San Leandro Small Business Lands NASA Contract

SAN LEANDRO, CA — HJ Science & Technology, Inc. of San Leandro has been awarded a contract by NASA to develop novel microbial detection technology for long-term spaceflight missions.

In its proposal, the company told NASA that it would develop "a miniaturized and automated instrument that enables quantification and identification of environmental microbial contamination for long-term spaceflight missions. This technology supports NASA’s efforts in TX06 Human Health, Life Support, and Habitation Systems with a focus on microbial monitoring of their Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS)."

The contract was announced by NASA late last month as part of an initiative to provide a boost to small businesses. The space agency awarded a total of $45 million in contracts for 365 proposals through its inaugural Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program.

“At NASA, we recognize that small businesses are facing unprecedented challenges due to the pandemic,” said Jim Reuter, associate administrator for the agency’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD). “This year, to get funds into the hands of small businesses sooner, we accelerated the release of the 2021 SBIR/STTR Phase I solicitation by two months. We hope the expedited funding helps provide a near-term boost for future success.”

The contracts went to 289 small businesses and 47 research institutions, including 74 businesses here in California, and three universities.

Other East Bay businesses also received contracts —

• Superimaging Display, Inc., Fremont
• Spark Thermionics, Emeryville
• Vector Atomic, Inc., Pleasanton

The program is administered at NASA's Ames Research Center in Mountain View.

HJ Science & Technology, Inc. is at 1933 Davis Street, Suite 210 in San Leandro.