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Release: 00-271

Four Alabama companies make cut for NASA research proposals

Four Alabama companies are among 97 firms selected by NASA for negotiation of Phase 2 research contract awards in NASA’s Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program.

The companies are Plasma Processes Inc., Plumetech, and SRS Technologies, all of Huntsville; and Diversified Scientific Inc. of Birmingham.

The four firms offered promising research proposals during Phase 1 of the 1999 awards, and have now been selected for negotiation of Phase 2 contracts. Plasma Processes, SRS Technologies and Diversified Scientific turned in proposals for work that would be performed at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville.

Plasma Processes’ proposal involves materials processing in microgravity; SRS Technologies proposes technology for large aperture membrane optics; and Diversified Scientific’s proposal involves high-throughput micro-crystallization systems.

Plumetech’s proposal is for unified test stand design and environmental model work to be performed at NASA’s Stennis Space Center, Miss.

The Marshall Center’s Technology Transfer Department manages NASA’s local SBIR program. The program is designed to stimulate technological innovation, increase the use of small business — including women-owned and disadvantaged firms — in meeting federal research and development needs, and increase private sector commercialization of federally funded research results.

Total value of the new awards is expected to be more than $66 million. Selection criteria include scientific and technical merit, future importance and eventual value of the innovation to NASA, company capabilities and commercial potential.

A listing of all companies selected for Phase 2 of the awards can be found on the Web at:

http://sbir.nasa.gov

For more information on Marshall’s SBIR program, visit:

http://www.nasasolutions.com/