Volume 6, Number 2     March/April 1998

 Small Business/SBIR

Marshall, High-Tech Incubator Partner ASA's Marshall Space Flight Center has partnered with BizTech of Huntsville, Alabama, to establish an incubator for new, small businesses with a high-technology orientation. According to Joanne Randolph, BizTech's administrative director, "the incubator will recruit new clients that have the potential to grow and create jobs. As it prospers, BizTech hopes to use revenues from its clients to become self-sufficient. We require that the businesses which apply to BizTech be technology-oriented, have a viable product or service and have a well-developed business plan. We also feel an essential element in client selection is that the entrepreneur be willing to take advice." "BizTech also provides an affiliate program for nonresident clients. This is a kind of 'outpatient' approach," Randolph said. BizTech's mentoring program, which is offered to many successful entrepreneurs and senior business executives who have volunteered to serve on a board of advisors, should benefit clients. Through the mentors' résumés and personal profiles, BizTech matches advisors' expertise with clients' needs. "Through another network," Randolph said, "we can link clients with discounted professional services, such as legal, accounting, financial, training and employment services." Through its co-sponsorship of the small business incubator, Marshall hopes to foster the establishment and growth of many new high-technology firms in Huntsville and Madison County. Sally Little, director of Marshall's Technology Transfer Office and a member of BizTech's advisory committee, said, "Our interests in being a part of BizTech involves making NASA-developed technologies available to their clients for potential commercialization, establishing a presence within the incubator to provide on-the-spot assistance, and to help with local economic development. We're excited about the possibilities of this partnership." Teaming with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the State of Alabama Department of Economic and Community Development, and the City of Huntsville, Marshall provides matching funds to operate the incubator. Currently occupying temporary offices at 2111 Clinton Avenue in Huntsville, BizTech will move into its permanent facility in the Calhoun Community College building on Wynn Drive in Huntsville this summer. Eventually, the incubator will have 41,000 square feet of office and light manufacturing space for itself and its clients. The college donated use of the space. Approximately $2 million will be spent in coming years to expand the facility. For more information, contact Joanne Randolph at BizTech. Call (256) 830-5930, Fax: (256) 830-0922. Please mention you read about it in Innovation.

Negotiable Phase I Proposals Selected ASA has selected 335 of 2,665 research proposals received for negotiation of Phase I contract awards for NASA's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. SBIR goals are 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 results of federally funded research. The combined award total for the 335 Phase I contracts is expected to be approximately $23 million. The selected firms will be awarded fixed-price contracts valued up to $70,000 each to perform a six-month Phase I feasibility study. Companies that successfully complete the Phase I activities are eligible to compete for Phase II selection the following year. The Phase II award allows for a two-year, fixed-price contract in an amount up to $600,000. The NASA SBIR Program Management Office is located at Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, with executive oversight by NASA's Office of Aeronautics and Space Transportation Technology at NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C. Individual SBIR projects are managed by the NASA field centers and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. A listing of companies can be found at http://sbir.nasa.gov For more information, contact Carl Ray at NASA Headquarters. Call (202) 358-4652, Fax: (202) 358-3878, E-mail: cray@hq.nasa.gov Please mention you read about it in Innovation.