September 8, 2025
Ms. Scholten 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 section 9 of the Small Business Act to permit Federal agencies to make awards to small business concerns that have received a Phase II SBIR or STTR award to provide fellowship opportunities, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the SBIR/STTR Innovation Workforce Act
.
Sec. 2. SBIR and STTR fellowships
Section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (f), by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(5) Fellowships
(A) In general
A Federal agency may provide grants or awards, either directly or in partnership with a third party, to small business concerns that have received SBIR or STTR Phase II awards to provide fellowship and internship opportunities at the undergraduate, baccalaureate, graduate, and postdoctoral levels in fields that are important to such Federal agency.
(B) Enhanced outreach
Each Federal agency that makes an award or enters into a partnership under subparagraph (A) shall provide for enhanced outreach to increase the participation of women, socially disadvantaged individuals (as described in section 8(a)(5)), and economically disadvantaged individuals (as described section 8(a)(6)(A)) in the fellowship and internship opportunities described under subparagraph (A).
(C) Support organization
Each Federal agency that makes an award or enters into a partnership under subparagraph (A) may partner with or provide grants or awards to a third-party organization to support and facilitate the enhanced outreach under subparagraph (B) provided that such third-party organization is a nonprofit organization with relevant experience and demonstrated expertise in delivery of services described in subparagraph (B).
(D) Funding
In carrying out this paragraph, a Federal agency may use only the following amounts:
(i)
With respect to a Federal agency that uses the authority under subsection (mm), the funds authorized under such subsection.
(ii)
With respect a Federal agency other than a Federal agency described in clause (i), not more than three percent of the funds required to be expended under paragraph (1).; and
(2)
in subsection (n), by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(4) Fellowships
(A) In general
A Federal agency may provide grants or awards, either directly or in partnership with a third party, to small business concerns that have received SBIR or STTR Phase II awards to provide fellowship and internship opportunities at the undergraduate, baccalaureate, graduate, and postdoctoral levels in fields that are important to such Federal agency.
(B) Enhanced outreach
Each Federal agency that makes an award or enters into a partnership under subparagraph (A) shall provide for enhanced outreach to increase the participation of women, socially disadvantaged individuals (as described in section 8(a)(5)), and economically disadvantaged individuals (as described section 8(a)(6)(A)) in the fellowship and internship opportunities described under subparagraph (A).
(C) Support organization
Each Federal agency that makes an award or enters into a partnership under subparagraph (A) may partner with or provide grants or awards to a third-party organization to support and facilitate the enhanced outreach under subparagraph (B) provided such third-party organization is a nonprofit organization with relevant experience and demonstrated expertise in delivery of services described in subparagraph (B).
(D) Funding
In carrying out this paragraph, a Federal agency may use only the following amounts:
(i)
With respect to a Federal agency that uses the authority under subsection (mm), the funds authorized under such subsection.
(ii)
With respect a Federal agency other than a Federal agency described in clause (i), not more than three percent of the funds required to be expended under paragraph (1).