SBIR/STTR News. SSTI, a comprehensive weekly resource for those involved in economic development, reported on September 10, 2025, that changes may be coming to the SBIR/STTR program. While it is likely to be extended one year in an “as is” clean extension (H.R. 5100), there are House and Senate reforms on the horizon that have been introduced by the bodies’ Small Business Committees. House Committee Chairman Williams has packaged a proposed compromise H.R. 4777. If enacted as proposed by the House Committee, some of the provisions are:
- $75 million cap on future SBIR Phase I and II awards for any one firm. There is a waiver for mission critical needs for firms heavily engaged with the Department of War, NASA, or DOE
- Submission throttle of a maximum of 10 proposals per solicitation and 25 per agency per year
- Broaden geographic participation by requiring outreach to rural areas and SBDC’s to provide technical assistance and proposal support
There is no mention of FAST (the Federal and State Technology Partnership Program) awardees as technical assistance resources, which may further signal their demise. The House FY 2026 appropriations bill sets FAST funding at zero.
DOE Science Increased in Narrow House Vote. Appropriations and funding bills continue to be considered in Committees and in House votes. The House Energy and Water bill was passed by the full House by a single vote, 214-213, on September 4th, which includes a 50% cut to the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. A 2% increase for the Department of Energy Office of Science was approved, despite cuts overall. SSTI, September 11, 2025.