Selects 27 Small Business Research Proposals
NASA has selected 27 small business proposals that address
critical research and technology needs for agency programs and
projects for final contract negotiations. The proposals have a
combined value of approximately $16.2 million. Proposals were
submitted by 27 high-tech firms in 18 states, partnering with 24
research institutions in 19 states. Negotiated individual awards,
each with a value of up to $600,000, will be for research projects
for two years.
The proposals are included in Phase II of NASA's Small Business
Technology Transfer program. The agency's Office of the Chief
Technologist manages the program as part of its focus on emerging
technologies and efforts to advance technological innovation for
NASA and the government.
"Through programs like this, NASA is investing in innovation in
America's small businesses and universities," said NASA Chief
Technologist Bobby Braun at the agency's headquarters in
Washington. "There is no shortage of technological innovators in
this country; we simply need to invest in them. Investing in
research and technology, the U.S. will not only extend its
technological superiority, but also will stimulate our economy,
creating new high-tech jobs, products and services all across our
country."
The program's innovations address specific technology gaps in
NASA missions; provide a foundation for future technology needs;
and are complementary to other agency research investments.
Innovative technologies in the program include:
- Information technologies that enable planetary robots to better
support human exploration.
- Advanced space power and propulsion technologies that will
result in durable, long-life, lightweight, high performance space
power and in-space systems to fulfill the nation's exploration
goals.
- Modern computational fluid dynamics codes to solve fluid motion
equations and enhance the modeling required for a wide range of
NASA missions, including subsonic commercial aircraft, rotorcraft,
supersonic and hypersonic vehicles and planetary exploration
vehicles.
The highly competitive program is a three-phase award system. It
provides qualified small businesses, including women-owned and
disadvantaged firms, with opportunities to propose innovative ideas
meeting specific research and development needs of the federal
government. The program requires a collaborative research effort
between small businesses and research institutions.
The criteria used to select the winning proposals included
technical merit and innovation, Phase I program results, value to
NASA, commercial potential and company capabilities.
Phase I is a feasibility study to evaluate the scientific and
technical merit of an idea. Awards are for up to 12 months in
amounts up to $100,000. Phase II expands on the results of the
development in Phase I. Phase III is for the commercialization of
the results of Phase II and requires the use of private sector
funding.
NASA is required by statue to reserve a portion of agency
research and development funds for awards to small businesses. NASA
works closely with the Small Business Administration ensuring
compliance with federal regulations related to the program.