A Democratic bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on Small Business, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the Clear Lessons and Evaluation for Award Reviews Feedback Act or the CLEAR Feedback Act. It amends the Small Business Act to require Federal agencies to provide enhanced debriefing materials to small businesses that are denied certain awards. The bill covers denials for both SBIR and STTR awards. Under this legislation, small businesses can request these debriefing materials within a specific timeframe after being denied. The materials must include an evaluation of significant deficiencies, an overall ranking compared to other proposals, and the rationale for the denial. Federal agencies are also required to answer follow-up questions from the small businesses within a set timeline.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +8
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
Provides small businesses with critical feedback and transparency regarding SBIR/STTR grant denials.
- Scored +8
Would business owners be better off under this?
Directly benefits small business owners seeking federal R&D grants via better feedback.
- Scored +7
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
Mandates that agencies provide specific rationales and rankings for grant denials.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 2 (SBIR Award Denials): This section requires Federal agencies to establish a process to provide enhanced debriefing materials to small businesses denied a Phase I, Phase II, or Phase III SBIR award, upon request within 14 business days. This is positive because it gives small business owners clear evaluations of their proposal's significant deficiencies, an overall ranking, and the rationale for the denial, helping them improve future applications.
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Section 2 (SBIR Follow-Up Questions): Under Section 2, small businesses have the opportunity to submit additional questions related to the debriefing within 7 business days, and the Federal agency must answer within 14 business days. This benefits everyday entrepreneurs by giving them a direct line for clarification and accountability from the government regarding why their hard work was turned down.
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Section 3 (STTR Award Denials): This section mandates that Federal agencies set up a process to provide enhanced debriefing materials to small businesses denied Phase I, Phase II, or Phase III STTR awards. This helps small businesses participating in the STTR program by letting them know the significant deficiencies in their proposals, how they ranked against others, and why they were denied.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Section 2 and Section 3 (Strict Timelines for Small Businesses): Both Section 2 and Section 3 require small businesses to request enhanced debriefing materials not later than 14 business days after a denial, and to submit any additional questions within 7 business days of receiving the materials. For busy small business owners trying to keep their doors open, these tight turnaround times could create an extra burden and stress if they miss the strict windows.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Mandates that agencies provide specific rationales and rankings for grant denials. Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — Provides a more structured and transparent process for businesses to understand administrative denials.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Provides small businesses with critical feedback and transparency regarding SBIR/STTR grant denials. Is this likely to grow the economy? — Better transparency in federal R&D grants supports small business innovation and competitiveness. Is this likely to create jobs? — Improved feedback on grant denials may help small businesses refine proposals and eventually secure funding for growth.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — Directly benefits small business owners seeking federal R&D grants via better feedback.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — Facilitates better proposal quality for scientific research grants through improved feedback.
- 9/24/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/10/2026
- Referred to the Committee on Small Business, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Introduced in House
Gilbert CisnerosDemocrat · California