HUMAN EXPLORATION RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES NASA RESEARCH ANNOUNCEMENT | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the HERO 2015 NASA Research Announcement (NRA)?

The Human Exploration Research Opportunities (HERO) 2015 NASA Research Announcement is a broad, competitive grant solicitation administered by NASA Johnson Space Center. It is issued under Funding Opportunity Number NNJ15ZSA001N and is designed to fund research that supports NASA's Human Research Program (HRP).

2) What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?

The purpose is to generate countermeasures, scientific knowledge, technologies, and operational tools that protect astronaut health and sustain high performance during spaceflight. The emphasis is on enabling safe, reliable, and productive human exploration missions and supporting safe operations on current platforms such as the International Space Station (ISS).

3) Which NASA program does this opportunity support?

This solicitation supports NASA's Human Research Program (HRP), which focuses on understanding and reducing the biomedical and operational risks to humans living and working in space.

4) How is the opportunity organized?

The HERO 2015 NRA is organized around HRP's six major program elements: Space Radiation; Human Health and Countermeasures; Exploration Medical Capability; Behavioral Health and Performance; Space Human Factors and Habitability; and the International Space Station Medical Project.

5) What research topics and disciplines are highlighted?

The solicitation highlights multiple supporting research disciplines and topic areas tied to spaceflight risks, including behavioral health and performance, bone and muscle health, cardiovascular function, extravehicular activity (EVA), immunology, medical capabilities, nutrition, pharmacology, radiation, sensorimotor function, advanced food technology, advanced environmental health, and space human factors engineering.

6) What kinds of problems is NASA trying to solve with these awards?

NASA is looking for proposals that can explain, predict, prevent, monitor, or treat physiological, psychological, and operational challenges astronauts face in microgravity, partial gravity, confined habitats, and radiation environments.

7) What role does the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) play in this ecosystem?

The announcement notes NSBRI as a nonprofit collaborator that works closely with HRP under a cooperative agreement and uses an integrated team model to advance biomedical research and countermeasure development. Even though NASA remains the funding agency for this NRA, the mention of NSBRI signals that proposed work should align with a coordinated, risk-focused human spaceflight research portfolio rather than operating as an isolated academic effort.

8) What type of funding instrument is used?

Funding is provided as grants. NASA also reserves the right to select the most appropriate award instrument for proposals that are chosen for funding.

9) How large are typical awards?

Award sizes generally scale with the scope of work. Smaller, narrowly focused efforts (such as data analysis) are often under $100,000 per year. Larger efforts (such as scientific hardware development) can reach roughly $450,000 per year.

10) How much total funding is available?

Total funding varies by HRP program element, ranging from less than $1 million to several million dollars. Because of this range, each element may support only a few awards or a dozen or more, depending on priorities and proposal quality.

11) How long can projects run?

Periods of performance can range from one to five years. This allows for short, targeted studies as well as longer development and validation efforts.

12) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad across the United States. All categories of U.S. institutions can submit proposals, and there is no cost sharing or matching requirement stated in the opportunity summary provided.

13) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity indicates there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

14) Can a Principal Investigator (PI) include partners or collaborators?

Yes. PIs may build partnerships with universities, federal laboratories, industry, and state or local government laboratories. The lead applicant is expected to manage the full project and administer it according to the management plan included in the proposal.

15) Are non-U.S. organizations allowed to participate?

Non-U.S. organizations may collaborate only on a cooperative basis with no exchange of funds. In practical terms, foreign partners may contribute expertise or data, but NASA funding generally flows only to the U.S. applicant organization.

16) How do applicants submit proposals?

The solicitation is administered through NASA's NSPIRES system (NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System). Applicants are expected to use NSPIRES for submission and to monitor it for appendices and amendments.

17) What is NSPIRES and why is it important for this NRA?

NSPIRES is NASA's proposal submission and review system used to manage the solicitation process. For this NRA, the detailed requirements, specific topics being solicited, and due dates are provided in separate appendices posted in NSPIRES, not only in the main umbrella notice.

18) Is this a single deadline opportunity?

No. The timeline is described as an open, appendix-driven solicitation window rather than one fixed deadline for all topics. Closing dates vary by appendix, with an overall closing window extending to September 3, 2016 (and archiving shortly after).

19) Where do applicants find the specific research topics and due dates?

Specific topics, detailed requirements, and actual due dates are provided in separate "solicited research response area" appendices posted in NSPIRES. Applicants are expected to monitor NSPIRES for new appendices and amendments during the open period.

20) Does the solicitation use a one-step or two-step submission process?

Most topics use a two-step approach, typically beginning with a Notice of Intent and/or a preliminary step before submission of a full proposal. Some program elements may use a one-step process depending on the appendix.

21) What happens if a proposal does not meet NASA's requirements?

NASA emphasizes compliance. Proposals that do not meet solicitation standards can be deemed noncompliant and handled under NASA Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement procedures.

22) Under what procurement/solicitation framework is this issued?

The solicitation is structured as a Broad Agency Announcement under FAR 6.102(d)(2).

23) When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?

The opportunity was posted in July 2015. Closing dates vary by appendix, with an overall closing window extending to September 3, 2016, followed by archiving shortly after.

24) How can applicants stay informed about updates or new appendices?

Applicants are encouraged to subscribe to NSPIRES notification services to receive updates, including new appendices and amendments.

25) What is the CFDA number and program listing for this opportunity?

The opportunity lists CFDA 43.003 (Exploration) and falls under the activity category of science and technology and other research and development.

26) Who are the points of contact for questions or access issues?

Points of contact listed are LaToy J. Jones (latoy.j.jones@nasa.gov), Colleen L. Wells (colleen.l.wells@nasa.gov), and NSPIRES/NAIS Support (nais.support@nasa.gov).

27) If the opportunity appears on grants.gov, does that control the award instrument?

No. NASA notes it reserves the right to choose the most appropriate award instrument for selected proposals, even if the opportunity appears on grants.gov or other posting sites.