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Academic Projects – Request for Proposals

Deadline: August 30, 2024 | Released: May 8, 2024

Overview

The NASA Iowa Space Grant Consortium (ISGC) is conducting a competition to award two grants of $10,000 each for Academic Projects that support research aligning with any of the five NASA Mission Directorates (MD). The MDs include: Aeronautics Research (ARMD), Exploration Systems Development (ESDMD), Science (SMD), Space Operations (SOMD), and Space Technology (STMD). Proposed projects must align with the MD scientific pursuits and NASA’s mission/strategies at ISGC Academic Affiliate campuses. As our base programs are limited to the four core institutions, the ISGC has created this opportunity for the non-core Academic Affiliates. This allows all our academic institutions to participate in mission directorate NASA research. At present, faculty at Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC), Loras College, and Morningside University are eligible to apply.

The ISGC works to coordinate and improve Iowa’s future in NASA related Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM); and to stimulate research education and outreach activities throughout the state that contribute to NASA’s mission. The Consortium outcomes shaped this call and were described in the response to the NASA National Space Grant CAN for 2020-2024 derived from the ISGC affiliate program review, NASA’s 2018 strategic plan, and Iowa’s STEM priorities. The following areas will be addressed by the new Academic Projects:

  • Promote and support student experiences through internships, fellowships, and scholarships.
  • Engage applied research at higher education institutes to assist in solving NASA Mission Directorate challenges.
  • Educate and engage precollege STEM students and educators to prepare the next generation of explorers.
  • Elevate the impact of the ISGC across Iowa.
  • Promote the involvement of women, underrepresented minorities, persons with disabilities, and U.S. military veterans.

Each Academic Affiliate is eligible to submit proposals for this program. Proposals must target the NASA MDs and be a good fit for DMACC, Loras College and/or Morningside University. Proposals must identify how they will support student recruitment and retention efforts in the STEM fields at the respective campus. To be considered for selection, a program must be conducting innovative research directly aligned with the MDs. Engaging undergraduate students with the project is encouraged and will strengthen the proposal. Priority will be given to proposals which collaborate with other affiliates (including our Core Institutions). Projects will be selected through a competitive process that will use the selection criteria put forth in this RFP. Projects that are successful in year one will be eligible to apply in subsequent years. All awards are dependent upon NASA funding availability. To better understand NASA and the ongoing work and priorities within the Mission Directorates, please visit: https://www.nasa.gov/about/org_index.html.

Eligibility

Competition is open to faculty from DMACC or Loras. All direct funded (supported) participants (faculty and students) must be U.S. citizens. Those who are involved in the administration of this activity, but are not directly compensated, need not be U.S. citizens.

Request

Eligible investigators may submit proposals for research projects with a period of performance beginning September 1, 2024 and ending June 21, 2025. To see if their ideas fall within the scope of this opportunity, prospective applicants are encouraged to open discussion with the ISGC administrative team:

Proposal Content:

Title Page: Project title, Principal Investigator name, and contact information.
Project Description (five-page maximum, single-spaced, minimum 12 pt. font, 1” margins)
  1. Background
  2. Goals of the project
  3. Description of how the proposed activity will support the selected MDs and build a new collaboration with NASA
Budget and Budget Narrative (two-page maximum)
  1. Budget and justification that explains, in itemized detail, the ISGC amount requested and non-federal match contributions from the proposing institution.
  2. Cost-share can be cash and/or in-kind contributions of faculty or staff release time.
  3. Charging indirect on NASA funds is not allowable.
  4. Waived indirect from NASA funds and cost share may be counted towards total match.
  5. Awards of $10,000 require match of 1:1 per award (i.e. $10,ooo).
  6. Equipment purchases, facility construction or renovation, and foreign travel are not permitted (the definition of equipment is >$5,000 per item).
  7. The ISGC excel budget template is required and available for download at: ISGC Budget Template – Academic Projects
Curriculum vitae of Principal Investigator (two-page maximum).
Matching funds commitment letter from the authorized fiscal agent of the institution.

Criteria

An effective proposal is one that: shows how the proposed research will advance the NASA work being done in the selected MD. Proposals should include descriptions of how the project will build new collaborations with one or more NASA centers that align with documented NASA and State of Iowa needs and priorities, involves other Space Grant affiliates (where appropriate), provides adequate matching funds, has a high potential for the research continuing when ISGC funding ends and will produce peer-reviewed papers, presentations, other publications, talks, posters and/or patents/licenses.

Criteria
Topics
%
Total
100%
Scientific and Educational Merit
Scientific, technical, and educational merit of the proposed project. Proposal is relevant to the STEM goals of NASA ISGC, Iowa and/or proposing institution. Builds new collaborations with one or more NASA centers that aligns with documented NASA and State of Iowa needs and priorities, involves other Space Grant affiliates (where appropriate). Has a plan to attract and engage students.
30%
NASA Relevance
The degree to which this proposal is relevant to NASA MD’s.
25%
Management
Competency of the proposers to carry out the plan and achieve the stated goals. Potential of the project to increase undergraduate retention and achievement, particularly for women and underrepresented groups. Includes students in research project. Demonstrates likelihood of sustaining.
15%
Evaluation
Based on evaluation metrics listed below in Reporting.
10%
Budget
Adequacy and appropriateness of the budget to carry out the project, including institutional contributions or other non-federal matching funds.
20%

Reporting

Required reports include a progress report due February 28, 2025 and final report required 30 days after the project closes or no later than July 21, 2025. The final report will include an evaluation of the project’s effectiveness relative to the proposed objectives and other standard ISGC and NASA reporting requirements. Future funding is contingent upon all reporting requirements being met annually. Awardees will submit the progress and final reports through the ISGC portal for faculty reporting on our website. All awards are dependent upon NASA funding availability. Evaluation metrics will include:

  1. number of students (including demographics) involved in hands-on research,
  2. demonstrated scholarship as measured by peer-reviewed papers, presentations, other publications, talks, posters and/or patents/licenses produced
  3. NASA collaborations established or strengthened,
  4. additional funding acquired.

Proposal Submission Procedure

roposals in Microsoft Word format are to be submitted to the ISGC office via this link: Academic Projects Submission by August 30, 2024. The budget should be submitted in Excel format with the ISGC template available for download at: ISGC Budget Template – academic projects. (Two sheets/tabs are provided, the budget template, and justification.)

  1. number of students (including demographics) involved in hands-on research,
  2. demonstrated scholarship as measured by peer-reviewed papers, presentations, other publications, talks, posters and/or patents/licenses produced
  3. NASA collaborations established or strengthened,
  4. additional funding acquired.
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