DOE and SBA Research Act

This bill tells the Department of Energy and the Small Business Administration to work together on research and development. They must sign an agreement to guide the work, include small businesses in these projects when appropriate, and can partner with other federal agencies to get the job done. They can also set up cost-sharing arrangements to make the research more effective . Within two years, they must send Congress a report that explains how they coordinated, what they achieved together, and where they see future opportunities to grow their technical abilities . The bill does not authorize new funding and says these activities must follow federal research security rules.

Key points

• Who is affected: Department of Energy, Small Business Administration, and small businesses that may take part in research projects.
• What changes: The agencies must collaborate under a formal agreement, may share costs, and may work with other federal partners; they must also report back to Congress on progress.
• When: The joint report is due within two years of the law taking effect.