FY 2010 NASA K 12 Cooperative Agreements Notice (CAN) | Apply Online

FY 2010 NASA K-12 Cooperative Agreements Notice (CAN) FAQs

1) What is this funding opportunity?

This opportunity is the FY 2010 NASA K-12 Cooperative Agreements Notice (CAN), Funding Opportunity Number NNG10ZNE008C. It is a discretionary NASA Headquarters funding opportunity supporting projects intended to strengthen secondary STEM education, with a clear emphasis on high school learners and educators.

2) What is NASA trying to accomplish with this CAN?

NASA is seeking projects that use NASA-themed STEM content to actively engage students through instructional materials and learning experiences that feel relevant, hands-on, and motivating. The overarching intent is to use NASA missions, research, and technical expertise as a hook to improve STEM learning, strengthen classroom instruction, and help more students view NASA-related careers as realistic and worth pursuing.

3) Which grade levels and audiences are emphasized?

The priority focus is on high school learners and educators. At the same time, projects are expected to intentionally connect backward to elementary and middle grades and forward to community colleges and universities to support continuity across the STEM pipeline.

4) What kinds of projects are most competitive based on the description?

NASA prioritizes projects that move beyond routine curriculum development and instead propose new, innovative, and replicable approaches. Projects should be designed in ways that can be scaled or repeated in other settings and should address persistent challenges such as gender differences in STEM participation and the needs of low-performing schools.

5) What outcome areas does NASA highlight?

The announcement emphasizes several outcome areas:

• Improving STEM learning and classroom instruction in ways that are replicable and scalable.
• Providing student and educator experiences with measurable learning outcomes (clear definitions of success and assessment plans).
• Building stronger STEM pipelines and linkages across grade bands (K-12 connections) and forward to community colleges and universities.
• Strengthening educator support, including training and professional experiences that improve secondary teachers' ability to engage students and deepen STEM teaching and learning.

6) What does NASA mean by “measurable learning outcomes” in this context?

Applicants are expected to define what success looks like, explain how it will be assessed, and describe why the proposed approach should work. The approach should be grounded in education research or based on evidence-based STEM methods, techniques, or tools.

7) Is this opportunity focused on materials only, or on experiences as well?

Based on the description, NASA is looking for both: instructional materials and learning experiences that actively engage students and educators, with an emphasis on hands-on, motivating, and relevant learning tied to NASA-themed STEM content.

8) What is the proposal process?

NASA uses a two-step proposal process intended to screen concepts early and invite only the strongest ideas to submit full applications:

• Step 1 (mandatory): Notice of Intent and Preliminary Proposal (NOI/PP).
• Step 2 (invitation only): Full proposal submission for teams selected after Step 1 review.

9) Is Step 1 required?

Yes. Step 1 (the NOI/PP) is mandatory. NASA reviews Step 1 submissions internally and invites selected applicants to proceed to Step 2.

10) What must be included in the Step 1 NOI/PP?

The Step 1 NOI/PP is concept-oriented and must outline:

• The work to be performed
• What NASA content will be featured
• The target audiences
• The need being addressed
• The innovative approach
• Estimated costs
• A brief summary of the evidence supporting the chosen methods or tools

11) What are the page and formatting limits for the Step 1 NOI/PP?

The Step 1 NOI/PP is limited to five pages in 10-point font.

12) Who reviews the Step 1 submissions?

NASA’s Office of Education and relevant NASA Mission Directorates conduct an internal review of the Step 1 NOI/PP submissions and select which teams are invited to submit a Step 2 full proposal.

13) How long do invited applicants have to submit the Step 2 proposal?

Invited applicants are typically given about one month after notification to assemble and submit the full proposal package.

14) Which submission system is required for Step 1?

Step 1 (the NOI/PP) must be submitted through NSPIRES. Grants.gov does not support the NOI/PP function.

15) Can applicants use Grants.gov at any point?

The description indicates applicants may use either NSPIRES or Grants.gov for proposal submission generally, but Step 1 cannot be submitted through Grants.gov. In addition, Step 2 submissions must be filed through NSPIRES, and NSPIRES is the only platform that allows a Step 1 proposal to transition into a Step 2 full proposal.

16) Do all team members need NSPIRES registration?

Yes. All proposers, team members, and agency officials must be registered in NSPIRES regardless of which system they use for proposal submission generally.

17) Who must submit the Step 1 NOI/PP in NSPIRES?

The Step 1 NOI/PP must be submitted through NSPIRES by the Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR).

18) What are the key deadlines for this FY 2010 cycle?

• Step 1 NOI/PP deadline: June 1, 2010
• Step 2 full proposal deadline (invited applicants): July 19, 2010

19) When was the opportunity posted, closed, and archived?

• Posted: May 11, 2010
• Closed: July 19, 2010
• Archived: August 18, 2010

20) Who is eligible to apply as the lead organization?

Eligibility for the lead organization is limited to:

• U.S. school districts
• State-based education leadership organizations
• Nonprofit education organizations that support secondary education

21) Can universities, community colleges, or companies apply as the lead?

No. Entities such as community colleges, universities, industry partners, education-related companies, and similar institutions may participate only as partners to an eligible lead organization, not as the primary applicant.

22) What type of funding instrument does NASA use for this opportunity?

The funding instrument is listed as a cooperative agreement. The source data also references “grant” as an instrument type, but the opportunity itself is framed as a Cooperative Agreements Notice (CAN).

23) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The announcement states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

24) Where can applicants find the preparation instructions and requirements for full proposals?

Applicants are directed to use the companion document titled Guidebook for Proposers Responding to a NASA Research Announcement (January 2010 Edition) for full preparation instructions and requirements.

25) Who is the point of contact for technical or programmatic questions?

The announcement references Dr. Antoinette C. Wells, National Project Manager at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, as the point of contact for technical and education-related questions about the outcomes and programs targeted by the CAN.