U.S. Department of Education, Grants and Contracts Services, 7th & D Streets, SW, Room 3633, ROB Washington, D.C. 20202-4337

A -- 1997 SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH PROGRAM, PHASE I SOL RFP-97-025 DUE 011397 POC Jennifer Feld, 202-708-7405. A- The U.S. Department of Education invites small business firms to submit Phase I research proposals under this program solicitation titled Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR). A small business is one that, at the time of award, (1) is independently owned and operated, is not dominant in the field of operation in which it is proposing, and has its principal place of business located in the United States; (2) is at least 51 percent owned by a United States citizen or lawfully admitted permanent resident alien, (3) Has, including its affiliates, a number or employees not exceeding 500, and meets the other regulatory requirements found in 13 CFR part 121. The SBIR Program enables small businesses to perform research and development through a three-phase process. Phase I is to determine the technical merit and feasibility of ideas submitted under the SBIR Program. The eighteen technical topics for which proposals will be considered are as follows: (1) Development or Adaptation of Assistive Devices, Mechanisms, Technologies, or Techniques for Individuals with Disabilities, (2) Development or Adaptation of Devices, Mechanisms, or Techniques for Individuals with Hearing Disabilities, (3) Innovative Technologies to Enhance Self-Determination, Job Development, Job Modification, Job Opportunities, or Transition from School to Work for Individuals with Disabilities, (4) Innovative Technological Circumventions to Neutralize Existing or Emerging Barriers to the Education or Vocational Rehabilitation of Individuals with Disabilities, (5) Combining New Technologies to Expand Placement Opportunities for Vocational Rehabilitation Clients, and School-to-Work Options for Youth with Disabilities, (6) Technological Solutions to Maintaining the Communication Skills of Individuals with Severe Late Onset Deafness, (7) Development or Adaptation of Telecommunications, Electronics Networks, Multimedia, or Management Information Systems and Software to Meet the Needs of Individuals with Disabilities, Their Families, and Professionals in Rehabilitation and Special Education, (8) Development or Adaptation of Assistive Devices, Mechanisms, or Technologies for Use by Allied Health Professionals and Individuals With Disabilities to Address Rehabilitation Needs Arising from Decreased Length of Inpatient Care and Increased Rehabilitation Techniques in Home Settings, (9) Development or Adaptation of Innovative Technologies to Enhance Learning and Development for Individuals with Disabilities of All Ages, (10) Development or Adaptation or Technologies to Foster the Inclusion and Facilitate the Successful Integration of Individuals with Disabilities into Regular School, Social, and Work Environments, (11) Development or Adaptation of Devices or Technologies to Assist Children, Youth, and Adults with Disabilities in the Arts, Recreation, or Leisure-Time Activities, (12) Development or Adaptation of Innovation Technologies to Enhance Learning and Development of Students Placed at Risk of Educational Failure, (13) Development or Adaptation of Innovation Technologies to Foster Early Childhood Development and Education (14) Development or Adaptation of Innovative Technologies to Enhance Student Achievement, Curriculum, and Assessment, (15) Development or Adaptation of Innovative Technologies to Assist Individuals and Institutions concerned with Educational Governance, Finance, Policymaking, and Management, (16) Development or Adaptation of Innovative Technologies to Improve Postsecondary Education, Libraries, and Lifelong Learning, (17) Development of CD ROM Interactive Software Exercises for Spoken Arabic or Korean Language Maintenance at the Intermediate and Advanced-high Levels. Exercise must be posted on the World-Wide Web, and (18) Development of CD ROM Software for Adult Learners in Mathematics Instruction for Adults at the Grade Equivalent Levels of (a) 1 t0 5 and (b) 6 to 8. RFP 97-025 will be issued on or about January 13, 1997. It is anticipated that the closing date for receipt will be on March 17, 1997. Telephone requests should be placed by calling (202) 708-6498. The Request of Proposals can also be found on the Internet on or about the RFP issue date at : http://gcs.ed.gov or gopher://gcs.ed.gov. Written requests should be sent to the address given above. Copies may be picked up after the date of release. Because of tightened security, offerors can not enter our building on their own. To pick up a copy of the RFP or to drop off proposals, offerors shall go to the D Street exit and have the guard call the Application Control Center (ACC) at 708-8493 and ask to sign the offerors in, in order to deliver the proposals to ACC. The proposals will be stamped with the time and date of arrival once it arrives in ACC. (0361)

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