Lafayette Reporter

Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Small Business Committee, introduced the DOE and SBA Research Act today. The proposed legislation aims to mandate collaboration between the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Small Business Administration (SBA) to increase opportunities for small businesses to secure government contracts.

The House of Representatives has already passed the companion bill, co-led by Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.) and Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.).

“The DOE and SBA Research Act would help ensure the government is doing all that it can to expand contract opportunities to Louisiana and America’s best job providers—small businesses. The Senate should send this common-sense bill to the president’s desk quickly,” said Kennedy.

The SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Program is designed to provide small businesses with training to better access government contracting opportunities.

The DOE and SBA Research Act specifically requires both agencies to submit a report to Congress detailing their coordination efforts, potential opportunities for expanding technical capabilities, and collaborative research achievements aimed at enhancing small business opportunities in the federal marketplace.

Full text of the bill is available here.