Opportunity Information: Apply for NNH12ZUA005N
Apply for NNH12ZUA005N
- The NASA Headquarters in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "SPACE TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES EARLY STAGE INNOVATIONS" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 43.009 Cross Agency Support.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 31, 2012 and posted on May 31, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Notices of Intent (not mandatory) are due by June 21, 2012. Proposals are due on or before July 12, 2012.. (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 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- (see Description below or Full Announcement for clarification)
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Opportunity Summary:
NASA Headquarters, through the Office of the Chief Technologist (OCT), released the Space Technology Research Opportunities - Early Stage Innovations (STRO ESI) solicitation on May 31, 2012. This funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number NNH12ZUA005N; CFDA 43.009, Cross Agency Support) is a discretionary grant program aimed specifically at accredited U.S. universities. The core purpose is to fund innovative, early-stage space technology research that NASA considers high priority for its Mission Directorates and OCT, with the broader intent of strengthening future capabilities that could benefit NASA missions, other government users, and the commercial space sector.
The program is designed around low Technology Readiness Level (TRL) work, meaning it targets very early, foundational research rather than near-term engineering development. NASA is looking for projects that begin at TRL 1 or TRL 2 and mature to TRL 2 or TRL 3 by the end of the award. In practical terms, this places the emphasis on establishing new concepts, demonstrating basic feasibility, and producing early proofs-of-concept, rather than delivering flight-ready hardware. This approach is meant to accelerate "push technologies," which are technology advances not tied to a specific mission requirement or current flight program, and it intentionally complements NASA Mission Directorate technology efforts that more commonly start at TRL 3 or higher.
A central requirement of the solicitation is that proposed work must be disruptive, unique, or transformational, with a clearly articulated potential for major system-level impact. NASA highlights improvements such as performance gains, reductions in weight or cost, improved reliability, simpler operations, or other meaningful figures of merit relevant to spaceflight hardware and mission architectures. Even if the year-to-year technical progress within the project is incremental, the proposal must make a strong case that the eventual payoff at the system level would be substantial and measurable. Conversely, the solicitation explicitly discourages proposals focused mainly on literature reviews, survey activities, or modest incremental upgrades to existing technologies.
The call is narrowly scoped to proposals that directly respond to one of the defined technical topics in the solicitation, organized into three main areas: Space Radiation, Thermal Management, and Optical Systems. NASA also notes that additional topic areas may appear in future STRO solicitations, but for this specific call, proposals must align with one of the listed topics within those three groupings to be considered responsive.
Submission is electronic only, through either NSPIRES (the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System) or Grants.gov, and must be submitted by an authorized organizational representative. A Notice of Intent is requested but not mandatory, and it was due June 21, 2012. Full proposals were due on or before July 12, 2012. NASA strongly encourages institutions to register in NSPIRES early, learn the submission system requirements, and upload all materials well ahead of the deadline to avoid last-minute technical or administrative issues.
NASA indicated it expected to make about 10 awards under this solicitation, and there is no cost sharing or matching requirement. Questions about the technical or programmatic aspects of the call were directed to the Space Technology Research Grants Program Executive, Claudia Meyer, and procurement questions to Jonathon Wingerberg, using the solicitation email address hq-stro-esi-call@mail.nasa.gov. NASA also stated that answers to submitted questions could be shared via email and potentially added to a Frequently Asked Questions document on the NSPIRES page for the solicitation, while preserving the anonymity of those who asked the questions.
FAQs: Space Technology Research Opportunities - Early Stage Innovations (STRO ESI)
1) What is the STRO ESI solicitation?
Space Technology Research Opportunities - Early Stage Innovations (STRO ESI) is a NASA Headquarters funding opportunity released through the Office of the Chief Technologist (OCT) on May 31, 2012. It is a discretionary grant program focused on innovative, early-stage space technology research.
2) Who is offering this funding opportunity?
NASA Headquarters is offering the opportunity through the Office of the Chief Technologist (OCT).
3) What is the Funding Opportunity Number and CFDA listing?
The Funding Opportunity Number is NNH12ZUA005N. The CFDA is 43.009 (Cross Agency Support).
4) What is the main purpose of this program?
The program is intended to fund high-priority, innovative, early-stage space technology research that NASA considers important to its Mission Directorates and OCT, while strengthening future capabilities that could support NASA missions, other government users, and the commercial space sector.
5) Who is eligible to apply?
The solicitation is aimed specifically at accredited U.S. universities.
6) What kinds of projects is NASA trying to support?
NASA is seeking disruptive, unique, or transformational early-stage research with a clearly articulated potential for major system-level impact. Proposals should make a strong case for measurable downstream benefits such as improved performance, reduced weight or cost, improved reliability, simplified operations, or other relevant figures of merit for spaceflight hardware and mission architectures.
7) What Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs are targeted?
The program is designed for low TRL work. Projects are expected to begin at TRL 1 or TRL 2 and mature to TRL 2 or TRL 3 by the end of the award.
8) What does "low TRL" mean in the context of this call?
It means the focus is on foundational research: establishing new concepts, demonstrating basic feasibility, and producing early proofs-of-concept, rather than near-term engineering development or flight-ready hardware.
9) Is this program meant to support flight hardware development?
No. Based on the stated TRL targets, the emphasis is on early feasibility and proof-of-concept research rather than delivering flight-ready systems.
10) What are "push technologies," and how do they relate to STRO ESI?
The solicitation describes "push technologies" as advances not tied to a specific mission requirement or a current flight program. STRO ESI is intended to accelerate these kinds of early technology advances and to complement Mission Directorate technology efforts that more commonly start at TRL 3 or higher.
11) What level of innovation is required?
The work must be disruptive, unique, or transformational. Even if annual progress is incremental, the proposal must justify why the eventual system-level payoff would be substantial and measurable.
12) What kinds of proposals are discouraged?
The solicitation explicitly discourages proposals that are focused mainly on literature reviews, survey activities, or modest incremental upgrades to existing technologies.
13) Do proposals have to fit within specific technical topics?
Yes. Proposals must directly respond to one of the defined technical topics in the solicitation to be considered responsive.
14) What are the main technical areas for this specific STRO ESI call?
The solicitation topics are organized into three main areas: Space Radiation, Thermal Management, and Optical Systems.
15) Can applicants propose work outside of Space Radiation, Thermal Management, or Optical Systems?
Not for this specific solicitation, as described. NASA notes that additional topic areas may appear in future STRO solicitations, but proposals for this call must align with one of the listed topics within the three groupings.
16) How must proposals be submitted?
Submission is electronic only, through either NSPIRES (NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System) or Grants.gov.
17) Who must submit the proposal?
The proposal must be submitted by an authorized organizational representative.
18) Was a Notice of Intent (NOI) required?
A Notice of Intent was requested but not mandatory.
19) What were the key deadlines listed for this solicitation?
The Notice of Intent was due June 21, 2012 (requested, not mandatory). Full proposals were due on or before July 12, 2012.
20) How many awards did NASA expect to make?
NASA indicated it expected to make about 10 awards under this solicitation.
21) Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. NASA stated there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
22) What systems should applicants use for registrations and submission planning?
NASA strongly encourages institutions to register in NSPIRES early, learn the system requirements, and upload all materials well ahead of the deadline to avoid last-minute technical or administrative issues.
23) Who should be contacted for technical or programmatic questions?
Technical or programmatic questions were directed to the Space Technology Research Grants Program Executive, Claudia Meyer, using the solicitation email address hq-stro-esi-call@mail.nasa.gov.
24) Who should be contacted for procurement questions?
Procurement questions were directed to Jonathon Wingerberg, using the solicitation email address hq-stro-esi-call@mail.nasa.gov.
25) How would NASA handle submitted questions and answers?
NASA stated that answers could be shared via email and potentially added to a Frequently Asked Questions document on the NSPIRES page for the solicitation, while preserving the anonymity of those who asked the questions.
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