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

RELEASE: C00-f

NASA AWARDS REGIONAL TECHNOLOGY CENTER CONTRACTS

     Accessing space is one of NASA's primary roles.  But 
America's space agency has another role that is vital to the 
nation's industry and that is to help local companies, access and 
acquire government funded technologies for commercial and 
industrial applications.  To assist with this technology transfer, 
NASA has awarded new five-year contracts for the operation and 
management of four of its six Regional Technology Transfer Centers 
(RTTCs).

     The organizations awarded contracts include:
            Far West RTTC - University of Southern California, Los 
Angeles, CA, for a total value of $6.25 million (including 
options);

            Mid West RTTC - Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, 
OH, for a total value of $6.25 million (including options);

            Northeast RTTC - Center for Technology 
Commercialization, Inc., Westborough, MA, for a total value of 
$7.13 million (including options);

            Mid-Continent RTTC - Texas Engineering Extension 
Service, College Station, TX, for a total value of $6.25 million 
(including options).

     The RTTC contractors will provide a full spectrum of 
technology transfer and commercialization services including 
information searches, document retrieval, identification and 
analysis of client technological needs and/or problems, and value-
added services.  Such value-added services may include technical 
evaluations, support in technology/problem matching, 
identification of technical experts engaged in research and 
development similar to the client's and completing engineering 
analysis reports.

     The contracts include a base period of two years with two 
options, for one-year and two-years respectively.  These are cost-
reimbursement, performance-based contracts.

     The remaining two regions, mid-Atlantic and southeast, have 
not yet been awarded but discussions with potential contractors 
are underway.

    Operating since 1992, the RTTCs have developed a regional 
network that involves more than 70 affiliated organizations at the 
state and local levels, enabling them to provide invaluable 
assistance to U.S. companies.  The centers provide technical, 
commercial and general assistance to several thousand customers 
every year.

                           -end-