Federal Science and Technology Grants

NOTICE: Amended January 16, 2025. The due dates for this program have been deferred. Mandatory NOIs are now due February 14, 2025, and proposals are due April 3, 2025. NOTICE: Amended November 26, 2024: ISS payloads are no longer supported due to ISS decommissioning, and (cis)-Lunar payloads are no longer included here (see F.11 PRISM SALSA) Also, outdated references to the guidebook have been updated to refer and link to the new Grant and Cooperative agreement manual throughout, additional options for launch are included, sub-orbital launches are excluded, and numerous other small changes have been made. New text is in bold and deleted text is struck through. The due dates remain unchanged: Mandatory NOIs are due January 24, 2025, and proposals are due March 13, 2025. PLEASE NOTE: this program has MANDATORY Notices of Intent, which are due via NSPIRES by January 24, 2025. 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 is designed for research institutions and organizations focused on ecosystem conservation to conduct genetic analysis of the Gaviota tarplant at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for non-federal organizations to conduct research and conservation efforts focused on endangered species and natural resource management at a military training base in Texas.

NASA has released a Research Announcement for the Human Exploration Research Opportunities (HERO) program, inviting U.S. institutions to submit proposals for applied research projects aimed at enhancing human health and performance for space exploration, with grants ranging from under $100K to $1.2M per year, for a period of one to five years.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and government entities to establish and operate manufacturing extension centers that assist small and medium-sized manufacturers in eight U.S. states.

This award is to support community development and resilience with geospatial data and digital technology by engaging university-aged youth. The activities anticipated as part of this award will add valuable, free and openly accessible data to digital ecosystems of lower and middle income countries, which in turn can be used by USAID programs and humanitarian assistance activities. The award will specifically focus on youth training, geospatial data collection, and analysis to help communities address local development challenges. Activities will also engage marginalized populations to ensure representation of the diversity of partner country populations. USAID anticipates awarding one to three grants and/or cooperative agreements under this Addendum. Issuance of this Addendum does not constitute an award or commitment on the part of the U.S. Government to make an award, nor does it commit the U.S. Government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of a Concept Note or Application(s). The actual number of assistance awards is subject to the availability of funds, as well as the viability of eventual full Applications received.

This grant seeks innovative proposals from a wide range of organizations, including universities and small businesses, to develop advanced technologies that enhance national defense capabilities.

This funding opportunity supports a wide range of research projects aimed at improving the understanding, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias, particularly focusing on underserved populations and health disparities.

This grant provides funding for collaborative research projects that explore innovative ideas in computing and information science, requiring teams of experts from multiple disciplines to tackle complex problems.

This grant provides funding for innovative research in emerging technologies that improve teaching and learning across various educational settings and for diverse learner populations.

This grant provides funding to early-career researchers focused on melanoma to support their independent research and professional development while fostering collaboration within a network of experts.

This grant provides funding for research aimed at developing new therapies for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), specifically targeting projects that have already shown promise in preclinical studies and emphasize the use of biomarkers for therapeutic development.

This funding opportunity supports researchers studying the formation and transformation of Earth through the analysis of rocks and minerals, as well as the development of new analytical tools and techniques in petrology and geochemistry.

This funding opportunity is designed for research organizations and academic institutions affiliated with the Rocky Mountain Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit to study and improve riparian ecosystem restoration efforts in the western United States.

Please note that this program requests optional Notices of Intent, which are due via NSPIRES by February 23, 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. NOTICE: Amended December 14, 2023. This Amendment presents a new program element in ROSES-2023. NOIs are requested by February 23, 2024, and proposals are due by May 3, 2024. Pre-proposal teleconference will take place at 1 pm Eastern Time on March 1, 2024. Connection information will be posted under other documents on the NSPIRES page for this program element by February 16, 2024. The S/T/M Section of proposals must include a schedule, see Section 4.1. This program element is participating in the Inclusion Plan Pilot Program, see Section 4.3. This required Inclusion Plan will not be part of the adjectival ratings nor selection recommendations for this opportunity. 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) 2023 (OMB Approval Number 2700-0092, CFDA Number 43.001) on February 14, 2023. 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-2023 "Summary of Solicitation", may all be found NSPIRES at http://solicitation.nasaprs.com/ROSES2023. 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/ROSES2023table2 and http://solicitation.nasaprs.com/ROSES2023table3, 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 (NNH23ZDA001N-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 (.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-2023 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-2023 blog feed for amendments, clarifications, and corrections to at http://science.nasa.gov/researchers/sara/grant-solicitations/ROSES-2023, and (3) The ROSES-2023 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 grant provides funding for U.S.-based research institutions to develop applications and technologies using advanced radar data from a collaborative NASA and ISRO mission, focusing on monitoring Earth's land and ice changes.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for a coordinating center to conduct a long-term study on the social development of youth, focusing on factors influencing substance use, delinquency, and interactions with the juvenile justice system.

The MBRP TTDA is a product-driven award mechanism intended to provide support for the translation of promising preclinical findings into products for clinical application in resource-limited settings, particularly within the pre-hospital, or early, acute phase of care environments. Applications must address one or more of the critical gaps included in the FY24 MBRP TTDA Focus Areas. Products under development must address the needs of military Service Members, Veterans, their beneficiaries, and the American public.The product(s) to be developed may be a tangible item such as a medical device or pharmacologic agent (including, but not limited to, drugs or biologics). Knowledge products may be considered, provided that the knowledge is applicable to a technology or therapeutic under development. (A knowledge product is a non-materiel product that addresses an identified need in one or more of the FY24 MBRP TTDA Focus Areas. A knowledge product is based on current evidence, aims to transition clinical practice standards, training, or tools into clinical practice, or supports materiel solutions [systems to develop, acquire, provide, and sustain medical solutions and capabilities], and educates or impacts behavior throughout the continuum of care, including primary prevention of negative outcomes.)At the time of pre-application submission the proposed product must have achieved a minimum technology readiness level (TRL) or knowledge readiness level (KRL) of 3 (Appendix II).Proof-of-concept AND a prototype/preliminary version of the proposed product demonstrating its potential utility must be established at the time of pre-application submission. Applications must include relevant data that support the rationale for the proposed study. These data may be unpublished and/or from the published literature.This award mechanism is intended to facilitate progression of research that is supported by significant preliminary data but has not yet advanced to the level of clinical use. Examples of the types of research that may be supported include, but are not limited to: Testing new therapeutic or technologic modalities (e.g., agents, delivery systems, chemical modification of lead compounds, device testing and/or validation) using established or validated preclinical systems Designing pilot or full-scale Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) production of therapeutics and/or technologies for use in advanced preclinical studies Developing pharmacologic agents through absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity studies Investigational New Drug- or Investigational Device Exemption-enabling studiesClinical trials and clinical research studies ARE NOT PERMITTED under this award mechanism. Projects involving limited use of commercially available human cells or anatomical specimens are permitted, provided that the use of such specimens is necessary for device or product development. Applicants interested in proposing clinical research should consider submitting to the FY24 MBRP Patient-Centered Research Award mechanism (HT942524MBRPPCRA).A clinical trial is defined in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 45, Part 46.102 (45 CFR 46.102) as a research study in which one or more human subjects are prospectively assigned to one or more interventions (which may include a placebo or another control) to evaluate the effects of the interventions on biomedical or behavioral health-related outcomes.Studies that do not seek to measure safety, effectiveness, and/or efficacy outcome(s) of an intervention are not considered clinical trials.For the purposes of this funding opportunity, research that meets the definition of a clinical trial is distinct from clinical research. Clinical research encompasses research with human data, human specimens, and/or interaction with human subjects. Clinical research is observational in nature and includes:(1) Research conducted with human subjects and/or material of human origin such as data, specimens, and cognitive phenomena for which an investigator (or co-investigator) does not seek to assess the safety, effectiveness, and/or efficacy outcomes of an intervention. Research meeting this definition may include but is not limited to: (a) mechanisms of human disease, (b) diagnostic or detection studies (e.g., biomarker or imaging), (c) health disparity studies, and (d) development of new technologies.(2) Epidemiologic and behavioral studies that do not seek to assess the safety, effectiveness, and/or efficacy outcomes of an intervention.(3) Outcomes research and health services research that do not fit under the definition of clinical trial.Excluded from the definition of clinical research are in vitro studies that utilize human data or specimens that cannot be linked to a living individual and meet the requirements for exemption under 46.104(d)(4) of the Common Rule.Impact: The overall impact of the proposed research is a key component of this award mechanism. High-impact research will, if successful, lead to the development and translation of therapeutic or technologic advances for clinical application in the care of burn-injured casualties, such as detection, diagnosis, treatment, or burn complication prevention.Relevance to Military Health: Relevance to the health care needs of burn-injured military Service Members is a key feature of this award.Use of DOD or Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Resources: 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. Applicants are encouraged to integrate and/or align their research projects with DOD and/or VA research laboratories and programs. Collaboration with DOD or VA investigators is also encouraged. A list of websites that may be useful in identifying additional information about ongoing DOD and VA areas of research interest or potential opportunities for collaboration can be found in Appendix IV.Rigor of Experimental Design: All projects should adhere to a core set of standards for rigorous study design and reporting to maximize the reproducibility and translational potential of preclinical research. The standards are described in SC Landis et al., 2012, A call for transparent reporting to optimize the predictive value of preclinical research, Nature 490:187-191 (www.nature.com/nature/journal/v490/n7419/full/nature11556.html). While these standards are written for preclinical studies, the basic principles of randomization, blinding, sample-size estimation, and data handling derive from well-established best practices in clinical studies. Projects that include research on animal models are required to submit Attachment 8, Animal Research Plan, as part of the application package to describe how these standards will be addressed. Applicants should consult the ARRIVE guidelines 2.0 (Animal Research: Reporting In Vivo Experiments) to ensure relevant aspects of rigorous animal research are adequately planned for and, ultimately, reported. The ARRIVE guidelines 2.0 can be found at https://arriveguidelines.org/arrive-guidelines.The CDMRP expects to allot approximately $4.4M to fund approximately two MBRP Technology/Therapeutic Development Award applications. Funding of applications received is contingent upon the availability of federal funds for this program as well as the number of applications received, the quality and merit of the applications as evaluated by scientific and programmatic review, and the requirements of the government. Funds to be obligated on any award resulting from this funding opportunity will be available for use for a limited time period based on the fiscal year of the funds. It is anticipated that awards made from this FY24 funding opportunity will be funded with FY24 funds, which will expire for use on September 30, 2030.The funding instrument for awards made under the program announcement will be assistance agreements, contracts, or Other Transactions. The type of instrument used to reflect the business relationship between the organization and the government is at the discretion of the government, in accordance with the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977, as amended, 31 USC 6301-6308, which provides the legal criteria to select a procurement contract or an assistance agreement. The USAMRDC will also consider the use of Other Transactions (OTs) as a vehicle for award, in accordance with the conditions in 10 USC 4021 and 10 USC 4022.An assistance agreement can take the form of a grant or cooperative agreement. The level of government involvement during the projects period of performance is the key factor in determining whether to award a grant or cooperative agreement. If no substantial government involvement is anticipated, a grant will be made (31 USC 6304). Conversely, if substantial government involvement is anticipated, a cooperative agreement will be made (31 USC 6305). Substantial involvement means that members of the U.S. government will assist, guide, coordinate, or participate in project activities.A contract is required when the principal purpose of the instrument is to acquire property or services for the direct benefit or use of the U.S. government.An Other Transaction will also be considered as a vehicle for award under this BAA, in accordance with 10 USC 4021 and 10 USC 4022. The OT authorities were created to give DOD the flexibility necessary to adopt and incorporate business practices that reflect commercial industry standards and best practices into its award instruments. When leveraged appropriately, OTs provide the government with access to state-of-the-art technology solutions from traditional and non-traditional defense contractors (NDCs), through a multitude of potential teaming arrangements tailored to the particular project and the needs of the participants. OTs can help to foster new relationships and practices involving traditional and NDCs, especially those that may not be interested in entering into FAR-based contracts with the government; broaden the industrial base available to government; support dual-use projects; encourage flexible, quicker, and cheaper project design and execution; leverage commercial industry investment in technology development and partner with industry to ensure DOD requirements are incorporated into future technologies and products; and collaborate in innovative arrangements. OTs are not FAR-based procurement contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or cooperative research and development agreements.The award type, along with the start date, will be determined during the negotiation process.The anticipated total costs budgeted for the entire period of performance for an FY24 MBRP Technology/Therapeutic Development Award should not exceed $2.2M. Refer to Section II.D.6, Funding Restrictions, for detailed funding information.Awards supported with FY24 funds will be made no later than September 30, 2025. For additional information refer to Section II.F.1, Federal Award Notices.

Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) programs explore promising but unproven concepts with the potential to advance specific surface transportation systems. The Rail Safety IDEA program investigates innovative concepts and methods to improve safety and performance of railroads. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) endeavors to provide funding for the Transportation Research Board (TRB) of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to continue to carry out the Rail Safety IDEA program. FRA funding for the Safety IDEA program has been provided since October 2002. FRA joined the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), as a joint sponsor of the Safety IDEA program. FMCSA has been funding the Safety IDEA program since the program started in October 2001. In 2013, the Rail Safety IDEA program has become completely independent and separate from the FMCSA; therefore, all projects funded by this Grant must be railroad related projects. The Rail Safety IDEA programs explore innovative concepts that are initiated and proposed by researchers, inventors, universities, or companies, both within and outside the usual transportation research community.

The Early Investigator Research Award supports NF-focused research opportunities for individuals in the early stages of their careers, under the guidance of a Designated Mentor. This opportunity allows for early-stage investigators to develop a research project, investigate a problem or question in NF research, and further their intellectual development as an NF researcher of the future. The postdoctoral investigator is considered the Principal Investigator (PI) of the application and must exhibit strong potential for, and commitment to, pursuing a career as an investigator at the forefront of NF research; however, the PI is not required to have previous NF research experience. Applications must include at least one mentor, appropriate to the proposed research project, who has experience in NF research and mentoring as demonstrated by a record of active funding, recent publications, and successful mentorship. The Designated Mentor can be a junior faculty member, in which case the PI is encouraged to include a co-mentor with a more robust track record in NF research and mentorship. The selected mentor(s) should also demonstrate a clear commitment to the development of the PI toward independence as an NF researcher.