Opportunity Information: Apply for NNH13ZHA001N
Apply for NNH13ZHA001N
- The NASA Headquarters in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NASA RESEARCH ANNOUNCEMENT 2013 COMPETITIVE PROGRAM FOR SCIENCE MUSEUMS PLANETARIUMS AND NASA VISITOR CENTERS PLUS OTHER OPPORTUNITIES CP4SMP" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 43.008 Education.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 10, 2013 and posted on Jan 10, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by NNH13ZHA001N Release Date Jan 9, 2013 Proposals Due Apr 9, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,250,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Non Profits, State, Local, or Federally Recognized Tribal Government
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Opportunity Summary:
The NASA Research Announcement titled "2013 Competitive Program for Science Museums, Planetariums and NASA Visitor Centers Plus Other Opportunities (CP4SMP)" is a NASA Office of Education funding opportunity meant to strengthen informal STEM education using NASA-themed content. Through this program, NASA sought projects led by informal education institutions that help learners engage with NASA-related topics like space exploration, aeronautics, space science, Earth science, microgravity, or combinations of these areas. The overall emphasis is on inquiry-based learning and on projects that clearly support NASA education outcomes, align with NASA's current Strategic Plan, and avoid duplicating other federally funded efforts. Proposals were expected to be grounded in real, documented needs, such as national, regional, or local education challenges backed by evidence like needs assessments, and to offer approaches that could plausibly produce significant educational impact.
Funding could be issued in several different forms depending on the applicant type and what the project required, including grants, cooperative agreements, and inter- or intra-agency transfers. Projects could run from one to five years. The posted funding range for individual awards was a floor of $100,000 and a ceiling of $1,250,000, and the opportunity stated there was no cost-sharing or matching requirement. The announcement also flagged a key policy point for international involvement: work that involves non-U.S. organizations would be conducted on a no-exchange-of-funds basis, meaning NASA would not transfer funds to those entities.
Eligibility was limited primarily to U.S.-based nonprofit organizations that are legally recognized by a federal, state, or local authority, including NASA Visitor Centers of various organizational types (private, state, or federal entities) located in the United States or its territories, as long as they provide STEM education programming (not limited to exhibits). Importantly, an organization did not need to have words like "museum," "planetarium," "visitor center," or "science" in its legal name to qualify; the deciding factor was whether it functioned as an eligible informal STEM education provider. The announcement also noted eligibility for certain government entities (including state, local, and federally recognized tribal governments) under the broader eligibility information provided in the listing.
A notable structural requirement was that the leadership of proposed projects needed to reside at an informal education institution, even though partnerships were strongly encouraged. Collaborations with K-12 schools or districts were specifically mentioned as welcomed, and the solicitation highlighted partnerships more broadly as an important feature (with additional discussion referenced in an appendix). At the same time, the program imposed a strict submission limit: each eligible organization could submit only one proposal per DUNS number. If an organization submitted more than one proposal under the same DUNS, none of its proposals would be evaluated, making internal coordination and selecting a single strongest concept essential.
The types of projects NASA indicated as eligible were wide-ranging, reflecting the many ways informal education organizations reach the public. Examples included permanent, traveling, or virtual exhibits; STEM programs serving educators, students, youth, families, and general audiences; and professional development for the informal education workforce (including staff and community educators such as docents, exhibit designers, librarians, curriculum developers, youth group leaders, out-of-school-time providers, and education and public outreach professionals). The solicitation also allowed for informal learning research related to STEM programs, including work involving data usage and analysis, and it explicitly mentioned technology development, performing arts, and culturally focused activities aimed at specific audiences, including groups historically underrepresented in STEM such as women and minorities.
Because many informal education projects involve studying learning outcomes or testing educational materials with visitors, the announcement highlighted compliance responsibilities related to human subjects protections. Grantees were responsible for budgeting and documenting compliance with 14 CFR 1230 (the "Common Rule" for the protection of human subjects). Depending on the nature of the work, projects might require full Institutional Review Board (IRB) review or might qualify as exempt, but an IRB would still be involved in confirming an exemption when applicable. This signaled that proposals involving evaluation research, visitor studies, or other participant-based investigations needed to plan for ethics review and compliance from the start.
On the submission and registration side, the opportunity placed heavy emphasis on administrative readiness. By the proposal due date, applicants had to have a DUNS number, active registration in SAM (formerly CCR), a valid CAGE code, and an active registration in NASA's NSPIRES system. These requirements also applied to any entities involved as subawardees or subcontractors. Electronic proposal submission was required, and proposals had to be submitted by an authorized organizational official. Proposals could be submitted through NSPIRES or through Grants.gov, but organizations using Grants.gov still needed to be registered in NSPIRES as well. The announcement encouraged applicants to start registrations early due to the time involved and to become familiar with the submission platforms in advance of deadlines.
The timeline and communications process were also clearly laid out. The opportunity was posted in January 2013, with proposals due April 9, 2013, and an archive date in January 2014. NASA offered an optional pre-proposal teleconference on February 20, 2013 (1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Eastern), and requested that prospective applicants email questions in advance to CP4SMP@jpl.nasa.gov at least four business days before the call to help NASA address common issues efficiently. NASA planned to post written Q&A and teleconference charts on the NSPIRES site, and applicants were told to monitor NSPIRES for FAQs or amendments because updates could be issued before the due date. The main points of contact included Anita Sohus at CP4SMP@jpl.nasa.gov for program questions and NAIS Support at nais.support@nasa.gov for system-related issues.
In practical terms, CP4SMP was designed for U.S. informal education nonprofits (and certain government entities) that wanted to build or expand NASA-inspired public-facing STEM learning experiences, especially those that could demonstrate need, align strongly with NASA priorities, leverage partnerships, and show credible potential for measurable impact. The program combined relatively substantial award sizes with clear institutional leadership and compliance expectations, making it best suited for organizations that can manage federal award administration, execute multi-year education projects, and document learning outcomes responsibly.
FAQs: NASA Research Announcement "2013 Competitive Program for Science Museums, Planetariums and NASA Visitor Centers Plus Other Opportunities (CP4SMP)"
1) What is CP4SMP?
CP4SMP is a NASA Office of Education funding opportunity (NASA Research Announcement) intended to strengthen informal STEM education using NASA-themed content. It supports projects led by informal education institutions that help learners engage with NASA-related topics through inquiry-based learning and experiences designed for the public.
2) What is the main purpose of this opportunity?
The purpose is to fund informal STEM education projects that clearly support NASA education outcomes, align with NASA's current Strategic Plan, and avoid duplicating other federally funded efforts. Proposed projects were expected to be grounded in documented needs and designed to produce meaningful educational impact.
3) What subject areas or NASA themes can a project cover?
Projects could focus on NASA-related topics such as space exploration, aeronautics, space science, Earth science, microgravity, or combinations of these areas, as long as the project meaningfully uses NASA-themed content and supports NASA education outcomes.
4) What kinds of organizations were eligible to apply?
Eligibility was limited primarily to U.S.-based nonprofit organizations that are legally recognized by a federal, state, or local authority and that function as eligible informal STEM education providers. The announcement also noted eligibility for certain government entities (including state, local, and federally recognized tribal governments) under the broader eligibility information provided in the listing.
5) Does an organization need to have "museum," "planetarium," or "visitor center" in its legal name to be eligible?
No. The announcement stated that an organization did not need to include terms like "museum," "planetarium," "visitor center," or "science" in its legal name. The deciding factor was whether the organization functions as an eligible informal STEM education provider.
6) Are NASA Visitor Centers eligible?
Yes. NASA Visitor Centers of various organizational types (private, state, or federal entities) located in the United States or its territories were included, as long as they provide STEM education programming (not limited to exhibits).
7) Who must lead the project?
The leadership of proposed projects needed to reside at an informal education institution. Partnerships were encouraged, but the project lead was required to be based at the informal education institution.
8) Are partnerships allowed or encouraged?
Yes. Partnerships were strongly encouraged, and collaborations with K-12 schools or districts were specifically welcomed. The solicitation referenced additional discussion of partnerships in an appendix.
9) Is there a limit on how many proposals an organization can submit?
Yes. Each eligible organization could submit only one proposal per DUNS number. If an organization submitted more than one proposal under the same DUNS, none of its proposals would be evaluated.
10) What types of projects were considered eligible?
Eligible projects included a wide range of informal learning approaches, such as permanent, traveling, or virtual exhibits; STEM programs serving educators, students, youth, families, and general audiences; and professional development for the informal education workforce.
11) Can projects include professional development and workforce training?
Yes. The solicitation specifically included professional development for the informal education workforce, including staff and community educators such as docents, exhibit designers, librarians, curriculum developers, youth group leaders, out-of-school-time providers, and education and public outreach professionals.
12) Are research and evaluation activities allowed?
Yes. The solicitation allowed for informal learning research related to STEM programs, including work involving data usage and analysis. Projects involving evaluation research, visitor studies, or other participant-based investigations were expected to plan for compliance requirements related to human subjects protections.
13) Can technology development, performing arts, or culturally focused activities be included?
Yes. The announcement explicitly mentioned technology development, performing arts, and culturally focused activities aimed at specific audiences.
14) Does the opportunity support efforts focused on groups underrepresented in STEM?
Yes. The solicitation mentioned culturally focused activities and activities aimed at specific audiences, including groups historically underrepresented in STEM such as women and minorities.
15) What award types could NASA use to fund selected projects?
Funding could be issued in several forms depending on the applicant type and project needs, including grants, cooperative agreements, and inter- or intra-agency transfers.
16) What is the funding range for individual awards?
The posted funding range for individual awards had a floor of $100,000 and a ceiling of $1,250,000.
17) Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity stated there was no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
18) How long can projects last?
Projects could run from one to five years.
19) What is NASA's policy on involving non-U.S. organizations?
The announcement flagged that work involving non-U.S. organizations would be conducted on a no-exchange-of-funds basis, meaning NASA would not transfer funds to those non-U.S. entities.
20) What compliance responsibilities apply if the project involves people (e.g., visitors, educators, students) as participants?
The announcement highlighted compliance with 14 CFR 1230 (the Common Rule for the protection of human subjects). Grantees were responsible for budgeting and documenting compliance. Depending on the work, full IRB review might be required or the activity might qualify as exempt, but an IRB would still be involved in confirming an exemption when applicable.
21) What registrations and identifiers were required by the proposal due date?
By the proposal due date, applicants had to have a DUNS number, active registration in SAM (formerly CCR), a valid CAGE code, and an active registration in NASA's NSPIRES system. These requirements also applied to entities involved as subawardees or subcontractors.
22) How were proposals submitted?
Electronic proposal submission was required, and proposals had to be submitted by an authorized organizational official. Proposals could be submitted through NSPIRES or through Grants.gov, but organizations using Grants.gov still needed to be registered in NSPIRES as well.
23) Why did NASA emphasize starting registrations early?
The opportunity warned that registrations can take time, encouraged applicants to start early, and advised applicants to become familiar with NSPIRES and/or Grants.gov before deadlines to avoid last-minute administrative problems.
24) When was the opportunity posted and when were proposals due?
The opportunity was posted in January 2013, and proposals were due April 9, 2013. The archive date was in January 2014.
25) Was there an informational call?
Yes. NASA offered an optional pre-proposal teleconference on February 20, 2013, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Eastern.
26) How could applicants submit questions for the teleconference?
NASA requested that prospective applicants email questions in advance to CP4SMP@jpl.nasa.gov at least four business days before the call so NASA could address common issues efficiently.
27) Where would NASA post written Q&A and teleconference materials?
NASA planned to post written Q&A and teleconference charts on the NSPIRES site. Applicants were told to monitor NSPIRES for FAQs, amendments, or updates that could be issued before the due date.
28) Who were the main points of contact?
For program questions, the contact was Anita Sohus at CP4SMP@jpl.nasa.gov. For system-related issues, the contact was NAIS Support at nais.support@nasa.gov.
29) What did NASA expect regarding needs and evidence?
Proposals were expected to be grounded in real, documented needs, such as national, regional, or local education challenges supported by evidence (for example, needs assessments). The solicitation emphasized approaches that could plausibly produce significant educational impact.
30) What did NASA mean by avoiding duplication of other federally funded efforts?
The announcement emphasized that projects should not duplicate other federally funded efforts, signaling that proposals should be clearly differentiated and positioned as additive rather than overlapping with existing federally supported programs.
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