Michael Braukus
Headquarters, Washington, DC                   January 21, 2000
(Phone:  202/358-1979)

RELEASE:  00-15

NASA SELECTS PROPOSALS FOR NEXT LEVEL OF RESEARCH

     NASA has selected eight promising research proposals for 
negotiation of Phase 2 contract awards for NASA's Small Business 
Technology Transfer Research program. 

     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 
$500,000 for a two-year performance period.

     A total of 23 Phase II proposals were submitted by 
contractors completing Phase I projects as part of their 1998 
awards.  All proposals were peer-reviewed for both technical merit 
and commercial potential.  The combined award total for the eight 
Phase 2 contracts is expected to be approximately $4 million. 

     The STTR program is designed to stimulate technological 
innovation, help small businesses become better-qualified to 
assist NASA in its research and development, and increase private 
commercialization of federally funded research.  The program also 
requires small businesses to conduct cooperative research and 
development by partnering with a research institution. 

     The goals of the STTR 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.  Two of the eight companies 
being announced today are either disadvantaged firms or women-
owned firms.

     The NASA STTR 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, NASA 
Headquarters, Washington, DC.  Individual STTR projects are 
managed by the NASA field centers.  A listing of the selected 
companies can be found on the Internet at:  
   
                       http://sbir.nasa.gov

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