NASA Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Basic Research | NNH24ZHA003C EPSCOR

Opportunity Information: Apply for NNH24ZHA003C EPSCOR

NASA EPSCoR Basic Research (Funding Opportunity Number NNH24ZHA003C) is a NASA grant opportunity designed to grow high-quality research capacity in states and U.S. jurisdictions that have historically received a smaller share of federal research and development funding. The program focuses on building durable research infrastructure and strengthening science and technology capabilities at higher education institutions, while also generating work that directly supports NASA's strategic research and technology development priorities. In practice, the intent is not only to fund a single research project, but to help jurisdictions develop stronger long-term competitiveness in NASA-relevant research areas and to create spillover benefits that support local and regional economic development.

A key feature of this opportunity is the required close collaboration with a NASA researcher. Funded teams are expected to work alongside NASA personnel to develop competitive research and technology that address scientific and technical problems important to NASA Mission Directorates, NASA Centers, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). The specific alignment targets are laid out in Appendix A (NASA Mission Directorates and Center Alignment), which indicates where proposed work fits within NASA's organizational and mission needs. This collaboration requirement is meant to do more than provide advice; it is intended to deepen connections among EPSCoR jurisdictions, NASA, and external partners (including commercial partners), helping investigators gain access to relevant expertise, mission context, and pathways for future joint work.

The awards are made as cooperative agreements, which generally signals that NASA expects substantial involvement during the period of performance compared with a more hands-off grant. The funding category is science and technology and other research and development, and the CFDA number listed is 43.008. While the opportunity is open to "other" eligible applicants as classified in the notice, the program emphasis is clearly on strengthening higher education research capability and infrastructure within eligible jurisdictions.

Eligibility is jurisdiction-based and is determined using National Science Foundation EPSCoR eligibility criteria and tables. For this NOFO, the NSF FY 2023 eligibility table is cited as the reference used to determine which jurisdictions may apply. The jurisdictions explicitly listed as eligible to submit proposals are: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming. This means applicants must be based in, and typically apply through the appropriate mechanisms within, one of these jurisdictions to be considered.

From a funding standpoint, the notice indicates an award ceiling of $750,000 and an expectation of about 15 awards. The original application closing date is January 29, 2025, and the opportunity was created on October 18, 2024. Overall, this NOFO is best understood as a capacity-building research program with strong NASA mission alignment: it aims to produce NASA-relevant basic research outcomes while also upgrading the research ecosystem in eligible jurisdictions through sustained collaboration with NASA researchers and tighter integration with NASA and commercial partner networks.

• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NASA Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Basic Research" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 43.008.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-10-18.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-01-29. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $750,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for NNH24ZHA003C EPSCOR

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