Bill Summary
The "SBIR/STTR Oversight Act" aims to enhance the reporting and evaluation mechanisms for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. Key provisions include:
1. **Annual Reports**: Federal agencies administering SBIR and STTR programs are required to submit annual reports to specific congressional committees and make these reports publicly available online.
2. **Comptroller General Report**: A report must be submitted to Congress within three years of enactment, assessing the effectiveness of the SBIR and STTR programs in diversifying participants and supporting the commercialization of innovation. This includes evaluating demographics of award recipients and agency efforts to attract underrepresented groups.
3. **Award Timeliness**: The time frame for reporting on the timeliness of award decisions is extended from three to eleven years, including new requirements to track the average and median times taken by agencies to review proposals.
4. **Pilot Program for NIH**: A pilot program is established to expedite the award process for SBIR and STTR programs at the National Institutes of Health, aiming to simplify procedures and reduce funding release times to approximately 90 days.
Overall, the legislation seeks to improve accountability, increase participation from diverse groups, and accelerate the funding process to better support small businesses in innovation and technology development.
Possible Impacts
The SBIR/STTR Oversight Act can affect people in various ways, particularly those involved in small businesses, research, and innovation. Here are three examples:
1. **Increased Transparency and Accountability for Small Businesses**: The requirement for federal agencies to publish annual reports about the SBIR and STTR programs on their websites enhances transparency. Small business owners and potential applicants can access this data to better understand the funding landscape, which may influence their decision to apply for grants. Increased visibility into the demographics and participation levels can also encourage underrepresented groups to engage more actively in these programs.
2. **Improved Access for Underrepresented Groups**: The act mandates that reports assess the efforts of participating agencies to broaden representation among new entrants and underrepresented groups. This focus aims to create a more equitable environment where minority-owned businesses and those in states with historically low award levels can access federal funding. As a result, individuals from these backgrounds may find more opportunities to secure funding for their innovative ideas.
3. **Faster Award Timeliness and Streamlined Processes**: The establishment of a pilot program to accelerate the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) award process aims to significantly reduce the time it takes for small businesses to receive funding. By aiming for a quicker turnaround of approximately 90 days, entrepreneurs can expedite their projects, leading to faster commercialization of new technologies and potentially creating jobs and economic growth. This efficiency can enhance the competitiveness of small businesses in the research and development sector.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5001 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5001
To amend the reporting requirements for the SBIR and STTR programs, and
for other purpose.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 19, 2025
Mr. McGarvey 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 reporting requirements for the SBIR and STTR programs, and
for other purpose.
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/STTR Oversight Act''.
SEC. 2. ANNUAL REPORTS TO CONGRESS.
Section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638) is amended--
(1) in subsection (g)(9)--
(A) by inserting ``the House Committee on Small
Business, Senate Committee on Small Business and
Entrepreneurship,'' after ``SBIR program to'';
(B) by inserting a comma after ``Administration'';
and
(C) by inserting after ``Technology Policy'' the
following: ``and publish such report on the website of
such Federal agency as soon as practicable'';
(2) in subsection (o)(10)--
(A) by inserting ``House Committee on Small
Business, Senate Committee on Small Business and
Entrepreneurship,'' after ``STTR program to'';
(B) by inserting a comma after ``Administration'';
and
(C) by inserting after ``Technology Policy'' the
following: ``and publish such report on the website of
such Federal agency as soon as practicable''; and
(3) in subsection (gg)(6), by inserting ``Congress and''
after ``agency to''.
SEC. 3. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT ON DIVERSIFICATION AND
COMMERCIALIZATION.
(a) In General.--Not later than three years after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States
shall submit to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of
the Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of
Representatives a report on the effectiveness of the SBIR and STTR
programs with respect to diversification of participants and
commercialization.
(b) Contents.--The report shall include, to the extent practicable,
an assessment of--
(1) the demographics of small business concerns receiving
SBIR or STTR awards, including new entrants and
underrepresented groups;
(2) the efforts of participating agencies to broaden
representation and participation of new entrants and
underrepresented groups in the SBIR and STTR programs;
(3) how participating agencies develop solicitation topics
and attract applicants;
(4) the efforts of participating agencies to support
technology commercialization;
(5) the extent to which the SBIR and STTR awards made by
each participating agency align with the research priorities
and technology needs of that participating agency; and
(6) such other matters as the Comptroller General, in
consultation with the Committee on Small Business and
Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small
Business of the House of Representatives, determines
appropriate.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Federal agency; sbir; sttr.--The terms ``Federal
agency'', ``SBIR'', and ``STTR'' have the meanings given such
terms in section 9(e) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.
638(e)).
(2) New entrant.--The term ``new entrant'' means a small
business concern that has not previously received an SBIR or
STTR award.
(3) Underrepresented groups.--The term ``underrepresented
groups'' means small business concerns located in States with
respect to which a low level of SBIR and STTR awards have
historically been awarded, small business concerns owned and
controlled by women, and small business concerns owned and
controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged
individuals.
(4) Participating agency.--The term ``participating
agency'' means a Federal agency carrying out an SBIR or STTR
program under section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.
638).
(5) Small business concern.--The term ``small business
concern'' has the meaning given such term under section 3 of
the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632).
(6) Small business concern owned and controlled by socially
and economically disadvantaged individuals; small business
concern owned and controlled by women.--The terms ``small
business concern owned and controlled by socially and
economically disadvantaged individuals'' and ``small business
concern owned and controlled by women'' have the meanings given
such terms in section 8(d) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.
637(d)).
SEC. 4. EXTEND THE REPORT ON AWARD TIMELINESS.
Section 9(ii)(2)(A) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.
638(ii)(2)(A)) is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking ``3
years'' and inserting ``11 years'';
(2) in clause (i), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(3) by redesignating clause (ii) as clause (iii); and
(4) by inserting after clause (i) the following new clause:
``(ii) provides the average and median
amount of time that each Federal agency with an
SBIR or STTR program takes to review and make a
final decision on proposals submitted under the
program; and''.
SEC. 5. PILOT PROGRAM TO ACCELERATE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
EVALUATION PROCESS.
(a) In General.--Section 9(hh) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.
638(hh)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(3) Pilot program to accelerate the national institutes
of health sbir and sttr awards.--
``(A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the
date of the enactment of this paragraph, the Director
of the National Institutes of Health shall establish a
pilot program to reduce the time for awards under the
SBIR and STTR programs of the National Institutes of
Health.
``(B) Award procedures.--In carrying out the pilot
program under subparagraph (A), the Director shall
develop simplified and standardized procedures across
all relevant awarding offices at the National
Institutes of Health and reduce the amount of time
between the provision of notice of such awards and the
subsequent release of funding with respect to the
awards to be as close to 90 days as possible.
``(C) Merit review.--
``(i) In general.--Under the pilot program
under subparagraph (A), the Director of the
National Institutes of Health may, with respect
to awards under the SBIR and STTR programs of
the National Institute of Health, use such peer
review procedures (including consultation with
appropriate scientific experts) as the Director
determines to be appropriate to obtain
assessments of scientific and technical merit
and potential for commercialization.
``(ii) Deemed.--The use of peer review
procedures under clause (i) shall be deemed to
fulfill any requirements applicable to the
award under the SBIR or STTR program of the
National Institute of Health under sections
406(a)(3)(A) and 492 of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284a(a)(3)(A); 289a).
``(D) Termination.--The pilot program under
subparagraph (A) shall terminate on September 30,
2030.''.
(b) Evaluation Report.--Not later than three years after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Institutes of
Health shall submit to the Committees on Small Business and Science,
Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee
on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate an evaluation of
the pilot program established under paragraph (3) of section 9(hh) of
the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(hh)), as added by subsection (a),
including an analysis of the peer review procedures used under
subparagraph (C) of such paragraph and the effects on award times.
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