Execute a balanced science program based on discipline-specific guidance from the national academies of sciences, engineering, and medicine, administration priorities, and direction from congress.…

The National Science Foundation's Shared Services Center awarded a $92,284 research grant to Catholic University of America (CUA) effective January 6, 2025, with completion targeted for January 5, 2027. The grant supports CUA's execution of a balanced science program aligned with guidance from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, agency administration priorities, and Congressional direction. The work encompasses participation in the agency's exploration initiative focusing on scientific research related to the Moon, lunar orbit, Mars, and beyond, while advancing discovery in emerging fields through cross-disciplinary opportunities between traditional science disciplines. The award carries no set-aside designation, indicating a competitive procurement process, with performance to occur in Washington, DC.

CUA, a private nonprofit research institution and the national university of the Catholic Church in the United States, brings substantial federal research experience to this grant. The university maintains an extensive portfolio of NSF-funded research spanning atmospheric and geospace sciences, astronomical sciences, physics, and STEM workforce development, with individual awards historically ranging from approximately $158,000 to nearly $1 million. CUA also holds a major indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract valued at $147 million under the United States Naval Community College Partnerships master vehicle and maintains a $968,000 blanket purchase agreement with Naval Sea Systems Command for ocean acoustics services and specialized educational coursework, positioning the institution as an established federal research and education services provider across civilian and defense agencies.

Execute a balanced science program based on discipline-specific guidance from the national academies of sciences, engineering, and medicine, administration priorities, and direction from congress. Participate as a key partner and enabler in the agency s exploration initiative, focusing on scientific research of, on, and from the moon, lunar orbit, mars, and beyond. Advance discovery in emerging fields by identifying and exploiting cross-disciplinary opportunities between traditional science disciplines develop a directorate-wide, target-user focused approach to applied programs, including earth science applications, space weather, planetary defense, and space situational awareness.