Awards to accredited Tribal Colleges and Universities will be made as cooperative agreements (TCUs must be the lead institution when partnering with other interested parties). The period of performance for an award is up to 3 years. Prospective proposers are requested to submit any questions in writing to
[email protected] no later than 25 business days before the proposal due date so that NASA will have sufficient time to respond. Only accredited Tribal Colleges and Universities and American Indian and Alaskan Native 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); 3) a valid Commercial And Government Entity (CAGE) Code; and 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 F Section 3 for more eligibility information. Consult Appendix F Section F.2.1 and F.2.2 regarding teaming requirements and partnership guidelines. NASA’s Office of Education’s mission is to advance high quality STEM education. Through this solicitation, NASA is strengthening involvement with higher education institutions to ensure that NASA can meet future workforce needs in STEM fields. Participation in NASA projects and research stimulates increasing numbers of students to continue their studies at all levels of the higher education continuum and earn advanced degrees in these critical fields. NASA MUREP American Indian and Alaskan Native STEM Engagement (MAIANSE) goals: • Increase learners' involvement and interest in STEM, educate them on the value of STEM in their lives, and positively influence the perception of their ability to participate in STEM; • Strengthen efforts to attract and retain increased numbers of students in NASA STEM programs to encourage their pursuit of educational disciplines and careers critical to NASA’s and the Nation’s future engineering, scientific, and technical workforce; • Provide opportunities for TCU students, faculty and staff; and high school students who are likely to matriculate to TCUs, to engage in NASA-related STEM scientific research and engineering activities; • Expand outreach activities between NASA and tribal colleges and universities to increase TCU access to NASA’s unique science and exploration assets and data in the creation of experiential learning opportunities for students; and • Enhance NASA’s knowledge of the unique TCU assets and requirements, and enhance NASA-TCU partnerships *Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity – MAIANSE may be categorized as both Science and Technology and other Research and Development (ST) and Education funded activity* 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 must 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 with Grants.gov and 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.