NASA RESEARCH ANNOUNCEMENT FOR MINORITY UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS SMALL PROGRAMS OPPORTUNITY | Apply Online

FAQs: NASA MUREP Small Programs (MSP) Opportunity (NNK09ZXA001N)

What is NASA Research Announcement NNK09ZXA001N (MUREP Small Programs - MSP)?

It is a competitive NASA grant opportunity under the Minority University Research and Education Programs (MUREP) Small Programs (MSP). It is intended to strengthen higher-education STEM learning by using NASA mission content as the centerpiece for instruction and student engagement, with outcomes that can be reported under NASA higher-education education metrics.

What types of projects is NASA trying to fund through this solicitation?

NASA is looking for short, focused projects that integrate NASA-themed science and engineering into college-level teaching and learning in ways that measurably improve student experiences and/or improve educators' ability to motivate and effectively teach STEM concepts. Proposed approaches are expected to be innovative, replicable, and tied to measurable outcomes aligned with NASA reporting expectations.

What are the main desired outcomes NASA mentions for proposals?

NASA identifies two main outcomes: (1) develop, promote, or apply new and innovative approaches to improving STEM learning and instruction using NASA mission content, with a clear connection to NASA higher-education reporting expectations; and (2) provide experiences and activities that are grounded in education research and/or evidence-supported techniques and tools rather than ad hoc methods.

Who are the intended participants or target audiences for funded activities?

The opportunity targets students enrolled at accredited colleges or universities who have declared STEM majors, as well as pre-service teachers preparing to enter the education workforce.

Are purely outreach or inspirational activities competitive under this opportunity?

The solicitation indicates funded activities are expected to be grounded in education research and/or clearly established best practices, rather than being purely outreach or inspirational programming.

What does it mean to use NASA mission content as the centerpiece?

The core concept is that NASA mission content should be central to instruction and student engagement. Proposals should clearly identify the NASA content being featured and show how that content anchors the teaching and learning activities and supports measurable STEM learning or instructional improvements.

How important is innovation and replicability in proposed projects?

The solicitation explicitly emphasizes approaches that are innovative and replicable. This implies NASA is interested in methods that are not only new or improved, but also capable of being adopted or adapted beyond a single classroom or setting while still producing measurable outcomes.

What kind of evaluation is expected in the proposal?

Proposals are expected to include appropriate evaluation plans, typically combining formative evaluation (used to improve the project during implementation) and summative evaluation (used to document results and impact). Additional assessment methods may be needed to credibly support claims about outcomes.

What does NASA mean by “formative” and “summative” evaluation in this context?

Formative evaluation is described as evaluation conducted to improve the project during implementation. Summative evaluation is described as evaluation conducted to document results and impact at the end (or at major milestones) to substantiate what changed or improved because of the project.

How many awards did NASA anticipate making?

NASA anticipated making about 3 to 4 awards under this solicitation.

What is the expected award size range?

Individual awards were expected to range from $50,000 to $350,000.

What is the total amount NASA planned to allocate for this solicitation?

The solicitation indicated a total of about $840,000 allocated for this opportunity.

How long is the period of performance?

The period of performance is one year.

Is renewal possible after the first year?

Yes. Projects that perform well may be eligible for renewal for up to two additional years, depending on performance and the availability of funds.

Can NASA fund less than the requested amount or fund fewer awards than expected?

Yes. NASA notes typical federal awarding flexibilities, including the ability to partially fund proposals, fund fewer projects than anticipated, or reduce award amounts below the announced ceiling.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is centered on Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and organizations that support MSIs and underserved or underrepresented students. The announcement highlights Department of Education-designated Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and other MSIs that offer STEM degrees.

Are partnerships with NASA field centers required?

No. Applicants may partner with a NASA field center, but that partnership is optional and not required for eligibility. Institutions can apply independently if they can credibly deliver the proposed program and incorporate NASA content appropriately.

Is there a required Notice of Intent (NOI)?

Yes. The proposal process includes a required two-step submission. A Notice of Intent (NOI) must be submitted first, and submission by the NOI deadline was mandatory for this cycle.

What information should be included in the Notice of Intent (NOI)?

The NOI is expected to briefly outline the planned work, the NASA content to be featured, the intended audiences, the need being addressed, the innovative approach, estimated costs, and a short summary of the evidence base supporting the proposed methods and tools.

Why does NASA require an NOI for this opportunity?

NASA uses the NOI to gauge the expected volume of responses and to align appropriate expertise for peer review panels.

What were the key due dates for this cycle?

The NOI due date was April 26, 2009 (mandatory). Full proposals were due May 25, 2009. Awards were anticipated to be announced during the week of August 7, 2009.

Where were the solicitation materials and submissions hosted?

Full solicitation materials and submissions were made available through NASA NSPIRES (NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System) and through Grants.gov.

Which proposal preparation guidance does NASA reference?

Proposal preparation was guided by NASA's "Guidebook for Proposers Responding to a NASA Research Announcement" (January 2008 edition).

Are proposals required to be submitted electronically?

Yes. The solicitation emphasizes electronic submission requirements and timely submission by the deadline.

Which specific components needed to be submitted by the proposal deadline?

The solicitation highlights timely electronic submission of the cover page, proposal summary, and budget summary by the proposal deadline.

What type of award instrument does NASA expect to use?

Administratively, the opportunity is issued as a grant under NASA authorities in Title 14 CFR Part 1260 for educational and nonprofit institutions. NASA also reserves the right to choose the most appropriate award instrument if a proposal is selected.

What safety expectations apply to work conducted under this NASA award?

The announcement reiterates NASA safety policy expectations, emphasizing protection of the public, participants, the NASA workforce (including personnel working under NASA-funded instruments), and high-value equipment and property.

Who was the solicitation point of contact for questions?

The listed point of contact was Theresa Martinez at NASA Kennedy Space Center.

How were answers to solicitation questions shared with applicants?

Responses to questions were shared broadly via the NSPIRES site to keep information consistent across applicants.