GAME CHANGING OPPORTUNITIES IN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the name of this NASA funding opportunity?

The funding opportunity is titled GAME CHANGING OPPORTUNITIES IN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT under Funding Opportunity Number NNL12A3001N.

2) What is this notice announcing or changing?

This notice is a modification to the earlier synopsis titled "Game Changing Opportunities in Technology Development 2012" that was originally posted on December 12, 2011. The modification specifically announces the release of the fifth appendix to the NASA Research Announcement (NRA), known as Appendix E.

3) What is Appendix E and what is its title?

Appendix E is titled "Technology Development for Suborbital Flight Opportunities". It adds a focused call for technology development efforts that can be advanced through suborbital flight testing and related capability improvements.

4) What kind of solicitation structure is being used?

This opportunity is issued under a NASA Research Announcement (NRA) structure.

5) What types of funding instruments will NASA use?

The opportunity provides support through grants and cooperative agreements.

6) What are the main topic areas NASA is soliciting proposals for?

The solicitation describes three main topic areas:

• Space technology demonstration payloads (hardware and systems that can be flown to prove performance in relevant environments, reduce technical risk, and mature technologies toward future missions).
• Vehicle capability enhancements and onboard research facilities for payload accommodation (improvements that make suborbital platforms more useful, such as integration options, environmental control or monitoring, interfaces, and other flight or ground-support capabilities).
• Small spacecraft propulsion technology development (propulsion approaches suitable for small satellite missions, where size, mass, power, and cost constraints require compact, efficient, reliable solutions).

7) Does Appendix E include additional, more specific subtopics?

Yes. The solicitation notes that Appendix E contains specific technology development areas within each of the three topic headings. Applicants are expected to align their proposals with those defined sub-areas in Appendix E.

8) What is meant by "space technology demonstration payloads" in this call?

In this solicitation, space technology demonstration payloads refer to hardware and systems that can be flown to:

• Prove performance in relevant environments
• Reduce technical risk
• Mature technologies toward future missions

9) What kinds of improvements fall under "vehicle capability enhancements" and "payload accommodation"?

The notice describes this broadly as improvements that expand how useful suborbital platforms are for researchers and developers, including examples such as:

• Better payload integration options
• Environmental control or monitoring
• Interfaces and related flight or ground-support capabilities
• Other enhancements that expand what payloads can be carried and how effectively they can be operated

10) What is the focus of the small spacecraft propulsion topic?

This topic focuses on propulsion technologies suitable for small satellite missions, where mission constraints (such as size, mass, power, and cost) drive the need for propulsion that is compact, efficient, and reliable.

11) Is cost sharing or matching required?

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

12) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as broad and unrestricted. Participation is open to a wide range of domestic and foreign organizations, including:

• Private industry
• Universities and other educational institutions
• Nonprofit organizations
• NASA centers
• Other government agencies

Eligibility is subject to any clarifications included in the full text of the solicitation.

13) What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is categorized under science and technology and other research and development with CFDA 43.009 (Cross Agency Support).

14) Where can applicants find the full solicitation and Appendix E?

The full NRA and Appendix E details are available through NASA's Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES) at:

http://nspires.nasaprs.com

Applicants should look under Open Solicitations for NRA NNL12A3001N.

15) Are proposal due dates listed in the main NRA or in the appendices?

While the overarching NRA is described as being open for a one-year period from release, the notice states that the actual submission deadlines are set within the appendices that cover individual topic areas, including Appendix E.

16) What is the closing date shown in the posting?

The posting lists a current closing date of June 17, 2013.

17) Does this modification change anything besides adding Appendix E?

The notice indicates that the remaining information from the original announcement stays the same, aside from this appendix-related modification.

18) Who should be contacted for access issues or help with the electronic announcement?

For access issues or help with the electronic announcement, the listed contacts are:

• Tibor Balint: tibor.s.balint@nasa.gov
• LaShonda P. Jacobs Terry: Lashonda.P.Jacobs.Terry@nasa.gov
• NAIS Support: nais.support@nasa.gov