S. 2812 would permanently authorize and expand the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. Those programs help small businesses compete for research and development contracts. The bill also would authorize federal agencies to use a portion of their funding for research and development to cover administrative costs of the SBIR and STTR programs. S. 2812 also would direct the Small Business Association (SBA) to develop a pilot program to provide grants to establish regional collaboratives to help small businesses increase their competitiveness for awards from these programs and would authorize a variety of other activities.
Based on information from the SBA and other affected agencies, CBO estimates that implementing S. 2812 would cost $166 million over the 2017-2021 period; such spending would be subject to appropriation. Pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply to this legislation because it would not affect direct spending or revenues.
CBO estimates that enacting S. 2812 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2027.
S. 2812 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.
