SBIR Bill Moves in House
The House Committee on Small Business approved a bill to extend the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program until September 30, 2007. H.R. 2392, introduced by Representatives Taalent, Bartlett, Kelly and Velazquez, also was referred to the House Committee on Science for consideration. The ASME International Capitol Update reports a House floor vote on the bill is expected in Mid-July.
H.R. 2392 also clarified that companies retain proprietary rights to data developed under the SBIR program for four years following the last federal funding received, which then could include Phase III awards. Other provisions in the bill addressed minor housekeeping issues related to SBA reporting requirements.
No other topics of current debate were addressed in the bill, such as whether or not to increase the set-aside percentage from 2.5 percent or to allow agencies to use some portion of the set aside to cover administrative costs.
A copy of the bill can be downloaded from http://thomas.loc.gov