K 12 Competitive Grants Opportunity (K12CG) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NASA K-12 Competitive Grants Opportunity (K12CG)

1) What is the NASA K-12 Competitive Grants Opportunity (K12CG)?

NASA's K-12 Competitive Grants Opportunity (K12CG) is a discretionary program run by NASA Headquarters through the NASA Office of Education. It is designed to support secondary-level STEM teaching and learning, with a clear emphasis on high school.

2) What is the funding opportunity number for this solicitation?

The funding opportunity number is NNH08ZNE007N.

3) What is the main goal of K12CG?

The central goal is to fund innovative approaches that use NASA-themed content, NASA resources, and real-world mission connections to strengthen students' academic experiences in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and to help educators better engage and motivate their students.

4) What grade levels and audiences does this opportunity focus on?

The solicitation supports secondary-level teaching and learning and places a clear emphasis on high school audiences. Applicants are expected to identify who will be served (the audiences) in their project concept.

5) What kinds of projects does NASA want to fund under this program?

NASA is seeking projects that integrate NASA-relevant themes and mission connections into secondary STEM education in innovative ways. Projects are expected to be grounded in education research and/or widely accepted best practices and must include evaluation plans that can credibly measure outcomes and impact.

6) Is NASA content required to be part of the proposed work?

Yes. The preliminary submission is required to describe which NASA content will be featured, and the overall purpose of the opportunity emphasizes using NASA-themed content, resources, and real-world mission connections.

7) What does NASA mean by "innovative" in this solicitation?

Based on the solicitation description, "innovative" refers to new or creative ways of using NASA-themed content and mission connections to strengthen STEM teaching and learning, while also drawing on what is already known to work in education through research and/or widely accepted best practices.

8) Do proposals need to be research-based or aligned with best practices?

Yes. Projects are expected to draw on what is already known to work in education by being grounded in education research and/or widely accepted best practices. The preliminary submission includes a concise summary of evidence supporting the proposed methods, techniques, and tools.

9) What evaluation requirements are included?

Projects must include appropriate evaluation plans so outcomes and impact can be credibly measured. The solicitation specifies formative and summative evaluation, plus any other evaluation methods that fit the work.

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

Eligibility is aimed primarily at U.S. public secondary schools, school districts, state-based education leadership entities, and nonprofit education organizations that support secondary education.

11) Can universities, companies, or industry partners apply as the primary applicant?

Other organizations (such as universities, industry partners, and education-related companies) are not excluded, but they are expected to participate through partnerships with an eligible lead organization rather than applying as the primary applicant.

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

In general, NASA funding is intended for U.S. institutions. The solicitation references limited and special-case guidance for non-U.S. participation as described in the NASA Guidebook for Proposers and related appendix sections, particularly in situations where there is no exchange of funds or where non-U.S. proposals involve U.S. personnel requiring NASA support.

13) Is registration in NSPIRES required?

Yes. Applicants must be affiliated with an institution registered in NSPIRES (nspires.nasaprs.com). NSPIRES is where the solicitation is posted and managed.

14) Where can applicants find the full solicitation materials?

The full NASA Research Announcement materials are available through the NASA Headquarters solicitations site in NSPIRES.

15) What is the application and review process?

The solicitation uses a two-step review and selection process. First, applicants submit a Notice of Intent and Preliminary Proposal (NOI/PP). NASA reviews those preliminary submissions internally, and only the most promising concepts are invited to submit a full proposal.

16) What information must be included in the Notice of Intent and Preliminary Proposal (NOI/PP)?

The NOI/PP is described as a short submission that briefly lays out: what will be done, which NASA content will be featured, who will be served (audiences), what need the project addresses, what makes the approach innovative, the estimated cost, and a concise summary of evidence supporting the methods, techniques, and tools being proposed.

17) Who reviews the preliminary submissions?

NASA Office of Education staff and NASA Mission Directorates review the NOI/PP submissions internally.

18) Will everyone who submits an NOI/PP be allowed to submit a full proposal?

No. Only the most promising concepts are invited to move forward to a full proposal.

19) What were the key dates for this cycle of the solicitation?

For this cycle, the NOI/PP deadline was August 22, 2008. Invitees were to be notified by September 22, 2008. Full proposals were due October 27, 2008 (the posted and current closing date). The opportunity was posted July 21, 2008 and later archived on November 26, 2008.

20) How many awards did NASA expect to make, and what size were they?

NASA anticipated making roughly 6 to 8 awards. Each award was expected to total about $750,000 to $1.5 million over a two-year period of performance.

21) What is the period of performance?

The anticipated award amounts were described as totaling about $750,000 to $1.5 million over a two-year period of performance.

22) What funding instruments are available under this opportunity?

The solicitation allows for both cooperative agreements and grants as funding instruments.

23) Is cost sharing or matching required?

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

24) What types of capabilities should a strong applicant demonstrate?

The opportunity is positioned for applicants who can combine strong secondary education implementation capacity with credible research-based design, NASA-relevant content integration, and clear evaluation methods that demonstrate measurable improvements for students and/or educators.

25) Who is the point of contact for access issues or solicitation questions?

The listed point of contact is Shelley Canright, Ph.D., Office of Education, NASA Headquarters.