Selection Process

Phase 1 Evaluations will be performed by NASA scientists and engineers and by qualified experts outside of NASA (including industry, academia, and other Government agencies) as required to determine or verify the merit of a proposal. Offerors should not assume that evaluators are acquainted with the firm, key individuals, or with any experiments or other information. Evaluation criteria is outlined in Section 4 of the Solicitation.

A proposal that is reviewed based on the stated evaluation criteria and recommended for award will be ranked relative to all other recommended proposals at the Center performing the evaluation. Center rankings will be forwarded to the Program Management Office and presented to the Source Selection Official together with the recommendations from all Centers and the Mission Directorate Representatives. Final selection decisions will consider the Center and Mission Directorate rankings as well as overall NASA priorities, program balance and available funding. The Source Selection Official has the final authority for choosing the specific proposals for contract negotiation.

The list of selections will be posted on the NASA SBIR/STTR web site (http://sbir.nasa.gov). All firms will receive a formal notification letter. A Contracting Officer will negotiate an appropriate contract to be signed by both parties before work begins.

The Phase 2 evaluation process is similar to the Phase I process. NASA plans to select for award those proposals offering the best value to the Government and the Nation. Each proposal will be reviewed by NASA scientists and engineers and by qualified experts outside of NASA as needed. In addition, those proposals with high technical merit will be reviewed for commercial merit. NASA uses a peer review panel to evaluate commercial merit. Panel membership will include non-NASA personnel expert in business development and technology commercialization. Evaluation criteria is outlined in Section 4.2 of the Solicitation.

A proposal that is reviewed based on the stated evaluation criteria and recommended for award will be ranked relative to all other recommended proposals at the Center performing the evaluation. The Center Recommendation Report (which includes the Center analysis and ranking) will be forwarded to the Program Management Office and presented to the Source Selection Official together with the recommendations from all Centers and the Mission Directorates. Final selection decisions will consider the Center and Mission Directorate rankings as well as overall NASA priorities, program balance and available funding, as well as any other evaluations or assessments (particularly pertaining to commercial potential) that may become available. The Source Selection Official has the final authority for choosing the specific proposals for contract negotiation.