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Portland Area Firm Receives EPA Research Contract

Release Date: 5/23/2005
Contact Information: Jeff Philip
philip.jeff@epamail.epa.gov
(206) 553-1465

May 23, 2005


Ron Kreizenbeck, Environmental Protection Agency Acting Regional Administrator, today announced that VOC Technologies, Inc. (VOCTEC) of Portland, Oregon received $225,000 from the EPA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. VOCTEC was chosen from a pool of 37 applicants across the country.

Researchers at VOCTEC have developed a new technology to analyze volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). This patented instrument will compress an air sample under high pressure before injecting it into a specially designed gas chromatograph, an instrument that separates samples of a volatile substance into its components. This gas chromatograph is constructed entirely within a personal computer -- a “GC-in-a-PC” -- which can operate unattended and indefinitely in the field with direct internet access and control. This highly automated new technology has the potential to lower the cost of a VOC/HAP analysis by a factor of 100 and requires no special operator skills. VOCTEC’s first GC-in-a-PC has operated at a North Dakota Superfund site now for over three months.

The 22 million small businesses in the United States employ about 51 percent of the private work force and develop most of the country’s new technologies. Years ago, Congress passed a law creating the Small Business Innovation Research Program to strengthen the role of small businesses in federally funded research and development. The SBIR program focuses on important areas related to environmental protection, including clean air and water, hazardous and solid wastes, pollution prevention, remediation, and monitoring,. Recent issues include homeland security, clean-up technologies, and technology solutions for specific environmental needs.

EPA is now accepting proposals for SBIR research projects. EPA anticipates the award of approximately $2.8 million in firm, fixed-price contracts of approximately $70,000 each. The request for applications will close on May 25, 2005. To learn more, see below.
To learn more about these research projects and SBIR programs, please visit the link below.

EPA relies on quality science as the basis for sound policy and decision-making. EPA laboratories, research centers, and grantees are building the scientific foundation needed to support the Agency’s mission to safeguard human health and the environment.

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Related Links:

Learn more about SBIR's proposals (es.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2005/2005_sbir_phase1.html)
Learn more about SBIR's programs (epa.gov/ncer/sbir)

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