SBIDA requires the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to ``issue policy directives for the general conduct of the SBIR programs within the Federal Government.'' 15 U.S.C. 638(j)(1). The purpose of the Policy Directive is to provide guidance to the Federal agencies participating in the program.

On December 31, 2011, the President signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (Defense Reauthorization Act), Public Law 112-81, 125-Stat. 1298, Section 5001, Division E of the Defense Authorization Act contains the SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2011 (Reauthorization Act), which amends the Small Business Act and makes several amendments to the SBIR Program. The Reauthorization Act requires that SBA issue amendments to the SBIR Policy Directive and publish the amendments in the Federal Register by June 27, 2012.

As a result of the abbreviated time frame set forth in the Reauthorization Act by which SBA is required to issue the amended Policy Directive, the Agency was unable to conduct public outreach prior to drafting and issuing the directive. Therefore, SBA is soliciting public comments on this final directive, and may amend the directive in response to these comments at a later time at www.SBIR.gov. SBA also plans to conduct public outreach sessions following publication, such as town hall meetings and webinars, to gather additional input on these statutory provisions and SBA's implementation. SBA will release more information about these public sessions later. The SBA notes that it consulted with the SBIR participating agencies when drafting these amendments.