H.R. 10343 – CLEAR Feedback Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated September 11, 2026 at 1:23 PM UTC

The CLEAR Feedback Act would change the Small Business Act so that federal agencies must give small businesses a more detailed debrief when their SBIR or STTR proposals are denied. The goal is to help businesses understand why they were turned down and improve future applications. It applies to any small business that applied for a Phase I, II, or III award and was denied for reasons other than those already listed in the existing law.

Key Provisions

Agencies must set up a process to provide enhanced debriefing materials to denied small‑business applicants.
The debriefing must be requested by the business within 14 business days of the denial.
The agency must give an evaluation of the proposal’s major weaknesses, an overall ranking compared to other proposals, and a summary of why the award was denied.
Businesses can submit follow‑up questions about the debrief within 7 business days of receiving it.
The agency must answer those questions within 14 business days, ending the debriefing process.
These requirements apply separately to SBIR awards (Section 9(g)) and STTR awards (Section 9(o)).

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

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.

Small Business Committee

September 10, 2026

View full timeline

HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

September 10, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

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.

Small Business Committee

September 10, 2026

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode

Raw Text PDF XML

Introduced in HouseIssued September 10, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 10343

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 10, 2026

Ms. Mejia 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 require Federal agencies to provide enhanced debriefing materials to small business concerns for SBIR or STTR award denials, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Clear Lessons and Evaluation for Award Reviews Feedback Act or the CLEAR Feedback Act.

2.

Enhanced debriefing materials for SBIR award denials

Section 9(g) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(g)) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (18)(B), by striking and at the end;

(2)

in paragraph (19)(C), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(20)

establish a process to provide enhanced debriefing materials to each small business concern denied a Phase I, Phase II, or Phase III award for a reason other a reason listed in paragraph (16), which process—

(A)

is initiated upon request by such concern not later than 14 business days after denial of the award;

(B)

provides such concern an evaluation by the Federal agency of the significant deficiencies in the concern’s proposal, an overall ranking of the concern’s proposal in relation to all other proposals, and a summary of the rationale for denial of the award;

(C)

an opportunity for such concern to submit, within 7 business days after receiving such enhanced debriefing materials, additional questions related to the debriefing; and

(D)

terminates when the Federal agency submits answers to the questions received under subparagraph (C), which shall be within 14 business days after receipt of such questions.

.

3.

Enhanced debriefing materials for STTR award denials

Section 9(o) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(o)) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (22)(B), by striking and at the end;

(2)

in paragraph (23)(C), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(24)

establish a process to provide enhanced debriefing materials to each small business concern denied a Phase I, Phase II, or Phase III award for a reason other a reason listed in paragraph (20), which process—

(A)

is initiated upon request by such concern not later than 14 business days after denial of the award;

(B)

provides such concern an evaluation by the Federal agency of the significant deficiencies in the concern’s proposal, an overall ranking of the concern’s proposal in relation to all other proposals, and a summary of the rationale for denial of the award;

(C)

an opportunity for such concern to submit, within 7 business days after receiving such enhanced debriefing materials, additional questions related to the debriefing; and

(D)

terminates when the Federal agency submits answers to the questions received under subparagraph (C), which shall be within 14 business days after receipt of such questions.

.