Inherent Biosciences, Inc.

SBIR Reauthorization Update: Today, we need everyone to call Senator Edward Markey's Washington office (202) 224-2742 and urge the Markey team to accept the bi-partisan compromise and stop the carnage in the American start-up ecosystem. Ask Senator Markey to put start-ups before donors and lobbyists. Here are the basic facts: There is a deal that has bipartisan support and five of the 'Six Corners' have signed off on. 'Six Corners' is the Majority and Minority leadership of the House Small Business Committee, the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, and the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. The lone holdout is Senator Ed Markey. The deal would require agencies to set a limit on number of proposals a company can submit. Agencies ALREADY have that power! For instance, NSF allows an organization to submit only a single proposal per submission cycle. The new law would go from ‘may’ set a limit to ‘must’ set a limit. Given that most agencies have opted not use the power they already have, it is unlikely they will set strict limits. Yet, somehow even this minor reform is unacceptable to the biggest abusers of the SBIR system. Three of the largest SBIR Mills (Physical Sciences (1,728 SBIR awards worth over $650,000,000), Triton Systems (906 SBIR awards worth over $365,000,000), and Creare (1,371 SBIR awards worth over $495,000,000)) are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in lobbying effort to grant them unlimited perpetual access to SBIR funds. Further, Physical Sciences CEO and President William Marinelli, Triton System Executive Vice President Ken Mahmud, and Creare Vice President, Principal Engineer & Partner Jay Rozzi are all Markey donors.  The lack of authorization is causing severe carnage in the start-up ecosystem. Given that Massachusetts is a hub of innovation and start-up activity, it is shocking that that Ed Markey is prioritizing donors and lobbyists over his own constituents. I guess he thinks money will be better weapon than serving the people of Massachusetts and the Nation in what what will be a tough primary fight with Seth Moulton. Lisa Goeas Ryan Alban Eric McCrery Maggie Ward Kate Cassling Danielle Fulfs Mary Hrinkevich Vijay Menon Jake Bornstein Neesha Suarez, MPA