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) issued by NASA Johnson Space Center, Funding Opportunity Number NNJ08ZSA002N. It supports research and technology development intended to protect and improve astronaut health and mission performance during space exploration.

2) Is this a standard procurement (buying a product/service) or a research solicitation?

It is a broad agency announcement under FAR 6.102(d)(2). That means NASA is seeking innovative scientific and technical ideas rather than purchasing a specific off-the-shelf product or service.

3) What types of work does the NRA support (research environments and use cases)?

The solicitation supports work that can be carried out in ground-based settings, bed rest analog studies (used to simulate some effects of microgravity), and flight-relevant or flight definition efforts tied to human spaceflight needs.

4) What are the two sponsor tracks included in this NRA?

The NRA jointly covers two related but distinct sponsors and proposal tracks: NASA's Human Research Program (HRP) and the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI).

5) Can I submit one proposal that covers both HRP and NSBRI?

No. While the two tracks are coordinated under the same NRA, proposals aimed at HRP priorities and proposals aimed at NSBRI priorities must be prepared and submitted separately. They are reviewed independently and can result in separate evaluations and awards.

6) How will HRP and NSBRI proposals be reviewed and awarded?

HRP and NSBRI proposals are reviewed independently. If selected, they will result in separate evaluations and awards. This separation affects where and how proposals are submitted, what topics are in scope, and how funding decisions are made.

7) What research topics are emphasized under the HRP portion?

The HRP portion emphasizes research in:

• Behavioral Health and Performance
• Muscle
• Sensorimotor
• Space Human Factors

In practical terms, this includes work to understand and mitigate psychological, cognitive, and team-performance challenges of long-duration missions; prevent or treat muscle loss and related performance degradation; address sensorimotor adaptation issues (such as balance and coordination changes during/after microgravity exposure); and improve space human factors (design of tasks, tools, interfaces, procedures, and habitats to reduce error, fatigue, and workload while improving safety and efficiency).

8) What research topics are included under the NSBRI portion?

The NSBRI portion invites proposals in the following categories:

• Cardiovascular Alterations
• Human Factors and Performance
• Musculoskeletal Alterations
• Neurobehavioral and Psychosocial Factors
• Sensorimotor
• Smart Medical Systems and Technology

These topics cover major body-system and operational risks associated with human spaceflight, including cardiovascular deconditioning, bone and muscle loss, behavioral and psychosocial stressors, sensorimotor changes, and smarter medical technologies for monitoring, diagnosis, decision support, and treatment in spacecraft or habitat environments.

9) What is the application structure (Step 1 and Step 2)?

The application process uses a two-step structure:

• Step 1 proposals were due September 5, 2008.
• Only applicants invited after Step 1 would submit Step 2 proposals, due December 5, 2008.

10) If I submit a Step 1 proposal, do I automatically get to submit Step 2?

No. Only applicants invited after Step 1 may submit a Step 2 proposal.

11) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broadly open to all categories of U.S. institutions, including universities and other educational institutions, private industry, nonprofit organizations, NASA centers, and other government agencies.

12) Can non-U.S. organizations participate?

NASA notes it may conduct research with non-U.S. organizations on a cooperative basis with no exchange of funds. This indicates collaboration may be possible, but NASA funding is not expected to flow directly to foreign entities under that cooperative arrangement.

13) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching requirement is listed. Proposers are not required to contribute their own funds as a condition of applying, unless a specific project arrangement later calls for it.

14) How do we submit an application?

Submission is entirely electronic, and organizations must be registered in NSPIRES (NASA's proposal system). Proposals must be submitted by an authorized official of the proposing organization.

15) Do we need NSPIRES registration even if we plan to use Grants.gov?

The solicitation emphasizes that organizational registration in NSPIRES is a central requirement for any organization intending to apply. HRP proposals may be submitted through NSPIRES or Grants.gov, while NSBRI proposals must be submitted through NSPIRES.

16) Where can HRP proposals be submitted?

HRP proposals may be submitted through NSPIRES or Grants.gov.

17) Where must NSBRI proposals be submitted?

NSBRI proposals must be submitted through NSPIRES.

18) Who is allowed to submit the proposal in the electronic system?

Proposals must be submitted by an authorized official (authorized organizational representative) of the proposing organization. NSPIRES registration must identify the authorized organizational representative(s) permitted to submit on the organization’s behalf.

19) Do principal investigators and team members need to register in NSPIRES?

Yes. Principal investigators and other team members face system registration requirements, and applicants are urged to start early to avoid delays from account creation, role approvals, and required data entry.

20) What types of awards might be made?

The opportunity lists grant and cooperative agreement as the primary funding instruments. NASA reserves the right to choose the appropriate award instrument for each selected proposal.

21) What is the difference between a grant and a cooperative agreement in this solicitation?

The notice highlights that cooperative agreements generally involve more substantial NASA involvement during performance than a standard grant. NASA may select the instrument type for each award.

22) What is the funding activity category?

The funding activity category is Science and Technology and Other Research and Development.

23) What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA is listed as 00.000 (not elsewhere classified), which is sometimes used for announcements that do not map neatly to a single established CFDA program line.

24) When was the announcement posted, and where was the full NRA expected to be available?

The announcement was posted July 23, 2008. The full NRA was planned to be available around August 6, 2008 through the NASA Research Opportunities page within NSPIRES under open solicitations.

25) What were the key dates for Step 1, Step 2, and archiving?

• Step 1 closing date (original and current): September 5, 2008
• Step 2 proposal due date (by invitation only): December 5, 2008
• Archive date: July 22, 2009

26) Who are the points of contact for questions about the opportunity?

The notice provides NASA points of contact: Joseph P. Campbell and Katherine L. Eakle.

27) Who should we contact for technical help with electronic access or submission systems?

For technical access issues related to the electronic systems, the notice points applicants to the NAIS Support helpdesk.

28) What does the funding opportunity number mean for applicants?

The Funding Opportunity Number is NNJ08ZSA002N. Applicants should use it to identify the correct NRA and ensure they are working within the correct solicitation when locating it in NSPIRES/open solicitations and when preparing submissions tied to this specific announcement.

29) Why does the solicitation stress separate preparation and submission for HRP vs. NSBRI?

Because HRP and NSBRI are distinct proposal tracks under the same NRA. They differ in topic scope and submission rules (HRP: NSPIRES or Grants.gov; NSBRI: NSPIRES only), and they are reviewed and awarded independently.

30) What practical setup steps should organizations plan for before submission?

Organizations should plan for NSPIRES registration, designation of authorized organizational representative(s), and individual registrations for principal investigators and team members. The notice urges applicants to start early to avoid delays due to account setup, role approvals, and data entry.