§ 16393. Small business advocacy and assistance
(a)
Small business advocate
The Secretary shall require the Director of each National Laboratory, and may require the Director of a single-purpose research facility, to designate a small business advocate to—
(1)
increase the participation of small business concerns, including socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns (as defined in section
637
(a)(4) of title
15), in procurement, collaborative research, technology licensing, and technology transfer activities conducted by the National Laboratory or single-purpose research facility;
(2)
report to the Director of the National Laboratory or single-purpose research facility on the actual participation of small business concerns in procurement and collaborative research along with recommendations, if appropriate, on how to improve participation;
(3)
make available to small business concerns training, mentoring, and information on how to participate in procurement and collaborative research activities;
(b)
Establishment of small business assistance program
The Secretary shall require the Director of each National Laboratory, and may require the Director of a single-purpose research facility, to establish a program to provide small business concerns with—
(c)
Use of funds
None of the funds expended under subsection (b) may be used for direct grants to small business concerns.
(d)
Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for activities under this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2008.