To amend the Small Business Act to create certain requirements for Federal agencies with a SBIR or STTR program, and for other purposes.

Bill: 115-hr-2780
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-2]
Introduced: 2017-06-06
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Executive agency funding and structure

Government information and archives

Minority and disadvantaged businesses

Public contracts and procurement

Research and development

Small business

Technology transfer and commercialization

Women in business
Latest action: action_date: 2018-05-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Research and Technology.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-06-06
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This bill amends the Small Business Act to require each federal agency required to have a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program and the Small Business Administration (SBA) to meet annually and report to Congress recommendations on how to:</p> <ul> <li>improve collection of SBIR and STTR program data,</li> <li>improve reporting of such data to the SBA,</li> <li>make the application process for such programs more efficient, and</li> <li>increase participation in the programs.</li> </ul>  <p>The bill repeals the authority of the SBA to waive the requirement for agencies to carry out enhanced outreach efforts to increase the participation of socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns and to increase participation of states to which a low level of SBIR awards have historically been awarded.</p>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2780 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 6, 2017 Mr. Evans (for himself and Mr. Brat ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 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 create certain requirements for Federal agencies with a SBIR or STTR program, and for other purposes.

1. Annual meeting for Federal agencies with a SBIR or STTR program (a) In general Section 9 of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 638 ) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (tt) Annual meeting (1) In general The head of each Federal agency required to have a program under this section (or a designee) and the Administrator (or a designee), shall meet annually to discuss methods— (A) to improve the collection of data under this section; (B) to improve the reporting of data to the Administrator under this section; (C) to make the application processes for programs under this section more efficient; and (D) to increase participation in the programs under this section. (2) Reporting Not later than 60 days after the date on which an annual meeting required under paragraph (1) is held, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, a report on the findings of such meeting and recommendations on how to implement changes to programs under this section. . (b) Funding for annual meeting Section 9(mm)(1) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 638(mm)(1) ) is amended— (1) in subparagraph (I), by striking the and at the end; (2) in subparagraph (J), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; and (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (K) the annual meeting required under subsection (tt). . 2. Increasing participation of underserved populations in the SBIR and STTR programs (a) In general Section 9(mm)(2) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 638(mm)(2) ) is amended to read as follows: (2) Outreach and technical assistance A Federal agency participating in the program under this subsection shall use a portion of the funds authorized for uses under paragraph (1) to carry out the policy directive required under subsection (j)(2)(F) and to increase the participation of States with respect to which a low level of SBIR awards have historically been awarded. . (b) Conforming amendment Section 9(mm)(6) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 638(mm)(6) ) is amended by striking paragraph (2)(A) and any use of the waiver authority under paragraph (2)(B) and inserting paragraph (2) .