A major reboot of the government’s small‑innovation programs is finally moving after months of uncertainty
A major reboot of the government’s small‑innovation programs is finally moving after months of uncertainty  
Podcast: The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton
Published On: Wed Mar 18 2026
Description: The Senate has advanced a bill that would reauthorize the SBIR and STTR programs through 2031 after a long lapse, and it comes with some notable changes for small R&D firms. The package adds tougher foreign‑risk screening and introduces new “Strategic Breakthrough” Phase II awards that can reach up to $30 million. We’ll look at what those shifts mean for innovators and contracting officers with Emily Murphy, former GSA Administrator.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.