Sponsor
Ken Calvert
Representative · R-CA
Representative · R-CA
The bill accelerates transitioning SBIR/STTR Phase III innovations into DoD acquisition—helping small innovators and warfighters gain faster access to new tech—at the cost of potential resource shifts, added administrative expense and workload, and elevated risks of favoritism due to advisory-panel exemptions.
Military services and warfighters: At least five SBIR/STTR Phase III projects per service each year get prioritized entry into DoD planning and the Future Years Defense Program, increasing the likelihood of funding and faster fielding of new military technologies.
Small businesses and innovators: Establishes advisory panels, a formal designation path, and administrative support that make it easier for SBIR/STTR Phase III performers to scale technologies into acquisition programs and commercialize outcomes.
Taxpayers and Congress: Requires annual reports to Congress on each designated program, improving transparency and oversight of program progress and resource use.
Taxpayers and other DoD programs: Prioritizing a set number of Phase III projects each service year could shift PPBE attention and funding away from other programs, potentially delaying or underfunding other defense priorities.
Taxpayers and small businesses: Advisory panels include private-sector members and are exempt from the Federal Advisory Committee Act, increasing the risk of favoritism, conflicts of interest, and reduced transparency in project selection.
Taxpayers and the acquisition workforce: Panel operations, member compensation, and administrative support may require additional spending or reallocation of existing acquisition workforce development funds.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a DoD process to designate SBIR/STTR Phase III efforts as Entrepreneurial Innovation Projects, require advisory panels, include them in FYDP/PPBE, and mandate annual congressional reports.
Official title: To amend chapter 303 of title 10, United States Code, to require the Secretary of each military department to identify promising research programs of the Small Business Innovation Research Program or Small Business Technology Transfer Program for inclusion in the future budgets and plans of the Department of Defense, and for other purposes.
Introduced October 10, 2025 by Ken Calvert · Last progress October 10, 2025
Creates a DoD process to identify and support promising SBIR/STTR Phase III efforts as "Entrepreneurial Innovation Projects." Each military department must designate at least five eligible projects annually, add them to budget planning (FYDP) and programming proposals, establish advisory panels to vet and recommend projects, and report annually to Congress. Panels must be set up within 120 days and may be revoked if goals are not met.