,,ii  #aahth ,,congress  #ast ,session  
,s4 #acif  ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of     
,,the ,,united ,,states  ,may #b1       
#bjbc,mr4 ,coons 7for himself and ,mr4  
,rubio7 introduced the following bill2  
which was read twice and referred to the
 ,committee on ,small ,business and     
,entrepreneurship  ,a ,,bill  ,to       
improve commercialization activities in 
the ,,sbir and ,,sttr programs1 and for 
other purposes4  #a4 ,short title ,this 
,act may be cited as the ,research      
,advancing to ,market ,production for   
,innovators ,act4  #b4 ,improvements to 
commercialization selection  7a7 ,in    
general ,section #i of the ,small       
,business ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #fch7 is  
amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7g7-- 7,a7 
in paragraph 7#d77;,b77i71 by striking  
#a year and inserting #ahj days2  7,b7  
in paragraph 7#af71 by striking and at  
the end2  7,c7 in paragraph 7#ag71 by   
striking the period at the end and      
inserting 2 and2 and  7,d7 by adding at 
the end the following3  7#ah7 with      

respect to peer review carried out under
 the ,,sbir program1 to the extent      
practicable1 include in the peer        
review-- 7,a7 the likelihood of         
commercialization in addition to        
scientific and technical merit and      
feasibility2 and  7,b7 not less than #a 
reviewer with commercialization         
expertise who is capable of assessing   
the likelihood of commercialization4  2 
7#b7 in subsection 7o7-- 7,a7 in        
paragraph 7#d77;,b77i71 by striking #a  
year and inserting #ahj days2  7,b7 in  
paragraph 7#bj71 by striking and at the 
end2  7,c7 in paragraph 7#ba71 by       
striking the period at the end and      
inserting 2 and2 and  7,d7 by adding at 
the end the following3  7#bb7 with      
respect to peer review carried out under
 the ,,sttr program1 to the extent      
practicable1 include in the peer        
review-- 7,a7 the likelhood of          
commercialization in addition to        
scientific and technical merit and      
feasibility2 and  7,b7 not less than #a 

reviewer with commercialization         
expertise who is capable of assessing   
the likelihood of commercialization4  2 
7#c7 in subsection 7cc7-- 7,a7 by       
striking ,during fiscal years #bjab     
through #bjbe1 the ,national ,institutes
 of ,health1 the ,department of         
,defense1 and the ,department of        
,education and inserting the following3 
7#a7 ,in general ,during fiscal years   
#bjbd through #bjbi1 each ,federal      
agency with an ,,sbir or ,,sttr program 
2 and  7,b7 by adding at the end the    
following3  7#b7 ,limitation ,the total 
value of awards provided by a ,federal  
agency under this subsection in a fiscal
 year shall be-- 7,a7 except as provided
 in subparagraph 7,b71 not more than #aj
 percent of the total funds allocated to
 the ,,sbir and ,,sttr programs of the  
,federal agency during that fiscal year2
 and  7,b7 with respect to the ,national
 ,institutes of ,health1 not more than  
#ae percent of the total funds allocated
 to the ,,sbir and ,,sttr programs of   

the ,national ,institutes of ,health    
during that fiscal year4  7#c7          
,extension ,during fiscal years #bjbh   
and #bjbi1 each ,federal agency with an 
,,sbir or ,,sttr program may continue   
phase flexibility as described in this  
subsection only if the reports required 
under subsection 7tt77#a7 have been     
submitted to the appropriate committees4
  2  7#d7 in subsection                 
7hh77#b77;,a77i71 by inserting          
application process and requirements    
after simplified and standardized2 and  
7#e7 by adding at the end the following3
  7yy7 ,technology ,commercialization   
,official ,each ,federal agency         
participating in the ,,sbir or ,,sttr   
program shall designate a ,technology   
,commercialization ,official in the     
,federal agency1 who shall-- 7#a7 have  
sufficient commercialization experience2
  7#b7 provide assistance to ,,sbir and 
,,sttr program awardees in              
commercializing and transitioning       
technologies2  7#c7 identify ,,sbir and 

,,sttr program technologies with        
sufficient technology and               
commercialization readiness to advance  
to ,phase ,,iii awards or other         
non-,,sbir or ,,sttr program contracts2 
7#d7 coordinate with the ,technology    
,commercialization ,officials of other  
,federal agencies to identify additional
 markets and commercialization pathways 
for promising ,,sbir and ,,sttr program 
technologies2  7#e7 submit to the       
,administration an annual report on the 
number of technologies from the ,,sbir  
or ,,sttr program that have advanced    
commercialization activities1 including 
information required in the             
commercialization impact assessment     
under subsection 7aaa72  7#f7 submit to 
the ,administration an annual report on 
actions taken by the ,federal agency1   
and the results of those actions1 to    
simplify1 standardize1 and expedite the 
application process and requirements1   
procedures1 and contracts as required   
under subsection 7hh7 and described in  

subsection 7aaa77#a77;,e72 and  7#g7    
carry out such other duties as the      
,federal agency determines necessary4  4
  7b7 ,report ,not later than #a year   
after the date of enactment of this     
,act1 the ,administrator of the ,small  
,business ,administration shall submit  
to the ,committee on ,small ,business   
and ,entrepreneurship of the ,senate and
 the ,committee on ,small ,business of  
the ,house of ,representatives          
summarizing the metrics relating to and 
an evaluation of the authority provided 
under section #i7;cc7 of the ,small     
,business ,act1 as amended by subsection
 7a71 which shall include the size and  
location of the small business concerns 
receiving awards under the ,,sbir or    
,,sttr program4  #c4 ,improvements to   
technical and business assistance2      
commercialization impact assessment2    
patent assistance ,section #i of the    
,small ,business ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4    
#fch71 as amended by section #b1 is     
amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7q7-- 7,a7 

in paragraph 7#a71 in the matter        
preceding subparagraph 7,a7-- 7i7 by    
striking may enter into an agreement    
with #a or more vendors selected under  
paragraph 7#b77;,a7 and inserting shall 
authorize recipients of awards under the
 ,,sbir or ,,sttr program to select1 if 
desired1 commercialization activities   
provided under subparagraph 7,a71 7,b71 
or 7,c7 of paragraph 7#b72 and  7ii7 by 
inserting 1 cybersecurity assistance    
after intellectual property protections2
  7,b7 in paragraph 7#b71 by adding at  
the end the following3  7,c7 ,staff ,a  
small business concern may1 by contract 
or otherwise1 use funding provided under
 this section to hire new staff1 augment
 staff1 or direct staff to conduct or   
participate in training activities      
consistent with the goals listed in     
paragraph 7#a74  2  7,c7 in paragraph   
7#c71 by striking subparagraphs 7,a7 and
 7,b7 and inserting the following3  7,a7
 ,phase ,i ,a ,federal agency described 
in paragraph 7#a7 shall authorize a     

recipient of a ,phase ,i ,,sbir or      
,,sttr award to utilize not more than   
#f1ejj per project1 included as part of 
the award of the recipient or in        
addition to the amount of the award of  
the recipient as determined appropriate 
by the head of the ,federal agency1 for 
the services described in paragraph     
7#a7-- 7i7 provided through a vendor    
selected under paragraph 7#b77;,a72     
7ii7 provided through a vendor other    
than a vendor selected under paragraph  
7#b77;,a72  7iii7 achieved through the  
activities described in paragraph       
7#b77;,c72 or  7iv7 provided or achieved
 through any combination of clauses 7i71
 7ii71 and 7iii74  7,b7 ,phase ,,ii ,a  
,federal agency described in paragraph  
7#a7 shall authorize a recipient of a   
,phase ,,ii ,,sbir or ,,sttr award to   
utilize not more than #ej1jjj per       
project1 included as part of the award  
of the recipient or in addition to the  
amount of the award of the recipient as 
determined appropriate by the head of   

the ,federal agency1 for the services   
described in paragraph 7#a7-- 7i7       
provided through a vendor selected under
 paragraph 7#b77;,a72  7ii7 provided    
through a vendor other than a vendor    
selected under paragraph 7#b77;,a72     
7iii7 achieved through the activities   
described in paragraph 7#b77;,c72 or    
7iv7 provided or achieved through any   
combination of clauses 7i71 7ii71 and   
7iii74  2 and  7,d7 by adding at the end
 the following3  7#e7 ,targeted review  
,a ,federal agency may perform targeted 
reviews of technical and business       
assistance funding as described in      
subsection 7mm77#a77;,f74  2 and  7#b7  
by adding at the end the following3     
7zz7 ,i-,corps participation  7#a7 ,in  
general ,each ,federal agency that is   
required to conduct an ,,sbir or ,,sttr 
program with an ,innovation ,corps      
7commonly known as ,i-,corps7 program   
shall-- 7,a7 provide an option for      
participation in an ,i-,corps teams     
course by recipients of an award under  

the ,,sbir or ,,sttr program2 and  7,b7 
authorize the recipients described in   
subparagraph 7,a7 to use an award       
provided under subsection 7q7 to provide
 additional technical assistance for    
participation in the ,i-,corps teams    
course4  7#b7 ,cost of participation    
,the cost of participation by a         
recipient described in paragraph        
7#a77;,a7 in an ,i-,corps course may be 
provided by-- 7,a7 an ,i-,corps team    
grant2  7,b7 funds awarded to the       
recipient under subsection 7q72  7,c7   
the participating teams or other sources
 as appropriate2 or  7,d7 any           
combination of sources described in     
subparagraphs 7,a71 7,b71 and 7,c74     
7aaa7 ,commercialization impact         
assessment  7#a7 ,in general ,the       
,administrator shall coordinate with    
each ,federal agency with an ,,sbir or  
,,sttr program to develop an annual     
commercialization impact assessment     
report of the ,federal agency1 which    
shall measure1 for the #e-year period   

preceding the report-- 7,a7 for ,phase  
,,ii contracts-- 7i7 the total amount of
 sales of new products and services to  
the ,federal ,government or other       
commercial markets2  7ii7 the total     
outside investment from partnerships1   
joint ventures1 or other private sector 
funding sources2  7iii7 the total number
 of technologies licensed to other      
companies2  7iv7 the total number of    
acquisitions of small business concerns 
participating in the ,,sbir program or  
the ,,sttr program that are acquired by 
other entities2  7v7 the total number of
 new spin-out companies2  7vi7 the total
 outside investment from venture capital
 or angel investments2  7vii7 the total 
number of patent applications2  7viii7  
the total number of patents acquired2   
7ix7 the year of first ,phase ,i award  
and the total number of employees at    
time of first ,phase ,i award2  7x7 the 
total number of employees from the      
preceding completed year2 and  7xi7 the 
percent of revenue1 as of the date of   

the report1 generated through ,,sbir or 
,,sttr program funding2  7,b7 the total 
number and value of subsequent ,phase   
,,ii awards1 as described in subsection 
7bb71 awarded for each particular       
project or technology2  7,c7 the total  
number and value of ,phase ,,iii awards 
awarded subsequent to a ,phase ,,ii     
award2  7,d7 the total number and value 
of non-,,sbir and ,,sttr program        
,federal awards and contracts2 and  7,e7
 actions taken by the ,federal agency1  
and the results of those actions1       
relating to developing a simplified and 
standardized application process and    
requirements1 procedures1 and model     
contracts throughout the ,federal agency
 for ,phase ,i1 ,phase ,,ii1 and ,phase 
,,iii ,,sbir program awards in          
subsection 7hh74  7#b7 ,publication ,a  
commercialization impact assessment     
report described in paragraph 7#a7 of a 
,federal agency shall be-- 7,a7 included
 in the annual report of the ,federal   
agency required under this section2 and 

7,b7 published on the website of the    
,administration4  7bbb7 ,patent         
assistance  7#a7 ,definitions ,in this  
subsection-- 7,a7 the term ,director    
means the ,under ,secretary of ,commerce
 for ,intellectual ,property and        
,director of the ,,uspto2 and  7,b7 the 
term ,,uspto means the ,united ,states  
,patent and ,trademark ,office4  7#b7   
,assistance  7,a7 ,in general ,the      
,administrator shall enter into an      
interagency agreement with the ,director
 under which the ,director shall assist 
recipients of an award under the ,,sbir 
or ,,sttr program 7in this paragraph    
referred to as ,,sbir and ,,sttr        
recipients7 relating to intellectual    
property protection by establishing a   
prioritized patent examination program  
for ,,sbir and ,,sttr recipients4  7,b7 
,program details ,the program           
established by the ,director under      
subparagraph 7,a7 shall have the        
following characteristics3 7i7 ,the     
program shall incorporate all existing  

7as of the date on which the ,director  
establishes the program7 benefits under 
the procedures for prioritized          
examination described in section #aa7;h7
 of the ,leahy-,smith ,america ,invents 
,act 7#ce ,u4,s4,c4 #da note74  7ii7    
,under the program1 with respect to     
prioritized examination1 an ,,sbir or   
,,sttr recipient shall not be required  
to pay any prioritized examination fee  
or processing fee otherwise required    
under section #aa7;h7 of the            
,leahy-,smith ,america ,invents ,act    
7#ce ,u4,s4,c4 #da note74  7iii7 ,under 
the program1 the ,director shall ensure 
that1 of the total number of requests   
for prioritized examination accepted by 
the ,,uspto in a fiscal year1 the       
greater of the following shall be       
reserved for prioritized examinations   
for ,,sbir and ,,sttr recipients3 7,i7  
#e percent of the total number of such  
requests that may be accepted during    
that fiscal year4  7,,ii7 #ejj requests 
for prioritized examination4  7iv7      

,under the program1 the ,director may   
not grant more than #b prioritized      
examination requests to any individual  
recipient4  7v7 ,under the program1 the 
,director may increase the number of    
requests for prioritized examination    
that may be accepted in any fiscal year 
7as described in section #a4ajb7;e7 of  
title #cg1 ,code of ,federal            
,regulations1 or any successor          
regulation7 by the number determined    
under clause 7iii7 for that fiscal year4
  7,c7 ,rules ,the ,director shall issue
 rules to carry out the prioritized     
patent examination program established  
under this paragraph4  7#c7 ,outreach   
,the ,administrator shall coordinate    
with the ,director to provide outreach  
regarding the ,pro ,se ,assistance      
,program of1 and scam prevention        
services provided by1 the ,,uspto4  4