Michael Braukus
Headquarters, Washington, DC                  October 16, 1998
(Phone:  202/358-1979)

RELEASE:  98-191

NASA SELECTS 345 INNOVATIVE SMALL BUSINESS PROJECTS 

     NASA has selected 345 research proposals for negotiation of 
Phase I contract awards for NASA's 1998 Small Business Innovation 
Research (SBIR) Program.  The combined award total is expected to 
be approximately $24 million. 

     SBIR goals 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 results of 
federally funded research. 

     The 1998 solicitation closed on July 7, 1998.  NASA received 
2,335 proposals submitted by small, high-technology businesses 
from across the United States.

     NASA's ten field centers reviewed proposals for technical 
merit and feasibility and relevance to NASA research and 
technology requirements.  The selected firms will be awarded 
fixed-price contracts valued up to $70,000 each to perform a six-
month Phase I feasibility study. 

     Companies that 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 up 
to $600,000. 

     The NASA SBIR 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, Washington, 
DC.  Individual SBIR projects are managed by the NASA field 
centers. 

                             - end -

EDITOR'S NOTE:  A listing of the companies selected for the 
program can be accessed on the Internet at URL:  
http://sbir.nasa.gov