Jan 18 -- The Small Business Administration (SBA) invites comments by March 20, 2023 regarding data collection for the Federal and State Technology Partnership (FAST) Program.
The Federal and State Technology Partnership (FAST) Program is a competitive grants program designed to strengthen the technological competitiveness of small businesses seeking funding from the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. Congress established the FAST Program under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2001, codified at 15 U.S.C. 657d(c). The program expired on September 30, 2005, and was reestablished under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2010.
FAST provides funding to organizations to execute state/regional programs that increase the number of SBIR/STTR proposals (through outreach and financial support); increase the number of SBIR/STTR awards (through technical assistance and mentoring); and better prepare SBIR/STTR awardees for commercialization success (through technical assistance and mentoring).
The FAST Quarterly Reporting Form will collect data from FAST award recipients which will be used to improve program performance. The Quarterly Reports will collect ongoing performance and outcome data from FAST awardees on a required, quarterly basis. As well as improving program management, the data collected will inform the Annual Reports to the Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship; the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology; and the House Committee on Small Business, as required in the Small Business Act 34(c)(1)(2).
FAST Partnership Program
https://www.sbir.gov/about-fast
Draft data collection instrument:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/skzo1h0ff4zfqe5x7j2q6/SBA_FAST_OMB_Quarterly_Metrics_Form_Draft.xlsx?dl=0&rlkey=yer8n40cslkrewxoeulvu77cd
Prior (2020) submission to OMB:
https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=202001-3245-003 Per SBA, for 2023: "The number of awardees submitting has increased from 24 to currently 44 with 6 more awards projected to be added in FY2023. Also due to the increase in awards, the number of responses has increased from 96 to 176 with 200 projected for FY 2023."
FRN:
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2023-00853
