,,ii #aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #aifa ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,october #af1 #bjag,mr4 ,risch 7for himself and ,mrs4 ,shaheen7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,small ,business and ,entrepreneurship ,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 ,program1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,,sbir and ,,sttr ,oversight and ,pilot ,program ,extension ,act of #bjag4 #b4 ,pilot extensions and reporting compliance2 pilot program ,section #i of the ,small ,business ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #fch7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7cc71 by striking #bjag and inserting #bjah2 7#b7 in subsection 7gg77#g71 by striking #bjag and inserting #bjah2 7#c7 in subsection 7jj77#g71 by striking #bjag and inserting #bjah2 7#d7 in subsection 7mm7-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#a7-- 7i7 in the matter preceding subparagraph 7,a71 by striking #bjag and inserting #bjah2 7ii7 in subparagraph 7,i71 by striking and at the end2 7iii7 in subparagraph 7,j71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and2 and 7iv7 by adding at the end the following3 7,k7 funding for improvements that increase commonality across data systems1 reduce redundancy1 and improve data oversight and accuracy4 2 and 7,b7 by adding at the end the following3 7#g7 ,,sbir and ,,sttr programs2 ,,fast program 7,a7 ,definition ,in this paragraph1 the term covered ,federal agency means a ,federal agency that-- 7i7 is required to conduct an ,,sbir program2 and 7ii7 elects to use the funds allocated to the ,,sbir program of the ,federal agency for the purposes described in paragraph 7#a74 7,b7 ,requirement ,each covered ,federal agency shall transfer an amount equal to #ae percent of the funds that are used for the purposes described in paragraph 7#a7 to the ,administration-- 7i7 for the ,regional ,,sbir ,state ,collaborative ,initiative ,pilot ,program established under subsection 7tt72 7ii7 for the ,federal and ,state ,technology ,partnership ,program established under section #cd2 and 7iii7 to support the ,office of the ,administration that administers the ,,sbir program and the ,,sttr program1 subject to agreement from other agencies about how the funds will be used1 in carrying out those programs and the programs described in clauses 7i7 and 7ii74 7#h7 ,pilot program 7,a7 ,in general ,of amounts provided to the ,administration under paragraph 7#g71 not less than #e1jjj1jjj shall be used to provide awards under the ,regional ,,sbir ,state ,collaborative ,initiative ,pilot ,program established under subsection 7tt7 for each fiscal year in which the program is in effect4 7,b7 ,disbursement flexibility ,the ,administration may use any unused funds made available under subparagraph 7,a7 as of ,april #a of each fiscal year for awards to carry out clauses 7ii7 and 7iii7 of paragraph 7#g77;,b7 after providing written notice to-- 7i7 the ,committee on ,small ,business and ,entrepreneurship and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,senate2 and 7ii7 the ,committee on ,small ,business and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives4 2 and 7#e7 by adding at the end the following3 7tt7 ,regional ,,sbir ,state collaborative initiative pilot program 7#a7 ,definitions ,in this subsection-- 7,a7 the term eligible entity means-- 7i7 a research institution2 and 7ii7 a small business concern2 7,b7 the term eligible ,state means-- 7i7 a ,state that the ,administrator determines is in the bottom half of ,states1 based on the average number of annual ,,sbir program awards made to companies in the ,state for the preceding #c years for which the ,administration has applicable data2 and 7ii7 an ,e,p,s,co,r ,state that-- 7,i7 is a ,state described in clause 7i72 or 7,,ii7 is-- 7aa7 not a ,state described in clause 7i72 and 7bb7 invited to participate in a regional collaborative2 7,c7 the term ,e,p,s,co,r ,state means a ,state that participates in the ,experimental ,program to ,stimulate ,competitive ,research of the ,national ,science ,foundation1 as established under section #aac of the ,national ,science ,foundation ,authorization ,act of #aihh 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ahfb;g72 7,d7 the term ,,fast program means the ,federal and ,state ,technology ,partnership ,program established under section #cd2 7,e7 the term pilot program means the ,regional ,,sbir ,state ,collaborative ,initiative ,pilot ,program established under paragraph 7#b72 7,f7 the term regional collaborative means a collaborative consisting of eligible entities that are located in not less than #c eligible ,states2 and 7,g7 the term ,state means any ,state of the ,united ,states1 the ,district of ,columbia1 the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 and any territory or possession of the ,united ,states4 7#b7 ,establishment ,the ,administrator shall establish a pilot program1 to be known as the ,regional ,,sbir ,state ,collaborative ,initiative ,pilot ,program1 under which the ,administrator shall provide awards to regional collaboratives to address the needs of small business concerns in order to-- 7,a7 be more competitive in the proposal and selection process for awards under the ,,sbir program and the ,,sttr program2 and 7,b7 increase technology transfer and commercialization4 7#c7 ,goals ,the goals of the pilot program are-- 7,a7 to create regional collaboratives that allow eligible entities to work cooperatively to leverage resources to address the needs of small business concerns2 7,b7 to grow ,,sbir program and ,,sttr program cooperative research and development and commercialization through increased awards under those programs2 7,c7 to increase the participation of ,states that have historically received a lower level of awards under the ,,sbir program and the ,,sttr program2 7,d7 to utilize the strengths and advantages of regional collaboratives to better leverage resources1 best practices1 and economies of scale in a region for the purpose of increasing awards and increasing the commercialization of the ,,sbir program and ,,sttr projects2 7,e7 to increase the competitiveness of the ,,sbir program and the ,,sttr program2 7,f7 to identify sources of outside funding for applicants for an award under the ,,sbir program or the ,,sttr program1 including venture capitalists1 angel investor groups1 private industry1 crowd funding1 and special loan programs2 and 7,g7 to offer increased one-on-one engagements with companies and entrepreneurs for ,,sbir program and ,,sttr program education1 assistance1 and successful outcomes4 7#d7 ,application 7,a7 ,in general ,a regional collaborative that desires to participate in the pilot program shall submit to the ,administrator an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,administrator may require4 7,b7 ,inclusion of lead eligible entities and coordinator ,a regional collaborative shall include in an application submitted under subparagraph 7,a7-- 7i7 the name of each lead eligible entity from each eligible ,state in the regional collaborative1 as designated under paragraph 7#e77;,a72 and 7ii7 the name of the coordinator for the regional collaborative1 as designated under paragraph 7#f74 7,c7 ,avoidance of duplication ,a regional collaborative shall include in an application submitted under subparagraph 7,a7 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 collaborative4 7#e7 ,lead eligible entity 7,a7 ,in general ,each eligible ,state in a regional collaborative shall designate #a eligible entity located in the eligible ,state to serve as the lead eligible entity for the eligible ,state4 7,b7 ,authorization by ,governor ,each lead eligible entity designated under subparagraph 7,a7 shall be authorized to act as the lead eligible entity by the ,governor of the applicable eligible ,state4 7,c7 ,responsibilities ,each lead eligible entity designated under subparagraph 7,a7 shall be responsible for administering the activities and program initiatives described in paragraph 7#g7 in the applicable eligible ,state4 7#f7 ,regional collaborative coordinator ,each regional collaborative shall designate a coordinator from amongst the eligible entities located in the eligible ,states in the regional collaborative1 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 practices4 7#g7 ,use of ,funds ,each regional collaborative that is provided an award under the pilot program may1 in each eligible ,state in which an eligible entity of the regional collaborative is located-- 7,a7 establish an initiative under which first-time applicants for an award under the ,,sbir program or the ,,sttr program are reviewed by experienced1 national experts in the ,united ,states1 as determined by the lead eligible entity designated under paragraph 7#e77;,a72 7,b7 engage national mentors on a frequent basis to work directly with applicants for an award under the ,,sbir program or the ,,sttr program1 particularly during ,phase ,,ii1 to assist with the process of preparing and submitting a proposal2 7,c7 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 labs1 prime government contractor companies1 other industry partners1 and regional industry cluster organizations2 7,d7 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 women1 small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans1 small business concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals 7as defined in section #h7;d77#c77;,c771 and historically ,black colleges and universities2 7,e7 administer a structured program of training and technical assistance-- 7i7 to prepare applicants for an award under the ,,sbir program or the ,,sttr program-- 7,i7 to compete more effectively for ,phase ,i and ,phase ,,ii awards2 and 7,,ii7 to develop and implement a successful commercialization plan2 7ii7 to assist eligible ,states focusing on transition and commercialization to win ,phase ,,iii awards from public and private partners2 7iii7 to create more competitive proposals to increase awards from all ,federal sources1 with a focus on awards under the ,,sbir program and the ,,sttr program2 and 7iv7 to assist first-time applicants by providing small grants for proof of concept research2 and 7,f7 assist applicants for an award under the ,,sbir program or the ,,sttr program to identify sources of outside funding1 including venture capitalists1 angel investor groups1 private industry1 crowd funding1 and special loan programs4 7#h7 ,award amount 7,a7 ,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 #cjj1jjj to carry out the activities described in paragraph 7#g74 7,b7 ,limitation 7i7 ,in general ,an eligible ,state may not receive an award under both the ,,fast program and the pilot program for the same year4 7ii7 ,rule of construction ,nothing in clause 7i7 may be construed to prevent an eligible ,state from applying for an award under the ,,fast program and the pilot program for the same year4 7#i7 ,duration of award ,an award provided under the pilot program-- 7,a7 shall be for a period of not more than #a year2 and 7,b7 may be renewed by the ,administrator for #a additional year4 7#aj7 ,termination ,the pilot program shall terminate on ,september #cj1 #bjah4 7#aa7 ,report ,not later than ,march #cj1 #bjah1 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 program1 which shall include-- 7,a7 details regarding the recipient of each award provided under the pilot program1 including the amount of each award1 the number of small business concerns that received assistance from the award amounts1 and the manner in which the award was used to meet the goals described in paragraph 7#c72 7,b7 to the extent practicable1 an assessment of the best practices of the pilot program1 including an analysis of how the pilot program compares to the ,,fast program and a single-,state approach2 and 7,c7 recommendations regarding whether any aspect of the pilot program should be extended or made permanent4 7uu7 ,outstanding reports and evaluations 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than ,march #cj1 #bjah1 the ,administrator shall submit to the ,committee on ,small ,business and ,entrepreneurship of the ,senate1 the ,committee on ,small ,business of the ,house of ,representatives1 and the ,committee on ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology of the ,house of ,representatives-- 7,a7 each report1 evaluation1 or analysis1 as applicable1 described in subsection 7b77#g71 7g77#i71 7o77#aj71 7y77#f77;,c71 7gg77#f71 7jj77#f71 and 7mm77#f72 and 7,b7 metrics regarding1 and an evaluation of1 the authority provided to the ,national ,institutes of ,health1 the ,department of ,defense1 and the ,department of ,education under subsection 7cc74 7#b7 ,information required ,not later than ,december #ca1 #bjag1 the head of each agency that is responsible for carrying out a provision described in subparagraph 7,a7 or 7,b7 of paragraph 7#a7 shall submit to the ,administrator any information that is necessary for the ,administrator to carry out the responsibilities of the ,administrator under that paragraph4 4