LUNAR AND PLANETARY INSTITUTE | Apply Online

FAQs: LUNAR AND PLANETARY INSTITUTE (Funding Opportunity Number NNJ14ZKA001N)

1) What is the name of this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "LUNAR AND PLANETARY INSTITUTE" and is identified as a NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) discretionary funding announcement.

2) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is NNJ14ZKA001N.

3) Which NASA center is issuing this announcement?

This announcement is issued by NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC).

4) What type of funding instrument is being used?

The announcement is structured as a cooperative agreement.

5) What does "cooperative agreement" mean for applicants?

It means the selected recipient would be expected to work collaboratively with NASA under substantial agency involvement, rather than operating as a fully independent grantee.

6) What is the general category of this opportunity?

The opportunity is in the "Science and Technology and other Research and Development" category.

7) What CFDA program is associated with this opportunity?

This opportunity falls under CFDA 43.001 (Science).

8) How many awards did NASA anticipate making?

NASA anticipated making one award under this announcement.

9) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching requirement is listed in the information provided.

10) What is "Modification 8" and why does it matter?

This notice is labeled as Modification 8 to the original synopsis first posted on May 14, 2014. It matters because it communicates updates that potential offerors need to incorporate, including updates to a Q and A document and revisions to the solicitation's Statement of Work.

11) What changes were included in Modification 8?

Two main updates are described: (1) NASA added additional questions and answers to an existing Q and A document and posted the revised Q and A document to the LPI CAN website; and (2) the solicitation was revised in Section C, subsection (a), within the Statement of Work, to add additional requirements.

12) Where can applicants find the revised Q and A document?

The revised Q and A document was posted to the LPI CAN website (as referenced in the notice).

13) What part of the solicitation was revised?

The solicitation was revised in Section C, subsection (a), within the Statement of Work.

14) What should applicants do in response to the Statement of Work revision?

Applicants should re-check the updated Statement of Work language to ensure their technical approach, staffing, deliverables, and management plan align with the new or expanded requirements.

15) Where were the official solicitation documents and amendments made available?

All documents connected to the procurement were to be made available online through NASA's JSC Business Opportunities web page.

16) Who is responsible for monitoring amendments and updates?

The announcement emphasizes that offerors are responsible for actively monitoring the NASA JSC Business Opportunities site for the solicitation and any amendments, and for downloading their own copies of the full solicitation package and revisions.

17) Why is monitoring the website for amendments important?

Because NASA may issue updates, clarifications, or changes that become part of the official requirements. Missing an amendment can make a submission noncompliant.

18) What are the key dates listed for this opportunity?

The posted date is May 14, 2014. The original and current closing date is September 30, 2014. The archive date is September 25, 2015.

19) Did the closing date change?

No. The information provided lists both the original and current closing date as September 30, 2014.

20) What does the archive date indicate?

The archive date (September 25, 2015) indicates when the opportunity would be removed from active listings.

21) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education.

22) Are universities eligible to apply?

No. Institutions of higher education are excluded from eligibility for this specific opportunity, based on the information provided.

23) Can a nonprofit with 501(c)(3) status apply even if it is not a university?

Yes. The intended eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status, as long as they are not institutions of higher education.

24) Where would applicants find the full scope, proposal instructions, and evaluation criteria?

The notice points to an additional information link where the full text of the funding opportunity would be available. That full text is where applicants would find the complete scope, proposal instructions, evaluation criteria, and the updated Statement of Work language referenced in the modification.

25) Who are the points of contact listed for access problems or official questions?

The notice lists LaToy J. Jones (latoy.j.jones@nasa.gov), J. R. Carpentier (john.r.carpentier@nasa.gov), and NAIS Support (nais.support@nasa.gov).

26) What should applicants do if they have trouble accessing the announcement materials?

They should use the listed contacts for access problems: LaToy J. Jones, J. R. Carpentier, or NAIS Support, using the email addresses provided in the notice.

27) What is the practical takeaway for someone preparing a response?

The practical takeaway is to (1) review the updated Q and A document, (2) carefully re-read the revised Statement of Work (Section C, subsection (a)) for added requirements, and (3) continuously monitor NASA's JSC Business Opportunities page for any further amendments that could affect compliance.