All News Releases By Date

EPA Awards Research Contracts to Two Small Businesses in Rensselaer County

Release Date: 06/27/2005
Contact Information:

For Release: Monday, June 27, 2005

(#05075) New York, N.Y. - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today highlighted the Agency's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program by touring two businesses in East Greenbush, New York that received SBIR contracts. Rupprecht & Patashnick Co., Inc. (recently acquired by Thermo Electron Corporation) was awarded a $225,000 contract to develop an instrument that can provide an analysis of the elements in particulate matter on an hourly basis. X-Ray Optical Systems, Inc. received a $70,000 contract to design a remotely-accessible technology to monitor toxic metals and other particulate contaminants in air.

"EPA's SBIR program offers critical financial support to small businesses to develop the best, new innovative technologies," said Acting EPA Regional Administrator Kathleen C. Callahan. " We are very pleased that these East Greenbush firms have been awarded contracts, and we look forward to seeing the results of their work."

EPA is one of 12 federal agencies that participate in the SBIR Program established by the Small Business Innovation Development Act of 1982. The Agency issues annual solicitations for Phase I and Phase II research proposals from science and technology-based firms. Under Phase I, a small business studies the scientific merit and technical feasibility of its proposal. EPA awards Phase I contracts of up to $70,000 for a period of typically six months. Phase II contracts are limited to small businesses that have successfully completed their Phase I contracts, with the goal of commercializing the technology developed in Phase I. In Phase II, EPA awards contracts of up to $225,000 for a period of typically 15 months. EPA also offers up to $100,000 and one additional year as an option to the Phase II contract if a company secures third party financing to
accelerate commercialization of the technology or if EPA has agreed to test the technology to verify its performance.

Rupprecht & Patashnick Co., Inc. is one of 14 companies that received Phase II contracts worth over $3 million for work in five key environmental areas: control and monitoring of air emissions, pollution prevention, solid waste control, hazardous waste treatment, and homeland security. X-Ray Optical, Inc. is one of 34 companies that received Phase I contracts totaling over $2.6 million for projects to develop new technologies to control and monitor air pollution, treat wastewater, manage hazardous waste, improve recycling, and ensure safe buildings and drinking water security.

For general information on the Agency's SBIR program as well as specific information on the SBIR projects for Rupprecht & Patashnick Co., Inc. and X-Ray Optical, Inc., please visit the EPA Web site at www.epa.gov/ncer/sbir.