Barbara Selby
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                                       
November 7, 1991
(Phone:  703/557-5609)

RELEASE:  91-184

NASA SELECTS SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH PROPOSALS

   NASA announced today the selection of 301 research proposals 
for immediate negotiation of Phase I contracts in NASA's 1991 
Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR).  Proposals 
selected were submitted by 243 small, high technology firms 
located in 34 states.

   SBIR objectives are to stimulate technological innovation in 
the United States by using small business, including minority 
and disadvantaged firms, to help meet federal research and 
development needs and to encourage commercial applications of 
federally supported research innovations.

   These SBIR awards were selected competitively from 2583 
proposals received in response to the SBIR solicitation which 
closed Aug. 8, 1991.  Selections were made on the basis of 
scientific and technical merit, capabilities of the firm and 
value of the proposed research innovations to NASA.  This is 
the 9th year of the NASA SBIR program, which is conducted in 
accordance with Public Law 97-219, the Small Business 
Innovation Development Act of 1982 as amended by Public Law 
99-443.

   SBIR Phase I projects attempt to establish the feasibility 
of innovative R&D concepts proposed by the contractor to meet 
agency needs or opportunities described in the SBIR program 
solicitation.  Six-month, fixed-price contracts, normally not 
exceeding $50,000, are awarded.

   Firms successfully completing Phase I may compete for Phase 
II contracts for further development.  Approximately one-half 
of the Phase I projects proceed into Phase II, depending on 
availability of funds.  Phase II contracts normally do not 
exceed 2-years in duration and a $500,000 value.

   Phase III activities may be commercial-development funded by 
the private sector or may be procurement or continued 
development for government use, funded outside the SBIR program 
by NASA or other agencies.

                           - more -
                             - 2 -

   As required by law, NASA allocates 1.25 percent of its 
annual research and development budget for SBIR.  Approximately 
$15.5 million of NASA's 1992 SBIR budget will fund these 300 
Phase I projects.  The program is managed by NASA's Office of 
Commercial Programs, NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C., and 
SBIR projects are managed by 9 NASA field centers. 
                            - end -

EDITOR'S NOTE:  A listing of companies selected is available at 
NASA Headquarters (Phone:  202/453-8400) and all NASA field 
centers.

    NASA PHASE I AWARD DISTRIBUTIONS BY STATE, NOV. 6, 1991

STATE           AWARDS    FIRMS
Alabama           9                8
Arizona           6                4
California           72               62
Colorado        18               16
Connecticut`      7                5
Florida         11               10
Georgia           1                1
Iowa                       1                 1
Illinois          2                2
Indiana           3                3
Louisiana              1                1
Maryland        15               14
Massachusetts   57               34
Michigan          4                3
Minnesota              1                1
Mississippi       3                3
Missouri          1                1
Montana           1                1
Nebraska          1                1
New Hampshire     3                1
New Jersey      10               10
New Mexico        4                3
New York        11               11
North Carolina         2                2
Ohio                   9                8
Oklahoma          1                1
Oregon            3                3
Pennsylvania      9                6
Tennessee              1                1
Texas           12               10
Utah                   2                2
Virginia        14               10
Washington        5                4
Wisconsin              1                1