An amendment numbered 6 printed in House Report 110-407 to require that the Administrator of the Small Business Administration conduct a study to determine, with respect to small business contracts, whether incumbent Federal contractors are submitting frivolous protests to extend the length of current contracts before protest decisions are resolved. The Administrator also would develop recommendations to discourage frivolous protests.

Title VI, add at the end the following (and amend the table of contents accordingly):

SEC. __. STUDY ON FRIVOLOUS PROTESTS.

(a) Study.--The Administrator of the Small Business Administration shall conduct a study to determine, with respect to small business contracts, whether incumbent Federal contractors submit frivolous protests to extend the length of current contracts before protest decisions are resolved.

(b) Contents.--In conducting the study, the Administrator shall--

(1) determine the number of Government Accountability Office bid protests and Small Business Administration size protests filed by incumbent Federal contractors with respect to small business contracts, the number of incumbent contracts extended because of the protest, the extra costs of extending incumbent contracts during the protest, and the final rulings of these protests;

(2) determine the financial impact of protests filed by incumbent Federal contractors on small businesses that were originally awarded the protested small business contracts, including costs associated with defending the protests and costs incurred by Federal agencies;

(3) identify the incumbent Federal contractors that file the most unsuccessful protests on small business contracts; and

(4) develop recommendations--

(A) to ease any financial burden on small businesses during the protest of small business contracts; and

(B) to discourage frivolous protests by incumbent Federal contractors on small business contracts.

(c) Consultation.--In conducting the study, the Administrator shall consult with the Government Accountability Office, any necessary Federal agencies, and the Office of Federal Procurement Policy.

(d) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report on the results of the study, together with the recommendations developed under subsection (b)(4).