EARLY STAGE INNOVATIONS | 80HQTR19NOA01 19ESI B2

Opportunity Information: Apply for 80HQTR19NOA01 19ESI B2

NASA Headquarters, through its Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD), released the Early Stage Innovations (ESI) solicitation as an appendix under the broader NASA Research Announcement umbrella called "Space Technology Research, Development, Demonstration, and Infusion 2019 (SpaceTech-REDDI-2019)." The program is run through the Space Technology Research Grants (STRG) effort and is aimed at funding early, high-impact university research that could meaningfully change how future space systems are designed, built, or operated. Even if the research results themselves are incremental during the award period, NASA is looking for proposals where the expected downstream payoff is clearly articulated and significant at the full system level, such as major improvements in performance, mass, cost, reliability, operational simplicity, or other mission-critical measures tied to spaceflight hardware and mission outcomes.

A central theme of ESI is leveraging the strengths of U.S. universities, not just as research engines but as places where new knowledge spreads quickly through students, publications, and partnerships with industry and government. NASA frames these investments as a way to keep U.S. universities at the forefront of scientific and engineering innovation while also building a pipeline of highly skilled engineers, scientists, and technologists who can strengthen national competitiveness. The solicitation also makes a point of encouraging participation from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), and it explicitly welcomes proposals involving women, underrepresented minority groups, people with disabilities, and early-career faculty, reflecting NASA's interest in broadening the community contributing to next-generation space technology.

Eligibility is limited to accredited U.S. universities. Teaming arrangements are allowed, but they come with conditions and restrictions that applicants are expected to follow as written in the solicitation. NASA also limits how many times an individual investigator can appear across submissions: a Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-Investigator (Co-I) may participate in no more than two proposals under this appendix, which is meant to spread opportunities and keep teams focused and credible.

Unlike open-topic research programs, this ESI appendix is tightly focused on six specific research areas, and proposals must align with one of them to be considered responsive. The topics are: Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine Concept Development; Chemical Heat Integrated Power Systems; Rocket Plume-Surface Interaction Prediction Advancements; Machine Learning/Deep Learning Tools for Protecting Astronauts from Solar Energetic Particle Hazards; Next Generation Durability and Damage Tolerance Methodologies; and Integration of Cryogenic Fluid Two Phase Numerical Modeling Techniques. NASA notes that future ESI releases may target different topics, but for this cycle the scope is confined to these six areas.

From a funding and schedule standpoint, ESI is a discretionary grant opportunity (CFDA 43.012) with an award ceiling listed at $550,000. NASA anticipated making about 10 to 12 awards, depending on the strength of the proposal pool, and it reserves the right to make no awards if proposals do not meet the bar for merit and relevance. Awards were planned to start around mid-January 2020. The opportunity was posted May 8, 2019, with Notices of Intent strongly encouraged by May 29, 2019, and full proposals due by June 26, 2019 at 5:00 pm Eastern.

Applications had to be submitted electronically through NSPIRES (NASA's proposal system) or via Grants.gov by an authorized organizational representative, and NASA strongly advised institutions to ensure registrations and system familiarity well ahead of the deadline to avoid last-minute submission problems. For questions, NASA provided a single email address (hq-esi-call@mail.nasa.gov) routed to the Space Technology Research Grants Program Executive and the acquisition point of contact, and it indicated that answers could also be added to an FAQ on the NSPIRES solicitation page while preserving the anonymity of those 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 "EARLY STAGE INNOVATIONS" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 43.012.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 08, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 26, 2019. (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 $550,000.00 in funding.
• 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).

Apply for 80HQTR19NOA01 19ESI B2

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