Opportunity Information: Apply for NNH10UA006L
Apply for NNH10UA006L
- The NASA Headquarters in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "REQUEST FOR INFORMATION NASA OFFICE OF THE CHIEF TECHNOLOGIST EARLY STAGE INNOVATION DIVISION NASA INNOVATIVE ADVANCED CONCEPTS PROGRAM" 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 Aug 24, 2010 and posted on Aug 24, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 12, 2010. (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 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- The goal of NIAC is to give visionary ideas a chance. NASA recognizes that concepts to transform the future may come from innovators across the nation, so the Phase I competition will be open to everyone. Prospective investigators from any educational institution, private or public company, organization, Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) or NASA Center (including the Jet Propulsion Laboratory) are welcome to respond to this solicitation. Partnerships are welcome. Teaming with non U.S. organizations in proposed efforts is also permitted, but subject to NASA s policy of no exchange of funds.
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Opportunity Summary:
This opportunity is a Request for Information (RFI) from NASA Headquarters about the planned restart of the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program under the Office of the Chief Technologist (OCT), Early Stage Innovation (ESI) Division. The central aim is to collect feedback that will help NASA shape the NIAC program before issuing formal solicitations. NIAC is positioned as a deliberately low-TRL pipeline meant to surface and mature bold, technically credible aerospace concepts that could fundamentally change what is possible for NASA missions roughly a decade or more into the future. Rather than focusing on near-term engineering tied to specific flight projects, NIAC is meant to explore high-risk, high-reward ideas early enough that they can influence long-range plans, open entirely new mission classes, or enable game-changing capabilities.
NASA emphasizes that NIAC will target concepts starting at TRL 1, TRL 2, or early TRL 3, which is earlier than many Mission Directorate technology programs that often begin at TRL 3 or higher. In practice, that means NIAC is looking for foundational principles, new applications of known science, and early proof-of-concept work, not late-stage prototypes. The program is described as complementing (not duplicating) Mission Directorate technology efforts by filling the gap where visionary ideas are still too immature for mainstream mission-driven funding but could eventually become transformational if they are given a structured, peer-reviewed chance to mature.
The concepts NASA is trying to stimulate are explicitly broad and cross-cutting. While the RFI does not impose a narrow topic list, it highlights interest in revolutionary approaches that advance NASA missions and also potentially serve broader national needs in areas like communications, power generation and management, energy storage, propulsion, safety, and security. The document points responders to multiple prior external and NASA-sponsored studies as starting points for thinking about the technology landscape, while also making clear that the list is not meant to limit creativity. The overall spirit is a revival of the original NIAC model: encourage unconventional ideas, but require enough technical grounding that a credible study can be performed.
NIAC is planned as a two-phase study program with typical award sizes and durations spelled out. Phase I is expected to be about $100,000 for a one-year effort focused on establishing feasibility, clarifying the concept, and advancing its readiness. Phase II is expected to be about $500,000 for up to two years and is reserved for the strongest concepts, with an emphasis on deeper development and identifying practical paths for infusion, either into NASA programs or into non-NASA applications. Phase II proposals are intended to be competitively selected from concepts that have already demonstrated success in a NIAC Phase I study. NASA also signals that awards may take different legal forms depending on the proposing organization (grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, or intra-agency transfers). A notable program expectation is that results will be publicly disseminated; NASA states an intent to share knowledge developed under NIAC, making openness and publication part of the model rather than an afterthought.
Eligibility for the future Phase I competition is intentionally broad. NASA states that the competition will be open to everyone, welcoming submissions from universities, private or public companies, non-profits, FFRDCs, and NASA centers (including JPL). Partnerships and teams are encouraged, and teaming with non-U.S. organizations is permitted under NASA rules, with the key constraint that NASA will not exchange funds with foreign partners. The message is that NIAC is designed to pull ideas from wherever they originate, not just traditional NASA contractors or established aerospace institutions.
The RFI also previews how NASA expects proposals to be structured and judged once a formal solicitation is released. For proposals, the science/technical/management narrative is planned to be limited to 8 pages, and it must include a Work Plan describing how goals and objectives will be achieved. Evaluation criteria are listed in descending order of importance, led by Potential Impact (Value). Under impact, reviewers will look for true innovation (a visionary architecture, system, or mission concept with the potential to create revolutionary capability on a 10+ year horizon), clear comparative benefit over existing alternatives (for example performance, cost, mass, reliability, safety, operational simplicity, manufacturability), and maturation logic (whether the study will produce a meaningful analysis and a credible path forward, including potential partnerships or business cases). Next is Technical Merit and Work Plan, including whether the scientific basis is rigorous, the technical approach is sound, the schedule is feasible, and the work aligns with the low-TRL entry requirements. Finally, NASA will consider the suitability of the team and the realism of the cost estimate, including whether the team has the expertise and facilities to complete the study and whether the budget matches the proposed work.
NASA outlines an anticipated annual cadence for NIAC solicitations. A typical timeline would start with a solicitation release, optional notices of intent about one month later, proposals due at about two months, selections around four months, and awards funded by around five and a half months after release. NASA expects to run one Phase I call per year, targeting roughly 16 Phase I awards annually. Beginning in 2012, NASA anticipates adding a separate Phase II call and ramping up to approximately 3 to 8 new Phase II studies per year.
Because this specific posting is an RFI rather than a funding solicitation, NASA is clear that no awards will be made based on responses. The RFI is strictly for program planning: NASA will not reimburse costs to respond, may or may not acknowledge receipt, and is not obligated to provide feedback. NASA also cautions that future solicitations (such as BAAs, NRAs, RFPs, or Space Act Agreements) would depend on Congressional approval and availability of funds. Responses must be written (no oral responses), cannot be classified or proprietary, and NASA reserves the right to use the input to shape future solicitations, while stating it does not intend to release individual RFI responses publicly.
For the RFI submission itself, NASA requests concise input: a response of two pages or less in 12-point font, submitted as a PDF or Word document by email to hq-niac@mail.nasa.gov by 11:59 PM Eastern on September 12, 2010. Responders are invited to comment on the proposed NIAC approach (including suggested improvements) and to recommend revolutionary aerospace concepts or topic areas NASA should consider, ideally with a brief rationale. The funding opportunity is identified as NNH10UA006L, posted August 24, 2010, with a closing date of September 12, 2010, and a NASA contact listed as John (Jay) Falker, Ph.D., serving as NIAC Program Manager/Executive (Acting).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is this NASA opportunity?
This posting is a Request for Information (RFI) from NASA Headquarters about the planned restart of the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program under the Office of the Chief Technologist (OCT), Early Stage Innovation (ESI) Division. The purpose is to gather feedback that will help NASA shape the NIAC program before NASA releases any formal funding solicitations.
2) Is this RFI a funding solicitation or grant application?
No. NASA states that this specific posting is an RFI and not a funding solicitation. No awards will be made based on responses to the RFI.
3) Why is NASA collecting input through an RFI?
NASA is using the RFI to collect comments on the proposed NIAC approach (including suggested improvements) and to gather recommendations for revolutionary aerospace concepts or topic areas NASA should consider. The intent is program planning and shaping future solicitations.
4) What is NIAC intended to do?
NIAC is described as a deliberately low-Technology Readiness Level (TRL) pipeline designed to surface and mature bold, technically credible aerospace concepts that could fundamentally change what is possible for NASA missions roughly a decade or more in the future. It is meant to explore high-risk, high-reward ideas early enough to influence long-range plans, open new mission classes, or enable game-changing capabilities.
5) What TRL levels is NIAC targeting?
NASA emphasizes that NIAC will target concepts starting at TRL 1, TRL 2, or early TRL 3. This is earlier than many Mission Directorate technology programs, which often begin at TRL 3 or higher.
6) What kinds of concepts is NIAC looking for?
NIAC is looking for foundational principles, new applications of known science, and early proof-of-concept work. The program is not focused on late-stage prototypes or near-term engineering tied to specific flight projects.
7) How is NIAC different from other NASA technology programs?
NIAC is positioned to complement (not duplicate) Mission Directorate technology efforts by filling a gap: it supports visionary ideas that are still too immature for mainstream mission-driven funding but could become transformational with structured, peer-reviewed maturation.
8) Are there specific topic areas for NIAC, or is it open-ended?
The RFI does not impose a narrow topic list. NASA highlights broad interest in revolutionary approaches that advance NASA missions and could also support broader national needs in areas such as communications, power generation and management, energy storage, propulsion, safety, and security. NASA also points to prior external and NASA-sponsored studies as starting points, but notes these do not limit creativity.
9) What is the planned NIAC award structure?
NASA describes NIAC as a two-phase study program:
- Phase I: expected to be about $100,000 for a one-year effort focused on establishing feasibility, clarifying the concept, and advancing readiness.
- Phase II: expected to be about $500,000 for up to two years, reserved for the strongest concepts, emphasizing deeper development and practical paths for infusion into NASA programs or non-NASA applications.
10) Can an organization apply directly to Phase II?
NASA indicates that Phase II proposals are intended to be competitively selected from concepts that have already demonstrated success in a NIAC Phase I study.
11) What legal instruments might NASA use for NIAC awards?
NASA signals that awards may take different legal forms depending on the proposing organization, including grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, or intra-agency transfers.
12) Will NIAC results be made public?
NASA states an intent to publicly disseminate results and share knowledge developed under NIAC. Openness and publication are described as part of the NIAC model.
13) Who is expected to be eligible for the future Phase I competition?
Eligibility is described as intentionally broad. NASA states the competition will be open to everyone and welcomes submissions from universities, private or public companies, non-profits, FFRDCs, and NASA centers (including JPL). Partnerships and teams are encouraged.
14) Are international partners allowed?
Teaming with non-U.S. organizations is permitted under NASA rules, with a key constraint stated in the RFI: NASA will not exchange funds with foreign partners.
15) What does NASA expect future proposals to look like?
NASA previews that, once a formal solicitation is released, the science/technical/management narrative is planned to be limited to 8 pages and must include a Work Plan describing how goals and objectives will be achieved.
16) How will NASA evaluate NIAC proposals (once solicitations are issued)?
Evaluation criteria are listed in descending order of importance:
- Potential Impact (Value): true innovation on a 10+ year horizon; comparative benefit over alternatives (for example performance, cost, mass, reliability, safety, operational simplicity, manufacturability); and credible maturation logic (meaningful analysis, credible path forward, potential partnerships or business cases).
- Technical Merit and Work Plan: rigorous scientific basis, sound technical approach, feasible schedule, and alignment with low-TRL entry requirements.
- Team and Cost Realism: appropriate expertise and facilities to complete the study, and a budget that matches the proposed work.
17) What timeline cadence does NASA anticipate for NIAC solicitations?
NASA outlines an anticipated annual cadence. A typical timeline described is: solicitation release; optional notices of intent about one month later; proposals due at about two months; selections around four months; and awards funded by around five and a half months after release.
18) How many NIAC awards does NASA expect to make each year?
NASA expects to run one Phase I call per year, targeting roughly 16 Phase I awards annually. NASA also anticipates adding a separate Phase II call and ramping to approximately 3 to 8 new Phase II studies per year.
19) Does responding to this RFI guarantee a future award or solicitation?
No. NASA states that future solicitations (such as BAAs, NRAs, RFPs, or Space Act Agreements) would depend on Congressional approval and availability of funds.
20) Will NASA reimburse costs associated with preparing an RFI response?
No. NASA states it will not reimburse costs to respond to the RFI.
21) Will NASA confirm receipt of an RFI response or provide feedback?
NASA states it may or may not acknowledge receipt and is not obligated to provide feedback on responses.
22) Are there restrictions on what can be included in an RFI response?
Yes. Responses must be written (no oral responses), and they cannot be classified or proprietary.
23) Will NASA publish individual RFI responses?
NASA states it does not intend to release individual RFI responses publicly, while also reserving the right to use the input to shape future solicitations.
24) What does NASA want respondents to provide in the RFI response?
NASA requests concise input. Responders are invited to: (1) comment on the proposed NIAC approach (including improvements), and (2) recommend revolutionary aerospace concepts or topic areas NASA should consider, ideally with a brief rationale.
25) What are the formatting and length requirements for the RFI response?
The RFI requests a response of two pages or less in 12-point font.
26) How do you submit an RFI response, and where is it sent?
Responses are to be submitted as a PDF or Word document by email to hq-niac@mail.nasa.gov.
27) What is the deadline for submitting the RFI response?
The submission deadline is 11:59 PM Eastern on September 12, 2010.
28) What is the opportunity ID and key dates listed in the posting?
The funding opportunity is identified as NNH10UA006L. It was posted August 24, 2010, and the closing date is September 12, 2010.
29) Who is the NASA contact listed for this RFI?
The NASA contact listed is John (Jay) Falker, Ph.D., NIAC Program Manager/Executive (Acting).
30) What should a recommended NIAC concept emphasize, based on NASA's description?
Based on the RFI description, recommended concepts should be unconventional but technically grounded, suitable for low-TRL study (TRL 1-early TRL 3), and framed around potential revolutionary impact roughly 10+ years out, with a credible rationale for why the concept is worth studying and how it might mature toward use in NASA or non-NASA applications.
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