NASA EPSCoR and R3

The goal of NASA EPSCoR is to provide seed funding that will enable jurisdictions to develop an academic research enterprise directed toward long-term, self-sustaining, nationally-competitive capabilities in aerospace and aerospace-related research.

NASA EPSCoR objectives are to:

  • Contribute to, and promote the development of, research infrastructure in NASA EPSCoR jurisdictions in areas of strategic importance to the NASA mission
  • Improve the capabilities of the jurisdictions to gain support from sources outside the NASA EPSCoR program
  • Develop partnerships between NASA research assets, academic institutions, and industry
  • Contribute to the overall research infrastructure, science and technology capabilities, higher education, and/or economic development of the jurisdiction
  • Work in close coordination with Space Grant to improve the environment for science, technology, engineering and mathematics education in the jurisdiction

The two main components of NASA EPSCoR are:

  • EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Development, or RID. This component enables jurisdictions to build and strengthen relationships with NASA researchers. The RID has a three-year base period of performance with a potential single, two-year renewable period of performance. Awards are $125,000 per year. NASA intends to announce the RID opportunity every three to five years, pending funding availability.
  • EPSCoR Research Awards solicits topic-specific proposals addressing high-priority NASA research and technology development needs. Awards are up to $750,000 for a three-year performance period. NASA intends to announce the EPSCoR CAN for Research Awards yearly, pending funding availability.

The NASA Authorization Act for fiscal year 1993, Public Law 102-588, authorized NASA to initiate NASA Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) to strengthen the research capability of jurisdictions that have not historically participated equably in competitive aerospace research activities.

The goal of NASA EPSCoR is to provide seed funding that will enable jurisdictions to develop an academic research enterprise directed toward long-term, self-sustaining, nationally-competitive capabilities in aerospace and aerospace-related research. This capability will, in turn, contribute to the jurisdiction’s economic viability and expand the nation’s base for aerospace research and development.

The R3 is a collaborative effort between NASA EPSCoR, NASA Centers, and mission directorates. The goals of R3 are to provide a streamlined method to address research issues important to NASA, and to enable NASA EPSCoR researchers to work with NASA to solve research issues impacting the agency’s programs/missions.

  • Collaborations with Science Mission Directorate (SMD), Human Exploration & Operations Mission Directorate (HEOMD), Commercial Spaceflight and Industry.
  • Solicitation released yearly.
  • Jurisdictions may submit one proposal per task (multiple proposals per jurisdiction) and may receive multiple awards to each solicitation (one per task)
  • One-year period of performance (POP)
  • $100,000 total, and cost sharing is not required; however, any funds used for voluntary matching or cost-sharing is allowed.

Notice of Funding Opportunity – NASA Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) – Rapid Response Research (R3)

The NASA Rhode Island EPSCoR program is pleased to announce the recent release of the 2023 NASA EPSCoR Rapid Response Research (R3) call. The full solicitation may be found at this link.

This NASA EPSCoR award provides funding up to $100k over a period of 1 year. The full 3-page proposal is due to NASA by December 15, 2022 and our jurisdiction (Rhode Island) is able to submit 6 proposals to NASA to be considered for funding. Each proposal should address one or more of the target areas listed in the solicitation.

Persons interested in this funding opportunity should contact the NASA Rhode Island EPSCoR Director Ralph Milliken and Program Manger Nancy Ciminelli no later than November 11, 2022.

Per NASA requirements, all final proposals will be submitted by the current NASA EPSCoR Lead Institution (Brown University). The Rhode Island NASA EPSCoR Director will work with the proposal teams and their institution(s) to prepare and submit the full proposal, and all final materials are due to the Director (Ralph Milliken) no later than December 5, 2022.

All interested parties throughout the state of Rhode Island are encouraged to submit proposals.

Research teams that involve multiple RI-based institutions, partnerships between academic institutions and local industry, and partnerships with NASA Centers are highly encouraged.

Proposed research projects should be aligned with one or more of the Research Focus Areas outlined in Section 7 of the full proposal call.

What to do if you are interested in this funding opportunity:

  • E-mail the Director Ralph Milliken and Program Manager Nancy Ciminelli no later than November 11, 2022
  • Prepare the proposal and budget in coordination with your institution and Brown University
  • Submit all final materials to Ralph Milliken/Brown University by December 5, 2022.
  • Proposals must clearly describe how they are aligned with NASA goals and which specific objectives in Section 7 of the full proposal call the work will address
  • Proposals should indicate all institutions and NASA Centers that will take part in the proposed work

Any questions about this opportunity, proposal requirements, or other NASA EPSCoR funding opportunities should be directed to Ralph_Milliken@brown.edu.

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