Bill Summary
The "SBIR Commercialization Improvement Act" aims to enhance the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs by amending the Small Business Act. The key provisions of the bill include:
1. **Training Requirements**: It mandates the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to establish training for federal agency contracting officers and acquisition personnel, ensuring they understand the intricacies of Phase III acquisitions, which involve commercialization of technologies developed under SBIR and STTR programs.
2. **Training Topics**: The training will cover essential areas such as the missions and goals of the SBIR and STTR programs, the use of Phase III agreements, data rights, and procedures for executing sole-source contracts.
3. **Procurement Center Representative Directives**: The legislation calls for procurement representatives to advocate for the transition of SBIR and STTR-developed products and services to Phase III through Phase III awards to small businesses.
4. **Simplification of Phase III Awards**: It encourages the development of simplified procedures and standardized contracts for all phases of SBIR awards, aiming to make the process clearer for small businesses participating in these programs.
5. **Standardized Guidance**: It requires the issuance of standardized solicitation provisions and contract clauses to clarify the necessary information small businesses must provide for Phase III eligibility.
Overall, this legislation seeks to improve the commercialization of small business innovations by enhancing training, simplifying processes, and providing clearer guidelines for federal agencies and small businesses engaged in these programs.
Possible Impacts
The **SBIR Commercialization Improvement Act** can affect people in several ways, including:
1. **Enhanced Training for Acquisition Workforce:**
- The legislation mandates that federal agencies provide comprehensive training on Phase III acquisitions to their contracting officers and acquisition workforce. This could lead to better-informed procurement decisions, ultimately benefiting small businesses that participate in the SBIR and STTR programs. Improved knowledge of Phase III processes can help these officers navigate the acquisition system more effectively, ensuring that small businesses receive the contracts they need to grow and innovate.
2. **Streamlined Phase III Award Process:**
- By requiring standardized procedures and model contracts for Phase I, II, and III SBIR awards, the legislation aims to simplify the contract-awarding process. This simplification can make it easier for small businesses to compete for and secure contracts, thereby increasing their chances of commercialization and success. As a result, employees in these businesses may experience job security and growth opportunities due to increased government contracts.
3. **Increased Opportunities for Small Businesses:**
- The push for maximum practicable use and transition of products and services developed under SBIR or STTR programs to Phase III awards could lead to increased contract opportunities for small businesses. These companies could see a rise in demand for their innovative products and services, potentially leading to job creation within these firms and contributing to economic growth in their communities. This expansion could also enhance the local economy by fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4842 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4842
To amend section 9 of the Small Business Act to require the
Administrator of the Small Business Administration to establish
training on Phase III acquisitions for the acquisition workforce, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 1, 2025
Mr. Cisneros 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 section 9 of the Small Business Act to require the
Administrator of the Small Business Administration to establish
training on Phase III acquisitions for the acquisition workforce, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``SBIR Commercialization Improvement
Act''.
SEC. 2. PHASE III AWARD EDUCATION.
Section 9(r) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(r)) is
amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(5) Workforce training.--
``(A) In general.--The Administrator, in
coordination with the Secretary of Defense, the
Administrator of the General Services Administration,
and the head of any such other Federal agency that the
Administrator determines appropriate, shall establish
training activities for contracting officers and agency
acquisition workforce of Federal agencies to ensure
that such individuals are fully aware of all aspects of
Phase III acquisitions under the SBIR and STTR
programs, as applicable.
``(B) Training topics.--The training activities
required under subparagraph (A) shall include training
on--
``(i) the missions, goals, and authorities
of the SBIR and STTR programs;
``(ii) the use of Phase III agreement;
``(iii) Phase III data rights; and
``(iv) the execution of Phase III sole
source award contracts.
``(C) Definitions.--In this paragraph:
``(i) Agency acquisition workforce.--The
term `agency acquisition workforce' means the
employees of a Federal agency that have
procurement or acquisition responsibilities,
including--
``(I) employees described in
section 1703 of title 41, United States
Code; and
``(II) individuals that are part of
the acquisition workforce (as such term
is defined in section 101(a) of title
10, United States Code).
``(ii) Phase iii acquisition.--The term
`Phase III acquisition' means the acquisition
of a good or service from a participant in
Phase III that such participant has
commercialized or is seeking to commercialize
as such a participant.''.
SEC. 3. PHASE III IMPROVEMENTS.
(a) Procurement Center Representative Directives.--
(1) In general.--Section 9(j)(4) of the Small Business Act
(15 U.S.C. 638(j)(4)) is amended by inserting before the period
at the end the following: ``, and advocate for the maximum
practicable use and transition of products, services, and
technologies developed under SBIR or STTR programs to Phase III
by means of Phase III awards to small business concerns''.
(2) Modification deadline.--Not later than one year after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the
Small Business Administration shall modify the policy
directives issues pursuant to subsection (j) of section 9 of
the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(j)) in accordance with
paragraph (4) of such subsection, as amended by paragraph (1).
(b) Phase III Award Simplification.--Section 9(r)(4) of the Small
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(r)(4)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
``(C) report to the Administrator on the actions
taken by the Federal agency or Federal prime contractor
to develop simplified and standardized procedures and
model contracts for Phase I, Phase II, and Phase III
SBIR awards; and
``(D) shall issue standardized solicitation
provisions and contract clauses which provide clear
guidance on the information that small business
concerns participating in SBIR or STTR programs can be
expected to provide as part of market research or as
part of a proposal by such small business concern to
establish eligibility for Phase III awards.''.
SEC. 4. PHASE III AND SOLE-SOURCE AWARDS.
Section 9(r) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638) is amended--
(1) in the heading, by inserting ``Sole Source and Other''
after ``Justification for''; and
(2) in the heading for paragraph (4), by inserting ``sole
source and other'' after ``justification for''.
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