Sponsors (2)
The bill increases public transparency and visibility of research partners in SBIR/STTR awards—helping accountability and potentially boosting opportunities for identified colleges—at the cost of added reporting burdens for small businesses and possible privacy/reputational risks for research institutions.
Small businesses, awardees, and the public will see which research partners and subawardees are used on SBIR/STTR Phase I–III awards, increasing transparency and accountability and making it easier to identify potential research partners.
Students and faculty at minority-serving and other identified colleges will gain visibility because their institutions are listed in SBIR/STTR public records, potentially increasing collaboration and access to funding opportunities.
Small businesses and the SBA will face additional reporting requirements that increase administrative burden, raise compliance costs, and could delay award processing.
Minority-serving institutions and nonprofit research partners may incur privacy and reputational risks from public disclosure of subcontracting relationships and locations.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires SBIR/STTR websites and database to list subcontracted research institutions' names, locations, institution types, and specified higher-education/MSI designations.
Introduced June 12, 2025 by Herbert C. Conaway · Last progress June 12, 2025
Requires SBIR and STTR program websites and the SBIR/STTR database to show basic identifying information about any research institution subcontracted to perform work on Phase I, II, or III awards. For each subcontracted institution the sites must list name, location, and institution type (institution of higher education, nonprofit other than an IHE, or federally funded R&D center); if the institution is a college or university, the site must also indicate whether it is a Part B institution, Hispanic-serving, Tribal College or University, Alaska Native- or Native Hawaiian-serving, Predominantly Black, AANAPISI, or Native American-serving nontribal institution. Also expands database reporting rules so award recipients must report the same identifying information for subcontracted research institutions on Phase I and II STTR awards. The change is limited to disclosure and reporting requirements and does not create new funding or tax changes.