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GAO: Small Business Research Programs: Agencies Have Improved Compliance with Spending and Reporting Requirements, but Challenges Remain

May 1, 2016

Pursuit's Take

Federal agencies have awarded contracts and grants totaling more than $40 billion through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs to small businesses to develop and commercialize innovative technologies. The Small Business Act requires agencies with extramural R&D obligations that meet certain thresholds—$100 million for SBIR and $1 billion for STTR—to spend a percentage of these funds on the programs. The agencies are to report on their activities to SBA, and in turn, SBA is to report to Congress.

Agency data indicate that 9 of the 11 agencies participating in the SBIR program met or exceeded their fiscal year 2014 spending requirements, while the remaining 2 agencies did not. In addition, one agency’s total extramural R&D obligations reached the $1 billion threshold for an STTR program, but it did not establish an STTR program as required by law.

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