S1003-118

2. Federal and State Technology Partnership Program Section 34 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657d) is amended— in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following: The term underperforming State means a State participating in the SBIR or STTR program that has been calculated by the Administrator to be one of 18 States receiving the fewest SBIR and STTR Phase I awards. in subsection (c)— in paragraph (1)— in subparagraph (E)— in clause (iii), by striking and at the end; in clause (iv), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and by adding at the end the following: to prioritize applicants located in an underperforming State. in paragraph (2)(B)(vi)— in subclause (II), by striking and at the end; and by adding at the end the following: located in an underperforming State; and in paragraph (3), by striking Not more than one proposal and inserting There is no limit on the number of proposals that; and by adding at the end the following: Upon application by a recipient that is located in an underperforming State, the Administrator may— provide additional assistance to the recipient; and waive the matching requirements under subsection (e)(2). in subsection (e)— in paragraph (2)— in subparagraph (A)— by inserting and STTR before first phase each place that term appears; in clause (i), by striking 50 and inserting 25; and in clause (iii), by striking 75 and inserting 50; in subparagraph (D), by striking , beginning with fiscal year 2001 and inserting and make publicly available on the website of the Administration, beginning with fiscal year 2023; and by adding at the end the following: The non-Federal share of the cost of an activity carried out by a recipient may be paid by the recipient over the course of the period of the award or cooperative agreement. by adding at the end the following: In carrying out the FAST program under this section— the Administrator shall make and enter into awards or cooperative agreements; each award or cooperative agreement described in subparagraph (A) shall be for not more than $500,000, which shall be provided over 2 fiscal years; and any amounts left unused in the third quarter of the second fiscal year may be retained by the Administrator for future FAST program awards. Not later than 6 months after receiving an award or entering into a cooperative agreement under this section, a recipient shall report to the Administrator— the number of awards made under the SBIR or STTR program; the number of applications submitted for the SBIR or STTR program; the number of consulting hours spent; the number of training events conducted; and any issues encountered in the management and application of the FAST program. in subsection (f)— in paragraph (1)— in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)— by striking Small Business Innovation Research Program Reauthorization Act of 2000 and inserting FAST Fix Act of 2023; and by inserting and Entrepreneurship before of the Senate; in subparagraph (B), by striking and at the end; in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and by adding at the end the following: a description of the process used to ensure that underperforming States are given priority application status under the FAST program. in paragraph (2)— in the paragraph heading, by striking Annual and inserting Biennial; in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking an annual and inserting a biennial; in subparagraph (B), by striking and at the end; in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and by adding at the end the following: the proportion of awards provided to and cooperative agreements entered into with underperforming States; and a list of the States that were determined by the Administrator to be underperforming States, and a description of any changes in the list compared to previously submitted reports. in subsection (g)(2)— by striking 2004 and inserting 2023; and by inserting and Entrepreneurship before of the Senate; and in subsection (h)(1), by striking $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 through 2005 and inserting $20,000,000 for every 2 fiscal years between fiscal years 2023 through 2027, to be obligated before the end of the second fiscal year. (11)Underperforming StateThe term underperforming State means a State participating in the SBIR or STTR program that has been calculated by the Administrator to be one of 18 States receiving the fewest SBIR and STTR Phase I awards.; (v)to prioritize applicants located in an underperforming State.; (IV)located in an underperforming State; and; (6)Additional assistance for underperforming StatesUpon application by a recipient that is located in an underperforming State, the Administrator may—(A)provide additional assistance to the recipient; and(B)waive the matching requirements under subsection (e)(2).; (E)PaymentThe non-Federal share of the cost of an activity carried out by a recipient may be paid by the recipient over the course of the period of the award or cooperative agreement.; and (4)Amount of awardIn carrying out the FAST program under this section—(A)the Administrator shall make and enter into awards or cooperative agreements;(B)each award or cooperative agreement described in subparagraph (A) shall be for not more than $500,000, which shall be provided over 2 fiscal years; and(C)any amounts left unused in the third quarter of the second fiscal year may be retained by the Administrator for future FAST program awards.(5)ReportingNot later than 6 months after receiving an award or entering into a cooperative agreement under this section, a recipient shall report to the Administrator—(A)the number of awards made under the SBIR or STTR program;(B)the number of applications submitted for the SBIR or STTR program;(C)the number of consulting hours spent;(D)the number of training events conducted; and(E)any issues encountered in the management and application of the FAST program.; (D)a description of the process used to ensure that underperforming States are given priority application status under the FAST program.; and (D)the proportion of awards provided to and cooperative agreements entered into with underperforming States; and(E)a list of the States that were determined by the Administrator to be underperforming States, and a description of any changes in the list compared to previously submitted reports.;