NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Phase II

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Headquarters, has released a solicitation, titled "NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC), Phase II," as an Appendix to the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) NASA

Research Announcement (NRA), titled "Space Technology Research, Development, Demonstration, and Infusion - 2021 (SpaceTech-REDDI-2021)," on December 10, 2020.

Complete details (to include due dates) can be accessed via the following steps:

1. Open the NSPIRES homepage at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/

2. Select "Solicitations"

3. Select "Open Solicitations"

4. Select "Space Technology Research, Development, Demonstration, and Infusion - 2021 (SpaceTech-REDDI-2021) 80HQTR21NOA01"

5. Select "List of Open Program Elements"

6. Select "NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Phase II, 80HQTR21NOA01-21NIAC_A2"

7. Select "NIAC Phase II Solicitation Document" under Announcement Documents

The NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Program currently supports innovative research through multiple 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. Phase III awards are designed to strategically advance and transition the most promising NIAC Phase II concepts to other NASA programs, other government agencies, or commercial partners..

All NIAC Phase I Fellows or their designees are eligible to submit Phase II proposals based on their Phase I study, provided that they have submitted a Phase I final report by February 17, 2021 and they have not been awarded a Phase II study on that concept. The Phase II proposals must also include Key Findings from the Phase I study. NIAC Fellows or their designees of the predecessor NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts are no longer eligible to submit Phase II proposals based on those prior Phase I studies.

NIAC Principal Investigators (PIs) 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). Teaming by non-U.S. organizations in proposed efforts is permitted but subject to NASA’s policy on foreign participation (see Section 3.3 of the NRA).

Appendix 80HQTR21NOA01-21NIAC_A2 seeks NIAC Phase II awards that will continue the exploration and development of revolutionary advanced concepts started through a NIAC Phase I award. While the Phase I study establishes basic feasibility and clear potential benefit, the Phase II study extends, refines, and builds upon this foundation. Phase II studies address key remaining unknowns, assumptions, risks, and paths forward. This should explicitly include cost, performance vs. alternatives, development steps and associated schedule, and key enabling technologies. These results aim to provide a sound basis for NASA to consider the concept for further development and a future mission, substantiated with a description of applicable scientific and technical disciplines necessary for development.

All proposals must be submitted electronically through NSPIRES by an authorized organizational representative (AOR). Detailed submission instructions are provided in the SpaceTech-REDDI-2021 NRA, as well as the Guidebook for Proposers Responding to a NASA Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) (https://prod.nais.nasa.gov/pub/pub_library/srba/documents/2020_edition_Proposers_Guidebook.pdf, dated May 2020). 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-2021 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.

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