September 10, 2026
Ms. Mejia introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Small Business, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
To amend the Small Business Act to require Federal agencies to provide enhanced debriefing materials to small business concerns for SBIR or STTR award denials, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Clear Lessons and Evaluation for Award Reviews Feedback Act
or the CLEAR Feedback Act
.
Sec. 2. Enhanced debriefing materials for SBIR award denials
Section 9(g) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(g)) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (18)(B), by striking and
at the end;
(2)
in paragraph (19)(C), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and
; and
(3)
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(20)
establish a process to provide enhanced debriefing materials to each small business concern denied a Phase I, Phase II, or Phase III award for a reason other a reason listed in paragraph (16), which process—
(A)
is initiated upon request by such concern not later than 14 business days after denial of the award;
(B)
provides such concern an evaluation by the Federal agency of the significant deficiencies in the concern’s proposal, an overall ranking of the concern’s proposal in relation to all other proposals, and a summary of the rationale for denial of the award;
(C)
an opportunity for such concern to submit, within 7 business days after receiving such enhanced debriefing materials, additional questions related to the debriefing; and
(D)
terminates when the Federal agency submits answers to the questions received under subparagraph (C), which shall be within 14 business days after receipt of such questions.
Sec. 3. Enhanced debriefing materials for STTR award denials
Section 9(o) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(o)) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (22)(B), by striking and
at the end;
(2)
in paragraph (23)(C), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and
; and
(3)
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(24)
establish a process to provide enhanced debriefing materials to each small business concern denied a Phase I, Phase II, or Phase III award for a reason other a reason listed in paragraph (20), which process—
(A)
is initiated upon request by such concern not later than 14 business days after denial of the award;
(B)
provides such concern an evaluation by the Federal agency of the significant deficiencies in the concern’s proposal, an overall ranking of the concern’s proposal in relation to all other proposals, and a summary of the rationale for denial of the award;
(C)
an opportunity for such concern to submit, within 7 business days after receiving such enhanced debriefing materials, additional questions related to the debriefing; and
(D)
terminates when the Federal agency submits answers to the questions received under subparagraph (C), which shall be within 14 business days after receipt of such questions.