NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate Virtual Institutes Request for Information

Synopsis – Sep 09, 2015
Solicitation – Posted on Sep 09, 2015

General Information
Solicitation Number: NNH15ZOA008L
Posted Date: Sep 09, 2015
FedBizOpps Posted Date: Sep 09, 2015
Recovery and Reinvestment Act Action: No
Original Response Date: Oct 21, 2015
Current Response Date: Oct 21, 2015
Classification Code: A — Research and Development
NAICS Code: 541712

Contracting Office Address

NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA Headquarters Acquisition Branch, Code 210.H, Greenbelt, MD 20771

Description

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) continually looks for ways to help advance the development of U.S. aerospace technology. With the accelerating pace of innovation, NASA seeks to better understand opportunities for early technology research and development (R&D), especially in partnership with academia. In particular, NASA is interested in the potential benefits of forming virtual institutes to facilitate research and technology advancements from U.S. academic organizations. A virtual institute is an organizational model allowing distributed participation by experts in academia, not-for-profit organizations, and individual researchers. It enables coordination and cooperation without requiring participants to be collocated.

NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) already has multiple programs engaged in excellent work with university researchers, most notably through the Space Technology Research Grants Program (STRG). However, NASA is considering the possibility of establishing virtual institutes to complement the individual research grants and project opportunities already offered in STMD programs. Through this Request for Information (RFI), NASA seeks input on the use of academia-based virtual institutes to advance promising technology research avenues; the manner to implement and manage such virtual institutes; the identification of organizations that might be interested in leading, managing, facilitating, or participating in a virtual institute; and recommended processes that would enable more efficient and effective partnership and research progress.

Note: This RFI was originally released on May 22, 2015 and is being re-released now to provide opportunity for additional responses. Responses received under the previous RFI need not be submitted again, they will be reviewed together with new responses.

This RFI is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government, nor will the Government pay for the information submitted in response. Respondents will not be notified of the results. NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/pub/pub_library/Omb.html .

Point of Contact
Name: John Jay Falker PhD
Title: Program Executive Early Stage Portfolio
Phone: 202-358-4545
Fax: 202-000-0000
Email: jfalker@nasa.gov