SBIR/STTR Oversight Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5001
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Commerce
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-08-19: 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.
- Last Updated
- 2025-09-19T14:25:30Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation, titled the SBIR/STTR Oversight Act, amends the Small Business Act to strengthen oversight, reporting, and efficiency in the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. It focuses on improved congressional reporting, program evaluation, and expedited award processes at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Key Provisions
- Annual Reports to Congress (Section 2): Requires federal agencies to submit SBIR and STTR program reports to the House Committee on Small Business and the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Agencies must also publish these reports on their websites promptly.
- Comptroller General Report (Section 3): Directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to submit a report within three years assessing program effectiveness in diversification and commercialization. The report covers participant demographics (including new entrants and underrepresented groups), agency efforts to broaden participation, solicitation processes, commercialization support, and alignment with agency research priorities.
- Extension of Award Timeliness Report (Section 4): Extends the existing timeliness reporting requirement from three years to eleven years and adds metrics on average and median review times for proposals.
- NIH Pilot Program (Section 5): Establishes a pilot at NIH to reduce SBIR/STTR award timelines, targeting 90 days between award notice and funding release through simplified procedures. It permits flexible peer review methods deemed compliant with Public Health Service Act requirements and terminates the pilot on September 30, 2030. An evaluation report is due within three years.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill modifies Section 9 of the Small Business Act by expanding distribution of annual reports, mandating public website publication, extending timeliness reporting, and adding a new paragraph for the NIH pilot program. It also updates related reporting obligations to include Congress explicitly in certain agency communications.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: Increases administrative requirements for participating federal agencies, particularly NIH, through enhanced reporting and streamlined award processes.
- On citizens/small businesses: Aims to improve transparency and potentially accelerate funding access for small business concerns, including new entrants and underrepresented groups.
- No direct effects on international relations are specified in the legislation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal agencies participating in SBIR/STTR programs (especially NIH).
- Small business concerns, including those owned by women, socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, and those in states with historically low award levels.
- Congressional committees on Small Business.
- The Comptroller General of the United States (GAO).
- The Director of the National Institutes of Health.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The legislation operates within existing authorities of the Small Business Act and Public Health Service Act, with the pilot program explicitly designed to satisfy statutory peer review requirements. It emphasizes congressional oversight without altering core program structures or introducing new constitutional considerations.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3]
Recent Actions
- 2025-08-19: 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.
- 2025-08-19: 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.
- 2025-08-19: Introduced in House
- 2025-08-19: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- SBIR/STTR Oversight Act — issued 2025-08-19 — PDF (8 pages)