99 -- SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SBA) - ADVANCE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING CONCERNING RESTRUCTURING SIZE STANDARDS AND SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH PROGRAM (SBIR)

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) on December 3, 2004, seeking public input on various issues related to its small business size standards. This ANPRM follows the withdrawal of a previous proposal aimed at restructuring these standards. It focuses on matters not included in the earlier 2004 proposal and aims to gather feedback to help simplify and improve the size standards system in future rulemaking efforts. Additionally, the SBA is soliciting comments on a specific issue involving businesses majority-owned by venture capital companies and their eligibility for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program, specifically whether such ownership should be excluded from affiliation considerations in determining program eligibility. The solicitation invites stakeholders to provide insight on the restructuring of size standards and on the participation rules for venture capital-owned businesses in the SBIR Program. The notice is intended to inform future proposals by incorporating public comments on these complex issues, ensuring that the SBA’s policies facilitate small business participation effectively. Interested parties or those seeking more information may contact Carl G Jordan, Program Analyst in the Office of Size Standards, or visit the SBA’s official website. This effort is part of the SBA’s ongoing commitment to refine and enhance policies supporting small businesses under NAICS code 926110.