RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES IN AERONAUTICS 2014 | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is this NASA funding opportunity?

This opportunity is NASA Headquarters Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) planning to release the FY 2014 NASA Research Announcement (NRA) titled Research Opportunities in Aeronautics (ROA), identified as NNH14ZEA001N. It is a broad, umbrella solicitation for aeronautics research.

2) Is ROA (NNH14ZEA001N) a single grant with one deadline?

No. ROA is not run like a one-time deadline grant. The detailed research topics, requirements, and proposal due dates are released throughout the fiscal year via separate Appendices that are posted as amendments to the main NRA.

3) How are research topics and deadlines released?

NASA releases specific topic areas as Appendices tied to particular thrust areas. Each Appendix is posted as an amendment to the main NRA as NASA finalizes needs and priorities. Applicants need to watch for these updates over time rather than relying on one static announcement.

4) What do the Appendices include?

Each Appendix is expected to provide key submission details for that topic area, including the proposal due date(s), any special evaluation criteria beyond the standard NASA approach, and the points of contact responsible for that program element.

5) Where do I submit my proposal within ROA?

Proposals must be submitted to the most relevant program element (i.e., the appropriate Appendix) once that element is posted as “open.” You must follow that Appendix's instructions and meet that Appendix-specific deadline.

6) What happens if an Appendix is not listed as open yet?

You generally need to wait until the relevant program element is posted as “open” before submitting to that element, because submission instructions and deadlines are tied to the Appendix.

7) What kinds of research does ROA fund?

The solicitation is designed to fund both foundational research and systems-level research across five major ARMD programs, with specific topics defined in the Appendices released during the year.

8) What are the five major ARMD programs covered by this ROA?

The opportunity spans these ARMD programs: Airspace Systems Program, Aviation Safety Program, Fundamental Aeronautics Program, Integrated Systems Research Program, and Aeronautics Strategy and Management Program.

9) What is the Airspace Systems Program focused on?

The Airspace Systems Program focuses on air traffic management needs connected to the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen), aligning with the Joint Planning and Development Office (JPDO) vision for modernizing management of aircraft in the national airspace.

10) What is the Aviation Safety Program focused on?

The Aviation Safety Program targets safety risks in both current and emerging aviation operations, with an emphasis on anticipating problems before they appear in the field as vehicles and operations evolve.

11) What is the Fundamental Aeronautics Program focused on?

The Fundamental Aeronautics Program supports longer-term, high-impact work across all flight regimes. It aims to generate new data, knowledge, and design tools that can be broadly applied to many types of aircraft and atmospheric flight conditions at any speed.

12) What is the Integrated Systems Research Program focused on?

The Integrated Systems Research Program is more applied and demonstration-oriented. It takes promising concepts and technologies and evaluates or proves their benefits in relevant environments at an integrated system level.

13) What is the Aeronautics Strategy and Management Program focused on?

The Aeronautics Strategy and Management Program supports the directorate by providing research and programmatic functions that benefit the other programs. It also helps manage directorate-wide efforts such as innovative aviation concepts, education and outreach, and cross-program operations.

14) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as broadly open to most organization types, including universities, industry, and nonprofit organizations. However, government organizations and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) are excluded from participating under this call.

15) The listing says “unrestricted” eligibility. What does that mean here?

The listing characterizes eligibility as “unrestricted” overall, but it also states exclusions (government organizations and FFRDCs). Eligibility is also subject to any clarifications in the full text and the Appendix tied to the program element you are applying to.

16) Are cost sharing or matching funds required?

No cost-sharing or matching requirement is stated for this opportunity.

17) What is the CFDA number for this funding?

The funding is categorized under CFDA 43.002 (Aeronautics).

18) What types of awards will NASA use?

Award instruments may include grants and cooperative agreements. NASA reserves the right to select the appropriate award instrument for any selected proposal.

19) How do I submit an application?

Submission is electronic and can be done through NASA’s NSPIRES system or through Grants.gov. NASA strongly emphasizes NSPIRES registration requirements.

20) What is NSPIRES and why does it matter for this NRA?

NSPIRES is NASA’s system used to access the ROA solicitation and submit proposals. NASA emphasizes that organizations intending to submit must be registered in NSPIRES and must use an authorized organizational representative to submit proposals.

21) Who is allowed to submit the proposal in the system?

The proposal must be submitted by an authorized organizational representative designated by the organization (i.e., someone permitted to submit proposals on the organization’s behalf), not only by the technical team preparing the proposal.

22) Do principal investigators and co-investigators need to register?

Yes. Principal investigators and other participants (such as co-investigators) also have registration-related requirements in whichever system they use (NSPIRES and/or Grants.gov).

23) When should we start registration and system setup?

NASA advises starting registration and system familiarization early, well ahead of the Appendix-specific due date, because obtaining access and completing profiles can take time.

24) Where do I find the ROA solicitation in NSPIRES?

In NSPIRES, navigate to Solicitations, then Open Solicitations, select NRA NNH14ZEA001N, and then view the “List of Open Program Elements” once amendments (Appendices) are posted.

25) What are the key dates for this ROA?

The overall opportunity was posted on January 27, 2014. Proposals (with Appendix-specific due dates) can be submitted through December 31, 2014. The archive date is listed as January 27, 2015.

26) Does the ROA have one uniform deadline across all topics?

No. Deadlines depend on the Appendix for the specific program element. You must follow the due date listed in the Appendix you are responding to.

27) Who should we contact for general policy or procedure questions?

For general policy or procedure questions, the announcement points to Susan Minor at roa@nasa.gov.

28) Who should we contact for technical issues accessing the announcement electronically?

For technical issues accessing the announcement electronically, the listing provides NAIS Support at nais.support@nasa.gov.

29) What is the formal solicitation type for this opportunity?

The announcement is formally treated as a broad agency announcement under FAR 35.016 and NFS 1835.016, indicating it is intended to solicit research ideas and capabilities across a broad aeronautics portfolio.

30) What is the main practical takeaway for applicants?

Track amendments throughout the year, identify the correct Appendix for your topic, confirm it is “open,” follow that Appendix’s instructions precisely, complete NSPIRES-related registrations early, and submit by the Appendix-specific deadline through an authorized organizational representative.