SBIR/STTR Oversight Act

HR 5001, the SBIR/STTR Oversight Act, requires federal agencies administering Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs to improve transparency and accountability. It mandates annual reports to Congress detailing program operations, including publishing reports online, and directs the Comptroller General to assess diversity in participant demographics and technology commercialization efforts within three years. The bill also extends a report on award timeliness from 3 to 11 years and establishes a pilot program at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to reduce funding approval times to approximately 90 days. This legislation directly affects federal agencies running SBIR/STTR programs and aims to enhance oversight of how these programs support small businesses, particularly underrepresented groups and new entrants.