Opportunity Information: Apply for SB OIIFT 20 001
FAST-2020-R-0014 is a Small Business Administration (SBA) funding opportunity under the Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program aimed at strengthening the pipeline of small, research-and-development focused businesses that want to compete in the federal SBIR and STTR programs. Instead of funding the small businesses directly, the program funds organizations within states and territories to deliver hands-on support that helps entrepreneurs and innovators understand the SBIR/STTR landscape, develop stronger proposals, and improve their readiness to win federal R and D awards and move technologies toward commercialization.
The SBA planned to release this opportunity as Notice of Funding Opportunity SBA-OIIFT-20-001, categorized as a discretionary award using a cooperative agreement. The cooperative agreement structure matters because it typically implies a more active federal role during the period of performance compared to a standard grant, often including coordination, reporting expectations, and collaboration with the agency to ensure the program objectives are met. The funding activity category is Business and Commerce, and the assistance listing is CFDA 59.058.
Total estimated program funding was 3,000,000, with an anticipated 24 awards. Individual awards could be requested in any amount up to 125,000, with no stated minimum award level (award floor of 0). In practical terms, that means applicants could tailor their budgets to what they can realistically execute, as long as they stay within the ceiling. The opportunity opened around May 8, 2020, with an original application deadline of June 19, 2020.
The core purpose of FAST funding is to expand and improve services that help small businesses pursue SBIR/STTR awards. Funded organizations are expected to provide activities such as outreach to identify and recruit promising firms, proposal development training to improve the quality and competitiveness of submissions, one-on-one mentoring and coaching, and broader technical and business assistance. The description also mentions the possibility of providing financial support, which in FAST contexts often refers to small forms of assistance that enable participation in training, counseling, or proposal preparation support, depending on the specific program rules and the applicant's approved work plan. Overall, the focus is on building capacity so more local and regional innovators can successfully apply to SBIR/STTR and advance R and D toward market outcomes.
Eligibility is broad and includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, and other entities as allowed under the announcement's additional eligibility guidance. Applications were accepted from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories, reflecting a national scope and an intent to reach communities that may be underrepresented in federal innovation funding.
One of the most important constraints in this competition is the state nomination-style limit: only one proposal per state may be submitted to the SBA for consideration, and that submission must include a signed letter of endorsement from the state governor or an equivalent authority. This effectively makes FAST a state-coordinated opportunity where interested organizations typically need to align with state leadership to be selected as the single applicant representing that state. The program is authorized by Public Law 116-93 and 15 U.S.C. 657d(c), which provide the statutory basis for SBA to run FAST and support state-level efforts that increase participation in SBIR/STTR.
In summary, FAST-2020-R-0014 offered up to 125,000 per award (with approximately two dozen awards nationwide) to organizations positioned to deliver training, mentoring, and technical and business assistance that helps R and D focused small businesses compete more effectively for SBIR/STTR awards. It was national in reach, structured to require state-level endorsement and a single submission per state, and designed to build durable local ecosystems that can consistently develop SBIR/STTR-ready companies.Apply for SB OIIFT 20 001
- The Small Business Administration in the business and commerce sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FAST-2020-R-0014" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 59.058.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 08, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 19, 2020 No Explanation. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $125,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 24 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FAST-2020-R-0014 (SBA FAST Partnership Program) FAQs
What is FAST-2020-R-0014?
FAST-2020-R-0014 is a Small Business Administration (SBA) funding opportunity under the Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program. Its purpose is to strengthen the pipeline of small, research-and-development focused businesses that want to compete in the federal SBIR and STTR programs by funding organizations in states and territories to provide hands-on support services.
What is the goal of the FAST Partnership Program?
The FAST program is designed to expand and improve services that help small businesses pursue SBIR/STTR awards. The emphasis is on building capacity so more local and regional innovators can submit stronger proposals, compete more effectively for federal R and D awards, and move technologies toward commercialization.
Who receives FAST funding: small businesses or support organizations?
FAST generally does not fund small businesses directly. Instead, it funds organizations within states and territories that can deliver outreach, training, mentoring, coaching, and technical and business assistance to help entrepreneurs and innovators navigate and succeed in the SBIR/STTR landscape.
Which federal agency offers this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
What is the related Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) number?
The SBA planned to release this opportunity as Notice of Funding Opportunity SBA-OIIFT-20-001.
What type of award is FAST-2020-R-0014?
This opportunity is described as a discretionary award using a cooperative agreement.
Why does it matter that this is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement typically implies a more active federal role during the period of performance than a standard grant. Based on the description provided, this may involve greater coordination, reporting expectations, and collaboration with SBA to ensure the program objectives are met.
What is the funding activity category for this program?
The funding activity category is Business and Commerce.
What is the assistance listing (CFDA) number?
The assistance listing is CFDA 59.058.
How much total funding was estimated for this opportunity?
The total estimated program funding was 3,000,000.
How many awards were anticipated?
Approximately 24 awards were anticipated.
What is the maximum award amount per recipient?
Individual awards could be requested in any amount up to 125,000.
Is there a minimum award amount (award floor)?
No minimum award amount was stated (award floor of 0). This means applicants could propose budgets tailored to what they can realistically execute, as long as they stay within the 125,000 ceiling.
When did the opportunity open and when was the application due?
The opportunity opened around May 8, 2020, with an original application deadline of June 19, 2020.
What kinds of activities are FAST-funded organizations expected to provide?
Based on the provided description, funded organizations are expected to deliver services that help small businesses pursue SBIR/STTR, including:
- Outreach to identify and recruit promising firms
- Proposal development training to improve proposal quality and competitiveness
- One-on-one mentoring and coaching
- Broader technical and business assistance
Does the program allow providing financial support to participants?
The description mentions the possibility of providing financial support. In FAST contexts, this often refers to small forms of assistance that enable participation in training, counseling, or proposal preparation support, depending on the specific program rules and the applicant's approved work plan.
Who is eligible to apply for FAST-2020-R-0014?
Eligibility is broad and includes:
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status
- Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status
- Other entities as allowed under the announcement's additional eligibility guidance
Which locations were eligible to submit applications?
Applications were accepted from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.
Is there a limit on how many proposals can come from a single state?
Yes. A key constraint is that only one proposal per state may be submitted to the SBA for consideration.
Is a governor endorsement required?
Yes. The single state submission must include a signed letter of endorsement from the state governor or an equivalent authority.
What does the one-proposal-per-state rule mean for applicants?
It effectively makes FAST a state-coordinated opportunity. Interested organizations typically need to align with state leadership to be selected as the single applicant representing their state.
What is the statutory authority for the FAST program referenced here?
The program is authorized by Public Law 116-93 and 15 U.S.C. 657d(c), which provide the statutory basis for SBA to run FAST and support state-level efforts that increase participation in SBIR/STTR.
What is FAST trying to improve for small businesses competing for SBIR/STTR?
The program focuses on improving understanding of the SBIR/STTR landscape, strengthening proposal development, increasing overall readiness to win federal R and D awards, and helping advance technologies toward commercialization.
Is this opportunity national in scope?
Yes. The opportunity is national in reach, with participation from all states, DC, and U.S. territories, and with an intent to reach communities that may be underrepresented in federal innovation funding.
What would a competitive FAST project generally look like based on the description?
Based on the stated purpose and expected activities, a competitive project would be positioned to deliver hands-on support such as targeted outreach, structured proposal training, individualized mentoring/coaching, and technical/business assistance that measurably strengthens SBIR/STTR readiness and helps build a durable local ecosystem of SBIR/STTR-ready companies.
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