NASA is offering the Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Phase I Grant to support visionary, advanced concept studies.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Headquarters has released a solicitation, titled “NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Phase I,” as an Appendix to the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) NASA Research Announcement (NRA), titled “Space Technology REsearch, Development, Demonstration, and Infusion – 2020 (SpaceTech-REDDI-2020),” on June 3, 2020.

Complete details (to include due dates) can be accessed via the following steps:

1. Open the NSPIRES homepage at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/

2. Select “Solicitations”

3. Select “Open Solicitations”

4. Select “Space Technology Research, Development, Demonstration, and Infusion – 2020 (SpaceTech-REDDI-2020) 80HQTR20NOA01”

5. Select “List of Open Program Elements”

6. Select “NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Phase I, 80HQTR20NOA01-21NIAC_A1”

7. Select “NIAC Phase I Solicitation Document” under Announcement Documents

The NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Program supports innovative research through Phase I, Phase II, and Phase III awards. This Phase I appendix solicits proposals for studying visionary, yet credible, advanced concepts in the NIAC Program. There are two steps to the Phase I proposal process; a brief Step A proposal open to all applicants, and an expanded Step B for those who are invited. Step A proposal is due on July 22, 2020 (5:00 PM Eastern) and the Step B proposal (by invitation only) is due on September 29, 2020 (Target), 5:00 PM Eastern.

This is an Open Announcement. All categories of U.S organizations may apply. Non-U.S. organizations may partner in, or lead, NIAC studies on a no-exchange of funds basis, and subject to NASA’s policy on foreign participation (see Section 3.3 of the REDDI NRA for additional information).

All proposals must be submitted electronically through NSPIRES by an authorized organizational representative (AOR). Detailed submission instructions are provided in the SpaceTech-REDDI-2020 NRA, as well as the Guidebook for Proposers Responding to a NASA Funding Announcement (April 2018). Potential proposers and their proposing organizations are urged to familiarize themselves with the submission system, ensure they are registered in NSPIRES, and submit the required proposal materials well in advance of the deadline.

Any updates to this Appendix will be posted on the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES) page for this Appendix (https://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/). Offerors are encouraged to regularly refer to this website for updates and other information relative to this Appendix. Proposers are encouraged to submit their questions regarding this Appendix to hq- niac@mail.nasa.gov.

Interested proposers should monitor the NSPIRES website or subscribe to the electronic notification system there for release of the SpaceTech-REDDI-2020 Appendices.

Technical, programmatic, and procurement comments and questions may be addressed by e-mail to hq- niac@mail.nasa.gov. Responses to inquiries will be answered by e-mail and may also be included in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document located on the NSPIRES page associated with the Appendix; anonymity of persons/institutions who submit questions will be preserved.