Congressionally Directed Programs
Active
- Assistance listing
- 43.014
- Grant awards
- 78 $132,359,825 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- NASA Community Projects/NASA Special Projects
- Assistance type
-
- Project Grant
- Treasury account
-
- 80-0122-0-1-252
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Shared Services Center administers the Congressionally Directed Programs (CFDA 43.014), which funds non-competitive Project Grants designated by Congress for specific projects and programs, with the most recent award issued on June 1, 2027.
This program funds a broad portfolio of congressionally designated activities spanning STEM education, space science infrastructure, advanced manufacturing research, and mission-specific development projects. Recent awards support K-12 and post-secondary STEM enrichment (planetarium installations, robotics programs, curriculum development, teacher professional development), community science engagement through museums and learning centers, applied research in materials science and propellant transfer systems, workforce development in advanced air mobility and aerospace manufacturing, wildfire monitoring and environmental assessment, and specialized capabilities such as space weather modeling and lunar tracking infrastructure.
The portfolio is 100 percent Project Grants, and funding is dominated by NASA Shared Services Center, which obligated 77 of 78 awards totaling $131.4 million federal dollars; a single award of $997 thousand came from NASA Goddard Space Center. Combined federal and non-federal dollars obligated total $141.1 million, indicating modest cost-share or match requirements from recipients. Award activity has increased significantly, with 26 awards in 2026 compared to 14 in 2023; the program shows a 78-award portfolio spanning 2022 to June 2027.
Individual award magnitudes range from $151 thousand to $10 million, with concentration in the $1 million to $2 million band typical for education and community projects. Larger awards ($5 million to $10 million) support research facilities and advanced manufacturing capability development—including a $10 million initiative in digital engineering and advanced manufacturing at Louisiana State University, a $10 million advanced materials and structures program at Wichita State University, and a $9.95 million S-band lunar tracking facility. Representative recent grants include a $2.8 million planetarium modernization at Frostburg State University (August 2026), a $5 million digital engineering initiative at Louisiana State University (June 2026), and a $450 thousand STEM expansion project for middle and high school students in Chicago (June 2027).
No open grant opportunities are documented in the source; funding is allocated by Congress through appropriations and designated by recipient in the appropriations Explanatory Statement. Applicants should contact NASA for RFP release and submission deadlines specific to their designated project.
Objective and description
- Objective
NASA Community Projects/NASA Special Projects are provided by Congress for specific projects or programs in such a manner that the allocation (a) circumvents a merit-based or competitive allocation process, (b) applies to a very limited number of ind
- Description
Community Projects are non-competitive awards that are provided by Congress for specific projects or programs in such a manner that the allocation (a) circumvents a merit-based or competitive allocation process, (b) applies to a very limited number of individuals/entities or (c) otherwise curtails the ability of the Executive Branch to independently manage the agency budget.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
Community Projects/Special Projects are specified in the Explanatory Statement, by reference, and the intended recipient of a Community Project/Special Project is designated in the Explanatory Statement pursuant to the statute.
- Uses of assistance
Training, Education Outreach, Technology Development; Research
- Use restrictions
STEM Education Restrictions for the Community Project/Special Project is: (1) For-profit-entities are banned; (2) Construction is prohibited; and (3) NASA is not to have "substantial involvement" and shall award as a grant and not cooperative agreements
- Length and time phasing of assistance
All Community Projects/Special Projects must comply with the bona fide needs rule. The funds provided for these Community Projects/Special Projects are from a two-year appropriation.
How to apply
- Preapplication coordination
NASA solicits proposals from the designated recipients. Recipients develop proposals and submit to NASA for review and evaluation.
- Criteria for selecting proposals
Proposals are evaluated based on a common evaluation criteria. The following elements or factors, each approximately equal in weight, are considered in evaluating any proposal for the non-discretionary award of a grant: (1) The proposal's relevance to NASA's mission; (2) The intrinsic scientific, engineering, or educational merit of the proposed eff ort; (3) Cost allowability, allocability, and reasonability.
- Award procedure
Upon completion of the evaluation, the NASA Shared Services Center issues a notice of award to the designated recipients.
- Deadlines
Proposers shall review the Request for Proposal (RFP) for application deadlines or contact the appropriate Point of Contact proposal for additional information
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 78 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wichita State University | $30,000,000 | 23% |
| 2 | Louisiana State University | $12,500,000 | 9% |
| 3 | Morehead State University | $9,953,000 | 8% |
| 4 | The Texas A&M University System | $4,500,000 | 3% |
| 5 | State Of MD | $3,558,000 | 3% |
| 6 | Wheeling Jesuit University, Inc. | $3,000,000 | 2% |
| 7 | Cosmosphere, Inc. | $3,000,000 | 2% |
| 8 | Mingo County Redevelopment Authority | $2,900,000 | 2% |
| 9 | West Virginia University | $2,500,000 | 2% |
| 10 | Community Foundation Of Northeast Alabama | $2,400,000 | 2% |
10 of 67 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | $39,742,768 |
| FY2025 | -$2,814 |
| FY2024 | $43,310,279 |
| FY2022 | -$11,563 |
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 43.014?
Assistance Listing 43.014 is Congressionally Directed Programs, a federal grant program run by National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
What is the CFDA number for Congressionally Directed Programs?
Its CFDA number is 43.014: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 43.014 awarded?
78 grant awards under 43.014 have obligated $132,359,825 in federal funds to 67 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 43.014?
The recipients obligated the most under Congressionally Directed Programs are Wichita State University ($30,000,000), Louisiana State University ($12,500,000) and Morehead State University ($9,953,000).
How much did 43.014 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 43.014 obligated -$2,814 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
On GovTribe
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