Comptroller General report on diversification and commercialization

(a) In general Not later than three years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives a report on the effectiveness of the SBIR and STTR programs with respect to diversification of participants and commercialization. (b) Contents The report shall include, to the extent practicable, an assessment of— (1) the demographics of small business concerns receiving SBIR or STTR awards, including new entrants and underrepresented groups; (2) the efforts of participating agencies to broaden representation and participation of new entrants and underrepresented groups in the SBIR and STTR programs; (3) how participating agencies develop solicitation topics and attract applicants; (4) the efforts of participating agencies to support technology commercialization; (5) the extent to which the SBIR and STTR awards made by each participating agency align with the research priorities and technology needs of that participating agency; and (6) such other matters as the Comptroller General, in consultation with the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives, determines appropriate. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) Federal agency; sbir; sttr The terms Federal agency, SBIR, and STTR have the meanings given such terms in section 9(e) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(e)). (2) New entrant The term new entrant means a small business concern that has not previously received an SBIR or STTR award. (3) Underrepresented groups The term underrepresented groups means small business concerns located in States with respect to which a low level of SBIR and STTR awards have historically been awarded, small business concerns owned and controlled by women, and small business concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. (4) Participating agency The term participating agency means a Federal agency carrying out an SBIR or STTR program under section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638). (5) Small business concern The term small business concern has the meaning given such term under section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632). (6) Small business concern owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals; small business concern owned and controlled by women The terms small business concern owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals and small business concern owned and controlled by women have the meanings given such terms in section 8(d) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(d)).