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 - 2016 (SpaceTech-REDDI-2016), on or about January 21, 2016. Once the Appendix is posted, 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 - 2016 (SpaceTech-REDDI-2016) NNH16ZOA001N 5. Select List of Open Program Elements 6. Select NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC), Phase II-NNH16ZOA001N-16NIAC-A1" 7. Select NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Phase II Solicitation Document" under Announcement Documents. The NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Program 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. Fellows who have completed a Phase I study are eligible for this Phase II call. 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. 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 also eligible to submit Phase II proposals based on a prior Phase I study if they meet the following conditions: (1) They have submitted a Phase I study final report, AND either of the following: (2) There has been no award of a Phase II study based on the Phase I effort, or a Phase II study was awarded but not completed because funding was interrupted or not provided when the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts was terminated. The Principal Investigator 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 NASAs policy on foreign participation (see Section 3.3 of the REDDI NRA). Appendix NNH16ZOA001N-16NIAC-A1 seeks NIAC Phase II awards that will continue the exploration and development of revolutionary advanced concepts started through a NIAC Phase I award. Phase I study establishes basic feasibility and clear potential benefit. Phase II study extends, refines, and builds upon this. Phase II studies address key remaining unknowns, assumptions, risks, and paths forward. This should explicitly include cost, performance vs. alternatives, development steps and time, 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-2016 NRA, as well as the Guidebook for Proposers Responding to a NASA Research Announcement (NRA) or Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN) (Edition May 2014). 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-2016 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.