Extended deadline on SBIR data rights proposal

      DOD announced it is extending the comment deadline and also holding a second public meeting on its proposed rule of Dec. 19 implementing the data rights provisions of the SBIR/STTR Policy Directive.

      The policy directive, issued in 2019, stated that following a protected period the government would have a royalty-free license to use SBIR/STTR data for its own purposes, and would have no liability for unauthorized use by third parties.

     The deadline for comments is now March 20, and the public meeting will be held on March 2, with all registrations due by Feb. 23.

Read more:
DOD announcement: https://bit.ly/3YTAGxD

Emissions rule pushback

      Sen. Joni Ernst, R-IA, and others are objecting to the proposed rule requiring federal contractors with $7.5 million or more in awards a year to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions.

      Ernst said the proposed rule is “confusing, contradictory, and misaligned” and would “disproportionately harm small businesses”. She is the top-ranked Republican on the Senate Small Business panel.

      The Aerospace Industries Association, NDIA and other entities also are raising concerns. (See AIA, NDIA and other responses in today's "DOD strategy" story.)

Read more at:
Ernst statement: https://bit.ly/3xn49nH
AIA and NDIA industry responses: "Response to DOD strategy" story

SBDC proposed rule

      The SBA recently proposed a broad-ranging new rule to modify the policies and procedures for its network of Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) and related service locations.

      The proposal included procedures for: 1) Selection of Lead SBDC directors; 2) Findings of, and disputes over, financial exams, program reviews, accreditation reviews and other oversight activities; 3) Suspension or termination of an SBDC’s cooperative agreement; and 4) Collection and use of an individual SBDC’s client data, among other issues.

Read more at:
Proposed rule: https://bit.ly/3RVFEaR

Inside this edition:

Williams claims minority-only opportunities “unfair” to others

SBA: Two new final rules

SBA lines up proposed rules on “Rule of Two,” WBCs & more

Ernst ranking on Senate small biz panel

HSBC names leadership

Prompt pay interest rate

Response to DOD strategy

Column: How Do I Find a Mentor?

Washington Insider: