Opportunity Information: Apply for NNH08ZNE002C
Apply for NNH08ZNE002C
- The NASA Headquarters in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NASA Group 4 University Research Centers (URC)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 00.000 Not Elsewhere Classified.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 21, 2008 and posted on Apr 8, 2008.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 30, 2008. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Eligible Applicants All proposals must originate from a U. S. college or university designated and listed by the Department of Education as a Postsecondary Minority Institution, Historically Black College or University, Hispanic Serving Institution or Tribal College or University. See http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/edlite minorityinst.html. Institutions qualifying for this funding opportunity must offer graduate degrees in engineering, mathematics, or science disciplines. Additional Information on Eligibility Previously funded University Research Centers are eligible to submit proposals. However, proposals will be evaluated against additional criteria specifically related to past performance and sustainability.
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Opportunity Summary:
NASA Group 4 University Research Centers (URC) is a NASA Office of Education opportunity run through the Minority University Research and Education Program (MUREP) to establish or strengthen university based research centers at eligible Minority Serving Institutions. The core idea is to fund multidisciplinary centers that can build a durable, competitive NASA relevant research capability on campus, while also expanding meaningful participation of minority institution faculty and students in mainstream aerospace research. Alongside research outcomes, the program is explicitly workforce oriented: it aims to increase the number of underrepresented and underserved U.S. students who earn advanced degrees in NASA related fields and then move into the aerospace and related STEM workforce.
The centers supported under this solicitation are expected to align with NASA's major research priorities and to connect directly with NASA programs and people. Proposers must identify a primary NASA Mission Directorate that their URC will support, choosing from Aeronautics Research, Exploration Systems, Science, or Space Operations. The solicitation is described as being conducted in cooperation with these four Mission Directorates and NASA's ten Field Centers, signaling that NASA anticipates active collaboration and engagement rather than a hands off grant. In practical terms, a URC should be structured as a broad, multi investigator effort that can pursue research and technology development tied to NASA needs, foster new aerospace science and technology concepts, and create clear pathways for students and faculty to engage with NASA sponsored research ecosystems.
Funding is provided through a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant, which generally indicates substantial NASA involvement during the period of performance (for example, coordination with NASA technical staff, shared planning, or joint review of progress). The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding within science and technology and other research and development, with an expected six awards. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement listed. The CFDA number is shown as 00.000 (not elsewhere classified), which is sometimes used in listings where a more specific CFDA designation is not provided in the summary record.
Eligibility is limited to U.S. colleges and universities that are officially designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a postsecondary minority institution, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), Tribal Colleges or Universities (TCUs), and other Minority Serving Institutions as applicable under the Department of Education listing. A key additional eligibility requirement is that the institution must offer graduate degrees in engineering, mathematics, or science disciplines, reflecting the program's emphasis on advanced training and research. Institutions that previously received URC funding may apply again, but their proposals will be assessed using added criteria related to past performance and long term sustainability, meaning NASA will look closely at outcomes from prior funding and whether the center can continue to thrive beyond the award.
From an application process standpoint, the program requires a Notice of Intent (NOI) prior to submitting a full proposal. Proposals and related materials are managed through NASA's NSPIRES system (the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System), and the full solicitation and any later FAQs are posted there. The listing also points applicants to Grants.gov for agency search access, but NSPIRES is the primary portal for NASA research solicitations and submission. Applicants who have trouble accessing the announcement are directed to the NSPIRES Help Desk, and the opportunity provides a NASA contact for program or announcement access questions (Katrina Y. Emery, URC Project Manager at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, with phone and fax numbers provided in the source text).
Key dates in the posted record show the opportunity was posted April 8, 2008, created April 21, 2008, with an original and current closing date of June 30, 2008, and an archive date of July 1, 2008. The funding opportunity number is NNH08ZNE002C, and the sponsoring agency is NASA Headquarters. Overall, the URC program is best understood as a center building and capacity building mechanism: it is meant to create long term institutional research strength in NASA aligned areas at minority institutions, while also producing the next generation of highly trained graduates who can contribute to NASA and the broader aerospace sector.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NASA Group 4 University Research Centers (URC) - NNH08ZNE002C
1) What is the NASA Group 4 University Research Centers (URC) opportunity?
NASA Group 4 University Research Centers (URC) is a NASA Office of Education funding opportunity administered through the Minority University Research and Education Program (MUREP). Its purpose is to establish or strengthen university-based research centers at eligible Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) so they can build durable, competitive, NASA-relevant research capability on campus.
2) What is the main goal of the URC program?
The program aims to fund multidisciplinary, multi-investigator university research centers that (1) align with NASA research needs and priorities, (2) expand meaningful participation of minority institution faculty and students in mainstream aerospace research, and (3) increase the number of underrepresented and underserved U.S. students who earn advanced degrees in NASA-related fields and enter the aerospace and related STEM workforce.
3) Is this opportunity focused only on research, or also on workforce development?
It is explicitly both. Alongside research and technology development outcomes, the URC program is workforce-oriented and emphasizes advanced degree attainment and pathways into the aerospace and related STEM workforce for underrepresented and underserved U.S. students.
4) What kind of projects or centers does NASA expect under this solicitation?
NASA expects a center-level effort that is broad and multidisciplinary, organized as a multi-investigator program that can pursue research and technology development tied to NASA needs, foster new aerospace science and technology concepts, and create clear pathways for faculty and students to engage with NASA-sponsored research ecosystems.
5) Do applicants have to align the proposed center with a specific part of NASA?
Yes. Proposers must identify a primary NASA Mission Directorate that their URC will support, choosing from: Aeronautics Research, Exploration Systems, Science, or Space Operations.
6) Does NASA expect collaboration with NASA centers or NASA staff?
Yes. The solicitation is described as being conducted in cooperation with four Mission Directorates and NASA's ten Field Centers, indicating NASA anticipates active collaboration and engagement rather than a hands-off relationship.
7) What type of funding instrument is used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
Funding is provided through a cooperative agreement, not a standard grant. A cooperative agreement generally indicates substantial NASA involvement during the period of performance, such as coordination with NASA technical staff, shared planning, and/or joint review of progress.
8) How many awards does NASA expect to make?
The opportunity indicates an expected six awards.
9) Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching requirement is listed in the provided information.
10) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number is shown as 00.000 (not elsewhere classified), which may be used in listings when a more specific CFDA designation is not provided in the summary record.
11) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to U.S. colleges and universities that are officially designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a postsecondary minority institution, including (as examples) Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), Tribal Colleges or Universities (TCUs), and other Minority Serving Institutions as applicable under the Department of Education listing.
12) Is there an additional eligibility requirement beyond MSI designation?
Yes. The institution must offer graduate degrees in engineering, mathematics, or science disciplines, reflecting the program's emphasis on advanced training and research.
13) Can institutions that previously received URC funding apply again?
Yes. Institutions that previously received URC funding may apply again. However, their proposals will be assessed using added criteria related to past performance and long-term sustainability.
14) How will repeat applicants be evaluated differently?
For institutions that previously received URC funding, NASA will apply additional criteria focused on past performance and long-term sustainability. This means NASA will look closely at outcomes from prior URC funding and whether the center can continue to thrive beyond the award.
15) Is a Notice of Intent (NOI) required?
Yes. The application process requires a Notice of Intent (NOI) prior to submitting a full proposal.
16) Where are proposals submitted?
Proposals and related materials are managed through NASA's NSPIRES system (NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System). NSPIRES is described as the primary portal for NASA research solicitations and submission.
17) Is Grants.gov used for this opportunity?
The listing points applicants to Grants.gov for agency search access, but NSPIRES is identified as the primary portal for accessing the solicitation materials and submitting proposals.
18) Where can applicants find the full solicitation and any official NASA FAQs?
The full solicitation and any later FAQs are posted in NSPIRES.
19) What should applicants do if they have trouble accessing the announcement?
Applicants who have trouble accessing the announcement are directed to the NSPIRES Help Desk.
20) Who is the NASA point of contact listed for program or announcement access questions?
The opportunity provides a NASA contact: Katrina Y. Emery, URC Project Manager at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center (phone and fax numbers are referenced in the source text).
21) What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is NNH08ZNE002C.
22) Which NASA office is listed as the sponsoring agency?
The sponsoring agency is NASA Headquarters.
23) What are the key dates shown in the posted record?
The posted record shows: posted date April 8, 2008; created date April 21, 2008; closing date June 30, 2008 (listed as both original and current); and archive date July 1, 2008.
24) How is this program best described in terms of overall purpose?
The URC program is best understood as a center-building and capacity-building mechanism. It is meant to create long-term institutional research strength in NASA-aligned areas at minority institutions, while also producing highly trained graduates who can contribute to NASA and the broader aerospace sector.
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