Implementing the SBIR and STTR Reauthorization: Seeking Public Comment by July 16

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs have funded great companies like Qualcomm, Genzyme, and iRobot in their earliest days.  These federal programs are what help our entrepreneurs grow, succeed and create jobs, and the Obama Administration has made its success a priority. 

The good news is, the program was reauthorized for six years by Congress and signed into law by President Obama at the end of 2011.  Since then, the Small Business Administration has been working diligently on the detailed rulemaking (read the Federal Register notice [pdf][txt])necessary to implement the reauthorization.

SBA is soliciting feedback from small businesses, investors and other stakeholders for 60 days on the proposed rulemaking that amends SBA regulations governing size and eligibility for these programs.  The proposed rule addresses ownership, control and affiliation for participants in the SBIR and STTR Programs, and includes participants that are majority-owned by multiple venture capital operating companies, private equity firms or hedge funds.

We believe the rulemaking streamlines and simplifies eligibility requirements, while at the same time maintains the integrity of the program as one that will benefit domestic small businesses, not subsidiaries of large companies or foreign firms.  Your feedback is critical to the open and transparent process that I previously outlined, as we want to make sure that the changes made are practical, sensible, and acceptable to the business communities and government entities we serve.

How to Submit a Comment

Comments should be identified by RIN: 3245-AG46 and can be submitted online through the Federal eRulemaking Portal or by mail.  Regardless of you submission method, comments must be received on or before July 16, 2012.  Comments submitted by mail or hand delivery/courier should be addressed to Carl Jordan, Office of Size Standards or Edsel Brown, Assistant Director, Office of Technology and sent to: 

U.S. Small Business Administration
409 Third Street, SW
Washington, DC 20416

We value your input.  Let’s all make a great program even better!

About the Author

Sean Greene is the Associate Administrator for Investment and the Special Advisor for Innovation at the U.S. Small Business Administration.