The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Headquarters, anticipates a release of a solicitation, titled "NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC), Phase II," as an Appendix to the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) NASA Research Announcement (NRA), titled "Space Technology Research, Development, Demonstration, and Infusion - 2019 (SpaceTech-REDDI-2019)," on or about December 11, 2018. Once the Appendix is posted, complete details (to include due dates) can be accessed via the following steps: 1. Open the NSPIRES homepage at 2. http://nspires.nasaprs.com/Select "Solicitations" 3. Select "Open Solicitations" 4. Select "Space Technology Research, Development, Demonstration, and Infusion - 2019 (SpaceTech-REDDI-2019) 80HQTR19NOA01_198NIAC-A2" 5. Select "List of Open Program Elements" 6. Select "NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC), Phase II-80HQTR19NOA01_19NIAC-A2" 7. Select "NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Phase II Solicitation Document" under Announcement Documents. The NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Program currently supports innovative research through two phases of study. Phase I awards are nine-month efforts to explore the overall feasibility and viability of visionary concepts. Phase II awards are for up to two years, to further develop the most promising Phase I concepts, and to explore potential infusion options within NASA and beyond. However, beginning in FY 2019, NIAC intends to introduce Phase III awards into its portfolio. Phase III studies are designed to strategically advance and transition the most promising NIAC Phase II concepts to other NASA programs, other government agencies, or commercial partners. One new Phase III award is anticipated to be selected each year, with each study funded for a duration of two years at a total funding level of $2M per award. Additional details on Phase III will be provided in a separate Appendix to SpaceTech-REDDI-2019, currently scheduled for release in mid-2019. All NIAC Phase I Fellows or their designees are eligible to submit Phase II proposals based on their Phase I study, provided that they have submitted a Phase I final report by the time they submit their Phase II proposal, and they have not been awarded a Phase II study on that concept. NIAC Fellows or their designees of the predecessor NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts are no longer eligible to submit Phase II proposals based on those prior Phase I studies. NIAC Principal Investigators (PIs) and team members may be affiliated with any educational institution, commercial or not-for-profit organization, research laboratory, agency, or NASA Center (including the Jet Propulsion Laboratory). Teaming by non- U.S. organizations in proposed efforts is permitted but subject to NASA's policy on foreign participation (see Section 3.3 of the NRA). Appendix 80HQTR19NOA01_19NIAC-A2 seeks NIAC Phase II awards that will continue the exploration and development of revolutionary advanced concepts started through a NIAC Phase I award. While the Phase I study establishes basic feasibility and clear potential benefit, the Phase II study extends, refines, and builds upon this foundation. Phase II studies address key remaining unknowns, assumptions, risks, and paths forward. This should explicitly include cost, performance vs. alternatives, development steps and associated schedule, and key enabling technologies. These results aim to provide a sound basis for NASA to consider the concept for further development and a future mission, substantiated with a description of applicable scientific and technical disciplines necessary for development. All proposals must be submitted electronically through NSPIRES by an authorized organizational representative (AOR). Detailed submission instructions are provided in the SpaceTech-REDDI-2019 NRA, as well as the Guidebook for Proposers Responding to a NASA Funding Announcement (FA) (Edition March 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. Interested proposers should monitor the NSPIRES website or subscribe to the electronic notification system there for release of the SpaceTech-REDDI-2019 Appendices. Technical, programmatic, and procurement comments and questions may be addressed by e-mail to
[email protected]. 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.