FY 2017 NASA EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM TO STIMULATE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT NOTICE {CAN} | NNH17ZHA002C

Opportunity Information: Apply for NNH17ZHA002C

The FY 2017 NASA Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN), Funding Opportunity Number NNH17ZHA002C, is a discretionary NASA funding opportunity designed to strengthen research and education capacity in jurisdictions that historically receive a smaller share of federal R&D funding. NASA plans to make awards through a merit-based, peer-reviewed competition, with each selected project funded via a cooperative agreement (meaning NASA expects an active partnership role rather than a hands-off grant). Subject to available appropriations, the program anticipates making about 10 awards, with an award ceiling of up to $750,000 total per project over a 36-month period. The opportunity falls under CFDA 43.008 and is categorized in the education funding activity area, reflecting NASA EPSCoR's dual emphasis on research capability and workforce development.

The core purpose of this CAN is to build durable, competitive research programs in EPSCoR jurisdictions in areas that matter directly to NASA's mission. Proposals are expected to contribute to and promote the development of research capability in strategic NASA-relevant disciplines, while also improving a jurisdiction's ability to attract and sustain funding from outside the NASA EPSCoR program over the long term. Another major emphasis is partnership-building: NASA is looking for projects that connect NASA research assets (such as centers, facilities, and technical expertise) with universities and industry collaborators, creating networks that can continue after the award ends. Beyond individual research results, the solicitation is explicitly aimed at strengthening the overall research infrastructure of the jurisdiction, boosting science and technology capacity, supporting higher education, and contributing to broader economic development. A further stated objective is to improve the environment for STEM education, which typically includes activities that enhance student preparation, training, and engagement aligned with NASA-related fields.

Eligibility is tightly restricted by statute. Under Public Law 102-588, NASA will accept proposals only from the official NASA EPSCoR Directors serving at the designated lead institutions in eligible jurisdictions, and each eligible jurisdiction may submit only one proposal to this solicitation. The jurisdictions listed as eligible for submission under this CAN are: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Idaho, Guam, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming. The eligible applicant type is tied to state-controlled institutions of higher education through those jurisdictional lead arrangements. Jurisdiction eligibility is determined using the National Science Foundation EPSCoR eligibility tables (NASA references the NSF tables for the applicable fiscal year), which provide the formal basis for which states and territories qualify.

From an applicant standpoint, the practical takeaway is that individual faculty, departments, or universities do not apply directly on their own unless they are working through their jurisdiction's NASA EPSCoR Director and the designated lead institution. Because only one proposal per jurisdiction is permitted, selection within a state or territory typically requires internal coordination and prioritization before submission. The original closing date for this FY 2017 competition was March 16, 2017, and awards were intended to support multi-year projects that both advance NASA-aligned research and leave behind stronger local capacity, deeper NASA-academia-industry ties, and improved STEM pathways that help the jurisdiction compete more effectively for future external funding.

• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2017 NASA EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM TO STIMULATE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT NOTICE {CAN}" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 43.008.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2016-12-05.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-03-16. (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 $750,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

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