Michael Braukus
Headquarters, Washington, DC                     August 27, 1999
(Phone: 202/358-1979)

RELEASE: 99-99

NASA SELECTS 103 INNOVATIVE SMALL BUSINESS PROJECTS 

     In an attempt to stimulate the development of new 
technologies, NASA has selected 103 research proposals for 
negotiation of Phase II contract awards for its Small Business 
Innovation Research Program.  The selected projects have a total 
value of approximately $62 million and will be conducted by 90 
small, high-technology firms in 27 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.

      SBIR contractors submitted 319 proposals.  NASA evaluated 
the proposals to determine whether they successfully met SBIR 
Phase I objectives and represented feasible research innovations 
that could meet agency needs.

     Phase II continues development of the most promising Phase I 
projects.  Selection criteria included technical merit, 
innovation, value to NASA, commercial potential and company 
capabilities.  Funding for Phase II contracts may amount to 
$600,000 for over two years.

     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 NASA's 10 field 
centers. 

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

                    http://sbir.nasa.gov

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