REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO COMPETITIVE PROCEDURES AND JUSTIFICATION FOR AWARDS UNDER THE SBIR AND STTR PROGRAMS.

SEC. 1709. REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO COMPETITIVE PROCEDURES AND JUSTIFICATION FOR AWARDS UNDER THE SBIR AND STTR PROGRAMS. (a) In General.—Section 9(r)(4) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(r)(4)) is amended by striking “shall issue Phase III awards” and inserting the following:“shall— “(A) consider an award under the SBIR program or the STTR program to satisfy the requirements under section 2304 of title 10, United States Code, and any other applicable competition requirements; and “(B) issue, without further justification, Phase III awards” . (b) Conforming Amendments.— (1) Small business act.—Section 9(r) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(r)) is amended— (A) in the subsection heading, by inserting “, Competitive Procedures, and Justification for Awards” after “Agreements”; and (B) by amending the heading for paragraph (4) to read as follows: “Competitive procedures and justification for awards”. (2) Title 10.—Section 2304(f) of title 10, United States Code, is amended— (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting “and paragraph (6)” after “paragraph (2)”; and (B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: “(6) The justification and approval required by paragraph (1) is not required in the case of a Phase III award made pursuant to section 9(r)(4) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(r)(4)).” .