Michael Braukus

Headquarters, Washington, D.C. October 16, 1998

(Phone: 202-358-1979)

RELEASE: 98-191

NASA SELECTS 345 INNOVATIVE SMALL BUSINESS PROJECTS

NASA has selected 345 research proposals for negotiation of Phase I contract awards for NASA's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program. The combined award total is expected to be approximately $ 24 million.

SBIR goals are to stimulate technological innovation, increase the use of small business (including women-owned and disadvantaged firms) in meeting federal research and development needs, and increase private-sector commercialization of results of federally funded research.

The 1998 solicitation closed on July 7, 1998. NASA received 2,335 proposals submitted by small, high-technology businesses from across the United States.

NASA’s ten field centers reviewed proposals for technical merit and feasibility and relevance to NASA research and technology requirements. The selected firms will be awarded fixed-price contracts valued up to $70,000 each to perform a six-month Phase I feasibility study.

Companies which successfully complete the Phase I activities are eligible to compete for Phase II selection the following year. The Phase II award allows for a two-year, fixed-price contract in the amount up to $600,000.

The NASA SBIR Program Management Office is located at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, with executive oversight by NASA's Office of Aero-Space Technology, Washington, DC. Individual SBIR projects are managed by the NASA field centers.

-end-

EDITOR'S NOTE: A listing of the companies selected for the program can be accessed on the internet at URL: http://sbir.nasa.gov