Two California State University campuses are vying to run the small-business development centers in Orange and San Bernardino counties.

CSU Fullerton and San Bernardino submitted bids by Monday's deadline to the U.S. Small Business Administration district office in Santa Ana.

District director Sandy Sutton would confirm only that she received two bids, but university representatives verified they had bid to oversee the Orange County Small Business Development Center in Santa Ana; Venture Point, the nation's only high-tech SBDC; and Inland Empire SBDC in San Bernardino.

Both bidders propose keeping the existing centers.

"We're very pleased that we received two strong proposals, and both appear to be ready to move and set up by July 1, so we can continue the program without a glitch," Sutton said.

The state has overseen California's 30 small-business development centers since 1989. However, Gov. Gray Davis eliminated funding as of July 1, to trim the state budget deficit. The SBA asked each of its six districts to find a local replacement. At Fullerton, the program director would report directly to the dean of the business school, said Michael Ames, director of the Small Business Institute, who participated in preparing the bid.

"The SBDC program would be a good outreach program for us and can involve our students in many ways," he said.

At San Bernardino, the program would be under the Center for Entrepreneurship, said center Director Mike Stull.

The initial contract will be $1.6 million for six months, with a full-year $3.2 million contract virtually assured. Both men said the program would either have to be cut back or significant new money raised to replace the state's contribution.