Space Technology Research Institutes Appendix | 80HQTR20NOA01 20STRI B3

Opportunity Information: Apply for 80HQTR20NOA01 20STRI B3

NASA Headquarters, through its Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD), released the Space Technology Research Institutes (STRI) solicitation on June 2, 2020 as an appendix to the broader SpaceTech-REDDI-2020 NASA Research Announcement. The core idea is to fund university-led research institutes that can sustain a focused, multi-year push on a small number of high-priority space technology challenges that matter directly to future NASA exploration and science missions. Instead of scattering funding across many small, disconnected awards, the STRI model is meant to create a coordinated, distributed institute structure that brings together experts across disciplines and organizations, with the expectation that this concentrated approach will produce deeper progress over time and strengthen partnerships across academia, industry, NASA, and other government agencies where interests overlap.

The opportunity targets long-term, multidisciplinary research with a strategic and potentially transformative impact. NASA is looking for teams that can operate like an institute: coordinating multiple researchers, aligning work across complementary sub-areas, and maintaining a coherent technical vision for several years. This structure is intended to make it easier to tackle complex technology problems that require integrated advances (for example, experiments tied tightly to modeling, or cross-cutting work that spans physics, engineering, and computation), and to produce results that are more readily usable for NASA technology development and eventual mission infusion.

STRI proposals must be responsive to one of only two topic areas listed in the appendix. The first topic focuses on high-power electric propulsion, specifically ground testing and modeling capabilities that can be extended or translated to in-space operation. The second topic seeks revolutionary advancements in multidisciplinary modeling and simulation of entry systems, aiming to improve the ability to predict and design atmospheric entry performance by integrating relevant physical phenomena and engineering disciplines. In both cases, NASA is signaling interest in research that goes beyond incremental improvements and instead strengthens the foundational tools, methods, and validation approaches needed to design and operate future systems with higher confidence.

Awards are planned for a maximum duration of five years, with an award ceiling of up to $15 million total over the five-year period per institute. NASA expects to use either grants or cooperative agreements as the award instruments. The solicitation anticipates making about two awards, but NASA notes that the final number depends on available funds and the quality of proposals received, and it reserves the right to make no awards if meritorious proposals are not identified. Financial and programmatic support is provided through the Space Technology Research Grants Program within STMD, and NASA projected that awards would be in place by summer 2021.

Eligibility is centered on accredited U.S. universities. Only accredited U.S. universities may submit as proposing organizations, and teaming with other accredited U.S. universities is required, reinforcing the institute-style, multi-university structure. Partnerships with non-profit laboratories and industry are permitted, which allows teams to incorporate specialized facilities, test capabilities, or transition pathways that can accelerate practical impact. The solicitation directs applicants to Appendix section 3.0 for the full eligibility details and any additional constraints.

Submission uses a mandatory two-step process. A preliminary proposal is required first, and only teams that receive an invitation after the preliminary stage may submit a full proposal. Preliminary proposals had to be submitted electronically by an authorized organizational representative through NSPIRES (the NASA proposal system) or Grants.gov. The preliminary proposal deadline was August 4, 2020 at 5:00 pm Eastern, and the target deadline for invited full proposals was November 5, 2020 at 5:00 pm Eastern. NASA emphasizes practical submission readiness, encouraging organizations to register in NSPIRES, learn the submission systems early, and submit well before deadlines to avoid last-minute issues.

For questions, NASA provided a dedicated email point of contact at hq-STMD-STRI@mail.nasa.gov. Responses could be sent directly by email and also incorporated into FAQ materials posted with the solicitation on NSPIRES, with anonymity preserved for those submitting questions. Applicants are responsible for monitoring the solicitation site for amendments or updates. The opportunity is listed under funding opportunity number 80HQTR20NOA01 20STRI B3, under CFDA 43.012, with a stated award ceiling of $15,000,000 and an expected two awards.

• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA Headquarters in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Space Technology Research Institutes Appendix" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 43.012.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jun 02, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 04, 2020. (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 $15,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for 80HQTR20NOA01 20STRI B3

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