Research and Technology Development to Support Crew Health and Performance in Space Exploration Missions | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is this funding opportunity?

This opportunity is a NASA Research Announcement (NRA) released by NASA Johnson Space Center titled "Research and Technology Development to Support Crew Health and Performance in Space Exploration Missions" (Funding Opportunity Number NNJ11ZSA002NA). It was issued to generate new research and technology that can reduce health and performance risks for astronauts during space exploration missions.

2) Is this NRA new, or does it replace something older?

This competition replaced an earlier, similar NRA (NNJ11ZSA002N). The newer solicitation is NNJ11ZSA002NA.

3) What is NASA trying to fund through this NRA?

NASA is seeking research and technology development that supports astronaut crew health and performance during space exploration missions, with the intent of reducing operational health and performance risks.

4) How is this solicitation structured (what kind of solicitation is it)?

The solicitation is structured as a broad agency announcement under FAR 6.102(d)(2). That means NASA is seeking a range of innovative scientific and technical ideas, rather than acquiring a single defined product or service.

5) Which NASA program does this support?

The solicitation supports NASA's Human Research Program.

6) What is the central theme or main emphasis area?

A central theme is protecting astronaut health. A particularly strong emphasis was placed on Visual Impairment and Intracranial Pressure, which NASA identified as a high-priority risk area for long-duration spaceflight.

7) What specific research topics did NASA highlight?

NASA highlighted topics tied to Visual Impairment and Intracranial Pressure and other operational risks, including:

• Visual acuity and ocular structure and function
• Fluid distribution in the body under spaceflight conditions
• Team social/technical/task roles
• How constrained or asynchronous communications (such as communication delays and limited bandwidth) affect operational task performance

8) Are proposals limited only to the specifically listed topics?

No. In addition to the named topics, NASA invited short-term investigations or technology concepts proposing new approaches to any of the risks listed in the Human Research Program's Integrated Research Plan (available through the Human Research Roadmap website).

9) Was this a joint solicitation with another organization?

Yes. The NRA was a joint solicitation with the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI), which ran its own set of aligned research priorities under the broader goal of supporting human spaceflight.

10) What research areas did NSBRI solicit under this joint umbrella?

NSBRI solicited proposals in several biomedical and human performance domains, including:

• Microgravity-induced visual alterations and intracranial pressure
• Cardiovascular alterations
• Human factors and performance
• Musculoskeletal alterations
• Neurobehavioral and psychosocial factors
• Sensorimotor adaptation
• Smart medical systems and technology

11) If my work fits both NASA and NSBRI priorities, can I submit one combined proposal?

No. An important administrative requirement was that proposals aimed at NASA priority areas and proposals aimed at NSBRI priority areas had to be submitted separately. They would be evaluated separately and could result in separate awards.

12) How many awards did NASA anticipate making?

The program anticipated around four awards.

13) What type of award instrument was expected?

Awards were expected to be made as grants. NASA also noted that NASA and/or NSBRI reserved the right to decide the most appropriate award instrument for any selected proposal.

14) Is cost sharing required?

No. No cost sharing was required.

15) What was the application structure (one-step or multi-step)?

The application process used a two-step structure. Step 1 proposals were submitted first, and only applicants invited to continue could submit Step 2 proposals.

16) What were the due dates for Step 1 and Step 2?

Step 1 proposals were due September 22, 2011. Step 2 proposals (by invitation only) were due December 19, 2011.

17) When was the opportunity posted and when was it archived?

The opportunity was originally posted in late August 2011 and was later archived in January 2012.

18) How were proposals required to be submitted?

Submissions were required to be electronic.

19) Who is allowed to submit the application?

The proposal had to be submitted by an authorized official of the applicant organization, not informally by an individual researcher acting alone.

20) What electronic systems could be used to submit Step 1?

Step 1 submissions could be filed through either NSPIRES (NASA's proposal system) or Grants.gov.

21) If I submit through Grants.gov, do I still need NSPIRES registration?

Yes. Organizations still needed to be registered in NSPIRES and designate authorized organizational representatives permitted to submit on the institution's behalf.

22) Do principal investigators (PIs) and key personnel have to register in the electronic systems?

Yes. NASA emphasized that principal investigators and other key personnel would need to meet the registration requirements of whichever electronic system was used.

23) What did NASA recommend regarding registration timelines?

Applicants were advised to start the registration and system familiarization process well before the deadline to avoid last-minute access problems.

24) Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was broad and essentially unrestricted, open to universities, companies, nonprofit organizations, NASA centers, and other government agencies, as long as the applicant met the procedural requirements described in the full solicitation.

25) Where could this opportunity have been posted?

NASA noted that the opportunity could be posted in multiple places (including FedBizOpps at the time), but applicants still had to follow the requirements of the full solicitation.

26) Who should applicants contact with questions?

The notice directed applicants to the contact information in the full solicitation. It also listed a contracting specialist, Christopher Anzures, and requested that questions be submitted in writing.

27) Are NASA and NSBRI proposals evaluated together or separately?

They are evaluated separately. The solicitation stated that NASA-priority proposals and NSBRI-priority proposals had to be submitted separately, would be evaluated separately, and could lead to separate awards.