Opportunity Information: Apply for 80HQTR20NOA01 20NIAC A2
NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Phase II is a NASA Headquarters funding opportunity released as an appendix under the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) NASA Research Announcement called "Space Technology Research, Development, Demonstration, and Infusion - 2020 (SpaceTech-REDDI-2020)." NIAC is NASA's program for nurturing bold, early-stage aerospace ideas that are still high-risk but potentially high-payoff. Within that larger program structure, Phase II is designed to take the strongest NIAC Phase I concepts and move them into a deeper, more mature level of technical development, with a clear emphasis on figuring out credible paths for those concepts to be adopted ("infused") into NASA missions, directorates, or other relevant users beyond NASA.
Phase II awards are typically structured as a two-year effort. The goal is not simply to continue research for its own sake, but to expand the analysis, modeling, and validation that began in Phase I and to more concretely define feasibility, performance, technical challenges, and potential implementation approaches. Another key expectation is that Phase II work will actively explore realistic infusion options, meaning the proposing team should consider who might use the concept, what NASA needs it could address, and what steps would be required for it to transition from a promising idea into something that could eventually influence a mission concept, an enabling technology roadmap, or later-stage development programs.
Eligibility is broad in terms of the types of organizations that can apply, but it is conditional on prior NIAC participation. The appendix is open to all categories of U.S. organizations as long as they have successfully completed a NIAC Phase I study and that Phase I has not already been selected for Phase II. In other words, Phase II is not open as a stand-alone entry point; it is specifically a follow-on opportunity for prior NIAC Phase I awardees who are advancing that same concept. At the same time, NASA makes clear that NIAC Fellows (or their designees) from the predecessor program, the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts, are no longer eligible to submit Phase II proposals based on those older Phase I studies. Project teams can be drawn from a wide range of institutions: universities, commercial businesses, nonprofit organizations, research labs, government agencies, and NASA Centers, including the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Collaboration with non-U.S. organizations is allowed in principle, but it must comply with NASA's foreign participation rules as laid out in the broader SpaceTech-REDDI-2020 announcement.
From an administrative standpoint, proposals must be prepared and submitted through NASA's NSPIRES system, and proposers and co-investigators need to be registered there. Submission is electronic only, and the final proposal must be transmitted by an authorized organizational representative (AOR), which is an important compliance detail since individual investigators generally cannot submit on behalf of an institution without that authorization. NASA points applicants to the main SpaceTech-REDDI-2020 NRA and the "Guidebook for Proposers Responding to a NASA Funding Announcement" (April 2018) for the full set of formatting rules, required sections, and submission mechanics. NASA also strongly encourages organizations to get familiar with NSPIRES early and to upload materials well ahead of the deadline to avoid last-minute system or authorization issues.
Key dates for this specific cycle were a required Notice of Intent due December 16, 2019 at 5 PM Eastern, followed by a full proposal due February 12, 2020 at 5 PM Eastern. The opportunity was posted in December 2019 and is identified under Funding Opportunity Number 80HQTR20NOA01-20NIACA2, with CFDA 43.012. NASA anticipated making around eight awards, with an award ceiling listed at $500,000. The solicitation allows for different federal funding instruments, including cooperative agreements, grants, and procurement contracts, reflecting that NASA may choose the instrument type that best matches the intended relationship and oversight structure for a given selection.
For ongoing communication and updates, NASA directs applicants to monitor the specific NSPIRES page for this appendix, where amendments, clarifications, and the FAQ may be posted. Questions can be emailed to hq-niac@mail.nasa.gov, and NASA notes that answers may be shared via email and also incorporated into the publicly posted FAQ while preserving the anonymity of the individuals or institutions that submitted the questions. Overall, the NIAC Phase II opportunity is best understood as a competitive, follow-on investment aimed at turning the most compelling NIAC Phase I ideas into more substantiated, better-defined concepts with a believable path toward future use by NASA or the broader aerospace community.Apply for 80HQTR20NOA01 20NIAC A2
- The National Aeronautics and Space Administration in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Phase II" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 43.012.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 10, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 12, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 8 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - NASA NIAC Phase II (SpaceTech-REDDI-2020 Appendix)
1) What is the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Phase II opportunity?
NIAC Phase II is a NASA Headquarters funding opportunity released as an appendix under the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) NASA Research Announcement (NRA) titled "Space Technology Research, Development, Demonstration, and Infusion - 2020 (SpaceTech-REDDI-2020)." Phase II is intended to advance the strongest NIAC Phase I concepts into deeper technical development while emphasizing credible paths for eventual use (infusion) into NASA missions, directorates, or other relevant users.
2) How does Phase II fit into the overall NIAC program?
NIAC supports bold, early-stage aerospace ideas that are high-risk but potentially high-payoff. Phase II is specifically structured as a follow-on to NIAC Phase I and is designed to mature Phase I concepts through expanded analysis, modeling, and validation, with an increased focus on feasibility and practical implementation options.
3) Is NIAC Phase II open to new applicants who did not have a Phase I award?
No. NIAC Phase II is not a stand-alone entry point. Eligibility is conditional on having successfully completed a NIAC Phase I study, and the Phase I concept must not already have been selected for Phase II.
4) Who is eligible to submit a NIAC Phase II proposal?
The appendix is open to all categories of U.S. organizations as long as they have successfully completed a NIAC Phase I study and that Phase I has not already been selected for Phase II. Project teams may include universities, commercial businesses, nonprofit organizations, research labs, government agencies, and NASA Centers (including the Jet Propulsion Laboratory), subject to the Phase I-based eligibility condition.
5) Can NIAC Fellows (or designees) from the older NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts submit Phase II proposals based on those older Phase I studies?
No. NASA states that NIAC Fellows (or their designees) from the predecessor program, the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts, are no longer eligible to submit Phase II proposals based on those older Phase I studies.
6) What is the typical period of performance for a Phase II award?
Phase II awards are typically structured as a two-year effort.
7) What is the main purpose of Phase II work?
The goal is to build on Phase I by expanding analysis, modeling, and validation, and to define feasibility, performance, technical challenges, and implementation approaches more concretely. Phase II also has a clear expectation that the team will explore realistic infusion options so the concept can plausibly transition toward future use.
8) What does NASA mean by "infusion" in the context of NIAC Phase II?
Infusion refers to credible pathways for the concept to be adopted by NASA missions, NASA directorates, or other relevant users beyond NASA. Phase II expects proposers to consider who might use the concept, which NASA needs it could address, and what steps would be required for it to influence mission concepts, technology roadmaps, or later-stage development programs.
9) Are collaborations with non-U.S. organizations allowed?
Collaboration with non-U.S. organizations is allowed in principle, but it must comply with NASA foreign participation rules described in the broader SpaceTech-REDDI-2020 announcement.
10) What system must be used to prepare and submit the proposal?
Proposals must be prepared and submitted through NASA's NSPIRES system. Proposers and co-investigators need to be registered in NSPIRES.
11) Can an individual investigator submit the final proposal directly?
Submission is electronic only, and the final proposal must be transmitted by an authorized organizational representative (AOR). This means the organization must submit through its authorized representative, not simply by an individual investigator acting alone without that authorization.
12) Where can applicants find the required proposal format and submission rules?
NASA points applicants to the main SpaceTech-REDDI-2020 NRA and the "Guidebook for Proposers Responding to a NASA Funding Announcement" (April 2018) for formatting requirements, required sections, and submission mechanics.
13) What were the key deadlines for this NIAC Phase II cycle?
This cycle required a Notice of Intent due December 16, 2019 at 5 PM Eastern, and a full proposal due February 12, 2020 at 5 PM Eastern.
14) Was a Notice of Intent required?
Yes. For this cycle, a Notice of Intent was required and had a specified due date and time.
15) When was this opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted in December 2019.
16) What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this NIAC Phase II appendix?
The Funding Opportunity Number is 80HQTR20NOA01-20NIACA2.
17) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 43.012.
18) Approximately how many awards did NASA anticipate making?
NASA anticipated making around eight awards.
19) What is the award ceiling for this NIAC Phase II opportunity?
The solicitation lists an award ceiling of $500,000.
20) What types of federal funding instruments might NASA use for selections?
The solicitation allows for multiple instrument types, including cooperative agreements, grants, and procurement contracts. NASA may choose the instrument type that best matches the intended relationship and oversight structure for a given selection.
21) Where should applicants look for amendments, clarifications, or an official FAQ?
NASA directs applicants to monitor the specific NSPIRES page for this appendix, where amendments, clarifications, and the FAQ may be posted.
22) How can applicants submit questions about the opportunity?
Questions can be emailed to hq-niac@mail.nasa.gov.
23) Will questions and answers be shared publicly?
NASA notes that answers may be shared via email and may also be incorporated into the publicly posted FAQ, while preserving the anonymity of the individuals or institutions that submitted the questions.
24) What is one common administrative risk NASA warns applicants about?
NASA strongly encourages organizations to become familiar with NSPIRES early and to upload materials well ahead of the deadline to avoid last-minute system issues or authorization problems related to AOR submission.
25) In plain terms, what kind of projects is NIAC Phase II trying to support?
NIAC Phase II is a competitive, follow-on investment intended to turn the most compelling NIAC Phase I ideas into more substantiated and better-defined concepts, with stronger feasibility understanding and a believable path to future use by NASA or the broader aerospace community.
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