Announcement of Opportunity and Request for Proposals for Funding by

Kentucky NASA EPSCoR: 

Research Area Program, 2008

Receipt Deadline for Letter of Intent: Tuseday January 29, 2008, at 4pm Central Time

Receipt Deadline for Proposals: Thursday February 7, 2008, at 4pm Central Time

NOTE: This web version is provided only for first reference.
For developing a proposal, please use the following downloadable word-processor version
(including cover sheet and budget forms):

Download NASA EPSCoR Proposal Instructions and Cover Sheet Form -- MS Word Version
Download NASA EPSCoR Proposal Budget Form -- MS Excel Version

Some basic references describing the Vision for Space Exploration are available as follows:

Download President's Vision for Space Exploration-- PDF File   (Requires Free Adobe Acrobat to read and print)
Download Report of the President's Commission -- PDF File   (Requires Free Adobe Acrobat to read and print)

Letter of Intent

Investigators planning to prepare a proposal package for the NASA EPSCoR Research Area Program are required to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) to propose. The information provided in this letter will be used to assess research interests in the NASA EPSCoR program and to determine the expertise required of merit reviewers. LOIs should be submitted by the proposal’s Principal Investigator to Kentucky NASA EPSCoR at nasa@wku.edu by 4:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time/5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, January 29, 2008.

The non-binding LOI must include:

1) the planned research area;

2) the name of the Principal Investigator’s institution;

3) the name, title, regular mail and e-mail addresses, and telephone and fax numbers of the Principal Investigator for the Research Area Proposal.

Proposal’s Purpose and Objectives:  The Kentucky NASA EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Development Program is intended to increase the state's capacity for research in collaboration with NASA through:

1. Increasing the number of investigators in Kentucky who are developing collaborative research projects with NASA

2. Teaming investigators in large multi-investigator team projects that address NASA's needs and interests

3. Increasing diversity in the aerospace workforce, with emphasis on involving women, members of underrepresented groups, and persons with disability as investigators and student participants in the projects.

NASA's priorities are currently based on the President's Vision for Space Exploration (reference at end of RFP). NASA is  focusing its efforts and priorities on Exploration -- of the solar system and beyond.  A most immediate goal is the return of humans to the moon, working toward the next major step of human exploration of Mars. Also included is robotic exploration of the solar system (including Mars), as well as remote exploration/observation of the universe." The 2006 NASA Strategic Plan (reference at end of RFP) provides the framework for achieving the NASA Mission: "To pioneer the future in space exploration, scientific discovery, and aeronautics research." NASA's efforts are organized under the four Mission Directorates: Aeronautics Research, Exploration Systems, Science, and Space Operations.

This is a program with awards up to $166,666 (subject to availability of funds) for three years in total $500,000 based on collaboration in areas of overlap between NASA's strategic interests and Kentucky's research capabilities. Within this context, the program specifically targets Kentucky investigators who will:

1. Contribute to NASA's strategic needs through working with NASA researchers.

2. Establish a research project in direct collaboration with researcher(s) at NASA Centers or in NASA Mission Directorates, addressing issues of importance to the NASA mission.

3. Demonstrate a plan to achieve a sustainable research effort, based on future competitive funding from NASA or other federal sources.

4. Lead the research in NASA's interests to a multi-investigator team effort that is competitive for future NASA funding opportunities.*

*As NASA announces future opportunities for multi-investigator research awards, the Research Area Program requires Kentucky Research Area researchers to respond for follow-on funding.

Criteria for Research Area awards include:

1. Indication by the NASA collaborator(s) of the importance of the project to NASA and their plan for direct collaboration in the project.

2. Statement of a plan for achieving a sustainable research effort, based on future competitive funding from NASA or other federal sources.

3. Demonstration that the research in NASA's interests by the multi-investigator team effort is competitive for further NASA research funding opportunities.

Required responsibilities of the investigator(s) and project include:

1. Reporting on project accomplishments and outcomes, including publications, presentations, follow-on proposals and grants, and invention disclosures/patents.

2. Reporting on the development and growth of the collaboration with the researcher(s) at the NASA Center(s) or Mission Directorates(s).

3. Submission of a follow-on proposal for non-EPSCoR federal funding to sustain the project, as well as publications and presentations relating the results of the project.

The Kentucky NASA EPSCoR Program seeks to develop strong, well-defined ties and collaborations between researchers in Kentucky colleges and universities and in NASA's Mission Directorates and Centers.  Strong involvement in Exploration initiatives will be a requirement for future NASA EPSCoR opportunities and most NASA funding opportunities.  It is our intention that projects funded through this RFP will be selected on the basis of their demonstrated potential for supporting NASA's Exploration initiatives and for future funding on this basis.  Awardees are expected to be able to make a long-term commitment to research collaboration with NASA Exploration researchers, and to propose in future NASA EPSCoR opportunities for larger multi-investigator EPSCoR grants in which the NASA researchers will strongly vouch for the value and effectiveness of the collaborative Exploration efforts. Awards are contingent upon NASA and state funding for the Kentucky NASA EPSCoR Program for 2007/2008.

To qualify, the research must be performed in close collaboration with NASA researchers in an area or project that is of strategic interest to NASA's mission priorities. References at the end of this RFP provide access to NASA documents that detail NASA's mission components and priorities.

Proposers must work directly with a NASA collaborator to design a project that supports NASA's mission priorities, and both must jointly make a strong justification that the proposed project will significantly contribute to the NASA Mission. Awards will be competitive, based on the quality of the research, relevance to the NASA  Mission, strength of collaboration with NASA researchers, benefits to the State in developing R&D capacity or in enhancing economic development, and potential of the project for short- and long-term achievement of results, with nationally competitive performance as the ultimate objective.

Awards and Eligibility: This RFP invites proposals for NASA-based collaborative research/development projects by investigators and their students at all Kentucky universities and colleges. Women and members of other underrepresented populations are especially encouraged to apply. Awards are made only to Kentucky institutions.

Research Project Awards -- We anticipate choosing two (2) proposals to be forwarded for competition in the 2007/2008 program. Selection is made on a competitive basis for research projects that are demonstrably supportive of NASA's current mission priorities and needs. The projects must involve very close and active collaboration with NASA researchers on issues of importance to the NASA Mission.   In the proposal, the PI and the NASA collaborator together must make a compelling case that the research project directly supports identified goals within NASA's mission priorities -- to a degree that will make the project a strong basis for future  funding through NASA or NASA.

Timeframe:  Proposed projects should begin no earlier than August 1, 2008, and must end no later than July 31, 2011..

Allowable Costs: Grant funds may support direct costs including salary/fringe for university faculty, students, and post-docs for collaborative research with NASA; materials and supplies directly supporting the research; and domestic travel to collaborating NASA sites and other research facilities for establishing and/or conducting the research, or for disseminating results at meetings (foreign travel is supported at the level of $1500/year).  Equipment (defined as items costing $1000 or more with a useful life of at least two years) is allowed on the agency funding and may also be used as cost share.

Cost Sharing Requirement: University cost sharing is required to be at least 1:1.5, i.e., $250,000/year on all awards, and must be from non-federal funds.  Cost sharing may include items such as equipment, faculty salaries and fringe benefits, post-doctoral stipends, graduate and undergraduate stipends, student tuition and fees, and technical staff salaries supporting the research.  Indirect costs may not be charged to the grant; however, waiver of all indirect costs on agency and institutional costs may be contributed as cost sharing by the institution.  Care should be taken in budgeting to ensure that the cost share can be fully accrued before July 31, 2011.

Instructions and Checklists for the Proposal:

Goals:  The immediate goal of the program is to initiate major multi-investigator space-related research and development projects through collaboration between Kentucky and NASA researchers, involving research of strategic interest to NASA's mission priorities. Ultimate goals include achieving a sustainable research effort and national competitiveness of the researchers and NASA collaborators for funding from NASA and other sources.

Specifically, proposals must address and include the following:

___1.    Narrative technical description of the subject, methods, goals relative to NASA mission priorities, and anticipated outcomes.
___2.    The NASA collaborator(s), their NASA affiliations (Mission Directorate, Center, etc.), and contact information.
___3.    Details of the plan for collaboration, including strong justification of relevance to NASA mission priorities, including justification from the NASA collaborator(s).
___4. Plan for sustaining the research through follow-on non-EPSCoR grants.
___5. Letter(s) of collaborative plans from the NASA researcher(s), detailing how the project will benefit NASA and how they intend to participate and contribute.

Criteria:  Each proposed project should explicitly support the above goals and provide the required information.  Criteria used for evaluating the proposal, and the performance in funded projects, include:

___1.    Soundness of R&D goals and methods for achievement.
___2.    Collaboration with NASA researchers, missions, or investigative efforts in areas of NASA mission priorities.
___3.    Potential competitiveness for future major funding from NASA EPSCoR, NASA, and other sources.
___4.    Effect on infrastructure for the nation's scientific and engineering research, education, and human resources base, including women, underrepresented minorities, and individuals with disabilities.
___5.    Clarity and appropriateness of the budget, and the extent/level of institutional commitment and financial support to sustain achievements beyond the grant period.
___6.    Indicators such as publications and presentations, follow-on proposals and grants, institutional commitments.

Proposal Format and Checklist: The proposal must be prepared in paper form, single-sided, unbound, stapled, and organized as follows:

___1.    Cover page (on form provided), with Abstract in space provided.
___2.    Budget page (on form provided), with institutional signatures.
___3.    Narrative technical description of the project, including the basis for its interest to NASA and the details of the collaboration with NASA researchers. Limit 14 single-spaced one-sided pages.
___4.    Budget narrative, description, and justification.
___5.    Plan for sustaining the research through follow-on non-EPSCoR grants.
___6.   One (1) page vita(e).
___7.    Letter of collaborative plans from NASA researchers (also, from any Kentucky collaborators).
___8. An original and twenty-five (25) single-sided paper copies of the completed and signed proposal must be received in the Kentucky NASA EPSCoR Center Office at Western Kentucky University by:

Vision for Space Exploration:http://www.nasa.gov/missions/solarsystem/explore_main.html

2006 NASA Strategic Plan:http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/142302main_2006_NASA_Strategic_Plan.pdf
 

CONTACT INFORMATION:  If you do not already know NASA researchers working in the areas of interest, you should contact the contact person at the corresponding Center or Mission Directorate listed on the following pages.
 

NASA Center Contacts

Ms. Brenda Collins, University Affairs Specialist
NASA Ames Research Center, Mail Stop 226-8, Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000
Phone:650-604-3540  Fax: 650-604-0978
Email: Brenda.J.Collins@nasa.gov

Ms. Linda Rodgers, University Programs Administrator
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Mail Stop 180-109, Pasadena, CA 91109-8099
Phone: 818-354-3274  Fax: 818-393-4977
Email:linda.rodgers@jpl.nasa.gov

Dr. Miriam Rodón-Naveira, Education Director
NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, P.O. Box 273, Mail Stop 2332, Edwards, CA 93523-0273
Phone: (661) 276-3647  Fax: (661) 276-2134
Email: Miriam.M.Rodon@nasa.gov

Dr. Mark David Kankam, University Affairs Officer
NASA Glenn Research Center, Mail Stop 49-5, Cleveland, OH 44135
Phone: (216) 433-6143  FAX: (216) 433-3687
Email: Mark.D.Kankam@nasa.gov

Dr. Vigdor (Vic) Teplitz, University Affairs Officer
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 603, Greenbelt, MD 20771-0001
Phone: (301) 286-0345  Fax: (301) 286-1610
Email: Vigdor.L.Teplitz@nasa.gov

Mr. Robert Musgrove, Higher Education Office
Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Mail Stop AE2, Houston, TX 77058
Phone: (281) 483-3065  FAX: (281) 483-4876
Email: Robert.P.Musgrove@nasa.gov

Robert Musgrove, Manager
Higher Education and Student Programs
Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Mail Stop AE2, Houston, TX 77058
Phone: (281) 483-3065  FAX: (281) 483-4876
Email: Robert.P.Musgrove@nasa.gov

Mr. Lloyd Evans, University Affairs Officer
Langley Research Center, Mail Stop 400, Hampton, VA 23681-2199
Phone: (757) 864-5209  FAX: (757) 864-8835
Email: Lloyd.B.Evans@nasa.gov

Dr. Frank Six, University Affairs Officer
Marshall Space Flight Center, Office of Academic Affairs (HS30), MSFC, AL 35812-0001
Phone: (256) 961-7701  FAX: (256) 544-5862
Email: Norman.F.Six@nasa.gov

Dr. Nathan A. Sovik, University Affairs Officer
John C. Stennis Space Center, Code IA20, Building 1100, Stennis Space Center, MS 39529
Phone: (228) 688-7355  FAX: (228) 688-1094
Email: Nathan.A.Sovik@nasa.gov
 

NASA Mission Directorate Contacts

Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate
Mr. Tony Springer, Education Liaison
NASA Headquarters, Mail Suite 6K39
Phone: (202) 358-0848, Fax:  (202) 276-2134
Email: Tony.Springer@nasa.gov

Science Mission Directorate
Dr. Ming-Ying Wei, Program Manager
NASA Headquarters, Mail Suite 3F71
Phone: (202) 358-0771, Fax: (202) 358-2770
Email: ming-ying.wei-1@nasa.gov

Exploration Systems Mission Directorate
Mr. Jerry Hartman, Education Lead
NASA Headquarters, Mail Suite 2T22
Phone: (202) 358-1451, Fax: (202) 358-2682
Email: Jerry.G.Hartman@nasa.gov

Space Operations Mission Directorate
Ms. Carla Rosenberg, Education Liaison
NASA Headquarters, Mail Suite 7H39-A
Phone: (202) 358-1734
Email: carla.b.rosenberg@nasa.gov
 
 

See the top of this page for:

1. Downloadable files containing Request for Proposals, Cover Sheet, and Budget Form,
2. Downloadable Vision for Space Education and the Report of the President's Commission.

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