Executive Summary How the SBIR Program Is Administered Agencies Conducting SBIR Programs Quality of SBIR Stimulating Technological Innovation Using SBIR Programs to Meet Federal R&D Needs Concerning Specific Projects Appendix II: Questionnaire to Firms With SBIR Projects Appendix III: Questionnaire to SBIR Project Officers on Appendix XV: Letter From the National Science Foundation Concerning the SBIR Program Appendix XVI: Letter From the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Concerning the SBIR Program Tables Table 1.1: Data on SBIR Programs by Fiscal Year, All 11 Table 2.1: SBIR Proposal Selection Rate, Fiscal Years 21 Table 2.2: Project Officer Responses Concerning SBIR Support of Technological Innovation Table 2.3: Firm Responses Concerning Indicators of Figure Figure 1.1: SBIR Funding by Agency 13 Since fiscal year 1983 federal agencies with large research and develop- SBIR program goals are to stimulate technological innovation, use small businesses to meet federal R&D needs, increase private sector commercialization of innovations derived from federal R&D, and foster and encourage participation by minority and disadvantaged persons in technological innovation. Responsibility for SBIR program administration is shared between the Small Business Administration (SBA) and participating R&D agencies. SBIR legislation requires that SBA issue policy directives for the general conduct of the program. However, each participating R&D agency has unilateral responsibility for determining the research areas to be included in its SBIR program, receiving and evaluating research proposals, selecting awardees, and administering payments. SBA has issued directives that include instructions for preparing agency SBIR program solicitations and for accepting and processing project proposals. It has also provided guidance for agencies in issuing standardized and timely program solicitations and for minimizing the regulatory burden of firms participating in the program. To be eligible for an SBIR award, SBA's SBIR program policy directive states that small businesses must be independently owned and operated, other than the dominant firms in the field in which they are proposing to carry out SBIR projects, organized and operated for profit, |