Charles Redmond
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                                           
February 4, 1994
(Phone:  202/358-1757)

RELEASE: 94-18

NASA SELECTS SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH PROJECTS

     NASA announced today the selection of 42 additional proposals 
for negotiation of Phase II contract awards in NASA's Small Business 
Innovation Research Program (SBIR).  These selections are in 
addition to the130 announced in December 1993, making a total of 172 
Phase II selections in the current program. 

     The additional 42 Phase II projects are expected to have a 
total contract value of approximately $21 million.  They will be 
conducted by 38 small, high-technology firms located in 16 states.  

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

     Phase I project objectives are to determine feasibility of 
research innovations proposed by small firms to meet agency needs.  
Phase II continues development of the most promising Phase I 
projects.  Selection criteria include technical merit and 
innovation, Phase I results, expected value to NASA and commercial 
potential, and company capabilities to perform their proposed 
research projects.  Funding for Phase II contracts may be up to 
$600,000 for a 2-year performance period.

     All selections were made from a group of 327 Phase II proposals 
submitted by SBIR contractors completing Phase I projects initiated 
in 1992.  The expected total value of all 172 Phase II contracts is 
approximately $86 million.  

     The SBIR program is managed by NASA's Office of Advanced 
Concepts and Technology, NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C.  A 
listing of companies and projects selected for this program is 
available at NASA Headquarters (Phone:  202/358-1600) and all NASA 
field centers.

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