2013 COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT NOTICE DUAL USE TECHNOLOGY | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is this NASA opportunity?

This opportunity is a Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN) issued by NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center (SSC) in 2013 to identify partners interested in developing "dual use" technologies. Dual use means the technology is intended to support NASA/SSC mission and operational needs while also being useful for broader commercial or non-NASA applications.

2) What is the solicitation number for this CAN?

The opportunity is identified as CAN No. NNS13459560R.

3) Who issued the CAN and what center is involved?

The CAN was issued by NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center (SSC).

4) What category of funding opportunity is this?

It was posted as a discretionary funding opportunity in the science, technology, and research and development category.

5) Where was the synopsis posted?

The synopsis appeared on FedBizOpps (fbo.gov) through the NASA Acquisition Internet Service (NAIS) Business Opportunities listing.

6) Is this a procurement contract or an assistance opportunity?

This was structured as an assistance opportunity intended to use a cooperative agreement approach rather than a traditional procurement contract, with NASA anticipating substantial involvement during project performance.

7) What award mechanism was anticipated?

The anticipated award mechanism was a Cooperative Agreement.

8) What does "cooperative agreement" imply for NASA involvement?

A cooperative agreement generally indicates NASA expected substantial involvement with the recipient during performance, compared to a grant where agency involvement is usually more limited.

9) Could NASA choose a different award instrument instead of a cooperative agreement?

Yes. NASA stated it reserved the right to choose the most appropriate award instrument for any selected proposal. Applicants were advised not to assume that selection would automatically result in a cooperative agreement if NASA determined another instrument was more appropriate.

10) Were applicants required to submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) before a full proposal?

Yes. A key procedural requirement was that prospective applicants had to submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) first. The NOI needed to be submitted and reviewed before a full project proposal could be submitted under the CAN.

11) Could an applicant submit a full proposal without first completing the NOI step?

No. This was not an open submission where an applicant could submit a full proposal immediately. The NOI step was a gate that had to be completed in advance to proceed.

12) What was the deadline for NOI submissions?

NOI submissions were accepted up to the closing date of the opportunity, which was September 30, 2013.

13) When did the opportunity open and close?

The opportunity was posted on January 11, 2013 and closed on September 30, 2013.

14) When was the opportunity archived?

The listing indicates the opportunity was archived on January 14, 2014.

15) What is the funding range for awards under this CAN?

The award floor was $20,000 and the award ceiling was $75,000, indicating relatively small, project-scale awards.

16) Was cost sharing or matching required?

Yes. The listing states that cost sharing or matching was required, meaning applicants needed to plan to contribute their own resources as part of the overall project budget.

17) What kinds of applicant contributions were expected for cost share/match?

The description indicates applicants would need to contribute resources of their own, which could include cash and/or allowable in-kind contributions, depending on the full announcement terms.

18) What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number associated with the opportunity is 43.002 (Aeronautics).

19) What does the CFDA listing suggest about the program area?

The CFDA number 43.002 (Aeronautics) situates the opportunity within NASA's aeronautics-related assistance framework, even though the overall theme emphasized technology development aligned to SSC needs.

20) Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was described as "unrestricted," meaning it was open to a wide range of entity types, subject to any additional limitations that may have been specified in the full announcement text.

21) What types of projects was NASA SSC looking for?

NASA SSC sought proposed technology development efforts that align with SSC mission and operational needs, with an emphasis on dual-use technologies that also have broader commercial or non-NASA applications.

22) How closely did proposals need to align with SSC needs?

The opportunity was framed around partnering with SSC to develop technologies that meet SSC requirements. This implies proposals were expected to be practical and mission-relevant, aimed at advancing capabilities useful to SSC operations, test activities, facilities, or related technical objectives, while also offering value beyond NASA.

23) What regulations governed this assistance opportunity?

The CAN was issued under NASA assistance regulations referenced as 14 CFR 1260 Subpart A, with additional applicability of 14 CFR Part 1274 for commercial organizations.

24) Who should applicants contact with solicitation-specific questions?

The solicitation contact listed was George Piccolo. Phone: 228-688-1879. Email: george.r.piccolo@nasa.gov.

25) Who should applicants contact for broader programmatic questions?

Programmatic information was available from Ramona E. Travis. Phone: 228-688-3832. Email: ramona.e.travis@nasa.gov.

26) What if an applicant had trouble accessing the full announcement materials online?

The listing notes additional names and emails were included for access issues and NAIS support, indicating applicants were expected to retrieve and follow the full text online and use the provided contacts if they encountered technical difficulties obtaining the materials.

27) What does it mean that the synopsis was posted publicly but NASA used an assistance instrument?

Although the synopsis appeared on FedBizOpps via NAIS, the intent was to encourage outside organizations to propose technology development efforts aligned with SSC needs, with NASA participating through an assistance/cooperative relationship rather than buying a product or service through a traditional procurement contract.

28) Is this opportunity still open?

No. Based on the dates provided, the opportunity closed on September 30, 2013 and was archived on January 14, 2014.