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Title 15, Commerce and TradeRelease 119-110

§2508 Encouragement and Protection of Small Business

Title 15 › CHAPTER 52 — ELECTRIC AND HYBRID VEHICLE RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND DEMONSTRATION › § 2508

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Energy must try to give small businesses a real chance to join the program and must set aside a reasonable share of the program funds for contracts on electric or hybrid vehicle research, development, or demonstration. Contracts must use terms and payment plans that help small businesses and avoid penalties or clauses that would block them. The Secretary must also offer planning grants to qualified small businesses to help prepare, submit, and enter these contracts.

Full Legal Text

Title 15, §2508

Commerce and Trade, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Opportunity to participate
The Secretary of Energy shall take such steps as are feasible to assure that small business concerns have a realistic and adequate opportunity to participate in the project.
(b)Reservation of funds
To assist in accomplishing the objectives of subsection (a), the Secretary of Energy shall reserve, for contracts with small business concerns, a reasonable portion of the funds made available pursuant to this chapter for research, development, or demonstration of electric or hybrid vehicles.
(c)Contract terms and conditions; planning grants
The Secretary of Energy shall, in addition to the requirements set forth in subsections (a) and (b)—
(1)include in all contracts for research, development, or demonstration of electric or hybrid vehicles such terms, conditions, and payment schedules as may assist in meeting the needs of small business concerns, and shall take steps to avoid the inclusion in such contracts of any terms, conditions, or penalties which would tend to prevent such concerns from participating in the program under this chapter; and
(2)make planning grants available to qualified small business concerns which require assistance in developing, submitting, and entering into such contracts.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Transfer of Functions

“Secretary of Energy” substituted in text for “Administrator” pursuant to section 301(a) of Pub. L. 95–91, see Codification note set out under section 2502 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

15 U.S.C. § 2508

Title 15, Commerce and Trade

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110