Advanced Technology

Proposal Review Process and Treatment of Foreign-Owned Businesses Gao ID: RCED-94-81 January 18, 1994

This report reviews the implementation of the Advanced Technology Program, which seeks to help U.S. businesses create and apply the generic technology and research necessary to rapidly commercialize major scientific discoveries and new technologies and to refine manufacturing technologies. Funding for the program, which is run by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, rose from $68 million in fiscal year 1993 to $200 million in fiscal year 1994--a 194-percent increase. GAO discusses (1) how the program limits its awards to research and development on "precompetitive generic technology" and (2) the treatment of foreign-owned businesses that submit proposals for awards.

GAO found that: (1) ATP relies on a consensus decision by its source evaluation board (SEB) to eliminate proposals that do not involve precompetitive generic technology; (2) SEB bases its determination of precompetitive generic content on technical expertise, expert reviewers' comments, and discussions among ATP staff; (3) SEB may eliminate proposals at any time for not including precompetitive generic research; (4) NIST is revising guidance on precompetitive generic technology to clarify the selection criteria used in the proposal review process and the type of research and development ATP supports; and (5) there is no evidence of unfair treatment of foreign-owned businesses that submit ATP proposals for review.



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