2009 Competitive Program for Science Museums and Planetariums (CP4SMP) | Apply Online

CP4SMP (2009 NASA Competitive Program for Science Museums and Planetariums) FAQs

What is CP4SMP?

The Competitive Program for Science Museums and Planetariums (CP4SMP) was a 2009 NASA Office of Education funding opportunity released as a NASA Research Announcement (NRA). It supported informal STEM education projects led by US-based science museums and planetariums, with an emphasis on exhibit-based and related public-facing informal learning efforts.

What kind of projects was NASA looking to fund?

Projects centered on museum and planetarium informal learning, especially exhibits, planetarium programming, interactive installations, and other visitor experiences. Proposals needed to be distinctly NASA in content and identity, clearly featuring NASA missions, science, engineering, exploration activities, and/or technologies.

What does it mean for a project to be "distinctly NASA"?

"Distinctly NASA" meant the project could not be generic STEM outreach. The proposal needed clear NASA storylines and identifiable NASA-related content, such as missions, NASA science and engineering work, exploration activities, or NASA technologies, presented through an informal learning format that visitors could experience.

What technical content areas were eligible?

The scope was intentionally narrow and limited to NASA-themed content areas: space exploration, aeronautics, space science, Earth science, and microgravity. Proposals could focus on one theme or combine multiple themes, as long as the content stayed within these areas.

What were the main program goals?

CP4SMP followed NASA Informal Education priorities, including: increasing interest in and understanding of STEM for learners of all ages by inspiring and engaging the public; strengthening linkages between informal education settings (museums, planetariums, visitor centers) and formal education (schools and classrooms, including standards-based learning); and encouraging parents, caregivers, and other adults to become more informed supporters of childrens STEM learning.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was limited to institutions of informal STEM education that are science museums or planetariums located in the United States or its Territories. The announcement also recognized a broad set of institutions as potentially eligible as long as they functioned as informal STEM learning institutions.

Does an organization have to have the word "museum" or "planetarium" in its name to be eligible?

No. The announcement stated that an organization did not need to include terms like "museum," "science," or "planetarium" in its legal name, as long as its purpose and operations fit the intent of an informal STEM learning institution consistent with the program.

What types of institutions were listed as examples of eligible applicants?

Examples included air and space centers, aviation museums, childrens museums, natural history museums, observatories and planetariums, science and technology centers, aquariums, arboretums, aviaries, zoos, botanical gardens, nature centers, and national/state/local parks (when functioning as informal STEM learning institutions). It also included non-federal NASA visitor centers and affiliates, congressionally authorized NASA memorials such as Challenger Centers (US-based), theaters and auditoriums dedicated to astronomical shows, and museums or associations of eligible institutions recognized by the IRS.

Were federal NASA visitor centers included?

The eligibility examples specifically referenced non-federal NASA visitor centers and affiliates. Based on the provided information, the program highlighted non-federal visitor centers rather than federal ones.

What funding was available for FY 2009?

NASA expected total FY 2009 funding of about $6 million for new awards. The agency emphasized that awards were contingent on congressional appropriations and on the quality and acceptability of proposals received.

Was funding beyond FY 2009 guaranteed?

No. NASA stated that funding beyond FY 2009 was not generally available at the time of the announcement. Any continuation depended on future appropriations and agency decisions.

What was the expected award size?

Individual awards were expected to range from $100,000 (award floor) to $1,125,000 (award ceiling).

How many awards did NASA expect to make?

NASA anticipated making between 6 and 20 awards, depending on the budgets requested and total funds available.

Was cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity explicitly stated there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.

How long could a project last?

Projects could be proposed for periods of up to five years, reflecting an intent to support substantial and durable museum and planetarium efforts rather than short pilot events.

What funding instruments were used?

The solicitation offered grants and cooperative agreements. These were issued under 14 CFR Part 1260 for nonprofit institutions.

What is the difference between a grant and a cooperative agreement for this opportunity?

The provided information indicates that cooperative agreements typically imply NASA may have an active partnership role compared with standard grants. Both instrument types were available under the solicitation.

Which NASA offices and organizations were involved?

NASA ran the solicitation through the NASA Office of Education (Integration Division, Informal Education Program) in cooperation with the Division of Communication Planning and multiple Mission Directorates: Aeronautics Research, Exploration Systems, Science, and Space Operations.

What did NASA mean by "alignment" as a requirement?

Projects needed to be relevant to NASA missions, Mission Directorate programs, and NASA Office of Education priorities. Strong proposals were expected to clearly connect the informal learning experience to real NASA work and priorities.

When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?

The opportunity was posted July 13, 2009, and closed September 10, 2009. The archive date was September 11, 2009.

What was the Funding Opportunity Number?

The Funding Opportunity Number was NNH09ZNE005N.

What was the listed activity category?

The activity category was listed as science and technology and other research and development.

Where were applicants instructed to access the full NRA?

Applicants were directed to access the NRA through NASAs NSPIRES system at http://nspires.nasaprs.com. Applicants were responsible for monitoring and downloading the full announcement, any amendments, and NASA-posted FAQs.

Who was the program contact for questions?

The program contact listed for solicitation and program questions was Anita M. Sohus at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The email provided was CP4SMP@jpl.nasa.gov.

Could NASA fund selected projects using other funding sources?

Yes. NASA noted it could potentially fund some selected projects using non-CP4SMP sources if other NASA or federal funds were available, using mechanisms such as memoranda of understanding or intra/interagency agreements.

How did NASA describe possible FY 2010 actions if Congress continued CP4SMP funding?

NASA indicated it might not automatically run a new competition. Instead, it could fund selections from the FY 2009 pool, augment FY 2008 awards (with notification and a request for new or revised proposals), and/or augment FY 2009 proposals that had been partially funded or not selected due to FY 2009 funding limits.

Did the program prioritize exhibits and museum-based experiences over one-time events?

Based on the described intent (exhibit-based and related informal learning, plus allowing projects up to five years), the program was oriented toward substantial public-facing experiences rather than short pilot events.

What kinds of learning connections were encouraged?

The program encouraged stronger linkages between informal education (museums, planetariums, visitor centers) and formal education (schools, classrooms, standards-based learning), and also encouraged engagement of parents, caregivers, and adults as supporters of childrens STEM learning.