Small Business Innovation Research Grants Program; Administrative Provisions

The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) is amending its regulations relating to the administration of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grants Program, which prescribe the procedures to be followed annually in the solicitation of research grant proposals, the evaluation of such proposals, and the award of competitive research grants under this program. This rule amends those regulations by encouraging the individuals who are principally responsible for the scientific or technical direction of the proposed work to be designated as the principal investigator, making it a condition that Federal funds remain for an extension of a Phase I grant and that an extension will not normally exceed 12 months, requiring that when purchasing equipment or products with agreement funds that only American-made items are purchased to the extent possible, and making a few additional changes. CSREES is publishing these regulations in their entirety in order to enhance their use by the public and to ensure expeditious submission and processing of grant proposals.