H.R. 5212 – SBIR/STTR Innovation Workforce Act

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Updated November 23, 2025 at 10:13 PM UTC

The SBIR/STTR Innovation Workforce Act changes the Small Business Act to let federal agencies fund fellowship and internship opportunities through small businesses that have received Phase II SBIR or STTR awards. The goal is to create more training slots for students and researchers while specifically boosting participation by women and disadvantaged groups. Agencies can partner with nonprofits for outreach and are limited to using either their existing SBIR/STTR funds or a small portion (up to 3 %) of required SBIR/STTR spending for these programs.

Key Provisions

Federal agencies can give grants or awards—directly or with a partner—to small businesses that have earned a Phase II SBIR or STTR award, so they can run fellowship and internship programs for students and post‑docs in fields important to the agency.
Agencies must make extra effort to recruit women, socially disadvantaged, and economically disadvantaged participants for these fellowships and internships.
Agencies may work with nonprofit organizations that have experience delivering outreach services to help meet the recruitment goal.
Funding for these fellowship programs can come from the agency’s existing SBIR/STTR authority, or, if that authority isn’t used, from up to 3 % of the funds the agency must spend on SBIR/STTR projects.

Legislative Activity

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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 8, 2025

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

September 8, 2025

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 8, 2025

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued September 8, 2025

I

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 5212

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 8, 2025

Ms. Scholten 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 permit Federal agencies to make awards to small business concerns that have received a Phase II SBIR or STTR award to provide fellowship opportunities, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the SBIR/STTR Innovation Workforce Act.

2.

SBIR and STTR fellowships

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

(1)

in subsection (f), by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(5)

Fellowships

(A)

In general

A Federal agency may provide grants or awards, either directly or in partnership with a third party, to small business concerns that have received SBIR or STTR Phase II awards to provide fellowship and internship opportunities at the undergraduate, baccalaureate, graduate, and postdoctoral levels in fields that are important to such Federal agency.

(B)

Enhanced outreach

Each Federal agency that makes an award or enters into a partnership under subparagraph (A) shall provide for enhanced outreach to increase the participation of women, socially disadvantaged individuals (as described in section 8(a)(5)), and economically disadvantaged individuals (as described section 8(a)(6)(A)) in the fellowship and internship opportunities described under subparagraph (A).

(C)

Support organization

Each Federal agency that makes an award or enters into a partnership under subparagraph (A) may partner with or provide grants or awards to a third-party organization to support and facilitate the enhanced outreach under subparagraph (B) provided that such third-party organization is a nonprofit organization with relevant experience and demonstrated expertise in delivery of services described in subparagraph (B).

(D)

Funding

In carrying out this paragraph, a Federal agency may use only the following amounts:

(i)

With respect to a Federal agency that uses the authority under subsection (mm), the funds authorized under such subsection.

(ii)

With respect a Federal agency other than a Federal agency described in clause (i), not more than three percent of the funds required to be expended under paragraph (1).

; and

(2)

in subsection (n), by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(4)

Fellowships

(A)

In general

A Federal agency may provide grants or awards, either directly or in partnership with a third party, to small business concerns that have received SBIR or STTR Phase II awards to provide fellowship and internship opportunities at the undergraduate, baccalaureate, graduate, and postdoctoral levels in fields that are important to such Federal agency.

(B)

Enhanced outreach

Each Federal agency that makes an award or enters into a partnership under subparagraph (A) shall provide for enhanced outreach to increase the participation of women, socially disadvantaged individuals (as described in section 8(a)(5)), and economically disadvantaged individuals (as described section 8(a)(6)(A)) in the fellowship and internship opportunities described under subparagraph (A).

(C)

Support organization

Each Federal agency that makes an award or enters into a partnership under subparagraph (A) may partner with or provide grants or awards to a third-party organization to support and facilitate the enhanced outreach under subparagraph (B) provided such third-party organization is a nonprofit organization with relevant experience and demonstrated expertise in delivery of services described in subparagraph (B).

(D)

Funding

In carrying out this paragraph, a Federal agency may use only the following amounts:

(i)

With respect to a Federal agency that uses the authority under subsection (mm), the funds authorized under such subsection.

(ii)

With respect a Federal agency other than a Federal agency described in clause (i), not more than three percent of the funds required to be expended under paragraph (1).

.