NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Phase I | 80HQTR22NOA01 23NIAC A1

Opportunity Information: Apply for 80HQTR22NOA01 23NIAC A1

NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Phase I is a competitive NASA Headquarters grant opportunity released as an appendix under the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) NASA Research Announcement called "Space Technology Research, Development, Demonstration, and Infusion - 2022 (SpaceTech-REDDI-2022)." The goal of NIAC Phase I is to fund early, exploratory studies of space-related ideas that are highly innovative and forward-looking, but still grounded in credible science and engineering. In practice, NIAC is aimed at concepts that feel "ahead of their time" and need a focused study to determine whether the underlying physics, engineering approach, and mission value proposition hold together well enough to justify further development in later NIAC phases.

The Phase I process is structured in two stages. First, applicants submit a short "Step A" proposal that is open to all eligible applicants. NASA uses Step A to quickly assess the idea and decide which teams should be invited to submit the more detailed "Step B" proposal. Only applicants invited after Step A may submit Step B. For this specific solicitation, the Step A deadline is July 1, 2022 at 5:00 PM Eastern, and the invited Step B proposals are targeted to be due September 8, 2022 at 5:00 PM Eastern. This two-step structure is meant to reduce proposal burden for applicants while still allowing NASA to obtain detailed plans from the most promising concepts.

Eligibility is broadly open. The solicitation is described as an Open Announcement, meaning all categories of U.S. organizations may apply (for example, companies, universities, nonprofits, and other U.S. entities). Non-U.S. organizations are not excluded from participating, but they are limited to participation on a "no exchange of funds" basis, meaning NASA funding is not provided to the non-U.S. participant. Foreign participation is also subject to NASA policy, referenced through Section 3.3 of the SpaceTech-REDDI-2022 NRA, so teams with international partners need to align their roles, budgets, and compliance approach with those rules.

Awards are issued as grants, with an indicated award ceiling of $175,000 per award and an expected number of awards of about 12. The program is listed under CFDA 43.012, and it is categorized under science and technology and other research and development. NIAC as a whole supports a pipeline of work across Phase I, Phase II, and Phase III, with Phase I specifically focused on concept feasibility and initial validation work rather than full technology development or flight demonstration.

All submissions must be made electronically through NASA's NSPIRES system, and they must be submitted by an authorized organizational representative (AOR). Applicants are expected to rely on the main SpaceTech-REDDI-2022 NRA and NASA's "Guidebook for Proposers Responding to a NASA Funding Announcement" (May 2020) for detailed formatting and submission instructions. NASA strongly encourages organizations to ensure NSPIRES registrations are complete and to begin submissions well ahead of the deadline to avoid last-minute system or authorization issues.

For access to the full solicitation documents, NASA directs applicants to NSPIRES and provides a navigation path: locate the open solicitation "SpaceTech-REDDI-2022" (80HQTR22NOA01), then view the list of open program elements, select "NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Phase I" (80HQTR22NOA01-23NIACA1), and download the "NIAC Phase I Solicitation Document" under the announcement documents. Updates to the appendix, including any clarifications, are posted on the NSPIRES page for the program element, and prospective proposers are encouraged to monitor NSPIRES or subscribe to notifications.

Questions about the solicitation, including technical, programmatic, and procurement topics, are handled via email to hq-niac@mail.nasa.gov. NASA may respond directly by email and may also incorporate answers into an FAQ posted with the appendix on NSPIRES, with the intent to preserve the anonymity of individuals and institutions submitting questions.

• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA Headquarters in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Phase I" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 43.012.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jun 01, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 01, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $175,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 12 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

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