II
Calendar No. 349
115th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 1961
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
October 16, 2017
Mr. Risch (for himself and Mrs. Shaheen) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
March 19, 2018
Reported by Mr. Risch, with an amendment
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic
A BILL
To amend the Small Business Act to temporarily reauthorize certain pilot programs under the Small Business Innovation Research Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer Program, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the SBIR and STTR Oversight and Pilot Program Extension Act of 2017
.
Pilot extensions and reporting compliance; pilot program
Section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638) is amended—
in subsection (cc), by striking 2017
and inserting 2018
;
in subsection (gg)(7), by striking 2017
and inserting 2018
;
in subsection (jj)(7), by striking 2017
and inserting 2018
;
in subsection (mm)—
in paragraph (1)—
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 2017
and inserting 2018
;
in subparagraph (I), by striking and
at the end;
in subparagraph (J), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and
; and
by adding at the end the following:
funding for improvements that increase commonality across data systems, reduce redundancy, and improve data oversight and accuracy.
; and
by adding at the end the following:
SBIR and STTR programs; FAST program
Definition
In this paragraph, the term covered Federal agency means a Federal agency that—
is required to conduct an SBIR program; and
elects to use the funds allocated to the SBIR program of the Federal agency for the purposes described in paragraph (1).
Requirement
Each covered Federal agency shall transfer an amount equal to 15 percent of the funds that are used for the purposes described in paragraph (1) to the Administration—
for the Regional SBIR State Collaborative Initiative Pilot Program established under subsection (tt);
for the Federal and State Technology Partnership Program established under section 34; and
to support the Office of the Administration that administers the SBIR program and the STTR program, subject to agreement from other agencies about how the funds will be used, in carrying out those programs and the programs described in clauses (i) and (ii).
Pilot program
In general
Of amounts provided to the Administration under paragraph (7), not less than $5,000,000 shall be used to provide awards under the Regional SBIR State Collaborative Initiative Pilot Program established under subsection (tt) for each fiscal year in which the program is in effect.
Disbursement flexibility
The Administration may use any unused funds made available under subparagraph (A) as of April 1 of each fiscal year for awards to carry out clauses (ii) and (iii) of paragraph (7)(B) after providing written notice to—
the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
the Committee on Small Business and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
; and
by adding at the end the following:
Regional SBIR State collaborative initiative pilot program
Definitions
In this subsection—
the term eligible entity means—
a research institution; and
a small business concern;
the term eligible State means—
a State that the Administrator determines is in the bottom half of States, based on the average number of annual SBIR program awards made to companies in the State for the preceding 3 years for which the Administration has applicable data; and
an EPSCoR State that—
is a State described in clause (i); or
is—
not a State described in clause (i); and
invited to participate in a regional collaborative;
the term EPSCoR State means a State that participates in the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research of the National Science Foundation, as established under section 113 of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 1862g);
the term FAST program means the Federal and State Technology Partnership Program established under section 34;
the term pilot program means the Regional SBIR State Collaborative Initiative Pilot Program established under paragraph (2);
the term regional collaborative means a collaborative consisting of eligible entities that are located in not less than 3 eligible States; and
the term State means any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any territory or possession of the United States.
Establishment
The Administrator shall establish a pilot program, to be known as the Regional SBIR State Collaborative Initiative Pilot Program, under which the Administrator shall provide awards to regional collaboratives to address the needs of small business concerns in order to—
be more competitive in the proposal and selection process for awards under the SBIR program and the STTR program; and
increase technology transfer and commercialization.
Goals
The goals of the pilot program are—
to create regional collaboratives that allow eligible entities to work cooperatively to leverage resources to address the needs of small business concerns;
to grow SBIR program and STTR program cooperative research and development and commercialization through increased awards under those programs;
to increase the participation of States that have historically received a lower level of awards under the SBIR program and the STTR program;
to utilize the strengths and advantages of regional collaboratives to better leverage resources, best practices, and economies of scale in a region for the purpose of increasing awards and increasing the commercialization of the SBIR program and STTR projects;
to increase the competitiveness of the SBIR program and the STTR program;
to identify sources of outside funding for applicants for an award under the SBIR program or the STTR program, including venture capitalists, angel investor groups, private industry, crowd funding, and special loan programs; and
to offer increased one-on-one engagements with companies and entrepreneurs for SBIR program and STTR program education, assistance, and successful outcomes.
Application
In general
A regional collaborative that desires to participate in the pilot program shall submit to the Administrator an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Administrator may require.
Inclusion of lead eligible entities and coordinator
A regional collaborative shall include in an application submitted under subparagraph (A)—
the name of each lead eligible entity from each eligible State in the regional collaborative, as designated under paragraph (5)(A); and
the name of the coordinator for the regional collaborative, as designated under paragraph (6).
Avoidance of duplication
A regional collaborative shall include in an application submitted under subparagraph (A) an explanation regarding how the activities of the regional collaborative under the pilot program would differ from other State and Federal outreach activities in each eligible State in the regional collaborative.
Lead eligible entity
In general
Each eligible State in a regional collaborative shall designate 1 eligible entity located in the eligible State to serve as the lead eligible entity for the eligible State.
Authorization by Governor
Each lead eligible entity designated under subparagraph (A) shall be authorized to act as the lead eligible entity by the Governor of the applicable eligible State.
Responsibilities
Each lead eligible entity designated under subparagraph (A) shall be responsible for administering the activities and program initiatives described in paragraph (7) in the applicable eligible State.
Regional collaborative coordinator
Each regional collaborative shall designate a coordinator from amongst the eligible entities located in the eligible States in the regional collaborative, who shall serve as the interface between the regional collaborative and the Administration with respect to measuring cross-State collaboration and program effectiveness and documenting best practices.
Use of Funds
Each regional collaborative that is provided an award under the pilot program may, in each eligible State in which an eligible entity of the regional collaborative is located—
establish an initiative under which first-time applicants for an award under the SBIR program or the STTR program are reviewed by experienced, national experts in the United States, as determined by the lead eligible entity designated under paragraph (5)(A);
engage national mentors on a frequent basis to work directly with applicants for an award under the SBIR program or the STTR program, particularly during Phase II, to assist with the process of preparing and submitting a proposal;
create and make available an online mechanism to serve as a resource for applicants for an award under the SBIR program or the STTR program to identify and connect with Federal labs, prime government contractor companies, other industry partners, and regional industry cluster organizations;
conduct focused and concentrated outreach efforts to increase participation in the SBIR program and the STTR program by small business concerns owned and controlled by women, small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans, small business concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals (as defined in section 8(d)(3)(C)), and historically Black colleges and universities;
administer a structured program of training and technical assistance—
to prepare applicants for an award under the SBIR program or the STTR program—
to compete more effectively for Phase I and Phase II awards; and
to develop and implement a successful commercialization plan;
to assist eligible States focusing on transition and commercialization to win Phase III awards from public and private partners;
to create more competitive proposals to increase awards from all Federal sources, with a focus on awards under the SBIR program and the STTR program; and
to assist first-time applicants by providing small grants for proof of concept research; and
assist applicants for an award under the SBIR program or the STTR program to identify sources of outside funding, including venture capitalists, angel investor groups, private industry, crowd funding, and special loan programs.
Award amount
In general
The Administrator shall provide an award to each eligible State in which an eligible entity of a regional collaborative is located in an amount that is not more than $300,000 to carry out the activities described in paragraph (7).
Limitation
In general
An eligible State may not receive an award under both the FAST program and the pilot program for the same year.
Rule of construction
Nothing in clause (i) may be construed to prevent an eligible State from applying for an award under the FAST program and the pilot program for the same year.
Duration of award
An award provided under the pilot program—
shall be for a period of not more than 1 year; and
may be renewed by the Administrator for 1 additional year.
Termination
The pilot program shall terminate on September 30, 2018.
Report
Not later than March 30, 2018, the Administrator 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 pilot program, which shall include—
details regarding the recipient of each award provided under the pilot program, including the amount of each award, the number of small business concerns that received assistance from the award amounts, and the manner in which the award was used to meet the goals described in paragraph (3);
to the extent practicable, an assessment of the best practices of the pilot program, including an analysis of how the pilot program compares to the FAST program and a single-State approach; and
recommendations regarding whether any aspect of the pilot program should be extended or made permanent.
Outstanding reports and evaluations
In general
Not later than March 30, 2018, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate, the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives—
each report, evaluation, or analysis, as applicable, described in subsection (b)(7), (g)(9), (o)(10), (y)(6)(C), (gg)(6), (jj)(6), and (mm)(6); and
metrics regarding, and an evaluation of, the authority provided to the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Education under subsection (cc).
Information required
Not later than December 31, 2017, the head of each agency that is responsible for carrying out a provision described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) shall submit to the Administrator any information that is necessary for the Administrator to carry out the responsibilities of the Administrator under that paragraph.
.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the SBIR and STTR Oversight and Pilot Program Extension Act of 2018
.
Pilot extensions and reporting compliance; pilot program
Section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638) is amended—
in subsection (cc), by striking 2017
and inserting 2019
;
in subsection (gg)(7), by striking 2017
and inserting 2019
;
in subsection (jj)(7), by striking 2017
and inserting 2019
;
in subsection (mm)—
in paragraph (1)—
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 2017
and inserting 2019
;
in subparagraph (I), by striking and
at the end;
in subparagraph (J), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and
; and
by adding at the end the following:
funding for improvements that increase commonality across data systems, reduce redundancy, and improve data oversight and accuracy.
; and
by adding at the end the following:
SBIR and STTR programs; FAST program
Definition
In this paragraph, the term covered Federal agency means a Federal agency that—
is required to conduct an SBIR program; and
elects to use the funds allocated to the SBIR program of the Federal agency for the purposes described in paragraph (1).
Requirement
Each covered Federal agency shall transfer an amount equal to 15 percent of the funds that are used for the purposes described in paragraph (1) to the Administration—
for the Regional SBIR State Collaborative Initiative Pilot Program established under subsection (tt);
for the Federal and State Technology Partnership Program established under section 34; and
to support the Office of the Administration that administers the SBIR program and the STTR program, subject to agreement from other agencies about how the funds will be used, in carrying out those programs and the programs described in clauses (i) and (ii).
Pilot program
In general
Of amounts provided to the Administration under paragraph (7), not less than $5,000,000 shall be used to provide awards under the Regional SBIR State Collaborative Initiative Pilot Program established under subsection (tt) for each fiscal year in which the program is in effect.
Disbursement flexibility
The Administration may use any unused funds made available under subparagraph (A) as of April 1 of each fiscal year for awards to carry out clauses (ii) and (iii) of paragraph (7)(B) after providing written notice to—
the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
the Committee on Small Business and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
; and
by adding at the end the following:
Regional SBIR State collaborative initiative pilot program
Definitions
In this subsection—
the term eligible entity means—
a research institution; and
a small business concern;
the term eligible State means—
a State that the Administrator determines is in the bottom half of States, based on the average number of annual SBIR program awards made to companies in the State for the preceding 3 years for which the Administration has applicable data; and
an EPSCoR State that—
is a State described in clause (i); or
is—
not a State described in clause (i); and
invited to participate in a regional collaborative;
the term EPSCoR State means a State that participates in the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research of the National Science Foundation, as established under section 113 of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 1862g);
the term FAST program means the Federal and State Technology Partnership Program established under section 34;
the term pilot program means the Regional SBIR State Collaborative Initiative Pilot Program established under paragraph (2);
the term regional collaborative means a collaborative consisting of eligible entities that are located in not less than 3 eligible States; and
the term State means any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any territory or possession of the United States.
Establishment
The Administrator shall establish a pilot program, to be known as the Regional SBIR State Collaborative Initiative Pilot Program, under which the Administrator shall provide awards to regional collaboratives to address the needs of small business concerns in order to—
be more competitive in the proposal and selection process for awards under the SBIR program and the STTR program; and
increase technology transfer and commercialization.
Goals
The goals of the pilot program are—
to create regional collaboratives that allow eligible entities to work cooperatively to leverage resources to address the needs of small business concerns;
to grow SBIR program and STTR program cooperative research and development and commercialization through increased awards under those programs;
to increase the participation of States that have historically received a lower level of awards under the SBIR program and the STTR program;
to utilize the strengths and advantages of regional collaboratives to better leverage resources, best practices, and economies of scale in a region for the purpose of increasing awards and increasing the commercialization of the SBIR program and STTR projects;
to increase the competitiveness of the SBIR program and the STTR program;
to identify sources of outside funding for applicants for an award under the SBIR program or the STTR program, including venture capitalists, angel investor groups, private industry, crowd funding, and special loan programs; and
to offer increased one-on-one engagements with companies and entrepreneurs for SBIR program and STTR program education, assistance, and successful outcomes.
Application
In general
A regional collaborative that desires to participate in the pilot program shall submit to the Administrator an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Administrator may require.
Inclusion of lead eligible entities and coordinator
A regional collaborative shall include in an application submitted under subparagraph (A)—
the name of each lead eligible entity from each eligible State in the regional collaborative, as designated under paragraph (5)(A); and
the name of the coordinator for the regional collaborative, as designated under paragraph (6).
Avoidance of duplication
A regional collaborative shall include in an application submitted under subparagraph (A) an explanation regarding how the activities of the regional collaborative under the pilot program would differ from other State and Federal outreach activities in each eligible State in the regional collaborative.
Lead eligible entity
In general
Each eligible State in a regional collaborative shall designate 1 eligible entity located in the eligible State to serve as the lead eligible entity for the eligible State.
Authorization by Governor
Each lead eligible entity designated under subparagraph (A) shall be authorized to act as the lead eligible entity by the Governor of the applicable eligible State.
Responsibilities
Each lead eligible entity designated under subparagraph (A) shall be responsible for administering the activities and program initiatives described in paragraph (7) in the applicable eligible State.
Regional collaborative coordinator
Each regional collaborative shall designate a coordinator from amongst the eligible entities located in the eligible States in the regional collaborative, who shall serve as the interface between the regional collaborative and the Administration with respect to measuring cross-State collaboration and program effectiveness and documenting best practices.
Use of Funds
Each regional collaborative that is provided an award under the pilot program may, in each eligible State in which an eligible entity of the regional collaborative is located—
establish an initiative under which first-time applicants for an award under the SBIR program or the STTR program are reviewed by experienced, national experts in the United States, as determined by the lead eligible entity designated under paragraph (5)(A);
engage national mentors on a frequent basis to work directly with applicants for an award under the SBIR program or the STTR program, particularly during Phase II, to assist with the process of preparing and submitting a proposal;
create and make available an online mechanism to serve as a resource for applicants for an award under the SBIR program or the STTR program to identify and connect with Federal labs, prime government contractor companies, other industry partners, and regional industry cluster organizations;
conduct focused and concentrated outreach efforts to increase participation in the SBIR program and the STTR program by small business concerns owned and controlled by women, small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans, small business concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals (as defined in section 8(d)(3)(C)), and historically Black colleges and universities;
administer a structured program of training and technical assistance—
to prepare applicants for an award under the SBIR program or the STTR program—
to compete more effectively for Phase I and Phase II awards; and
to develop and implement a successful commercialization plan;
to assist eligible States focusing on transition and commercialization to win Phase III awards from public and private partners;
to create more competitive proposals to increase awards from all Federal sources, with a focus on awards under the SBIR program and the STTR program; and
to assist first-time applicants by providing small grants for proof of concept research; and
assist applicants for an award under the SBIR program or the STTR program to identify sources of outside funding, including venture capitalists, angel investor groups, private industry, crowd funding, and special loan programs.
Award amount
In general
The Administrator shall provide an award to each eligible State in which an eligible entity of a regional collaborative is located in an amount that is not more than $300,000 to carry out the activities described in paragraph (7).
Limitation
In general
An eligible State may not receive an award under both the FAST program and the pilot program for the same year.
Rule of construction
Nothing in clause (i) may be construed to prevent an eligible State from applying for an award under the FAST program and the pilot program for the same year.
Duration of award
An award provided under the pilot program—
shall be for a period of not more than 1 year; and
may be renewed by the Administrator for 1 additional year.
Termination
The pilot program shall terminate on September 30, 2019.
Report
Not later than March 30, 2019, the Administrator 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 pilot program, which shall include—
details regarding the recipient of each award provided under the pilot program, including the amount of each award, the number of small business concerns that received assistance from the award amounts, and the manner in which the award was used to meet the goals described in paragraph (3);
to the extent practicable, an assessment of the best practices of the pilot program, including an analysis of how the pilot program compares to the FAST program and a single-State approach; and
recommendations regarding whether any aspect of the pilot program should be extended or made permanent.
Outstanding reports and evaluations
In general
Not later than March 30, 2019, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate, the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives—
each report, evaluation, or analysis, as applicable, described in subsection (b)(7), (g)(9), (o)(10), (y)(6)(C), (gg)(6), (jj)(6), and (mm)(6); and
metrics regarding, and an evaluation of, the authority provided to the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Education under subsection (cc).
Information required
Not later than December 31, 2018, the head of each agency that is responsible for carrying out a provision described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) shall submit to the Administrator any information that is necessary for the Administrator to carry out the responsibilities of the Administrator under that paragraph.
.
March 19, 2018
Reported with an amendment