Science

The Science Mission Directorate (SMD) pursues NASA's strategic objectives, particularly Strategic Goal 1: "Expand Human Knowledge through new Scientific Discoveries", using aircraft, balloon, and spaceflight programs to enable the execution of both r

The Science Mission Directorate (SMD) invites the nation's science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) community to use NASA's space observatories to conduct scientific studies of the Earth from space, of other bodies in the solar system, and to observe our Galaxy and beyond. The STEM research community also may propose to participate in scientific studies conducted via spacecraft missions to visit other bodies in the solar system and return samples. SMD competitively solicits and invites proposals for the following: 1) Astrophysics Research - sponsors research to explore the Universe beyond, from the search for planets to the origin, evolution, structure, and destiny of the Universe itself. 2) Biological and Physical Sciences Research - sponsors space-based research and studies the behavior/adaptation of physical processes, living organisms, and ecosystems to environments beyond Earth. 3) Earth Science Research and Applied Sciences - sponsors research that addresses a major component(s) of the Earth system-continents, oceans, atmosphere, ice, and life - to understand natural and human-induced processes that drive the Earth system. 4) Heliophysics Research - sponsors research to understand the Sun and its interactions with the Earth and Solar System, including space weather. 5) Planetary Science Research - sponsors research to determine the content, origin and evolution of the solar system and potential for life beyond earth. 6) Multi- or Cross- Division Research - sponsors research and related activities that may engage citizen scientists, graduate students, learners of all ages, etc. in one or more of SMD's activities, including operating or past Science Missions, such as NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office's Double Asteroid Redirection Test, the first mission to demonstrate an asteroid deflection method in 2022. 7) Lunar Discovery and Exploration - sponsors research to support instruments development and investigations on or near the surface of the moon. 8) Open-Source Science Initiative - sponsors innovative activities that accelerate scientific discovery and enhance transparency and reproducibility of SMD-funded research.

Categories of organizations that may be eligible for NASA grants and cooperative agreements include: • Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) - A two- or four-year university or college (including U.S. community colleges), public or private, accredited to confer degrees beyond that of the K-12 grade levels. 29 • Educational Institutions - Non-higher-education entities, such as K-12 education groups or institutions of informal education, are classified as Educational Institutions.2 • Non-profit Organization - An organization that: o Is operated primarily for scientific, engineering, educational, research, or similar purposes in the public interest; o Is not organized primarily for profit; o Uses net proceeds to maintain, improve, or expand the organization's operations; and o Is not an IHE. Non-profit organizations generally exclude (i) colleges and universities; (ii) hospitals; and (iii) state, local, and Federally recognized Indian tribal governments. • For-profit Entity - An organization of any size that is organized primarily for profit. • Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) - FFRDCs are under a broad charter by a Government agency for performing, analyzing, or conducting research for the United States Government. NASA sponsors JPL as the Agency's sole FFRDC, and JPL is not an eligible applicant to receive a NASA-funded grant or cooperative agreement as a recipient or subrecipient3 . However, FFRDCs sponsored by agencies other than NASA may be eligible to receive a NASAfunded award as a recipient or subrecipient. • Non-U.S. Organizations - Organizations outside the U.S. that meet the definitions of foreign organization or foreign public entity in 2 CFR § 200.1. Non-U.S. organizations generally propose for opportunities on a no-exchange-of-funds basis in accordance with NASA policy. NOFOs may be issued jointly with a non-U.S. organization (e.g., those concerning guest observing programs for jointly sponsored space science programs) that will contain additional special guidelines for non-U.S. participants. • State, Local, or Federally-Recognized Tribal Government Agency - o State Government means any state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, any territory or possession of the United States, and any agency or instrumentality of a State exclusive of its local governments

Assistance is for basic and applied research, Technology, Citizen Science, etc. in the area(s) of Astrophysics, Biological Sciences Earth Science, Heliophysics, Physical Sciences, and Planetary Science. SMD may establish additional uses in a particular notice of funding opportunity (NOFO).

When SMD sets restrictions on how assistance may be used, such restrictions are based on appropriations and other legislation; the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and other regulations; or to address recommendations from the Government Accountability Office. The NOFO will list any specific restriction. Restrictions on the use of assistance for this listing are governed by the limitations and conditions set forth in NASA's Grant and Cooperative Agreement Manual (GCAM). The GCAM includes a dedicated section on limitations and restrictions, which outlines the circumstances under which funds may not be used. Applicants and recipients should refer to the applicable GCAM limitations provisions, in conjunction with the specific Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), to understand any restrictions that apply. Only restrictions that are unique to this Assistance Listing or organization are identified here; all other standard limitations apply as described in the GCAM.

Notwithstanding no cost extensions that may exceed the general maximum award duration of five years, funding is available as long as the appropriation has not expired. A three-year spending period is most typical. NASA SMD may require final spending occur at least 60 days prior to the appropriation's expiration. Once obligated on the award and depending on the appropriation's expiration, funding may be available for almost seven years.

Environmental impact information is not required for most SMD programs. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. All proposing organizations and all named team members (including unfunded collaborators) must be registered in NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES) https://nspires.nasaprs.com/ and confirm their participation for the proposal to be submitted via NSPIRES. See NSPIRES help pages.

Unless otherwise specified in the NOFO, the evaluation criteria considered in evaluating a proposal are intrinsic merit, relevance, and cost. Intrinsic Merit includes the consideration of the following factors, as applicable to the particular proposal 1) The scientific quality of the proposed project, including, but not limited to, the scientific rationale and the expected significance and/or impact of the proposed work. 2) Overall, technical quality of the proposed work, includes, but is not limited to, the quality of the management plan and project timeline for carrying out the work and the effectiveness and resilience of the proposed experimental designs, methods, techniques, and approaches for achieving the proposed goals and/or objectives. 3) The qualifications, capabilities, and expertise of personnel demonstrated by the proposal (e.g., publications, delivered products, and other measures of productivity and/or experience) that would affect the likelihood of achieving the objectives. 4) Facilities, instruments, equipment and other resources or support systems presented in the proposal that would affect the likelihood of achieving the proposed objectives. A proposal's relevance includes the consideration of the potential contribution to NASA's mission as expressed in its most recent NASA strategic plans and the permitted scope and specific objectives and goals given in the funding announcement. Cost of a proposed effort includes the reasonableness of the proposed cost, as well as whether costs are allowable and allocable to the project.

SMD uses the general award processes and procedures published in the Grant and Cooperative Agreement Manual (GCAM). The individual NOFO will provide any updates or deviations from this document.

On an occasional basis SMD may use stand-alone cooperative agreement notices (CAN) for complex activities that involve the sustained participation by NASA personnel, facilities, etc. SMD releases stand-alone Cooperative Agreement Notices (CANs), NASA Research Announcements (NRA)s, or other NOFOs as needed. These are open for 60-to-90 days.

Approval and review procedures are outlined in the NASA Grant and Cooperative Agreement Manual (GCAM) and the applicable NOFO. For additional information or clarification, applicants should contact the Point of Contact listed in the NOFO.

Renewal and extension information can be found in the NASA Grant and Cooperative Manual (GCAM) and the NSSC website at https://www.nasa.gov/centers/nssc/grants

SMD has a process for requesting a debrief and/or reconsideration of the declination of a proposal submitted in response to an SMD NASA Research Announcement and Cooperative Agreement Notices. Reconsideration may be requested if the PI believes that the proposal was not handled correctly. This process may be found at in the SMD Reconsideration Policy document available in the Library section of the Senior Advisors for Research and Analysis (SARA) website at https://sara.nasa.gov or https://science.nasa.gov/researchers