NASA selects small business projects

National Aeronautic and Space Administration

NASA selected 145 research proposals as Phase 2 of the agency's Small Business Innovation Research program.

The projects have an approximate total value of $86.5 million and will be conducted by 119 small technology firms from 29 states. Each of the proposals must undergo negotiation for contract awards, which could be up to $600,000 for a 2-year performance period.

According to NASA, the Small Business Innovation Research program is designed to stimulate technological innovation, increase the use of small business in meeting federal research and development needs and increase private sector commercialization of the innovations. The small business firms selected by NASA include women-owned and disadvantaged firms.

Phase 1 of the program concluded that the selected proposals are feasible research innovations for meeting agency needs. Contractors that completed Phase 1 submitted 251 proposals for admission into Phase 2.

Phase 2 will continue development of the projects in regards to value to NASA and commercial potential.

The small business program is headquartered at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. Individual projects are managed by NASA's 10 field centers.