Official Nasa Communication 99-121

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

Oct. 15, 1999

RELEASE: 99-121 NASA SELECTS 290 INNOVATIVE SMALL BUSINESS PROJECTS As part of its mission to encourage the development of new and advanced technologies, NASA has selected 290 research proposals for negotiation of Phase I contract awards for its 1999 Small Business Innovation Research Program. The total value of the awards is expected to be more than $20 million and will be conducted by 220 firms in 34 states. In addition to stimulating innovation, the SBIR program aims to increase the number of small businesses, including women-owned and disadvantaged firms, conducting federal research and commercializing the results of federally funded research. NASA received more than 2260 proposals from small, hightechnology businesses located throughout the United States. NASA's field centers reviewed proposals for technical merit, feasibility and relevance to NASA research and technology requirements. The selected firms will be awarded fixed-price contracts worth up to $70,000 to perform a six-month Phase I feasibility study. Companies which successfully complete the Phase I activities are eligible to compete for Phase II selection the following year. The Phase II award allows for a two-year, fixed-price contract of up to $600,000. The NASA SBIR Program Management Office is located at the Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, with executive oversight by NASA's Office of Aero-Space Technology. Individual SBIR projects are managed by the NASA field centers. - end EDITOR'S NOTE: A listing of companies selected for the program can be found on the Internet at: http://sbir.nasa.gov