Companies with fewer than 500 employees can apply between Dec. 1, 2000, and Jan. 10, 2001, for a share of the $556 million that the US Department of Defense Small Business Innovation Research program will award in fiscal 2001. Phase I awards will garner up to $100,000 for a six-month concept test stage and, if the test is successful, a Phase II award can provide up to $750,000 for further development, usually to the prototype stage. Details of the preferred proposal topics and assistance with applications are available at www.acq.osd.mil/sadbu/sbir.