H.R. 5212

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To amend section 9 of the Small Business Act to permit Federal agencies to make awards to small business concerns that have received a Phase II SBIR or STTR award to provide fellowship opportunities, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · September 8, 2025 · Sponsor: Ms. Scholten

Table of contents

• H.R. 5212
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. SBIR and STTR fellowships

SEC. 1. Short title

• This Act may be cited as the SBIR/STTR Innovation Workforce Act.

SEC. 2. SBIR and STTR fellowships

• Section 9 of the Small Business Act () is amended— 15 U.S.C. 638
  • (5) Fellowships
    • (A) In general
      • A Federal agency may provide grants or awards, either directly or in partnership with a third party, to small business concerns that have received SBIR or STTR Phase II awards to provide fellowship and internship opportunities at the undergraduate, baccalaureate, graduate, and postdoctoral levels in fields that are important to such Federal agency.
    • (B) Enhanced outreach
      • Each Federal agency that makes an award or enters into a partnership under subparagraph (A) shall provide for enhanced outreach to increase the participation of women, socially disadvantaged individuals (as described in section 8(a)(5)), and economically disadvantaged individuals (as described section 8(a)(6)(A)) in the fellowship and internship opportunities described under subparagraph (A).
    • (C) Support organization
      • Each Federal agency that makes an award or enters into a partnership under subparagraph (A) may partner with or provide grants or awards to a third-party organization to support and facilitate the enhanced outreach under subparagraph (B) provided that such third-party organization is a nonprofit organization with relevant experience and demonstrated expertise in delivery of services described in subparagraph (B).
    • (D) Funding
      • In carrying out this paragraph, a Federal agency may use only the following amounts:
        • (i) With respect to a Federal agency that uses the authority under subsection (mm), the funds authorized under such subsection.
        • (ii) With respect a Federal agency other than a Federal agency described in clause (i), not more than three percent of the funds required to be expended under paragraph (1).
  • in subsection (f), by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    • (4) Fellowships
      • (A) In general
        • A Federal agency may provide grants or awards, either directly or in partnership with a third party, to small business concerns that have received SBIR or STTR Phase II awards to provide fellowship and internship opportunities at the undergraduate, baccalaureate, graduate, and postdoctoral levels in fields that are important to such Federal agency.
      • (B) Enhanced outreach
        • Each Federal agency that makes an award or enters into a partnership under subparagraph (A) shall provide for enhanced outreach to increase the participation of women, socially disadvantaged individuals (as described in section 8(a)(5)), and economically disadvantaged individuals (as described section 8(a)(6)(A)) in the fellowship and internship opportunities described under subparagraph (A).
      • (C) Support organization
        • Each Federal agency that makes an award or enters into a partnership under subparagraph (A) may partner with or provide grants or awards to a third-party organization to support and facilitate the enhanced outreach under subparagraph (B) provided such third-party organization is a nonprofit organization with relevant experience and demonstrated expertise in delivery of services described in subparagraph (B).
      • (D) Funding
        • In carrying out this paragraph, a Federal agency may use only the following amounts:
          • (i) With respect to a Federal agency that uses the authority under subsection (mm), the funds authorized under such subsection.
          • (ii) With respect a Federal agency other than a Federal agency described in clause (i), not more than three percent of the funds required to be expended under paragraph (1).
  • in subsection (n), by adding at the end the following new paragraph: