H.R. 3953 — SBIR/STTR Website Improvement Act

This section requires the SBIR program website, under 15 U.S.C. 638(g)(8), and the STTR program website, under 15 U.S.C. 638(o)(9), to disclose for each subcontracted research institution under Phase I, II, or III SBIR awards (Phase III newly added for SBIR) or Phase I or II STTR awards, respectively: (1) the name and location; (2) whether it is an institution of higher education (IHE), a nonprofit institution other than an IHE (as defined in 15 U.S.C. 3703), or a federally funded research and development center; and (3) for IHEs, whether it is a part B institution, Hispanic-serving institution, Tribal College or University, Alaska Native- or Native Hawaiian-serving institution, Predominantly Black Institution, Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution, or Native American-serving nontribal institution (all as defined in the Higher Education Act of 1965). It further revises the SBIR/STTR public database requirements, under 15 U.S.C. 638(k), to cover Phase I, II, or III awards for both programs (from Phase I or II previously); requires small business awardees to report the same subcontract information; and directs the database to include such details. (As background, the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs provide federal R&D funding to small businesses, frequently via partnerships with research institutions including universities.)