[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 17 (Thursday, January 28, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S385-S386]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 3121. Mr. HEINRICH (for himself and Mr. Bennet) submitted an
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 2953 proposed by Ms.
Murkowski to the bill S. 2012, to provide for the modernization of the
energy policy of the United States, and for other purposes; which was
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle C of title IV, add the following:
SEC. 4205. TECHNOLOGY MATURATION GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) National laboratory.--The term ``National Laboratory''
has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).
(2) Small business concern.--The term ``small business
concern'' has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the
Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632).
(b) Establishment of Technology Maturation Grant Program.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish the National
Laboratory technology maturation program under which the
Secretary shall make grants to National Laboratories for the
purpose of increasing the successful transfer of technologies
licensed from National Laboratories to small business
concerns by providing a link between an innovative process or
technology and a practical application with potential to be
successful in commercial markets.
(2) Application for grant from the secretary.--
(A) In general.--Each National Laboratory that elects to
apply for a grant under paragraph (1) shall submit an
application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner,
and containing such information as the Secretary may
reasonably require.
(B) Contents.--In an application submitted under this
paragraph, a National Laboratory shall describe how the
National Laboratory will--
(i) manage a technology maturation program;
(ii) encourage small business concerns, with an emphasis on
businesses in the region in which the National Laboratory is
located, to participate in the technology maturation program;
(iii) select small business concerns and technologies to
participate in the technology maturation program using a
selection board (referred to in this subsection as the
``selection board'') made up of technical and business
members, including venture capitalists and investors; and
(iv) measure the results of the program and the return on
investment, including--
(I) the number of technologies licensed to small business
concerns;
(II) the number of new small business concerns created;
(III) the number of jobs created or retained;
(IV) sales of the licensed technologies; and
(V) any additional external investment attracted by
participating small business concerns.
(3) Maximum grant.--The maximum amount of a grant received
by a National Laboratory under paragraph (1) shall be
$5,000,000 for each fiscal year.
(4) Vouchers to small business concerns from national
laboratories.--
(A) In general.--A National Laboratory receiving a grant
under paragraph (1) shall use the grant funds to provide
vouchers to small business concerns that hold a technology
license from a National Laboratory to pay the cost of
providing assistance from scientists and engineers at the
National Laboratory to assist in the development of the
licensed technology and further develop related products and
services until the products and services are market-ready or
sufficiently developed to attract private investment.
(B) Use of voucher funds.--A small business concern
receiving a voucher under subparagraph (A) may use the
voucher--
(i) to gain access to special equipment or facilities at
the National Laboratory that awarded the voucher;
(ii) to partner with the National Laboratory on a
commercial prototype; and
(iii) to perform early-stage feasibility or later-stage
field testing.
(C) Eligible projects.--A National Laboratory receiving a
grant under paragraph (1) may provide a voucher to small
business concerns and partnerships between a small business
concern and an institution of higher education (as defined in
section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1001(a))) for projects--
(i) involving--
(I) commercial prototypes;
(II) scale-up and field demonstrations; or
(III) other activities that move the technology closer to
successful commercialization; and
(ii) that do not exceed 1 year.
[[Page S386]]
(D) Application for voucher from national laboratory.--Each
small business concern that holds a technology license from a
National Laboratory that elects to apply for a voucher under
subparagraph (A) shall submit an application to the selection
board at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the selection board may reasonably require.
(E) Criteria.--The selection board may award vouchers based
on--
(i) the viability of the technology for commercial success;
(ii) a robust commercialization business plan for
transition of the technology into a marketplace success;
(iii) a significant opportunity for growth of an existing
company;
(iv) access to a strong, experienced business and technical
team;
(v) clear, market-driven milestones for the project;
(vi) the potential of the technology to enhance the economy
of the region in which the National Laboratory is located;
(vii) availability and source of matching funds for the
project, including in-kind contributions; and
(viii) compatibility with the mission of the National
Laboratory.
(F) Maximum voucher.--The maximum amount of a voucher
received by a small business concern under subparagraph (A)
shall be $250,000.
(G) Progress tracking.--
(i) In general.--The National Laboratory that awards a
voucher to carry out a project under subparagraph (A) shall
establish a procedure to monitor interim progress of the
project toward commercialization milestones.
(ii) Termination of voucher.--If the National Laboratory
determines that a project is not making adequate progress
toward commercialization milestones under the procedure
established pursuant to clause (i), the project shall not
continue to receive funding or assistance under this
paragraph.
(c) Annual Report.--
(1) In general.--Each National Laboratory receiving a grant
under subsection (b) shall submit to the Secretary an annual
report, at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may
reasonably require.
(2) Contents of report.--The report submitted under
paragraph (1) shall--
(A) include a list of each recipient of a voucher and the
amount of each voucher awarded; and
(B) provide an estimate of the return on investment,
including--
(i) the increase in the number of technologies licensed to
small business concerns;
(ii) the number of jobs created or retained;
(iii) sales of the licensed technologies; and
(iv) any additional external investment attracted by
participating small business concerns.
(d) Final Report.--Not later than 5 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committees on Armed Services and Energy and Natural Resources
of the Senate and the Committees on Armed Services and
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives a report on the results of the program
established under subsection (b), including--
(1) the return on investment; and
(2) any recommendations for improvements to the program.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this section $25,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2016 through 2020.
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