In a recent decision, the Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA) examined a company that received two Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant awards. The SBA Area Office had determined that the awardee was not an eligible small business due to ostensible subcontractor affiliation and other reasons. This decision is an important reminder for SBIR candidates on how they should structure subcontracting teams, as SBA will examine SBIR awardee eligibility.
Continue readingTag Archives: Small Business Innovation Research
Congress Reauthorizes SBIR/STTR, Adds a Few Wrinkles
Congress recently approved reauthorization of both the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. The law, known as the ‘‘SBIR and STTR Extension Act of 2022’’, was ratified by the House on September 29 and became law on October 3, 2022. While the big takeaway is that the SBIR and STTR programs will continue, this post will highlight a few additional restrictions that were put into place for these important programs. Included among these are some additional reporting and oversight for companies with a lot of awards and foreign influence over companies.
Continue readingLegislative Updates: Small Business Bills in the House (& Senate)!
Just like the elves in Santa’s workshop, Congress has been busy this winter season! Among the chaos, three bills with the potential to impact small business Federal government contractors have been percolating. The first and third bill propose amendments to laws already in place covering surviving spouses of SDVOSB owners and the Department of Homeland Security’s Mentor-Protege Program, while the second bill proposes an entirely new SBA program for small businesses geared toward promoting research and development efforts.
Here’s our brief summary of each bill:
Continue readingThe Role of Small Business Innovation in America’s Space Program
The Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship recently held a hearing focusing on the role small businesses will play in NASA’s renewed focus on going back to the Moon and then on to Mars.
We have recently touched on the growing impact space exploration is having on small businesses, and vice versa, but this dedicated hearing prompts a closer look at the opportunities small businesses will have for working on space exploration.
Continue reading5 Things You Should Know: SBIR/STTR Programs
Beyond set-aside procurements, the government bolsters small businesses by encouraging their participation in federally-funded research. Two key programs exist: the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program. Ultimately, the government hopes that participating small businesses will commercialize technologies developed with federal research dollars. While the two programs are similar, a key feature distinguishes them: the STTR Program requires a small business to partner with a qualified research institution.
SBA has issued regulations and directives that govern these two programs. Here are five things you should know about the SBIR/STTR Programs.