SBIR/STTR News Update

Breaking Defense reports additional information on the impasse that Senate lawmakers are in regarding the Pentagon’s SBIR program. Sen. Joni Ernst (R), sponsor of the Innovate Act—which if enacted will establish some of the new SBIR rules enunciated here in this space in October—has openly railed against “SBIR mills,” where repeat winners gain much of the award money but do not end up creating products and services that are competitive on the open market. Ernst said this “SBIR set-aside charade” should end if the basic safeguards she proposes are opposed by her colleagues and, if so, believes the money should be returned to R&D within the defense agencies to better serve the warfighter. Sen. Markey (D) of Massachusetts opposes the cap limitation on repeat awards, creating the stalemate that forced the one year extension between the House and Senate previously reported. Further perspectives on the effectiveness of the SBIR program can be found at this Breaking Defense article from April.

Nov. 2025 BEST START Energy Digest