Technical and business assistance improvements

Section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(q)) is amended— (1) in subsection (q)— (A) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)— (i) by striking may enter into an agreement with 1 or more vendors selected under paragraph (2)(A) to provide small business concerns engaged in SBIR or STTR projects with technical and business assistance services and inserting shall authorize recipients of awards under the SBIR program or the STTR program to select, if desired, technical and business assistance provided under subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (2) with respect to SBIR or STTR projects; (ii) by inserting cybersecurity assistance, after intellectual property protections,; and (iii) by striking such concerns and inserting such recipients; and (B) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the following: (C) Staff A small business concern may, by contract or otherwise, use funding provided under this section to hire new staff, augment staff, or direct staff to conduct or participate in training activities consistent with the goals listed in paragraph (1).; (C) in paragraph (3)— (i) by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B) and inserting the following: (A) Phase I A Federal agency described in paragraph (1) shall authorize a recipient of a Phase I SBIR or STTR award to use not more than $6,500 per project, included as part of the award of the recipient or in addition to the amount of the award of the recipient as determined appropriate by the head of the Federal agency, for the services described in paragraph (1)— (i) provided through a vendor selected under paragraph (2)(A); (ii) provided through a vendor other than a vendor selected under paragraph (2)(A); (iii) achieved through the activities described in paragraph (2)(C); or (iv) provided through any combination of clauses (i) and (ii). (B) Phase II A Federal agency described in paragraph (1) shall authorize a recipient of a Phase II SBIR or STTR award to utilize not more than $50,000 per project, included as part of the award of the recipient or in addition to the amount of the award of the recipient as determined appropriate by the head of the Federal agency, for the services described in paragraph (1)— (i) provided through a vendor selected under paragraph (2)(A); (ii) provided through a vendor other than a vendor selected under paragraph (2)(A); (iii) achieved through the activities described in paragraph (2)(C); or (iv) provided through any combination of clauses (i), (ii), and (iii).; and (D) by adding at the end the following: (5) Targeted review A Federal agency may perform targeted reviews of technical and business assistance funding as described in subsection (mm)(1)(F).; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (aaa) I–Corps participation (1) In general Each Federal agency that is, as of January 1, 2025, required to conduct an SBIR or STTR program with an Innovation Corps program (established under section 601 of the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act (42 U.S.C. 1862s–8) and commonly known as I–Corps) shall— (A) provide an option for participation in an I–Corps teams course, I–Corps bootcamp, or another equivalent training program to recipients of an award under the SBIR or STTR program; and (B) authorize the recipients described in subparagraph (A) to use amounts authorized under this subsection to participate in the I–Corps teams course, I–Corps bootcamp, or another equivalent training program. (2) Cost of participation The cost of participation by a recipient described in paragraph (1)(A) in an I–Corps course, I–Corps bootcamp, or another equivalent training program may be provided by— (A) an I–Corps team grant; (B) funds awarded to the recipient under this subsection; (C) the participating teams or other sources as appropriate; or (D) any combination of sources described in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C)..