Michael Braukus
Headquarters, Washington             July 18, 2002
(Phone: 202/358-1979)

RELEASE: 02-129

NASA SELECTS INNOVATIVE SMALL BUSINESS RESEARCH PROJECTS

     NASA has selected 142 research proposals for negotiation 
of Phase 2 contract awards for its Small Business Innovation 
Research (SBIR) program. The selected research projects will 
be conducted by 124 small, high-technology firms located in 
27 states. The awards have a total value of approximately $85 
million.

The goals of this NASA 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 innovations derived from federally 
sponsored research.

A total of 291 proposals were submitted by SBIR contractors 
completing Phase 1 projects. These proposals were evaluated 
to determine that they met SBIR Phase 1 objectives and are 
feasible research innovations for meeting agency needs.

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

The NASA SBIR Program is managed by the Goddard Space Flight 
Center, Greenbelt, Md., with executive oversight by NASA's 
Office of Aerospace Technology, Washington. Individual SBIR 
projects are managed by NASA's ten field installations.

A listing of the selected companies can be accessed on the 
Internet at: 
http://sbir.nasa.gov

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