Jim Cast
Headquarters, Washington, DC        November 7, 1996
(Phone:  202/358-1779)

RELEASE:  96-228

NASA ANNOUNCES 1995 STTR PHASE II SELECTIONS

     NASA's Office of Aeronautics has selected fourteen 
research proposals for immediate negotiation of Phase II 
contracts in NASA's Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) 
Pilot Program.  The proposal selections are in support of the 
research topics included in the Agency's 1995 STTR 
solicitation.

     A total of twenty-six Phase II proposals were submitted 
by contractors completing 
Phase I projects.  All proposals were peer reviewed for both 
technical merit and commercial potential.  Selections were 
based on the following factors:  scientific and technical 
merit, results of Phase I, evidence of commercial potential, 
and capability of the small business concern.

     The objective of a Phase I project is to determine the 
feasibility of the proposed research.  Phase II continues the 
research of the most promising Phase I projects.  Each of the 
fourteen selected Phase II proposals will be awarded a fixed-
price contract valued up to $500,000 with a two-year 
performance period.

     The STTR Program is similar to the Small Business 
Innovation Research (SBIR) Program but varies by requiring a 
small business concern to conduct cooperative research and 
development by partnering with a research institution.  At 
least 40% of the work must be performed by the small business 
concern, and at least 30% of the work must be performed by 
the research institute.

                      -end-

NOTE TO EDITORS:  A listing of the selected proposals is 
available on the Internet at the following URL:  
         http://nctn.hq.nasa.gov/nctn/SBIR/SBIR.html