In general

The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

46.

Program to provide federal contracts to early stage small businesses

(a)

Establishment

The Administrator shall establish and carry out a program in accordance with the requirements of this section to provide improved access to Federal contract opportunities for early stage small business concerns. (b)

Procurement contracts

(1)

In general

In carrying out subsection (a), the Administrator, in consultation with other Federal agencies, shall identify procurement contracts of Federal agencies for award under the program. (2)

Contract awards

Under the program established pursuant to this section, the award of a procurement contract of a Federal agency identified by the Administrator pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be made by the agency to an eligible program participant selected, and determined to be responsible, by the agency. (3)

Competition

(A)

Sole source

A contracting officer may award a sole source contract under this program if such concern is determined to be a responsible contractor with respect to performance of such contract opportunity and the contracting officer does not have a reasonable expectation that 2 or more early stage small business concerns will submit offers for the contracting opportunity and in the estimation of the contracting officer, the contract award can be made at a fair and reasonable price. (B)

restricted competition

A contracting officer may award contracts on the basis of competition restricted to early stage small business concerns if the contracting officer has a reasonable expectation that not less than 2 early stage small business concerns will submit offers and that the award can be made at a fair market price. (4)

Contract value

Contracts shall be awarded under this program if its value is greater than $3,000 and less than half the upper threshold of section 15(j)(1) of the Small Business Act. (c)

Eligibility

Only an early stage small business concern shall be eligible to compete for a contract to be awarded under the program. The Administrator shall certify that a small business concern is an early stage small business concern, or the Administrator shall approve a Federal agency, a State government, or a national certifying entity to certify that the business meets the eligibility criteria of an early stage small business concern. (d)

Technical assistance

The Administrator shall provide early stage small business concerns with technical assistance and counseling with regard to— (1)applying for and competing for Federal contracts; and (2)fulfilling the administrative responsibilities associated with the performance of a Federal contract. (e)

Attainment of contract goals

All contract awards made under the program shall be counted toward the attainment of the goals specified in section 15(g) of the Small Business Act. (f)

Regulations

The Administrator shall— (1)issue proposed regulations to carry out this section not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act; and (2)issue final regulations to carry out this section not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act. (g)

Report to congress

Not later than April 30, 2015, the Administrator shall transmit to the Congress a report on the performance of the program. (h)

Definitions

For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply: (1)

Program

The term program means a program established pursuant to subsection (a). (2)

Early stage small business concern

The term early stage small business concern means a small business concern that— (A)has not more than 15 employees; and (B)has average annual receipts that total not more than $1,000,000, except if the concern is in an industry with an average annual revenue standard that is less than $1,000,000, as defined by the North American Industry Classification System.