DOE and SBA Research Act

The DOE and SBA Research Act would establish a formal partnership between the Department of Energy and the Small Business Administration to conduct joint research and development activities. The bill would require the Secretary of Energy and the SBA Administrator to enter into a memorandum of understanding that facilitates collaboration between the two agencies, with a focus on including small businesses in these research efforts. The agencies would be authorized to work with other federal agencies as needed and establish reimbursable agreements to enhance the effectiveness of their collaborative work.

Under the bill, the DOE and SBA would be required to submit a report to Congress within two years detailing the degree of coordination between the agencies, achievements in collaborative research, opportunities for expanding technical capabilities, and potential areas for future collaboration. The legislation emphasizes that small businesses, which contribute significantly to research and development efforts, should have greater access to research opportunities alongside the Department of Energy's 17 national laboratories. The bill would operate within existing budgetary constraints and would not require additional federal funding.