Grants for Small businesses - Science and Technology

Please note that this program requests optional Notices of Intent, which are due via NSPIRES by July 19, 2024. See the full posting on NSPIRES for details. Proposers must retrieve the instructions document (zip file) associated with the application package for this opportunity as there is at least one required form that must be attached to the submitted proposal package. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Science Mission Directorate (SMD) released its annual omnibus Research Announcement (NRA), Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2024 (OMB Approval Number 2700-0092, CFDA Number 43.001) on February 14, 2024. In this case "omnibus" means that this NRA has many individual program elements, each with its own due dates and topics. All together these cover the wide range of basic and applied supporting research and technology in space and Earth sciences supported by SMD. Awards will be made as grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and inter- or intra-agency transfers, depending on the nature of the work proposed, the proposing organization, and/or program requirements. However, most extramural research awards deriving from ROSES will be grants, and many program elements of ROSES specifically exclude contracts, because contracts would not be appropriate for the nature of the work solicited. The typical period of performance for an award is three years, but some programs may allow up to five years and others specify shorter periods. In most cases, organizations of every type, Government and private, for profit and not-for-profit, domestic and foreign (with some caveats), may submit proposals without restriction on teaming arrangements. Tables listing the program elements and due dates (Tables 2 and 3), a table that provides a very top level summary of proposal contents (Table 1), and the full text of the ROSES-2024 "Summary of Solicitation", may all be found NSPIRES at http://solicitation.nasaprs.com/ROSES2024. This synopsis is associated with one of the individual program elements within ROSES, but this is a generic summary that is posted for all ROSES elements. For specific information on this particular program element download and read the PDF of the text of this program element by going to Tables 2 or 3 of this NRA at http://solicitation.nasaprs.com/ROSES2024table2 and http://solicitation.nasaprs.com/ROSES2024table3, respectively, click the title of the program element of interest, a hypertext link will take you to a page for that particular program element. On that page, on the right side under "Announcement Documents" the link on the bottom will be to the PDF of the text of the call for proposals. For example, if one were interested in The Lunar Data Analysis Program (NNH24ZDA001N-LDAP) one would follow the link to the NSPIRES page for that program element and then to read the text of the call one would click on C.8 Lunar Data Analysis Program (.pdf) to download the text of the call. If one wanted to set it into the context of the goals, objectives and know the default rules for all elements within Appendix C, the planetary science division, one might download and read C.1 Planetary Science Research Program Overview (.pdf) from that same page. While the letters and numbers are different for each element within ROSES (A.12, B.7, etc.) the basic configuration is always the same, e.g., the letter indicates the Science Division (A is Earth Science, B is Heliophysics etc.) and whatever the letter, #1 is always the division overview. Frequently asked questions for ROSES are posted at http://science.nasa.gov/researchers/sara/faqs. Questions concerning general ROSES-2024 policies and procedures may be directed to Max Bernstein, Lead for Research, Science Mission Directorate, at sara@nasa.gov, but technical questions concerning specific program elements should be directed to the point(s) of contact for that particular element, who may be found either at the end of the individual program element in the summary table of key information or on the web list of topics and points of contact at: http://science.nasa.gov/researchers/sara/program-officers-list. Not all program elements are known at the time of the release of ROSES. To be informed of new program elements or amendments to this NRA, proposers may subscribe to: (1) The SMD mailing lists (by logging in at http://nspires.nasaprs.com and checking the appropriate boxes under "Account Management" and "Email Subscriptions"), (2) The ROSES-2024 blog feed for amendments, clarifications, and corrections to at https://science.nasa.gov/researchers/solicitations/roses-2024/, and (3) The ROSES-2024 due date Google calendars (one for each science division). Instructions are at https://science.nasa.gov/researchers/sara/library-and-useful-links (link from the words due date calendar).

This funding opportunity supports the development of research resources and community engagement initiatives to improve outcomes for individuals affected by rare cancers, requiring active involvement from patient advocates throughout the project.

This grant supports early-stage university-affiliated startups developing dual-use technologies that can benefit both commercial markets and the Department of Defense, providing funding, mentorship, and resources to help them engage with defense opportunities.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for projects that install and maintain technologies to intercept and remove marine debris, benefiting coastal habitats and marine resources.

This funding opportunity seeks innovative research proposals from universities, businesses, and nonprofits to develop advanced AI technologies that can significantly accelerate mathematical progress and enhance national competitiveness.

This grant provides $25,000 and mentorship to early-stage climate technology companies in Illinois, helping them develop innovative solutions that positively impact the environment.

The SCIRP CTA supports the rapid implementation of clinical trials with the potential to have a significant impact on the treatment or management of SCI. Applications should articulate both the short- and long-term impact of the proposed research on individuals with SCI and/or their care partners. The proposed intervention(s) to be tested should offer significant potential impact for individuals affected by SCI within the context of one or more of the FY24 SCIRP Focus Areas. The U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) is soliciting applications to the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Spinal Cord Injury Research Program (SCIRP) using delegated authority provided by United States Code, Title 10, Section 4001 (10 USC 4001). The Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC) is the program management agent for this funding opportunity. Congress initiated the SCIRP in 2009 to provide support for traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI)-related research of exceptional scientific merit that has the potential to make a significant impact on improving the health and well-being of military Service Members, Veterans, and other individuals living with SCI. Appropriations for the SCIRP from FY09 through FY23 totaled $437.85 million (M). The FY24 Defense Appropriations Act provides $40M to the SCIRP through the appropriation for peer-reviewed spinal cord research. The vision of the SCIRP is to advance the treatment and management of SCI and ameliorate its consequences. The FY24 SCIRP challenges the scientific community to design research that will advance the development or translation of health care solutions for people living with SCI. Innovative research that fosters new directions or addresses neglected issues in the field of traumatic SCI is also supported, although studies focused exclusively on target identification are discouraged. The SCIRP encourages impactful research across the continuum of care from time of injury and across the life span that is well reasoned and scientifically supported. Applications from investigators within the military services and applications involving multidisciplinary collaborations among academia, industry, the military services, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and other federal government agencies are highly encouraged. These relationships can leverage knowledge, infrastructure, and access to unique clinical populations that the collaborators bring to the research effort, ultimately advancing research that is of significance to Service Members, Veterans, their Families and/or care partners.

The DoD Kidney Cancer, Idea Development Award is a funding opportunity aimed at supporting innovative, high-impact kidney cancer research projects, with a focus on scientific rationale, preliminary data, innovation, and potential impact, and encourages collaborations among academia, industry, military services, and other federal agencies, with a budget not exceeding $800,000 for individual projects and $1.2M for partnered projects.

The Arizona Water Protection Fund (AWPF) is a competitive state grant program that provides funding to interested parties for the development and implementation of measures to protect water of sufficient quality and quantity to maintain, enhance, and restore river and riparian resources throughout Arizona (including projects that benefit fish and wildlife that are dependent on these important resources), and measures to increase water availability and supply. Financial Notes: Matching funds are not required to be eligible for AWPF funding; however, projects that do include matching funds typically receive higher consideration.   Administrative costs must be limited to a maximum of 5% of the total AWPF project funds requested.  Subcontractors or consultants working on your project must also conform to the 5% administrative cost limit if you are paying them out of AWPF funds.   Payments are made on a cost reimbursement basis.  Appropriate documentation (e.g., receipts, invoices, reports, data, and photographs) will be required in order to receive reimbursement.   Adequate accounting practices and record keeping will be required.

Amendment 1 (June 25, 2024): The purpose of this Amendment 1 is to: 1) make administrative updates to Section 1.1, 1.2, 2.1.2, 3.1, 3.2 and 5.2.6; 2) replace Section 2.1.1 with new language pertaining to Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) and Government Entities. Additionally, Section 4.2, Evaluation Criteria #2 is updated to remove the reference to Government Entities (removal is not highlighted in yellow); 3) change references from Abstract to Solution Summaries (intent behind the document is unchanged); 4) update proposal submission instructions in Section 3.2; and 5) update Section 5.1 to remove the Stage 2 Notification Letter. All changes are highlighted in yellow.Also, please note that the title of this opportunity has bee revised to eliminate confusion. The opportunity should have been titled, "Master Announcement Instruction (MAI)" instead of "ARPA-H BDF Tool Box".The Master Announcement Instructions (MAI) is a new ARPA-H announcement that aims to create standard tiered proposal submission requirements, so the amount of work required to write a proposal is commensurate with the size of the proposed effort. It also aims to reduce the up-front work required to submit cost information to reduce the barrier to entry for non-traditional performers. Module announcements that link to this MAI will provide more specific instructions about how the proposal requirements vary across tiers of effort.All responsible sources capable of satisfying the Governments needs may submit a proposal to a Module Announcement. Specifically, universities, non-profit organizations, small businesses and other than small businesses are eligible and encouraged to propose to Module Announcements.NOTE: Proposals shall NOT be submitted against the MAI. Proposals shall only be submitted against a Module Announcement.

This grant provides $10,000 in reagent credits to researchers working on innovative stem cell and organoid projects at eligible institutions, helping to advance scientific breakthroughs in these fields.

The intent of the FY24 LCRP Concept Award is to support innovative, non-incremental, high-risk/potentially high-reward research that will provide new insights, paradigms, technologies, or applications in lung cancer. Studies supported by this award are expected to lay the groundwork for future avenues of scientific investigation. The proposed research project should include a well-formulated, testable hypothesis based on a sound scientific rationale and study design. Research applications only in the area of mesothelioma will not be accepted.Inclusion of preliminary data is not required but is allowed. The strength of the proposed research should be based on sound scientific rationale and logical reasoning. The presentation of substantial preliminary data suggests that the proposed research project would be more appropriately submitted to a different FY24 LCRP funding opportunity. The outcome of research supported by this award should be the generation of robust preliminary data that can be used as a foundation for future research projects. Absence of preliminary data will not negatively affect scientific or programmatic review of the application.Care Delivery and Health Disparity Option: The FY24 LCRP Concept Award mechanism encourages applications that specifically address the comprehensive lung cancer care and/or health disparities FY24 LCRP Areas of Emphasis by offering a Care Delivery and Health Disparity option. Applications from the Care Delivery and Health Disparity option will be peer and programmatically reviewed separately from applications submitted to the Cancer Research Continuum option.Relevance to Military Health: The LCRP seeks to support research that is relevant to the healthcare needs of military Service Members, Veterans, and their Families. Relevance to military health will be considered in determining relevance to the mission of the Defense Health Program (DHP) and FY24 LCRP during programmatic review. Investigators are strongly encouraged to consider the following characteristics as examples of how a project may demonstrate relevance to military health:Use of military or Veteran populations, biospecimens, data/databases, or programs in the proposed research Collaboration with Department of Defense (DOD) or Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) investigatorsExplanation of how the project addresses an aspect of lung cancer that has relevance or is unique to the military, Veterans, other Military Health System (MHS) beneficiaries, or Family readiness of Service Members, including environmental exposures other than tobacco.All investigators applying to FY24 LCRP funding opportunities are encouraged to consider leveraging resources from the LCRP-funded Lung Cancer Biospecimen Resource Network (LCBRN) if retrospectively collected human anatomical substances and correlated clinical data are relevant to the proposed studies. Samples from the LCBRN are currently available through the Cooperative Human Tissue Network (CHTN). To request LCBRN samples, contact the Division Coordinator for the CHTN Mid-Atlantic division (email: CHTN-MidAtl@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu) located at the University of Virginia.A congressionally mandated Metastatic Cancer Task Force was formed with the purpose of identifying ways to help accelerate clinical and translational research aimed at extending the lives of advanced state and recurrent patients. As a member of the Metastatic Cancer Task Force, the CDMRP encourages applicants to review the recommendations (https://health.mil/Reference-Center/Congressional-Testimonies/2018/05/03/Metastatic-Cancer-Research) and submit research ideas to address these recommendations provided they are within the limitations of this funding opportunity and fit within the FY24 LCRP priorities.Applications from investigators within the military services and applications involving multidisciplinary collaborations among academia, industry, the military services, the VA, and other federal government agencies are highly encouraged. These relationships can leverage knowledge, infrastructure, and access to unique clinical populations that the collaborators bring to the research effort, ultimately advancing research that is of significance to Service Members, Veterans, and/or their Families. If the proposed research relies on access to unique resources or databases, the application must describe the access at the time of submission and include a plan for maintaining access as needed throughout the proposed research.

The FY24 ARP Idea Development Award supports the development of innovative, high-risk/high-reward research that could lead to critical discoveries or major advancements that will accelerate progress in improving outcomes for Autistic individuals. Applications are strongly encouraged to address one of the FY24 ARP Idea Development Award Areas of Interest or provide justification that the proposed research addresses a critical problem, question, or need in ASD. This award mechanism is designed to support innovative ideas with the potential to yield impactful data and new avenues of investigation.Research funded by the FY24 ARP should be responsive to the needs of people with ASD, their families, and/or caregivers. Researchers are therefore encouraged to establish and utilize effective collaborations and partnerships with community members to maximize the translational and impact potential of the proposed research.CDMRP encourages research on health areas and conditions that affect women uniquely, disproportionately, or differently from men, including studies analyzing sex as a biological variable. Such research should relate anticipated project findings to improvements in womens health outcomes and/or advancing knowledge for womens health.

This grant provides funding to small businesses and startups that have previously received NSF Phase I awards, helping them advance their innovative research into market-ready products and services.

This grant provides funding for small businesses to develop innovative technologies that support NOAA's mission in areas like climate change, coastal resilience, and water quality.

This initiative provides funding to early-career researchers and community organizations to develop innovative health solutions that address critical health challenges in local communities.

This solicitation is offered for support of two types of projects, a TCUP Hub and faculty-led topical interest groups (TIGs). The TCUP Hub will serve the entire TCUP-eligible community with activities such as convening workshops (including the TCUP Leaders' Forum), coordinating faculty/student exchanges, organizing professional development opportunities, and overseeing TCUP Fellowship opportunities with eligible agencies. The Hub will connect people and organizations to facilitate relationships, expand and diversify networks, and support TCUP faculty and staff in building capacity in areas they identify. It will curate shared resources, expertise, and experiences to build the capacity of TCUP institutions. Also, it will build and support a sense of community among all TCUP institutions and elevate the voices within them. Only one Hub will be supported, either to a single institution or to a collaborative submission from multiple institutions. Interested parties may find that a collaborative submission from multiple institutions is more feasible, engaging two or more TCUP institutions to synergistically leverage their different strengths in realizing the Hub's mission. Multiple institutions submitting collaboratively may better address the multiplicity of TCUP institutions, which vary geographically, administratively, and in modes of governance. Clearly, some activities may be best pursued by enlisting specialists as consultants. Two types of collaborative proposals are acceptable: simultaneous submission of proposals from multiple organizations submitting a unified set of certain proposal sections, as well as information unique to each organization, such as unique budgets, key personnel, and activities; or submission of a collaborative proposal from one organization, with collaborating institutions included through subawards (subawards are permitted only to TCUP-eligible institutions; proposers should confer with the TCUP program staff prior to submission). All collaborative proposals submitted from multiple organizations must be submitted via Research.gov. Additionally, this solicitation is offered for support of independent, faculty-led topical interest groups (TIGs) that focus on professional development of faculty and formation of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) discipline networks (e.g., engineering, genomics, Indigenous research, environmental science). Up to two new TIGs may be supported. [1] Executive Order 13021 defines Tribal Colleges and Universities ("tribal colleges") as those institutions cited in section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note), and other institutions that qualify for funding under the Tribally Controlled Community College Assistance Act of 1978, (25 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), as well as Navajo Community College as authorized in the Navajo Community College Assistance Act of 1978, Public Law 95-471, Title II (25 U.S.C. 640a note). The term "Alaska Native-serving institution" means an institution of higher education that is an eligible institution under section 1058(b) of the Higher Education Act; and that, at the time of submission, has an undergraduate enrollment that is at least 20 percent Alaska Native students. The term "Native Hawaiian-serving institution" means an institution of higher education that is an eligible institution under section 1058(b) of the Higher Education Act; and that, at the time of submission, has an undergraduate enrollment that is at least 10 percent Native Hawaiian students. Most TCUP-eligible institutions of higher education are two-year or community colleges. See the Who May Submit Proposals section in this solicitation for further details.

Mountain BizWorks in North Carolina is offering 20 micro-grants of $2,500 each to startups and emerging businesses owned by historically underrepresented groups, aiming to support their growth and contribution to the local community.

Feet First Philly's Public Space Enhancement Mini-Grant, ranging from $500 to $2000, supports projects that enhance walkability and safety in public spaces across Philadelphia, with applications open to organizations, businesses, and individuals, provided the enhancements are not used for financial gain.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture is offering a grant of over $1 million for the implementation of dairy digesters on California dairy farms, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by converting methane into renewable energy, with a focus on projects that use at least 80% dairy livestock manure as feedstock.