REPORTS OF THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL.

SEC.105. REPORTS OF THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL. (a) Interim Report.— (1) In general.— The Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Congress an interim report concerning the quality of research performed under SBIR program funding agreements entered into during fiscal year 1993 and thereafter. Copies of the interim report shall be furnished to each agency that has participated in the SBIR program in fiscal year 1993 or thereafter. (2) Contents of report.— The Comptroller General shall include in the interim report required under paragraph (1)— 106 STAT. 4255 (A) an assessment of the quality of the research performed under the SBIR program funding agreements entered into by each agency that has participated in the SBIR program beginning in fiscal year 1993 or thereafter, specifically addressing— (i) with respect to each such agency, whether or not there has been a demonstrable reduction in research quality; and (ii) in the case of such reduction, whether an increase in each such agency’s required SBIR participation in accordance with section 9(f)(1) of the Small Business Act (as amended by subsection (b) of this section) would adversely affect the performance of the agency’s research programs; (B) an analysis of the program authorized by section 301 of the Small Business Research and Development Enhancement Act of 1992, considering, among other things— (i) the extent to which each SBIR agency has implemented the program and the extent to which the program has improved the quality of agency-sponsored research and development; (ii) the effect of the program on recipient companies’ ability to develop and commercialize technology; (iii) the cost of the program and the average cost per recipient company; and (iv) the extent to which SBIR companies continue to use the service after completion of the program; and (C) such other factors as the Comptroller General may deem appropriate. (b) Final Report.— The Comptroller General of the United States shall transmit to the Congress a final report containing— (1) a review of the progress made by Federal agencies in meeting the requirements of section 9(f) of the Small Business Act (as amended by this Act), including increases in expenditures required by that subsection; (2) an analysis of participation by small business concerns in the third phase of SBIR programs, including a systematic evaluation of the techniques adopted by Federal agencies to foster commercialization; (3) an analysis of the extent to which awards under SBIR programs are made pursuant to section 9(l) of the Small Business Act (as added by section 103(h)) in cases in which a program solicitation receives only 1 proposal; (4) an analysis of the extent to which awards in the first phase of the SBIR program are made to small business concerns that have received more than 15 second phase awards under the SBIR program in the preceding 5 fiscal years, considering— (A) the extent to which such concerns were able to secure Federal or private sector follow-on funding; (B) the extent to which the research developed under such awards was commercialized; and (C) the amount of commercialization of research developed under such awards, as compared to the amount of commercialization of SBIR research for the entire SBIR program; 106 STAT. 4256 (5) the results of periodic random audits of the extramural budget of each such Federal agency; (6) a review of the extent to which the purposes of this title and the Small Business Innovation Development Act of 1982 have been met with regard to fostering and encouraging the participation of women-owned small business concerns and socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns (as defined in the Small Business Act) in technological innovation, in general, and the SBIR program, in particular; (7) an analysis of the effectiveness of the SBIR program in promoting the development of the critical technologies identified by the Secretary of Defense and the National Critical Technologies Panel (or its successor), as described in subparagraph 9(j)(2)(E) of the Small Business Act; (8) an analysis of the impact of agency application review periods and funding cycles on SBIR program awardees’ financial status and ability to commercialize; and (9) recommendations to the Congress for tracking the extent to which foreign firms, or United States firms with substantial foreign ownership interests, benefit from technology or products developed as a direct result of SBIR research or research and development. (c) Dates of Submission.— The report required— (1) under subsection (a), shall be submitted to the Congress not later than March 31, 1995; and (2) under subsection (b), shall be submitted to the Congress not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this title.