NASA Solicitation: Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Phase 1

Synopsis – Aug 12, 2015

General Information
Solicitation Number: NNH15ZOA001N-16NIAC-A3
Posted Date: Aug 12, 2015
FedBizOpps Posted Date: Aug 12, 2015
Recovery and Reinvestment Act Action: No
Original Response Date: N/A
Current Response Date: N/A
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) Headquarters, anticipates a release of a solicitation, titled “NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC), Phase I,” as an Appendix to the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) NASA Research Announcement (NRA), titled “Space Technology Research, Development, Demonstration, and Infusion – 2015 (SpaceTech-REDDI-2015),” on or about August 21, 2015. Once the Appendix is posted, complete details (to include due dates) can be accessed via the following steps:

1. Open the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES) homepage at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/

2. Select “Solicitations”

3. Select “Open Solicitations”

4. Select “Space Technology Research, Development, Demonstration, and Infusion – 2015 (SpaceTech-REDDI-2015) NNH15ZOA001N”

5. Select “List of Open Program Elements”

6. Select “NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC), NNH15ZOA001N-16NIAC-A3”

7. Select “NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC), NNH15ZOA001N-16NIAC-A3 (Phase I)” under Announcement Documents

The NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Program focuses on early studies of visionary concepts that address NASA’s or the nation’s goals but also offer radically different approaches or leapfrog innovations to enable new mission, operations, or science capabilities. NIAC concepts are often high risk or far term, but worth studying now. The 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. 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. The entry Technology Readiness Level (TRL) for NIAC Phase I concepts should be TRL 1 to TRL 2 in maturity. Successful studies analyze a candidate mission that could be made feasible with the proposed concept.

It is anticipated that the Appendix will be an Open Announcement. 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). Non-U.S. organizations may partner in NIAC Phase I studies, subject to NASA’s policy on foreign participation defined in SpaceTech-REDDI-2015. Proposers and Co-Investigators must register in the NSPIRES (http://nspires.nasaprs.com ).

All proposals must be submitted electronically through NSPIRES by an authorized organizational representative (AOR). Detailed submission instructions are provided in the SpaceTech-REDDI-2015 NRA, as well as the Guidebook for Proposers Responding to a NASA Research Announcement (NRA) or Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN) (Edition May 2015). 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-2015 Appendices.

Technical, programmatic, and procurement comments and questions may be addressed by e-mail to hq-niac@mail.nasa.gov. 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

Point of Contact
Name: Jason Derlerth
Title: Program Executive STMD NIAC
Phone: 202-358-0987
Fax: 202-358-4078
Email: hq-niac@mail.nasa.gov