(a) Federal and State Technology Partnership Program The Small Business Innovation Research Program Reauthorization Act of 2000, Public Law 106-554, established the Federal and State Technology Partnership Program (FAST Program) to strengthen the technological competitiveness of SBCs in the United States. Congress found that programs that foster economic development among small high-technology firms vary widely among the States. Thus, the purpose of the FAST Program is to improve the participation of small technology firms in the innovation and commercialization of new technology, thereby ensuring that the United States remains on the cutting-edge of research and development in the highly competitive arena of science and technology. SBA administers the FAST Program. Additional and detailed information regarding this program is available at www.sba.gov/SBIR.

(b) Rural Outreach Program
(1) The Rural Outreach Program is authorized by section 9(s) of the Small Business Act, 15 U.S.C. 638(s). The Small Business Innovation Research Program Reauthorization Act of 2000, Public Law 106-554, extends the program through September 30, 2005.
(2) Historically, SBCs located in a relatively small number of states have been highly successful in securing awards under the SBIR Program. To expand competition under the SBIR and STTR Programs, and to encourage the maximum number of SBCs to submit proposals and succeed in winning awards, SBA provides Federal assistance to support statewide outreach to small high-technology businesses located in states that are underrepresented in SBIR/STTR awards. Cooperative agreements to ``Eligible States'' are made on a matching funds basis. The awards will be made in a ratio of Federal dollars to non-Federal dollars of 2:1, with a maximum Federal contribution of $100,000. Assistance provided to an Eligible State under this program announcement must be used by the State, in consultation with State and local departments and agencies, for programs and activities to increase the participation of SBCs located in the State in the SBIR and STTR Programs.
(3) Only Eligible States may submit proposals for the Rural Outreach Program.
(4) SBA has determined that there are 25 ``Eligible States'': Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.