HR788-119

What This Bill Does

The DOE and SBA Research Act requires the Secretary of Energy and the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to enter into a memorandum of understanding or other appropriate agreement for collaborative research and development activities that advance both agencies' mission requirements and priorities. The officials may use one or more memoranda or agreements, must ensure inclusion of small business concerns as appropriate, may carry out reimbursable agreements with appropriate entities to maximize research effectiveness, and may collaborate with other federal agencies.

Within two years after enactment, DOE and SBA must report to Congress on the activities carried out under the agreements. The report must cover agency coordination, opportunities to expand DOE and SBA technical capabilities, collaborative research achievements, areas for future mutually beneficial success, and continuation of coordination activities. The work must be applied consistently with subtitle D of title VI of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act. The bill authorizes no additional appropriations.

Who Benefits and How

Small business concerns, energy technology startups, DOE national laboratories, SBA innovation programs, SBIR participants, STTR participants, research universities, technology-transfer partners, and congressional science committees benefit because DOE and SBA must build a formal pathway for joint research, technical-capability expansion, reimbursable agreements, and small-business participation in energy-related R&D.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Department of Energy program offices, Small Business Administration program offices, DOE partnership staff, SBA contracting staff, other federal agencies joining collaborations, and agency budget managers bear coordination, reporting, agreement-management, and budget burdens because the bill requires MOUs, inclusion decisions, reimbursable agreements, two-year reporting, and implementation without new appropriations.

Key Provisions

• Requires DOE and SBA to enter into a memorandum of understanding or similar agreement for joint research and development.
• Requires the agencies to coordinate activities that advance both DOE and SBA mission requirements and priorities.
• Requires inclusion of small business concerns as appropriate.
• Authorizes reimbursable agreements with appropriate entities and collaboration with other federal agencies.
• Requires a congressional report within two years on coordination, technical capabilities, research achievements, future opportunities, and continued coordination.
• Applies the work consistently with the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act.
• Bars new appropriations for carrying out the Act.