Michael Braukus
Headquarters, Washington, DC                  Jan. 6, 2000
(Phone: 202/358-1979)

RELEASE: 00-3

NASA SELECTS 25 INNOVATIVE SMALL BUSINESS PROJECTS 

    America's space agency does more than explore space:  It also 
stimulates small and disadvantaged businesses to develop new 
technologies.  To this end, NASA has selected 25 research 
proposals for negotiation of Phase 2 contract awards for its Small 
Business Innovation Research Program.  The total value of the 
awards is expected to be more than $15 million and will be 
conducted by 25 firms in 12 states.

    These selections will assist future NASA missions by providing 
advanced technologies in such areas as high-optical-quality, 
lightweight reflectors and mirrors; high-speed digital 
communications links with reduced power and size requirements; and 
reduced mass requirements for spacecraft thermal-control systems.

    Phase 2 continues development of the most promising previously 
selected Phase 1 projects.  Selection criteria include scientific 
and technical merit, future importance and eventual value of the 
innovation to NASA, company capabilities and commercial potential.  
Funding for Phase 2 contracts may be up to $600,000 for a two-year 
performance period.

    SBIR contractors submitted 319 Phase 2 proposals; 103 of these 
proposals were selected on August 27, 1999.  Based on current 
budget availability, these additional 25 selections now are being 
announced. 

    The goals of the SBIR program 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 federally funded research results.  Four of the companies being 
announced today are disadvantaged firms and three are women-owned 
firms.

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

    A listing of the selected companies can be found on the 
Internet at:

                    http://sbir.nasa.gov
 

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