Opportunity Information: Apply for NNH15ZOA0001N 15NIAC A1
Apply for NNH15ZOA0001N 15NIAC A1
- The NASA Headquarters in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC), Phase I" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 43.009 Cross Agency Support.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 15, 2014 and posted on Oct 15, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 12, 2014. (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 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Phase I is a NASA Headquarters funding opportunity, released as an appendix to the Space Technology Research, Development, Demonstration, and Infusion 2015 (REDDI) NASA Research Announcement (NRA). It is designed to fund early, initial studies of visionary aerospace ideas that could enable major leaps in space exploration or aeronautics. The emphasis is on high-impact concept studies that explore new architectures, missions, or system-level approaches, rather than refining existing technologies. NIAC explicitly looks for proposals that are exciting, largely unexplored, far-term in nature, and still technically credible. In other words, the program welcomes bold thinking and accepts the risk that comes with it, but it does not support ideas that are speculative without a plausible implementation path.
A key point of the solicitation is what it will not fund. Proposals focused on narrow technology development, single subsystems, incremental improvements, or near-term upgrades are considered out of scope. Instead, NIAC Phase I is positioned as a concept exploration effort, where the goal is to study feasibility, define the concept, and map out why and how it could work at a system level. The opportunity sits within NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate, reflecting its role in shaping longer-horizon technology and mission possibilities.
The application process for the 2015 NIAC Phase I solicitation is structured as a two-step competition. Step A requires a short submission consisting of a 3-page white paper plus a summary chart. Step A submissions are made electronically, primarily through NSPIRES (the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System) at http://nspires.nasaprs.com, with the additional option to submit Step A through Grants.gov. After NASA reviews Step A white papers, only applicants who receive an invitation may proceed to Step B. Step B is the full proposal stage, and it must be submitted through NSPIRES only.
The solicitation is open, meaning there are no restrictive eligibility categories beyond the stated registration and system requirements. NASA allows participation from a wide range of entities, including universities, commercial organizations, nonprofit organizations, research laboratories, government agencies, and NASA Centers (including the Jet Propulsion Laboratory). Individual applicants can also submit, as long as they meet NSPIRES registration requirements. Organizations intending to submit must be registered in NSPIRES and must designate authorized organizational representative(s) who can submit proposals on the organization’s behalf. Because NSPIRES and related electronic systems require advance setup for principal investigators and collaborators, applicants are encouraged to register and familiarize themselves with the system well before deadlines.
For this cycle, Step A white papers were due on or before Wednesday, November 12, 2014, and invited Step B full proposals were due on or before Wednesday, January 21, 2015. NASA anticipated making roughly 12 to 16 Phase I awards, although the final number depended on proposal quality and the availability of appropriated funds. The opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number NNH15ZOA0001N (15NIAC A1), with activity focused on science and technology and other research and development, and it indicates no cost-sharing or matching requirement. Award instrument types listed include cooperative agreement, grant, and procurement contract, and the formal evaluation criteria and additional submission details were to be provided within the NRA itself.
Applicants were directed to access the full announcement through the NASA Research Opportunities homepage in NSPIRES by navigating to Solicitations and then Open Solicitations. For access issues or questions related to the announcement, the listed point of contact was John (Jay) Falker, PhD, NIAC Program Executive in NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters.
NASA NIAC Phase I (2015) Grant Opportunity FAQs
What is the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Phase I opportunity?
NIAC Phase I is a NASA Headquarters funding opportunity (issued as an appendix to the Space Technology Research, Development, Demonstration, and Infusion 2015 (REDDI) NASA Research Announcement) intended to support early, initial studies of visionary aerospace concepts. The purpose is to explore ideas that could enable major leaps in space exploration or aeronautics.
What types of ideas is NIAC Phase I designed to fund?
NIAC Phase I emphasizes high-impact concept studies that explore new architectures, missions, or system-level approaches. It is aimed at far-term, exciting, and largely unexplored concepts that remain technically credible and have a plausible path toward implementation.
Does NIAC Phase I fund technology maturation or incremental upgrades?
No. The solicitation indicates that proposals centered on narrow technology development, single subsystems, incremental improvements, or near-term upgrades are out of scope. NIAC Phase I is positioned as concept exploration rather than refining existing technologies.
What does NASA mean by "bold thinking" but "technically credible"?
NIAC welcomes high-risk, far-term ideas and accepts the risk that comes with bold concepts. However, it does not support ideas that are speculative without a plausible implementation path. The expectation is that the proposed concept can be studied for feasibility at a system level.
Where within NASA is NIAC Phase I located organizationally?
The opportunity sits within NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate, reflecting its role in shaping longer-horizon technology and mission possibilities.
How is the NIAC Phase I application process structured?
The 2015 NIAC Phase I solicitation uses a two-step competition. Step A is a short submission (a white paper stage). Step B is a full proposal stage that is invitation-only based on NASA's review of Step A submissions.
What is required for Step A?
Step A requires a short submission consisting of a 3-page white paper plus a summary chart.
How do applicants submit Step A materials?
Step A submissions are made electronically, primarily through NSPIRES (the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System) at http://nspires.nasaprs.com. The solicitation also indicates an additional option to submit Step A through Grants.gov.
Who can submit a Step B full proposal?
Only applicants who receive an invitation after NASA reviews Step A white papers may proceed to Step B.
How do invited applicants submit the Step B full proposal?
Step B full proposals must be submitted through NSPIRES only.
Is this solicitation limited to certain types of applicants?
The solicitation is described as open, with no restrictive eligibility categories beyond stated registration and system requirements.
What kinds of organizations or entities may participate?
NASA allows participation from a wide range of entities, including universities, commercial organizations, nonprofit organizations, research laboratories, government agencies, and NASA Centers (including the Jet Propulsion Laboratory).
Can an individual apply without an organization?
Yes. Individual applicants can submit as long as they meet NSPIRES registration requirements.
What registrations or system setup steps are necessary to apply?
Organizations intending to submit must be registered in NSPIRES and must designate authorized organizational representative(s) who can submit proposals on the organization’s behalf. The solicitation also notes that NSPIRES and related electronic systems require advance setup for principal investigators and collaborators, and applicants are encouraged to register and familiarize themselves well before deadlines.
What were the due dates for the 2015 NIAC Phase I cycle?
For this cycle, Step A white papers were due on or before Wednesday, November 12, 2014. Invited Step B full proposals were due on or before Wednesday, January 21, 2015.
How many NIAC Phase I awards did NASA expect to make?
NASA anticipated making roughly 12 to 16 Phase I awards, with the final number dependent on proposal quality and the availability of appropriated funds.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this NIAC Phase I solicitation?
The opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number NNH15ZOA0001N (15NIAC A1).
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity indicates there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
What types of award instruments may be used?
Award instrument types listed include cooperative agreement, grant, and procurement contract.
Where can applicants find the full announcement details and evaluation criteria?
Applicants were directed to access the full announcement through the NASA Research Opportunities homepage in NSPIRES by navigating to Solicitations and then Open Solicitations. The solicitation notes that formal evaluation criteria and additional submission details were provided within the NASA Research Announcement (NRA) itself.
Who is the point of contact for access issues or questions about the announcement?
The listed point of contact is John (Jay) Falker, PhD, NIAC Program Executive in NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters.
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