In the Senate of the United States,
July 19, 2000.
Resolved, That the bill from the House of Representa-
tives (H.R. 2392) entitled ‘‘An Act to amend the Small Busi-
ness Act to extend the authorization for the Small Business
Innovation Research Program, and for other purposes.’’, do
pass with the following
AMENDMENT:
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the
‘‘Small Business Innovation Research Program Reauthor-
ization Act of 2000’’.
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for
this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Extension of SBIR program.
Sec. 4. Annual report.
Sec. 5. Third phase assistance.
Sec. 6. Policy directive modifications.
Sec. 7. Report on programs for annual performance plan.
Sec. 8. Output and outcome data.
Sec. 9. National Research Council reports.
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Sec. 10. Federal agency expenditures for the SBIR program.
Sec. 11. Federal and State Technology Partnership Program.
Sec. 12. Mentoring Networks.
Sec. 13. Simplified reporting requirements.
Sec. 14. Rural outreach program extension.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that—
(1) the small business innovation research pro-
gram established under the Small Business Innova-
tion Development Act of 1982, and reauthorized by
the Small Business Research and Development En-
hancement Act of 1992 (in this Act referred to as the
‘‘SBIR program’’) is highly successful in involving
small businesses in federally funded research and de-
velopment;
(2) the SBIR program made the cost-effective
and unique research and development capabilities
possessed by the small businesses of this Nation avail-
able to Federal agencies and departments;
(3) the innovative goods and services developed
by small businesses that participated in the SBIR
program have produced innovations of critical impor-
tance in a wide variety of high-technology fields, in-
cluding biology, medicine, education, and defense;
(4) the SBIR program is a catalyst in the pro-
motion of research and development, the commer-
cialization of innovative technology, the development
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of new products and services, and the continued excel-
lence of this Nation’s high-technology industries; and
(5) the continuation of the SBIR program will
provide expanded opportunities for one of the Na-
tion’s vital resources, its small businesses, will foster
invention, research, and technology, will create jobs,
and will increase this Nation’s competitiveness in
international markets.
SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF SBIR PROGRAM.
Section 9(m) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.
638(m)) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(m) TERMINATION.—The authorization to carry out
the Small Business Innovation Research Program estab-
lished under this section shall terminate on September 30,
2008.’’.
SEC. 4. ANNUAL REPORT.
Section 9(b)(7) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.
638(b)(7)) is amended by striking ‘‘and the Committee on
Small Business of the House of Representatives’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘, and to the Committee on Science and the Committee
on Small Business of the House of Representatives,’’.
SEC. 5. THIRD PHASE ASSISTANCE.
Section 9(e)(4)(C)(i) of the Small Business Act (15
U.S.C. 638(e)(4)(C)(i)) is amended by striking ‘‘; and’’ and
inserting ‘‘; or’’.
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SEC. 6. POLICY DIRECTIVE MODIFICATIONS.
Section 9(j) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.
638(j)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(3) ADDITIONAL
MODIFICATIONS.—Not later
than 120 days after the date of enactment of the
Small Business Innovation Research Program Reau-
thorization Act of 2000, the Administrator shall mod-
ify the policy directives issued pursuant to this
subsection—
‘‘(A) to clarify that the rights provided for
under paragraph (2)(A) apply to all Federal
funding awards under this section, including the
first phase (as described in subsection (e)(4)(A)),
the second phase (as described in subsection
(e)(4)(B)), and the third phase (as described in
subsection (e)(4)(C));
‘‘(B) to provide for the requirement of a
succinct commercialization plan with each ap-
plication for a second phase award that is mov-
ing toward commercialization;
‘‘(C) to require agencies to report to the Ad-
ministration, not less frequently than annually,
all instances in which an agency pursued re-
search, development, or production of a tech-
nology developed by a small business concern
using an award made under the SBIR program
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of that agency, and determined that it was not
practicable to enter into a follow-on non-SBIR
program funding agreement with the small busi-
ness concern, which report shall include, at a
minimum—
‘‘(i) the reasons why the follow-on
funding agreement with the small business
concern was not practicable;
‘‘(ii) the identity of the entity with
which the agency contracted to perform the
research, development, or production; and
‘‘(iii) a description of the type of fund-
ing agreement under which the research, de-
velopment, or production was obtained; and
‘‘(D) to implement subsection (v), including
establishing standardized procedures for the pro-
vision of information pursuant to subsection
(k)(3).’’.
SEC. 7. REPORT ON PROGRAMS FOR ANNUAL PERFORM-
ANCE PLAN.
Section 9(g) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.
638(g)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (7), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the
end;
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(2) in paragraph (8), by striking the period at
the end and inserting a semicolon; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new para-
graph:
‘‘(9) include, as part of its annual performance
plan as required by subsections (a) and (b) of section
1115 of title 31, United States Code, a section on its
SBIR program, and shall submit such section to the
Committee on Small Business of the Senate, and the
Committee on Science and the Committee on Small
Business of the House of Representatives; and’’.
SEC. 8. OUTPUT AND OUTCOME DATA.
(a) COLLECTION.—Section 9(g) of the Small Business
Act (15 U.S.C. 638(g)), as amended by section 7 of this
Act, is amended by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
‘‘(10) collect, and maintain in a common format
in accordance with subsection (v), such information
from awardees as is necessary to assess the SBIR pro-
gram, including information necessary to maintain
the database described in subsection (k).’’.
(b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Section 9(b)(7) of the
Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(b)(7)), as amended by
section 4 of this Act, is amended by inserting before the
period at the end ‘‘, including the data on output and out-
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comes collected pursuant to subsections (g)(10) and (o)(9),
and a description of the extent to which Federal agencies
are providing in a timely manner information needed to
maintain the database described in subsection (k)’’.
(c) DATABASE.—Section 9(k) of the Small Business
Act (15 U.S.C. 638(k)) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(k) DATABASE.—
‘‘(1) PUBLIC
DATABASE.—Not later than 180
days after the date of enactment of the Small Busi-
ness Innovation Research Program Reauthorization
Act of 2000, the Administrator shall develop, main-
tain, and make available to the public a searchable,
up-to-date, electronic database that includes—
‘‘(A) the name, size, location, and an iden-
tifying number assigned by the Administrator, of
each small business concern that has received a
first phase or second phase SBIR award from a
Federal agency;
‘‘(B) a description of each first phase or sec-
ond phase SBIR award received by that small
business concern, including—
‘‘(i) an abstract of the project funded
by the award, excluding any proprietary
information so identified by the small busi-
ness concern;
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‘‘(ii) the Federal agency making the
award; and
‘‘(iii) the date and amount of the
award;
‘‘(C) an identification of any business con-
cern or subsidiary established for the commercial
application of a product or service for which an
SBIR award is made; and
‘‘(D) information regarding mentors and
Mentoring Networks, as required by section
35(d).
‘‘(2) GOVERNMENT DATABASE.—Not later than
180 days after the date of enactment of the Small
Business Innovation Research Program Reauthoriza-
tion Act of 2000, the Administrator, in consultation
with Federal agencies required to have an SBIR pro-
gram pursuant to subsection (f)(1), shall develop and
maintain a database to be used solely for SBIR pro-
gram evaluation that—
‘‘(A) contains for each second phase award
made by a Federal agency—
‘‘(i) information collected in accord-
ance with paragraph (3) on revenue from
the sale of new products or services resulting
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from the research conducted under the
award;
‘‘(ii) information collected in accord-
ance with paragraph (3) on additional in-
vestment from any source, other than first
phase or second phase SBIR or STTR
awards, to further the research and develop-
ment conducted under the award; and
‘‘(iii) any other information received
in connection with the award that the Ad-
ministrator, in conjunction with the SBIR
program managers of Federal agencies, con-
siders relevant and appropriate;
‘‘(B) includes any narrative information
that a small business concern receiving a second
phase award voluntarily submits to further de-
scribe the outputs and outcomes of its awards;
‘‘(C) includes for each applicant for a first
phase or second phase award that does not re-
ceive such an award—
‘‘(i) the name, size, and location, and
an identifying number assigned by the Ad-
ministration;
‘‘(ii) an abstract of the project; and
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‘‘(iii) the Federal agency to which the
application was made;
‘‘(D) includes any other data collected by or
available to any Federal agency that such agency
considers may be useful for SBIR program eval-
uation; and
‘‘(E) is available for use solely for program
evaluation purposes by the Federal Government
or, in accordance with policy directives issued by
the Administration, by other authorized persons
who are subject to a use and nondisclosure agree-
ment with the Federal Government covering the
use of the database.
‘‘(3) UPDATING INFORMATION FOR DATABASE.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—A small business con-
cern applying for a second phase award under
this section shall be required to update informa-
tion in the database established under this sub-
section for any prior second phase award re-
ceived by that small business concern. In com-
plying with this paragraph, a small business
concern may apportion sales or additional in-
vestment information relating to more than one
second phase award among those awards, if it
notes the apportionment for each award.
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‘‘(B) 
ANNUAL
UPDATES
UPON
TERMI-
NATION.—A small business concern receiving a
second phase award under this section shall—
‘‘(i) update information in the data-
base concerning that award at the termi-
nation of the award period; and
‘‘(ii) be requested to voluntarily update
such information annually thereafter for a
period of 5 years.
‘‘(4) PROTECTION
OF
INFORMATION.—Informa-
tion provided under paragraph (2) shall be considered
privileged and confidential and not subject to disclo-
sure pursuant to section 552 of title 5, United States
Code.
‘‘(5) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Inclusion of in-
formation in the database under this subsection shall
not be considered to be publication for purposes of
subsection (a) or (b) of section 102 of title 35, United
States Code.’’.
SEC. 9. NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL REPORTS.
(a) STUDY
AND RECOMMENDATIONS.—The head of
each agency with a budget of more than $50,000,000 for
its SBIR program for fiscal year 1999, in consultation with
the Small Business Administration, shall, not later than
6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, coopera-
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tively enter into an agreement with the National Academy
of Sciences for the National Research Council to—
(1) conduct a comprehensive study of how the
SBIR program has stimulated technological innova-
tion and used small businesses to meet Federal re-
search and development needs, including—
(A) a review of the value to the Federal re-
search agencies of the research projects being con-
ducted under the SBIR program, and of the
quality of research being conducted by small
businesses participating under the program, in-
cluding a comparison of the value of projects
conducted under the SBIR program to those
funded by other Federal research and develop-
ment expenditures;
(B) to the extent practicable, an evaluation
of the economic benefits achieved by the SBIR
program, including the economic rate of return,
and a comparison of the economic benefits, in-
cluding the economic rate of return, achieved by
the SBIR program with the economic benefits,
including the economic rate of return, of other
Federal research and development expenditures;
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(C) an evaluation of the noneconomic bene-
fits achieved by the SBIR program over the life
of the program;
(D) a comparison of the allocation for fiscal
year 2000 of Federal research and development
funds to small businesses with such allocation for
fiscal year 1983, and an analysis of the factors
that have contributed to such allocation; and
(E) an analysis of whether Federal agen-
cies, in fulfilling their procurement needs, are
making sufficient effort to use small businesses
that have completed a second phase award under
the SBIR program; and
(2) make recommendations with respect to—
(A) measures of outcomes for strategic plans
submitted under section 306 of title 5, United
States Code, and performance plans submitted
under section 1115 of title 31, United States
Code, of each Federal agency participating in
the SBIR program;
(B) whether companies who can dem-
onstrate project feasibility, but who have not re-
ceived a first phase award, should be eligible for
second phase awards, and the potential impact
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of such awards on the competitive selection proc-
ess of the program;
(C) whether the Federal Government should
be permitted to recoup some or all of its expenses
if a controlling interest in a company receiving
an SBIR award is sold to a foreign company or
to a company that is not a small business con-
cern;
(D) how to increase the use by the Federal
Government in its programs and procurements
of technology-oriented small businesses; and
(E) improvements to the SBIR program, if
any are considered appropriate.
(b) PARTICIPATION BY SMALL BUSINESS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—In a manner consistent with
law and with National Research Council study guide-
lines and procedures, knowledgeable individuals from
the small business community with experience in the
SBIR program shall be included—
(A) in any panel established by the Na-
tional Research Council for the purpose of per-
forming the study conducted under this section;
and
(B) among those who are asked by the Na-
tional Research Council to peer review the study.
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(2) CONSULTATION.—To ensure that the concerns
of small business are appropriately considered under
this subsection, the National Research Council shall
consult with and consider the views of the Office of
Technology and the Office of Advocacy of the Small
Business Administration and other interested parties,
including entities, organizations, and individuals ac-
tively engaged in enhancing or developing the techno-
logical capabilities of small business concerns.
(c) PROGRESS REPORTS.—The National Research
Council shall provide semiannual progress reports on the
study conducted under this section to the Committee on
Science and the Committee on Small Business of the House
of Representatives, and to the Committee on Small Business
of the Senate.
(d) REPORT.—The National Research Council shall
transmit to the heads of agencies entering into an agree-
ment under this section and to the Committee on Science
and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Rep-
resentatives, and to the Committee on Small Business of
the Senate—
(1) not later than 3 years after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, a report including the results of the
study conducted under subsection (a)(1) and rec-
ommendations made under subsection (a)(2); and
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(2) not later than 6 years after that date of en-
actment, an update of such report.
SEC. 10. FEDERAL AGENCY EXPENDITURES FOR THE SBIR
PROGRAM.
Section 9(i) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.
638(i)) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘(i) Each Federal’’ and inserting
the following:
‘‘(i) ANNUAL REPORTING.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Each Federal’’; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(2) CALCULATION OF EXTRAMURAL BUDGET.—
‘‘(A) METHODOLOGY.—Not later than 4
months after the date of enactment of each ap-
propriations Act for a Federal agency required
by this section to have an SBIR program, the
Federal agency shall submit to the Administrator
a report, which shall include a description of the
methodology used for calculating the amount of
the extramural budget of that Federal agency.
‘‘(B) 
ADMINISTRATOR’S
ANALYSIS.—The
Administrator shall include an analysis of the
methodology received from each Federal agency
referred to in subparagraph (A) in the report re-
quired by subsection (b)(7).’’.
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SEC. 11. FEDERAL AND STATE TECHNOLOGY PARTNERSHIP
PROGRAM.
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that—
(1) programs to foster economic development
among small high-technology firms vary widely
among the States;
(2) States that do not aggressively support the
development of small high-technology firms, including
participation by small business concerns in the SBIR
program, are at a competitive disadvantage in estab-
lishing a business climate that is conducive to tech-
nology development; and
(3) building stronger national, State, and local
support for science and technology research in these
disadvantaged States will expand economic opportu-
nities in the United States, create jobs, and increase
the competitiveness of the United States in the world
market.
(b) FEDERAL AND STATE TECHNOLOGY PARTNERSHIP
PROGRAM.—The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.)
is amended—
(1) by redesignating section 34 as section 36;
and
(2) by inserting after section 33 the following
new section:
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‘‘SEC. 34. FEDERAL AND STATE TECHNOLOGY PARTNER-
SHIP PROGRAM.
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section and section 35—
‘‘(1) the term ‘applicant’ means an entity, orga-
nization, or individual that submits a proposal for an
award or a cooperative agreement under this section;
‘‘(2) the term ‘business advice and counseling’
means providing advice and assistance on matters de-
scribed in section 35(c)(2)(B) to small business con-
cerns to guide them through the SBIR and STTR
program process, from application to award and suc-
cessful completion of each phase of the program;
‘‘(3) the term ‘FAST program’ means the Fed-
eral and State Technology Partnership Program es-
tablished under this section;
‘‘(4) the term ‘mentor’ means an individual de-
scribed in section 35(c)(2);
‘‘(5) the term ‘Mentoring Network’ means an as-
sociation, organization, coalition, or other entity (in-
cluding an individual) that meets the requirements of
section 35(c);
‘‘(6) the term ‘recipient’ means a person that re-
ceives an award or becomes party to a cooperative
agreement under this section;
‘‘(7) the term ‘SBIR program’ has the same
meaning as in section 9(e)(4);
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‘‘(8) the term ‘State’ means any of the 50 States
of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto
Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American
Samoa; and
‘‘(9) the term ‘STTR program’ has the same
meaning as in section 9(e)(6).
‘‘(b) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.—The Adminis-
trator shall establish a program to be known as the Federal
and State Technology Partnership Program, the purpose of
which shall be to strengthen the technological competitive-
ness of small business concerns in the States.
‘‘(c) GRANTS AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—
‘‘(1) JOINT REVIEW.—In carrying out the FAST
program under this section, the Administrator and
the SBIR program managers at the National Science
Foundation and the Department of Defense shall
jointly review proposals submitted by applicants and
may make awards or enter into cooperative agree-
ments under this section based on the factors for con-
sideration set forth in paragraph (2), in order to en-
hance or develop in a State—
‘‘(A) technology research and development
by small business concerns;
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‘‘(B) technology transfer from university re-
search to technology-based small business con-
cerns;
‘‘(C) technology deployment and diffusion
benefiting small business concerns;
‘‘(D) the technological capabilities of small
business concerns through the establishment or
operation of consortia comprised of entities, or-
ganizations, or individuals, including—
‘‘(i) State and local development agen-
cies and entities;
‘‘(ii) representatives of technology-
based small business concerns;
‘‘(iii) industries and emerging compa-
nies;
‘‘(iv) universities; and
‘‘(v) small business development cen-
ters; and
‘‘(E) outreach, financial support, and tech-
nical assistance to technology-based small busi-
ness concerns participating in or interested in
participating in an SBIR program, including
initiatives—
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‘‘(i) to make grants or loans to compa-
nies to pay a portion or all of the cost of
developing SBIR proposals;
‘‘(ii) to establish or operate a Men-
toring Network within the FAST program
to provide business advice and counseling
that will assist small business concerns that
have been identified by FAST program par-
ticipants, program managers of partici-
pating SBIR agencies, the Administration,
or other entities that are knowledgeable
about the SBIR and STTR programs as
good candidates for the SBIR and STTR
programs, and that would benefit from
mentoring, in accordance with section 35;
‘‘(iii) to create or participate in a
training program for individuals providing
SBIR outreach and assistance at the State
and local levels; and
‘‘(iv) to encourage the commercializa-
tion of technology developed through SBIR
program funding.
‘‘(2) SELECTION CONSIDERATIONS.—In making
awards or entering into cooperative agreements under
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this section, the Administrator and the SBIR pro-
gram managers referred to in paragraph (1)—
‘‘(A) may only consider proposals by appli-
cants that intend to use a portion of the Federal
assistance provided under this section to provide
outreach, financial support, or technical assist-
ance to technology-based small business concerns
participating in or interested in participating
in the SBIR program; and
‘‘(B) shall consider, at a minimum—
‘‘(i) whether the applicant has dem-
onstrated that the assistance to be provided
would address unmet needs of small busi-
ness concerns in the community, and wheth-
er it is important to use Federal funding
for the proposed activities;
‘‘(ii) whether the applicant has dem-
onstrated that a need exists to increase the
number or success of small high-technology
businesses in the State, as measured by the
number of first phase and second phase
SBIR awards that have historically been re-
ceived by small business concerns in the
State;
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‘‘(iii) whether the projected costs of the
proposed activities are reasonable;
‘‘(iv) whether the proposal integrates
and coordinates the proposed activities with
other State and local programs assisting
small high-technology firms in the State;
and
‘‘(v) the manner in which the appli-
cant will measure the results of the activi-
ties to be conducted.
‘‘(3) PROPOSAL LIMIT.—Not more than 1 pro-
posal may be submitted for inclusion in the FAST
program under this section to provide services in any
one State in any 1 fiscal year.
‘‘(4) PROCESS.—Proposals and applications for
assistance under this section shall be in such form
and subject to such procedures as the Administrator
shall establish.
‘‘(d) COOPERATION AND COORDINATION.—In carrying
out the FAST program under this section, the Adminis-
trator shall cooperate and coordinate with—
‘‘(1) Federal agencies required by section 9 to
have an SBIR program; and
‘‘(2) entities, organizations, and individuals ac-
tively engaged in enhancing or developing the techno-
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logical capabilities of small business concerns,
including—
‘‘(A) State and local development agencies
and entities;
‘‘(B) State committees established under the
Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive
Research of the National Science Foundation (as
established under section 113 of the National
Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1988
(42 U.S.C. 1862g));
‘‘(C) State science and technology councils;
and
‘‘(D) representatives of technology-based
small business concerns.
‘‘(e) ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS.—
‘‘(1) COMPETITIVE BASIS.—Awards and coopera-
tive agreements under this section shall be made or
entered into, as applicable, on a competitive basis.
‘‘(2) MATCHING REQUIREMENTS.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The non-Federal share
of the cost of an activity (other than a planning
activity) carried out using an award or under a
cooperative agreement under this section shall
be—
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‘‘(i) 50 cents for each Federal dollar,
in the case of a recipient that will serve
small business concerns located in one of the
18 States receiving the fewest SBIR first
phase awards (as described in section
9(e)(4)(A));
‘‘(ii) except as provided in subpara-
graph (B), 1 dollar for each Federal dollar,
in the case of a recipient that will serve
small business concerns located in one of the
16 States receiving the greatest number of
such SBIR first phase awards; and
‘‘(iii) except as provided in subpara-
graph (B), 75 cents for each Federal dollar,
in the case of a recipient that will serve
small business concerns located in a State
that is not described in clause (i) or (ii)
that is receiving such SBIR first phase
awards.
‘‘(B) LOW-INCOME
AREAS.—The non-Fed-
eral share of the cost of the activity carried out
using an award or under a cooperative agree-
ment under this section shall be 50 cents for each
Federal dollar that will be directly allocated by
a recipient described in subparagraph (A) to
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serve small business concerns located in a quali-
fied census tract, as that term is defined in sec-
tion 42(d)(5)(C)(ii) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986. Federal dollars not so allocated by that
recipient shall be subject to the matching require-
ments of subparagraph (A).
‘‘(C) TYPES OF FUNDING.—The non-Federal
share of the cost of an activity carried out by a
recipient shall be comprised of not less than 50
percent cash and not more than 50 percent of in-
direct costs and in-kind contributions, except
that no such costs or contributions may be de-
rived from funds from any other Federal pro-
gram.
‘‘(D) RANKINGS.—For purposes of subpara-
graph (A), the Administrator shall reevaluate the
ranking of a State once every 2 fiscal years, be-
ginning with fiscal year 2001, based on the most
recent statistics compiled by the Administrator.
‘‘(3) DURATION.—Awards may be made or coop-
erative agreements entered into under this section for
multiple years, not to exceed 5 years in total.
‘‘(f) REPORTS.—
‘‘(1) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than 120 days
after the date of enactment of the Small Business In-
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novation Research Program Reauthorization Act of
2000, the Administrator shall prepare and submit to
the Committee on Small Business of the Senate and
the Committee on Science and the Committee on
Small Business of the House of Representatives a re-
port, which shall include, with respect to the FAST
program, including Mentoring Networks—
‘‘(A) a description of the structure and pro-
cedures of the program;
‘‘(B) a management plan for the program;
and
‘‘(C) a description of the merit-based review
process to be used in the program.
‘‘(2) ANNUAL
REPORTS.—The Administrator
shall submit an annual report to the Committee on
Small Business of the Senate and the Committee on
Science and the Committee on Small Business of the
House of Representatives regarding—
‘‘(A) the number and amount of awards
provided and cooperative agreements entered into
under the FAST program during the preceding
year;
‘‘(B) a list of recipients under this section,
including their location and the activities being
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performed with the awards made or under the
cooperative agreements entered into; and
‘‘(C) the Mentoring Networks and the men-
toring database, as provided for under section
35, including—
‘‘(i) the status of the inclusion of men-
toring information in the database required
by section 9(k); and
‘‘(ii) the status of the implementation
and description of the usage of the Men-
toring Networks.
‘‘(g) REVIEWS BY INSPECTOR GENERAL.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Inspector General of the
Administration shall conduct a review of—
‘‘(A) the extent to which recipients under
the FAST program are measuring the perform-
ance of the activities being conducted and the re-
sults of such measurements; and
‘‘(B) the overall management and effective-
ness of the FAST program.
‘‘(2) REPORT.—During the first quarter of fiscal
year 2004, the Inspector General of the Administra-
tion shall submit a report to the Committee on Small
Business of the Senate and the Committee on Science
and the Committee on Small Business of the House
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of Representatives on the review conducted under
paragraph (1).
‘‘(h) PROGRAM LEVELS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be ap-
propriated to carry out the FAST program, including
Mentoring Networks, under this section and section
35, $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 through
2005.
‘‘(2) 
MENTORING
DATABASE.—Of 
the 
total
amount made available under paragraph (1) for fis-
cal years 2001 through 2005, a reasonable amount,
not to exceed a total of $500,000, may be used by the
Administration to carry out section 35(d).
‘‘(i) TERMINATION.—The authorization to carry out
the FAST program under this section shall terminate on
September 30, 2005.’’.
(c) COORDINATION OF TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMS.—Section 9 of the Small Business Act (15
U.S.C. 638) is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(u) COORDINATION OF TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMS.—
‘‘(1) DEFINITION OF TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAM.—In this subsection, the term ‘technology
development program’ means—
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FAST programs, information on Mentoring Networks
and mentors participating under this section, includ-
ing a description of their areas of expertise;
‘‘(2) work cooperatively with Mentoring Net-
works to maintain and update the database;
‘‘(3) take such action as may be necessary to ag-
gressively promote Mentoring Networks under this sec-
tion; and
‘‘(4) fulfill the requirements of this subsection ei-
ther directly or by contract.’’.
SEC. 13. SIMPLIFIED REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
Section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638),
as amended by this Act, is amended by adding at the end
the following new subsection:
‘‘(v) SIMPLIFIED REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.—The
Administrator shall work with the Federal agencies re-
quired by this section to have an SBIR program to stand-
ardize reporting requirements for the collection of data from
SBIR applicants and awardees, including data for inclu-
sion in the database under subsection (k), taking into con-
sideration the unique needs of each agency, and to the extent
possible, permitting the updating of previously reported in-
formation by electronic means. Such requirements shall be
designed to minimize the burden on small businesses.’’.