NASA : NASA Invests in Hundreds of U.S. Small Businesses to Enable Future Missions

ADA Technologies Inc. received several NASA SBIR/STTR contracts that enabled the development of a Fine Water Mist Portable Fire Extinguisher intended for use aboard the International Space Station and next-generation, astronaut-occupied spacecraft.

Image Credit: Thomas Cooper (lightboximages.com)

Recognizing the critical role of American small businesses and research institutions play as innovation engines for new space technologies that will enable future space exploration, NASA has selected 383 research and technology proposals for negotiations that may lead to contracts worth a combined $47.6 million.

The proposals, from 257 U.S. small businesses and 29 research institutions, are part of NASA's Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program.

"SBIR and STTR projects are at the foundation of America's future in space and aeronautics," said Michael Gazarik, associate administrator for Space Technology at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "Innovative ideas explored by our partners in industry and the broader U.S. research community help NASA execute our missions and bring new American products and services to the global technology marketplace. These job-creating NASA investments fuel the innovation engine these small businesses provide to our economy."

Technologies funded by these NASA innovation programs may one day find their way into journeys across the solar system. NASA is funding proposals to enable in-space transportation for human and robotic missions; new ways to keep astronauts safe on their journey, and innovative ways to keep spacecraft systems fully operational.

Selected proposals also aim to enable landing on, traversing across, and eventually sampling the depths of asteroids, Mars or other distant destinations. Proposed new technologies will help NASA search the sky for planets outside our solar system and study the universe back to the beginning of time.

NASA's Small Business Innovation Research Program and Small Business Technology Transfer Program fund technologies used here on Earth as well. Projects will help to make entirely new generations of airplanes quieter and more efficient and air traffic management more capable. New space technologies will orbit the Earth, studying our atmosphere, our poles, our oceans, and even our sun, assessing the health of the planet and providing invaluable information about the impacts of climate change.

"These selections are part of NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate investment in new technologies that address several high priority challenges for achieving safe and affordable deep-space exploration," Gazarik added. "Aligned with NASA's Space Technology Roadmaps, the agency's Space Technology Investment Plan and the National Research Council's recommendations, these focused areas will assure we remain on the cutting edge of advanced space technology. SBIR and STTR technologies provide an early stage foundation across all our thrust areas."

In November 2013 NASA issued two concurrent solicitations for Phase I proposals. A general solicitation for both SBIR and STTR sought Phase I proposals in response to a broad range of research topics. A second select solicitation for the SBIR program only focused on a small group of topics of particular interest to NASA.

The highly competitive programs are based on a three-phase award system. Phase I feasibility studies evaluate the scientific and technical merit of an idea. Phase I awards are for six months, and a maximum of $125,000. Firms successfully completing Phase I are eligible to submit a Phase II proposal, expanding on the results of the developments in Phase I. Phase III awards consider the commercialization of the results of Phase II and requires the use of private sector or non-SBIR federal funding.

For the general SBIR Phase I solicitation, NASA chose 315 proposals worth approximately $39.1 million. For the second select SBIR Phase I solicitation, NASA chose 36 proposals worth approximately $4.5 million. NASA chose 32 proposals with a value of approximately $4 million for STTR Phase I projects. The three solicitations attracted proposals from 37 states.

Selection criteria included technical merit and feasibility, along with experience, qualifications and facilities. Additional criteria included effectiveness of the work plan and commercial potential and feasibility.

NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, Calif., manages the SBIR program for NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate. NASA's 10 field centers manage individual projects. For more information about NASA's SBIR program and a complete listing of selected companies, visit:

http://sbir.nasa.gov

The two innovative technology programs are part of NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate, which is innovating, developing, testing and flying hardware for use in NASA's future missions. NASA's investments in space technology provide the transformative capabilities to enable new missions, stimulate the economy, contribute to the nation's global competitiveness, and inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and explorers. For more information about NASA's investment in space technology, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/spacetech

NASA

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NASA - NASA SBIR and STTR 2012 Program Solicitations Opened on September 17, 2012 and closed on November 29, 2012 at 5:00 PM ET The Phase 1 NASA SBIR/STTR Solicitation View by Technology View by Technology search download help Cover Noteworthy Changes Table of Contents Chapter 1. Program Description Chapter 2. Definitions Chapter 3. Proposal Preparation Instructions and Requirements Chapter 4. Method of Selection and Evaluation Criteria Chapter 5. Considerations Chapter 6. Submission of Proposals Chapter 7. Scientific and Technical Information Sources Chapter 8. Submission Forms and Certifications (includes SBIR checklist and STTR checklist.) Chapter 9. Research Topics for SBIR and STTR Appendix A: Example Format for Briefing Chart Appendix B: Technology Readiness Level (TRL) Descriptions Appendix C: NASA SBIR/STTR Technology Taxonomy Appendix D: SBIR/STTR and the Space Technology Roadmaps Phase II Proposal Instructions Amendment 0001 to Subtopic H3.02 of the SBIR Solicitation

 

NASA SBIR and STTR 2012 Program Solicitations

Opened on September 17, 2012 and closed on November 29, 2012 at 5:00 PM ET

Cover Noteworthy Changes Table of Contents Chapter 1. Program Description Chapter 2. Definitions Chapter 3. Proposal Preparation Instructions and Requirements Chapter 4. Method of Selection and Evaluation Criteria Chapter 5. Considerations Chapter 6. Submission of Proposals Chapter 7. Scientific and Technical Information Sources Chapter 8. Submission Forms and Certifications (includes SBIR checklist and STTR checklist.) Chapter 9. Research Topics for SBIR and STTR Appendix A: Example Format for Briefing Chart Appendix B: Technology Readiness Level (TRL) Descriptions Appendix C: NASA SBIR/STTR Technology Taxonomy Appendix D: SBIR/STTR and the Space Technology Roadmaps Phase II Proposal Instructions Amendment 0001 to Subtopic H3.02 of the SBIR Solicitation

WASHINGTON -- NASA has selected 295 research and technology proposals from 216 American small businesses for negotiations that may lead to contract awards worth a combined $38.7 million.

The proposals are part of NASA's Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program.

SBIR addresses specific technology gaps in agency missions while striving to complement other agency research investments. Numerous NASA efforts, including modern air traffic control systems, Earth-observing spacecraft, human spaceflight and the International Space Station, and NASA's Mars rovers have benefited from the program. The STTR program additionally facilitates the transfer of technology developed by a research institution through the entrepreneurship of a small business.

"NASA's small business innovation research projects are strong and valuable investments that continue to pay dividends to NASA and the American people," said Michael Gazarik, NASA's associate administrator for space technology in Washington. "If successful, these early stage technology concepts will mature to meet NASA's mission needs while also providing solutions that have wide applicability in the marketplace, potentially becoming new products, services and jobs here in the U.S."

This year, NASA issued two concurrent solicitations for Phase I proposals. A general solicitation for both SBIR and STTR sought Phase I proposals in response to a broad range of research topics. A select solicitation was for the SBIR program only and focused on a small group of topics of particular interest to the agency.

Innovative research areas among these selected proposals include:
-- New technologies to reduce drag on aircraft and thereby increase fuel efficiency during supersonic flight.
-- Improved advanced spacesuit life support systems.
-- Development of innovative fixed-wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles offering unique capabilities for Earth science research and environmental monitoring.
-- Innovative concepts and technologies to enable significant increases in the capacity and efficiency of air transportation systems, potentially aiding in on-time arrival, departure and taxiing of airplanes while reducing their fuel consumption, noise and pollution.
-- Creating a launch system that provides low-cost, reliable, on-demand, routine space access for small satellites, weighing up to about 44 pounds.
-- Developing a rugged laser transmitter for new detection systems to profile Earth's atmospheric ozone.

The highly competitive SBIR-STTR program is a three-phase award system. Phase I is a feasibility study to evaluate the scientific and technical merit of an idea. Awards typically are for six months for the SBIR contracts and 12 months for the STTR contracts. The maximum amount is $125,000 for general SBIR and STTR contracts and $200,000 for SBIR select solicitation proposals.

Firms successfully completing Phase I are eligible to submit a Phase II proposal, expanding on the results of the developments in Phase I. Phase III is for the commercialization of the results of Phase II and requires the use of private sector or non-SBIR federal funding.

For the general SBIR Phase I solicitation, NASA chose 236 proposals worth about $29.4 million. For the select SBIR Phase I solicitation, NASA chose 26 proposals worth about $5.1 million. NASA chose 33 proposals with a value of about $4.1 million for STTR Phase I projects. The three solicitations attracted proposals from 32 states.

Selection criteria included technical merit and feasibility, along with experience, qualifications and facilities. Additional criteria included effectiveness of the work plan and commercial potential and feasibility.

NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, Calif., manages the SBIR program for NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate. NASA's 10 field centers manage individual projects. For more information about NASA's SBIR program and a list of selected companies, visit:

http://sbir.nasa.gov

NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate is innovating, developing, testing and flying hardware for use in NASA's future missions. For more information about NASA's investment in space technology, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/spacetech

 NASA