FY 2019 SD NASA EPSCoR Research Competition

South Dakota NASA EPSCoR Program
Guidelines for Submission of Pre-Proposal for Major Research Grants

This is the call for pre-proposals for the FY 2019 South Dakota NASA EPSCoR Major Research Grant competition. NASA has not yet released the FY 2019 CAN (Cooperative Agreement Notice) for this opportunity, but it will likely be similar to the FY 2017-2018 version, which is linked:

• FY 2017-2018 NASA EPSCoR Research RFP

NASA intends to release the new RFP in late June or early July with a 90-day period for proposal submission.  South Dakota can submit one full proposal to NASA.  The maximum request per proposal is $750,000 with a three-year period of performance.  Cost-sharing is required at a level of 50% with non-federal funds (i.e., $750,000 NASA : $375,000 match).

Each funded NASA EPSCoR proposal is expected to establish research activities that will make significant contributions to the strategic research and technology development priorities of one or more of the NASA Mission Directorates and contribute to the overall research infrastructure, science and technology capabilities, higher education, and economic development of the state of South Dakota.

The SD NASA EPSCoR Steering Committee requests that interested researchers complete the attached Pre-proposal Form and submit it no later than 4:00 pm Mountain Time on June 15, 2018.  US citizenship is not required.

Pre-proposals will be reviewed by the SD NASA EPSCoR Steering Committee.  It is anticipated that the review will be completed by July 1, 2018 and the committee will invite 1-2 researchers or research groups to develop full proposals prior to the deadline for submission to NASA, which is expected to be in late September or early October.  A maximum of one proposal will be forwarded to NASA.

To submit a pre-proposal to the South Dakota NASA EPSCoR Steering Committee use the following forms:

• SD NASA EPSCoR FY 2019 Major Research Grant pre-proposal form
• SD NASA EPSCoR current and pending support form

Guidance for proposal preparation:

1. Proposals must identify research that addresses NASA priorities.
2. Support and/or collaboration with one or more NASA scientists or engineers is essential.
   a. A strong NASA support letter (meaning a science/engineering contact) from a NASA Center is essential.
   b. If possible, the NASA collaboration should be very specific — visits to NASA Centers to use facilities, exchanges of samples, student visits, etc.  The more detailed the interaction, the better the indication of real interest on the part of the NASA collaborators.
3. Proposals should also attempt to address state priorities and diversity and should involve collaboration of two or more institutions in the state. (See “2020 Vision: The South Dakota Science and Innovation Strategy” https://sdepscor.org/2020vision/.)
   a. A multi-institution proposal is strongly recommended (more than one South Dakota university).
   b. A tribal college research and/or education outreach component is extremely valuable.
4. Current or past NASA EPSCoR awardees may participate in new proposals, but the proposals should highlight research personnel and research themes that are distinct from the prior effort (see attachment for specific eligibility restrictions):

• Selection criteria and PI and Co-I eligibility restrictions 2018

5. Projects will have a three year period of performance with total NASA funding of $750,000.
   a. The amount of required non-federal cost-sharing is 50% of the NASA amount ($375,000).

Useful links for NASA EPSCoR and NASA research contacts:

NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate Principal Technologists:
https://www.nasa.gov/content/stmd-principal-technologists

Information on NASA EPSCoR, including abstracts of previous awards:
https://www.nasa.gov/offices/education/programs/national/epscor/home/index.html

NASA Space Technology Roadmaps and Technical Areas:
https://www.nasa.gov/offices/oct/home/roadmaps/index.html

Johnson Space Center database on engineering research needs (potential areas for university partnerships):
https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/engineering_academic_potential_partnerships.pdf

Abstracts of 2017 awards:
https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/2017_epscor_abstracts.pdf

Direct questions on this opportunity to:

Edward F. Duke, Director
South Dakota Space Grant Consortium and
South Dakota NASA EPSCoR Program
501 East Saint Joseph Street
Rapid City, SD 57701-3995
U.S.A.
Voice: 605-394-2388
Email:  Edward.Duke@sdsmt.edu