EXHIBIT 10(a)
                              DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
                            Germantown, MD 20874-1290

                                  May 29, 2002

Mr. J.R. Gaines, Jr.
Superconductive Components, Inc.
1145 Chesapeake Avenue
Columbus, OH 43212-2284

Reference: Application Number 70375S02-I, "Feasibility of Cost Effective, Long
Length, BSCCO 2212 Round Wires, for Very High Field Magnets, Beyond 12 Tesla at
4.2 Kelvin"

Dear Mr. Gaines:

I am please to inform you that the subject grant application, submitted by your
company to the Department of Energy (DOE), has been selected for a Small
Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award. Effective this year, the project
period for SBIR Phase I grants has been changed to nine months. This letter sets
out some guidelines for SBIR awardees. We would appreciate your careful
consideration.

First, you will be contacted by one of the DOE Operations Offices that conduct
award negotiations. That office will request your completion of the enclosed PI
certification and the other required certification forms, which can be found on
our Website at http://sbir.er.doe.gov/sbir, click on FY 2002 Solicitation, then
Certifications. They can provide you with blank copies if you do not have
Internet access.

Second, we need you to send us an electronic copy of Appendix B (enclosed), the
Project Summary, of the above-referenced grant application, in Microsoft Word
format. A blank summary form is available on the Web at
http://sbir.er.doe.gov/sbir, click on FY 2002 Solicitation, then Forms, and then
Project Summary. Once you have downloaded the form and filled it in, PLEASE SEND
IT VIA E-MAIL TO sbir-sttr@science.doc.gov no later than June 21, 2002. After
the above materials are received and negotiations are completed, we would expect
your grant to be executed on or near July 22, 2002.

Third, if you are collaborating with a DOE national laboratory on the research
project, the laboratory may require an up front payment for the full cost of the
first 90 days of work they perform. These funds may be obtained in an advance
payment which may include the entirety of your project's actual needs for the
first three months of the grant, or even a lump sum payment of the entire grant.
To obtain this advance payment, provide a written request to the DOE Operations
Office that explains why the funds are needed.

Lastly, I have enclosed copies of the reviewers' comments used in the evaluation
of your grant application. Some comments contain suggestions for improving the
research effort. If you

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believe that the suggestions would support your project's research goals, please
inform the Technical Project Manager, whose name and phone number can be
obtained from the Operations Office. If the scope of the work would be
substantially changed, please also inform the Operations Office.

You will be eligible to apply for Phase II funding in fiscal year 2003. During
the nine month Phase I project period, our office will provide instructions on
how to submit a Phase II application. QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO THE PHASE I GRANT
ITSELF SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE OPERATIONS OFFICE.

Even though the Department assumes no financial responsibility until a grant is
properly executed, let me take this opportunity to congratulate you on winning
an extremely tough competition.

                                                     Sincerely,

                                                     /s/ Robert E. Berger
                                                    ----------------------------
                                                     Robert E. Berger
                                                     SBIR/STTR Program Manager

3 Enclosures
PI Certification
Reviewers' Comments
Project Summary, Appendix B