[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 116 (Friday, June 14, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 30263]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-15152]



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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Phased Withdrawal From the Small Business Innovation Research 
(SBIR) Program in FY 1996

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The NRC has participated in the SBIR program since its 
inception in 1982. However, due to significant reductions in the NRC's 
FY 1996 budget, the extramural research and development (R&D) budget 
falls substantially below the $100 million threshold for mandatory 
participation in the SBIR program. This current trend is expected to 
continue into future fiscal years. The NRC must focus its limited 
research funds on high priority work needed to support, confirm, or 
refine judgments used in regulatory decisions affecting public health 
and safety. Therefore, the NRC requested, in a letter to the U.S. Small 
Business Administration, Office of Technology dated September 19, 1995, 
approval for a phased withdrawal from the SBIR program in FY 1996 and 
beyond. SBA responded on April 16, 1996, that the NRC's phased 
withdrawal was approved. Should the NRC's extramural R&D budget 
increase above the $100 million threshold in the coming years, the NRC 
would again participate in the SBIR program.
    The phased withdrawal is being accomplished as follows: (1) A SBIR 
Phase I solicitation will not be issued in FY 1996 or future years 
while the NRC is below the mandatory threshold for participation in 
this program; (2) in FY 1996 the NRC will fund between one-third and 
one-half of the Phase II proposals resulting from its FY 1995 SBIR 
Phase I awards; and (3) the NRC is informing the small business 
community of this action through this Federal Register Notice and will 
issue letters to the small businesses on its SBIR mailing list.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marianne Riggs on (301) 415-5822 or 
Deborah Neff on (301) 415-8160.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NRC continues to support small business 
opportunities. For further information regarding the NRC small business 
program, you may contact the Office of Small Business and Civil Rights 
on (301) 415-7380.

    Dated at Rockville, MD this 10th day of June 1996.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Mary H. Mace,
Contracting Officer.
[FR Doc. 96-15152 Filed 6-13-96; 8:45 am]
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