Awards will be made as cooperative agreements to Community College/Two-Year Minority Serving Institutions. The period of performance for an award is up to 15 months. Prospective proposers are requested to submit any questions in writing to
[email protected] no later than 10 business days before the proposal due date so that NASA will have sufficient time to respond. Only accredited Community College/Two-Year Minority Serving Institutions in the United States are eligible to apply for this NASA Research Announcement (NRA). Proposers to this NRA are required to have the following, no later than the due date: 1) a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number, 2) a valid registration with the System for Award Management (SAM) [formerly known as the Central Contractor Registry (CCR)], 3) a valid Commercial And Government Entity (CAGE) Code, 4) a valid registration with NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES) (this also applies to any entities proposed for sub-awards or subcontracts.) Consult Appendix E Section 3 for more eligibility information. Consult Appendix E Section 2.3 regarding teaming requirements and partnership guidelines. The goal of the MISTC is to contribute to the preparation, training, and development of NASA’s future workforce. This will be accomplished by utilizing NASA’s unique contributions in collaboration with two-year/community college Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and other academic institutions to develop innovations in curriculum and experiential learning opportunities. These innovations will be aligned with the priorities of NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD), which is responsible for developing the crosscutting, pioneering, new technologies and capabilities that the agency needs to achieve its current and future missions (https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/home/index.html). The MISTC solicitation seeks proposals that will contain plans for and be guided by curriculum innovations through partnerships with selected NASA Centers or facilities. The goal of each proposal will be to address a space technology focus area via all three of the following: (1) revising or developing at least one new course that will introduce and enhance student understanding of space technology development; (2) identifying and addressing campus laboratory equipment needs to support student learning in the course(s); and (3) hands-on learning opportunities related to the course(s) through internships at NASA Centers or facilities. Proposers shall partner with one NASA center or facility from the list below to address one specific area of space technology development. Proposers are highly encouraged to partner with other academic institutions, such as other MSI two-year/community colleges or 4-year colleges/universities to share expertise, laboratory space, evaluation services, or collaborate in other ways during the curriculum development and piloting process. Proposers are also encouraged to partner with K-12 school districts on efforts such as dual enrollment in the new/revised college course(s), and/or the infusion of space technology content into high school courses. Successful proposals will be funded as 15-month cooperative agreements. During the period of performance, awardees will be expected to develop, obtain approval to offer, and pilot at least one new or revised space technology course. Awardees will also be required to identify and address campus laboratory needs to support student learning in the course(s), and work with the NASA center or facility partner to place students in internships. Space Technology Areas NASA Center(s)/ Facility Aerosciences research for flight in all atmospheres ARC/LaRC Power technology and advanced development GRC/MSFC Propulsion--technology and advanced development (chemical propulsion) GRC/MSFC Propulsion--technology and advanced development (electric propulsion systems) GRC/MSFC Entry, Descent and Landing ARC /LaRC/JPL Vehicle Structures and Materials Technology LaRC Advanced Manufacturing LaRC/MSFC Communications and Navigation GRC/GSFC/JPL In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) Technology GRC/JPL Robotics GSFC/JPL/ARC Autonomy ARC/JPL/LaRC Avionics technology and advanced development GSFC/JPL Cryogenic fluid flight systems GRC Every institution that intends to submit a proposal to this NRA, including the proposed prime award or any partner whether an informal education institution, other non-profit institutions, state and local Government agencies, and other organizations that will serve as sub-awardees or contractors, must be registered in NSPIRES. Electronic submission of proposals is required by the due date and must be submitted by an authorized official of the proposing organization. Such registration must identify the authorized organizational representative(s) who will submit the electronic proposal. All principal investigators and other participants (e.g. co-investigators) must be registered in NSPIRES regardless of submission system. Potential proposers and proposing organizations are urged to access the system(s) well in advance of the proposal due date(s) of interest to familiarize themselves with its structure and enter the requested information. Electronic proposals may be submitted via the NASA proposal data system NSPIRES or via Grants.gov. Organizations that intend to submit proposals via Grants.gov must be registered 1) with Grants.gov and 2) with NSPIRES. Additional programmatic information for this NRA may develop before the proposal due date. If so, such information will be added as a Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) or formal amendment to this NRA and posted on http://nspires.nasaprs.com. It is the proposer’s responsibility to regularly check NSPIRES for updates to this NRA.