date: 2009-06-09
text: 
SBIR and STTR Enhancement Act - Amends the Small Business Act to direct each federal agency that is required to establish a small business innovation research (SBIR) program to: (1) issue research topic solicitations at least twice a year; and (2) make a final decision on topic proposals within 90 days, unless the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) determines that a decision may be extended to 180 days.
 
Requires the Administrator to submit to the congressional small business committees a list of small businesses that, for the preceding five-year period, received 15 or more first phase SBIR awards but no second phase awards. Requires each federal agency conducting an SBIR program to engage with such awardees and develop performance measures for awardee progression in the SBIR program.
 
Provides funding for SBIR administrative, oversight, and contract processing costs.
 
Requires a Comptroller General audit on how federal agencies calculate SBIR and STTR (Small Business Technology Transfer) extramural research budgets.
 
Directs each federal agency conducting an SBIR or STTR program to establish and maintain program evaluation and technology utilization databases.
 
Establishes an Interagency SBIR/STTR Policy Committee.
 
Authorizes each federal agency with an SBIR program to &quot;fast track&quot; phase two awards.
 
Increases SBIR and STTR award levels.
 
Provides express authority for agencies to award sequential phase two awards for SBIR-funded projects.
 
Allows a federal agency to provide a second phase award to a small business only if the business has been provided an award for the first phase or has completed first phase requirements despite not having been provided a first phase award.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-06-11
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .
action_date: 2009-06-11
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2009-06-10
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation.
action_date: 2009-06-09
text: Referred to House Science and Technology
action_date: 2009-06-09
text: Referred to the Committee on Small Business, and in addition to the Committee on Science 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.
action_date: 2009-06-09
text: Referred to House Small Business
action_date: 2009-06-09
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Contracting and Technology .
action_date: 2009-06-09
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-06-09
text: Introduced in House