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Government · Washington, DC

Early Stage Innovations (ESI26)

Due Aug 13, 2026·15 days left·General ConstructionView official posting ↗
Issuing agency
NASA
Method
NASA Research Announcement
PIN
NNH26ZTR001N-26ESI_B2
Location
Washington, DC
Posted
Jul 1, 2026
Takeaways by LightRFP AI

Generate a quick AI overview of this bid, pulled from its details and the attached documents.

Description

1 NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION (NASA) HEADQUARTERS SPACE TECHNOLOGY MISSION DIRECTORATE (STMD) 300 E Street SW Washington, DC 20546-0001 Fiscal Year 2026 Space Technology Research, Development, Demonstration, and Infusion (SpaceTech REDDI) NASA Research Announcement (NRA) ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER: NNH26ZTR001N ASSISTANCE LISTING NUMBER: 43.012 ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Initial Announcement EFFECTIVE DATE: December 09, 2025 – December 08, 2026 KEY DATES Refer to specific Appendices for proposal due dates. OMB Control Number: 2700-0092 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS A. Basic Information 1. Funding Details 2.

Executive Summary 3. Agency Contact Information B. Eligibility 1. Eligible Applicants 2.

Cost Sharing 3. Other Eligibility Criteria C. Program Description D.

Documents15
FY 2026 SpaceTech REDDILink
ST-REDDI-2026_Appendix_B2-ESI26Link
Guidelines for Proposers Responding to SpaceTech-REDDI DAPR Appendices 2026Link
ESI26 Frequently Asked Questions (as of July 01, 2026)Link
ESI26 Technical FAQ - Topic 1 (as of July 23, 2026)Link
ESI26 Technical FAQ - Topic 2 (as of July 10, 2026)Link
ESI26 Technical FAQ - Topic 3 (as of July 01, 2026)Link
ESI26 Technical FAQ - Topic 4 (as of July 15, 2026)Link
ESI26 Technical FAQ - Topic 5 (as of July 10, 2026)Link
ESI26 Technical FAQ - Topic 6 (as of July 01, 2026)Link
ESI26 Technical FAQ - Topic 7 (as of July 01, 2026)Link
ESI26 Technical FAQ - Topic 8 (as of July 01, 2026)Link
ESI26 Anonymized Proposal Summary Chart Template (.pdf)Link
ESI26 Anonymized Proposal Summary Chart Template (.pptx)Link
Grants and Cooperative Agreement Manual (GCAM)PDF

Contact

Phone
(202) 479-9376
Address
Washington, DC
Full source recordfrom NASA
Detail
Type
NASA Research Announcement
Dates
Release
Jul 01, 2026
ESI26 MPP Proposals Due
Aug 13, 2026
Title
Early Stage Innovations (ESI26)
Number
NNH26ZTR001N-26ESI_B2
Pdf Text
1 NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION (NASA) HEADQUARTERS SPACE TECHNOLOGY MISSION DIRECTORATE (STMD) 300 E Street SW Washington, DC 20546-0001 Fiscal Year 2026 Space Technology Research, Development, Demonstration, and Infusion (SpaceTech REDDI) NASA Research Announcement (NRA) ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER: NNH26ZTR001N ASSISTANCE LISTING NUMBER: 43.012 ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Initial Announcement EFFECTIVE DATE: December 09, 2025 – December 08, 2026 KEY DATES Refer to specific Appendices for proposal due dates. OMB Control Number: 2700-0092 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS A. Basic Information .....................................................................................................................3 1. Funding Details ...................................................................................................................3 2. Executive Summary ............................................................................................................4 3. Agency Contact Information ...............................................................................................4 B. Eligibility ...................................................................................................................................5 1. Eligible Applicants ..............................................................................................................5 2. Cost Sharing ........................................................................................................................5 3. Other Eligibility Criteria......................................................................................................5 C. Program Description ................................................................................................................6 D. Application Contents and Format .......................................................................................... 7 1. Notice of Intent to Propose..................................................................................................7 2. Proposal Format and Contents.............................................................................................7 E. Submission Requirements and Deadlines ............................................................................ 11 1. How To Request an Application Package ........................................................................ 11 2. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM) .................. 11 3. Registration Information .................................................................................................. 11 4. Submission Instructions ................................................................................................... 11 5. Application Submission Deadline .................................................................................... 12 6. Other Submission Requirements ...................................................................................... 12 F. Application Review Information .......................................................................................... 13 1. Application Evaluation Criteria ........................................................................................ 13 2. Review and Selection Process .......................................................................................... 13 3. Process for Appeals .......................................................................................................... 15 G. Award Notices .........................................................................................................................16 1. Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates .................................................... 16 2. Notice of Award ............................................................................................................... 16 H. Post-Award Requirements and Administration.................................................................. 17 1. Administrative and National Policy Requirements ........................................................... 17 2. NASA Terms and Conditions ........................................................................................... 17 3. Funding Restrictions ......................................................................................................... 17 4. Environmental Statement ................................................................................................. 18 5. Reporting .......................................................................................................................... 18 I. Other Information ................................................................................................................. 20 1. Solicitation Updates and Notifications ............................................................................. 20 2. Access to NASA Facilities/Systems ................................................................................. 21 3. Additional Grant and Contract Requirements .................................................................. 21 J. Additional References ............................................................................................................22 3 A. Basic Information 1. Funding Details Available Funding for the SpaceTech REDDI NASA Research Announcement (NRA) No funding is offered under this SpaceTech REDDI NRA umbrella solicitation. Funding information will be available in each Appendix. The Government’s ability to make awards from the Appendices depends upon the availability of appropriated funds and NASA receiving applications that are acceptable to award. While no funding is associated with this omnibus NOFO, the individual appendices may result in awards with values ranging from $84k to $2M per Award. Anticipated Number of Awards Each Appendix will provide the anticipated total amount of funds available, any funding limitations, and the potential number of proposal awards. NASA reserves the right to select for award all, some, or none of the proposals in response to an Appendix call for proposals. A total amount of approximately 300 awards may result from appendices issued under this omnibus NOFO. Anticipated Period of Performance The period of performance (duration of the grant) will be included in each Appendix. Period of performance can range from one year for limited scope activities to multiple years for extensive activities. Proposals need to include justification for proposed Period of Performance. Proposed Period of Performance will be peer reviewed, and NASA may select proposals for shorter award periods than proposed. Federal Award Information Awards are authorized by The National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, 51 United States Code (U.S.C.) § 20113(e), as amended, which promotes “the preservation of the role of the United States as a leader in aeronautical and space science and technology and in the application thereof to the conduct of peaceful activities within and outside the atmosphere.” Funding Instrument Type(s) SpaceTech REDDI NRA Appendix Awards may include grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts. Appendices may indicate the specific type of award. Proposals from Federal Agencies and NASA Centers, if selected, may be funded through Inter-agency and intra-agency agreements. A NASA Award Officer will determine the appropriate award instrument for the selected proposals. If a contract is the award instrument, FAR Part 12 contracts WILL NOT be awarded under this NRA. No funds awarded through the Appendices can be applied as contributions to Space Act Agreements or other NASA awards. Grants and cooperative agreements will be subject to the policies and provisions identified in the regulations at 2 Code of Federal Regulations 2 CFR 200 and 2 CFR 1800, NASA Grant and Cooperative Agreement Manual (GCAM). If cooperative agreements are to be awarded, the relevant Appendix will describe the anticipated NASA involvement. 4 Contract awards will be subject to the provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and the NASA FAR Supplement (NFS). 2. Executive Summary This NRA entitled “Space Technology Research, Development, Demonstration, and Infusion (SpaceTech REDDI)” is the NASA STMD umbrella NRA solicitation for FY 2026. Proposals will be solicited through Appendices under this umbrella solicitation as technology topics are defined and funding is made available. See STMD Solicitations for anticipated releases. NASA STMD leads the development, demonstration, and infusion of transformational space technologies that solve critical stakeholder needs. As the tech base for civil space, STMD advances technology to support future NASA, other government, and commercial missions. STMD investments aim to (1) advance U.S. space technology innovation and competitiveness in a global context, (2) encourage technology driven economic growth with an emphasis on the expanding space economy, and (3) inspire and develop a powerful U.S. aerospace technology community. STMD bolsters and funds ideas from entrepreneurs, researchers, and innovators across the country. Space technology research and development occurs at NASA centers, universities, national labs, and small businesses. If programmatic changes affect this umbrella solicitation, or any of its Appendices, an amendment to this umbrella solicitation and/or Appendix (along with any applicable questions/answers) will be posted on NSPIRES (NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System). Each potential proposer is responsible for checking this webpage for updates. 3. Agency Contact Information General questions and comments about this NRA may be directed in writing to: Space Technology Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters Email: HQ-STMD-SpaceTech- REDDI@nasaprs.com. Proposals shall not be submitted to this email address. Specific Appendix questions and proposals shall be submitted as described in the relevant Appendix. Telephone requests will not be accepted. NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES) NSPIRES is the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System. This web-based system supports the entire lifecycle of NASA research solicitation and selection, from the release of Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) through proposal submission, the peer review and the decision process. Applicants may search for and apply for funding opportunities available at NASA through NSPIRES. For technical assistance with NSPIRES, please contact the NSPIRES Help Desk at nspires-help@nasaprs.com or (202) 479-9376, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM ET. Grants.gov Grants.gov is the government-wide electronic grants portal and interested parties can search for grant opportunities on this site. For technical assistance with Grants.gov, call the customer support hotline 24 hours per day, 7 days per week (except federal holidays) at (800) 518-4726 or email support@grants.gov. 5 B. Eligibility 1. Eligible Applicants To the greatest extent practicable, participation will be open to all categories of U.S. and non- U.S. organizations (See B.3. Other Eligibility Criteria- Proposals Involving Non-U.S. Organizations), including educational, industry, nonprofit institutions, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs), NASA Centers, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and other Government agencies. However, per GCAM 4.0(8), NASA Centers, NASA civil servants, facilities, and JPL may not be recipients of a NASA grant, cooperative agreement, or subaward from a NASA grant or cooperative agreement recipient. Individual Appendices may identify specific eligibility limitations that apply to that relevant opportunity. 2. Cost Sharing Appendices under this NRA will explicitly state whether or not cost sharing is required. If cost-sharing is required, the Appendix will state the amount or the percentage of the award that the applicant must contribute as cost sharing, and if in-kind contributions are allowable as part of the cost-share requirement. For Contracts: FAR Parts 30 and 31, and NFS Parts 1830 and 1831 outline criteria and procedures for the allowability and allocability of cash and non-cash contributions. For Grants and Cooperative Agreements: GCAM 10.8.3 and GCAM 23.0 outline cost sharing/ matching criteria and procedures. 3. Other Eligibility Criteria Unless limited by an Appendix, there is no restriction on the number of proposals an organization may submit in response to an Appendix or on teaming arrangements for any one proposal. Each proposal must be a separate, stand-alone, complete document for evaluation purposes. Appendices may also restrict the number of proposals that a Principal Investigator (PI) or key participant may submit. Proposing to more than one Appendix at the same time is permitted, as long as the proposal aligns with the Appendix and the proposed efforts can be completed, if selected. Proposals Involving Non-U.S. Organizations Appendices may allow proposals from non-U.S. organizations and proposals that include the participation of non-U.S. organizations (except as outlined in the NASA Designated Countries List). See GCAM 9.4 for instructions and guidance. Unless under exceptional circumstances, per 2 CFR 1800.3(c), NASA does not fund foreign research proposals from foreign organizations or foreign public entities, nor efforts by individuals at foreign organizations as part of U.S. research proposals. Proposals submitted by a U.S. organization that include research to be performed by a non-U.S. organization or with a non-U.S. organization are normally supported on a no-exchange-of-funds basis. See GCAM 9.4 for instructions and guidance. For contracts, see NFS 1852.235-72 Instructions for responding to NASA Research Announcements (l) Additional guidelines applicable to foreign proposals including foreign participation. 6 Export-Control Guidelines Applicable to Foreign Proposals and Proposals Including Foreign Participation Foreign proposals and proposals including foreign participation shall contain a section discussing compliance with U.S. export laws and regulations, e.g., 22 CFR 120-130 and 15 CFR 730-774, including the status and projected timeline of applicable Department of State or Department of Commerce Prior Approval via a technical assistance agreement or an export license. U.S. export regulation information is available at U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security. See GCAM 16.7, GCAM 16.8, and GCAM 16.9 for instructions and guidance. Export-Controlled Material in Proposals See GCAM 16.9 for instructions and guidance. Ineligibility of Proposals That Include Participation of China or Chinese-Owned Companies Proposals involving bilateral participation, collaboration, or coordination in any way with China or any Chinese-owned company, whether funded or performed under a no- exchange-of-funds basis, shall be ineligible for award. Restriction on the Use of Classified Material See GCAM 16.5 for instructions and guidance. C. Program Description Since its beginning, STMD has used a Technology Strategy to guide its investment strategy. The Framework was developed to align with Agency priorities, including the Moon to Mars Objectives and Science Decadal Surveys. The Technology Strategy provides context and traceability from overarching mission needs to high level goals, to the technological advances STMD should prioritize, and the specific technical challenges that must be addressed. The Strategic Framework is also aligned with the NASA TechPort - Taxonomy. The 2024 Civil Space Shortfall Ranking integrates input received from NASA Mission Directorates and Centers, small and large industry organizations, other government agencies, academia, and other interested individuals, to help guide the space technology development and investments. Additional Civil Space Shortfall Ranking information is available at civil-space-shortfall-descriptions-july-2024.pdf For the latest information about STMD, visit Space Technology Mission Directorate - NASA. As requirements are defined and funding is made available, Appendices to this umbrella NRA will provide key information including specific scope of work, notice of intent and proposal due dates, proposal content instructions, evaluation criteria, and anticipated budget for new awards, and number of awards anticipated. The provisions in any Appendix will apply to that specific opportunity and will supersede any conflicting provisions in this umbrella solicitation or in the GCAM. Refer to STMD Solicitations and Opportunities and NASA TechPort - Funding Opportunities for Appendices that have been released and anticipated release dates for future releases. Examples of Funded Projects Awards resulting from Appendices to REDDI may be accessed via the following links: NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts NIAC Funded Studies - NASA 7 Space Technology Research Grants Space Technology Research Grants - NASA NASA Space Technology Graduate Research Opportunities (NSTGRO) Early Career Faculty (ECF) Early Stage Innovations (ESI) Lunar Surface Technology Research (LuSTR) Space Technology Research Institutes (STRI) Flight Opportunities Flight Opportunities - NASA Small Spacecraft Technologies SST Partnerships - NASA More comprehensive information on opportunities to engage with NASA (i.e., STMD and other Mission Directorates and Offices) in technology development efforts may be found here: NASA TechPort - Funding Opportunities. NASA Strategic Plan NASA’s Vision, Mission, and Strategic Goals and Objectives can be found in the NASA Strategic Plan. The NASA Strategic Plan outlines the goals and objectives NASA will pursue to fulfill its mission. STMD has primary lead responsibility implementing Strategic Goal 3, Objective 3.1: “Innovate and advance transformational space technologies.” Additionally, STMD contributes to achieving all NASA strategic goals and objectives through developing crosscutting technologies for multiple customers. NASA Safety Policy Safety is the freedom from those conditions that can cause death, injury, occupational illness, damage to or loss of equipment or property, or damage to the environment. NASA’s safety priority is to protect the following: (1) the public, (2) the NASA workforce (including contractor employees working on NASA contracts), (3) high-value equipment and property, and (4) the environment from potential harm as a result of NASA activities and operations by factoring safety as an integral feature of programs, projects, technologies, operations, and facilities. D. Application Contents and Format Some programs will use a one-step submission process while others may use a two-step (or more) submission process (see GCAM 11.1 and GCAM 11.2). Each Appendix will identify whether proposals will be requested, evaluated and selected through a one-step process, two- step process, or a phased down-select process. 1. Notice of Intent to Propose Appendices will indicate whether a Notice of Intent (NOI) to propose is required or requested for a particular opportunity. See GCAM 11.1 for instructions and guidance. 2. Proposal Format and Contents In general, proposals shall be assembled according to the sections in GCAM 10 in the order shown and within the listed page limits. Appendix requirements supersede the GCAM and any requirements in this solicitation. Proposers must follow Appendix proposal organization instructions on proposal sections, required content, and page limits. In some cases, not all sections listed in the GCAM will be required and there may be additional unique Appendix requirements. NASA may reject proposals without review that omit required sections or exceed the page limits. 8 Proposal Cover Page Each proposal shall include a Proposal Cover Page. Instructions for completing the Proposal Cover Page are specific to the electronic proposal submission system used by the proposer (NSPIRES or Grants.gov) and are outlined in GCAM 10.1. The Proposal Cover Page includes the following elements: Proposal Summary (Abstract) See GCAM 10.1.1 for requirements. Budget If the budget form within NSPIRES is used, the budget figures must be entered on the Proposal Cover Page. If the Appendix specifies a separate budget form, neither the NSPIRES nor Grants.gov budget form is required. Budget figures for all years of the proposed project (including sub-awards and NASA team member costs) must be included. Proposers should refer to GCAM 10.8 and specific Appendix budget instructions. Program Specific Data (PSD) This section consists of questions specific to the relevant Appendix. Responses are required whether the proposal is submitted through NSPIRES or Grants.gov. NSPIRES will automatically prompt the proposer to answer the PSD questions prior to submission. Grants.gov submissions that do not include the NASA PSD form may be deemed non- compliant and rejected without review. Proposal Team Every identified individual expected to have a role in the execution of the proposed effort shall be identified on the proposal cover page, using the most appropriate personnel role described in GCAM 9.1.3. Registration must be completed in NSPIRES as outlined in GCAM 9.1.2. The organizational affiliation on the cover page must be the organization through which the team member would work and receive funding while participating in the proposed effort. If the individual has multiple affiliations, then this organization may be different from the individual’s primary employer or preferred mailing address. For proposals submitted through Grants.gov, note the special requirement for statements of commitment from team members described in GCAM 10.7. For proposals submitted through NSPIRES, statements of commitment from team members are not needed, since the acknowledgement of participation is part of completing the cover page. Required Certifications, Assurances and Representations For grants and cooperative agreements: Per 2 CFR 200.209 NASA requires proposers to complete NASA specific certifications, assurances, and agreements in NSPIRES as part of the proposal submission process. Proposers may also be required to include special notifications or certifications regarding the impact of research concerning the environment, human, or animal care provisions; conflicts of interest; or other topics as may be required by statute, Executive Order, or Government policies. See GCAM Appendix A Proposal Quad Chart/Summary Chart If a Quad Chart/Summary Chart is required, the format will be specified in each Appendix. This 8.5 x11 inch page Chart provides a quick stand-alone proposal overview. The Chart should not contain proprietary/sensitive data and be suitable for NASA to publicly release with award announcements. This required Quad/Summary chart does not normally count against Technical and Management Section page limits. The Quad/Summary chart in Individual Appendices may 9 reserve a quadrant to allow proprietary information (such as cost) to be included. Such data will not be shared with the public. Biographical Sketches and Current and Pending (Other) Support for Covered Individuals See GCAM 10.5 Biographical Sketches and GCAM 10.6 Current and Pending (Other) Support Disclosures for requirements. Facilities, Equipment, and Other Resources See GCAM 10.9 Facilities, Equipment, and Other Resources for requirements. Additional Cost Proposal/Budget Guidelines NASA will show all of the proposal data, including cost data, to peer reviewers during the evaluation process. Peer Reviewers may be from within or outside the Government and will be required to certify that they have no financial or other conflict of interest in the outcome of the review. Proposals with NASA Civil Servants: Proposals that include NASA Centers (as a funded Team Lead or Team Member) must include budgets based on full-cost accounting as described in Table 1. The Proposal Cover Page must include Agency Identification under Team Member Information and the NASA civil servant full-time equivalent designation under the NASA Civil Servant Project Personnel information. Per GCAM 4.0(8), NASA civil servants may not be recipients of a NASA grant, cooperative agreement, or subaward from a NASA grant or cooperative agreement recipient. However, NASA civil servants who plan to perform research and/or collaborate with a recipient in support of an awarded grant or cooperative agreement may be funded for their efforts through the Agency’s intra-agency funding transfer process. Table 1 Include Do Not Include Costs paid out of resultant award. Costs paid from a separate NASA budget (e.g. Center Management and Operations (CM&O)) Direct civil service labor, travel, service pools, and other charges to the proposed research task For each NASA civil servant team member proposed: • Names • Fraction of FTE (Fulltime Equivalent) involvement • Funds requested (including salary, fringe, materials, travel, etc.) Total Requested Funds for the NASA civil servant team members. Total cost of the effort, including the proposal amount plus all NASA civil servant fully burdened costs (per standard NASA accounting practices for the work- years proposed). The total cost of the effort will be compared to the amount of funds available per award. For example: if the proposer’s proposed cost is $100K and the NASA civil servant cost is $15K, then the total cost of the effort is $115K. Proposals submitted by NASA Centers and Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL): NASA Center proposals budget sections should begin with a funding breakdown by NASA Center and fiscal year. JPL PIs should not include the JPL fixed fee in the total requested amount, nor should JPL Co-I budget proposals from other institutions include the JPL fixed fee in their total requested 10 amount. The total requested amount is the amount that shows on the NSPIRES online (cover page) budget form, Grants.gov standard budget form, or an Appendix-specific budget form. JPL Proposers and Co-Is may include the fixed fee for informational purposes in their budget narratives and detailed budgets. Note per GCAM 4.0(8), NASA Centers and JPL may not be recipients of a NASA grant, cooperative agreement, or subaward from a NASA grant or cooperative agreement recipient. Non-NASA U.S. Government Organizations proposing as team members should propose based on full-cost accounting. If no full-cost accounting standards are in effect, proposers should follow the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board Managerial Cost Accounting Standards. Proposal budgets must include all costs that will be paid through the resulting award. Contract Costs: Allowable Costs are covered in FAR Part 31 and NFS Part 31. Per FAR 15.403-4, a Certificate of Current Cost or Pricing Data is required after negotiations and before contract award when the cost proposal exceeds $2,000,000. Grant and Cooperative Agreement Awards with Nonprofit Organizations (including Universities and Hospitals): Pre-Award and Allowable Costs for awards that do not involve cost sharing are covered in 2 CFR 200 Subpart E – Cost Principles. International Space Station (ISS) Research, Development, Demonstration Opportunities The ISS provides proposers with a national laboratory resource with unique environments for the development of space technologies. If the proposer intends to use ISS, information on accommodations for ISS research, development, and demonstration is available at Opportunities and Information for Researchers - NASA. A letter of feasibility is required for any proposal seeking to utilize the ISS or its commercial launch assets. The letter of feasibility must be coordinated with the Space Station Research and Technology Organization - NASA well in advance of proposal submission. Note: For awards involving activities going to the ISS, a Cross-Waiver of Liability Clause will be required for Contracts per Code of Federal Regulations, Title 14, Section 1266.102. For Grants and Cooperative Agreements see GCAM 24.1. Data Management Plan (DMP) All proposals submitted under this NRA are required to submit a Data Management Plan (DMP) in accordance with the NASA Plan for Increasing Access to the Results of Scientific Research located at http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/NASA_Data_Plan.pdf. See GCAM 10.11 for instructions and guidance. Data and Evaluation Costs Per 2 CFR 200.455 costs related to data and evaluation are allowable grant expenditures. Small Business Subcontracting Plan (Contracts Only) FAR 52.219-9 Small Business Subcontracting Plan applies to proposals from other than small business concerns (including non-profit organizations and universities) that exceed $750,000 and offer subcontracting possibilities. Subcontract plans shall be submitted and negotiated after selection. 11 E. Submission Requirements and Deadlines Refer to GCAM 9.0 for an “Overview of Steps to Apply for NASA Grants”. 1. How To Request an Application Package Link to SpaceTech REDDI NSPIRES NNH26ZTR001N This solicitation, the Appendices, and the GCAM contain all the information needed to respond to issued Appendices. Proposers are responsible for following the procedures in these documents. Proposals that do not meet the required standards may be declared non-compliant and rejected without review. Where this solicitation and the GCAM are in conflict, this solicitation takes precedence. Appendix provisions will be specific to that opportunity and supersede any conflicting solicitation or GCAM provisions. 2. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM) Each applicant for NASA funding (unless the applicant is an individual or is granted an exception by a Grant Officer utilizing flexibilities in 2 CFR 25.110) is required to follow requirements in 2 CFR 25.200 and 2 CFR 25.205 which stipulates that applicants must: • Be registered in SAM.gov before submitting an application; • Provide its UEI in each application or plan it submits to NASA. UEIs may be obtained by registering in SAM.gov; and • Continue to maintain an active registration in SAM.gov with current information at all times during which there is an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by NASA. NASA does not make awards or financial modifications to existing awards to entities unless they have an active SAM.gov registration with current information. See GCAM 9.1.1 for additional information. 3. Registration Information See GCAM 9.1.2 for full registration instructions. All organizations, entities, institutions and individuals named in the proposal shall register in NSPIRES (even if submitting via Grants.gov). NASA only issues awards to organizations (including sole proprietorships) and not to individuals. Therefore, proposers must use the NSPIRES registration module to affiliate with an organization (unless excluded per 2 CFR 25.110). NASA may not evaluate proposals submitted via Grants.gov if the organization does not register in NSPIRES prior to Grants.gov proposal submission. 4. Submission Instructions The Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) must submit all Appendix proposals in response to this solicitation in an electronic form. The AOR’s electronic submission of the proposal serves as the required original signature by an authorized official of the proposing organization. Proposals submitted via hard copy, email, or any means other than NSPIRES or Grants.gov will not be accepted. Solicitation Appendices will indicate if proposals may be submitted via NSPIRES only or if submission via either NSPIRES or Grants.gov is permitted. Proposers must not submit the same proposal to both NSPIRES and Grants.gov. Generative Artificial Intelligence The use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, such as ChatGPT, or professional human writers is permitted. However, proposers and grantees must 12 acknowledge content that is not the creative product of the proposal team. Thus, any material contained in proposals (or in reports) to NASA that is not the product of the team must be cited, e.g., either the name of the professional writer and a statement describing to which portions of the document they contributed or, if AI is used, the name of the program, version number, the date and time, and a statement on how the Generative AI was used. Additional submission instructions are available at GCAM 11.4. Difficulty in registering or using proposal submission systems (either NSPIRES or Grants.gov) is not a sufficient reason for NASA to consider a proposal submitted after the deadline. Proposers are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with the system and begin the submittal process early, well in advance of the deadline. 5. Application Submission Deadline Individual appendices will provide due dates for proposals. Normally, electronic proposals must be submitted by the AOR no later than 5:00pm ET on the required due date. If any due dates in the Appendices conflict with this umbrella solicitation, the Appendix due date takes precedence. Proposers are encouraged to complete all required registrations, be familiar with the required systems, and submit proposals at least 48 hours before the submission deadline, in case of server/connection congestion. Proposals submitted after the proposal deadline on the proposal due date will be considered late and may be rejected without review. Late proposals will be handled in accordance with NFS 1852.235-72, NFS 1835.016-71, and NFS 1815.208. Please note that the NSPIRES Help Desk is not staffed after 6:00pm ET. Proposal Receipt If submitting via NSPIRES, NSPIRES will notify the AOR and PI via email upon successful proposal submission by the AOR. Proposers can also verify that their proposals were submitted by logging into NSPIRES and verifying that the proposal record appears in the “Submitted Proposals” (versus “Unsubmitted Proposals”) section of their accounts. Proposers that do not receive a verification email or experience issues verifying submission may contact the help desk prior to the application due date. If submitting via Grants.gov, it is the proposer’s responsibility to ensure the successful submission of its proposal and to ensure that all required parts of the proposal are incorporated. Sections of proposals transferred from Grants.gov to NSPIRES may appear in a slightly different order. Proposers should expect to receive notification from NSPIRES of a successful transfer submission to that system. Contact the NSPIRES Help Desk if notification is not received. Conflict of Interest Check Information The integrity of the peer review process is of utmost importance to STMD. The peer review process will be conducted in accordance with STMD’s Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI) Mitigation Plan and GCAM 12.3.2. Proposal Cover Page Organizational Information is used to collect the information required to verify any potential OCIs. Proposers using Grants.gov should ensure that all information requested in the Grants.gov response structure is provided. 6. Other Submission Requirements • Proposals must be submitted as searchable, unlocked PDF files. The appendices will specify whether the proposal submission will require one PDF file or multiple PDF files. The PDF file must be attached to the electronic submission using one of the proposal 13 submission systems. See the NSPIRES User Guide PDF Guidelines for more information on creating NSPIRES compliant PDF documents. Proposals that do not meet NASA PDF files requirements may be declared non-compliant and may not be evaluated. • Appendices using Dual Anonymous Peer Review (DAPR) require proposals broken into two (or more) parts: (1) an anonymized proposal for peer review and (2) a separate non- anonymized document containing elements that would reveal the identities and affiliations of participating researchers (such as expertise, facilities, and resources). Some appendices also require a quad chart/summary chart to be provided as a separate upload. Any appendix using DAPR will provide detailed instructions on proposal preparation to include using the “Other Documents” on the appendix’s NSPIRES page. • Some appendices may require other proposal components to be provided as separate uploads. Any appendix requiring such separate PDF files will provide detailed instructions on proposal preparation in the appendix. • It is each proposer’s responsibility to verify the accuracy and completeness of their proposal, including all text, figures, tables, and required forms. NSPIRES allows applicants to verify before submission that all information contained in proposal PDF file(s) being provided to NSPIRES is complete and accurate. • There is a 20MB file size limit for proposals (see GCAM 11.4.3). In order to meet the 20MB file size limit, any embedded photos and graphic files should be cropped and compressed to an appropriate size and resolution. Only attachments specified in this NRA or the relevant appendix should be submitted. Collection of Demographic Information NASA collects demographic data from grant applicants for the purpose of analyzing demographic differences associated with its award processes. Information collected may include name, sex, race, ethnicity, and disability status. Submission of the information is voluntary and is not a precondition of award. F. Application Review Information 1. Application Evaluation Criteria STMD typically uses the evaluation criteria described below. These evaluation criteria supersede the criteria defined in GCAM 12.3.1. • Relevance • Technical Approach • Management Approach • Cost The appendices will provide additional evaluation information and may contain fewer, additional, or tailored evaluation criteria. Appendices will also include relative evaluation criteria weightings. If any criteria in the appendices conflict with this umbrella solicitation, the appendix criteria take precedence. Proposals will be evaluated based on stand-alone content and must be responsive to the relevant appendix. Proposals must be self-sufficient; referenced websites or other documents cannot be evaluated and should not be included in the proposal. 2. Review and Selection Process Administrative Review NASA will prescreen all proposals for compliance with this umbrella solicitation and relevant appendix. Proposals must be: 14 • Complete and include all required elements • Submitted by an eligible proposer, as defined in the umbrella solicitation and relevant appendix • Consistent with required page limitations and formatting guidelines Non-compliant proposals may not be further considered. If a proposal passes the administrative review, but peer review evaluates the proposal as out-of-scope, NASA reserves the right to eliminate the proposal from further review. Proposers will be informed of all proposals determined as out of scope. Proposal Rejected Without Review NASA reserves the right to reject a proposal without review for several reasons. See GCAM 12.1 for full information. Technical and Programmatic Review A panel of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) will assess each proposal against the evaluation criteria. NASA seeks to leverage SMEs who represent a range of stakeholders and expertise. This SME panel may include NASA, non-NASA, other Government Agency, and non- Government personnel. Selection procedures will be consistent with GCAM 12, unless otherwise stated in the appendix. Cost Evaluation may also include the realism and reasonableness of the proposed cost and comparison to available funds. Proposers must follow the budget format requirements in GCAM 10.8 and the Appendix. The STMD Associate Administrator will be the Selection Official, unless otherwise stated in the appendix. The Selection Official may take portfolio balance and o
Documents
Title
Grants and Cooperative Agreement Manual (GCAM)
Directorate
Space Technology Mission Directorate
File Excerpt
1 NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION (NASA) HEADQUARTERS SPACE TECHNOLOGY MISSION DIRECTORATE (STMD) 300 E Street SW Washington, DC 20546-0001 Fiscal Year 2026 Space Technology Research, Development, Demonstration, and Infusion (SpaceTech REDDI) NASA Research Announcement (NRA) ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER: NNH26ZTR001N ASSISTANCE LISTING NUMBER: 43.012 ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Initial Announcement EFFECTIVE DATE: December 09, 2025 – December 08, 2026 KEY DATES Refer to specific Appendices for proposal due dates. OMB Control Number: 2700-0092 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS A. Basic Information 1. Funding Details 2. Executive Summary 3. Agency Contact Information B. Eligibility 1. Eligible Applicants 2. Cost Sharing 3. Other Eligibility Criteria C. Program Description D.
Release Date
Jul 01, 2026
Contact Email
reddi@nasaprs.com
Contact Phone
(202) 479-9376
Proposals Due
Aug 13, 2026
Listing
Sol Id
{6C484060-6A93-367A-DBC6-394F5FA30B96}
Title
Early Stage Innovations (ESI26)
Number
NNH26ZTR001N-26ESI_B2
Prop Due
08/13/2026
Sponsor Org
NASA:HQ:STMD:STRG
Detail Fetched
Yes

Source: NASA (solicitation NSPIRES:NNH26ZTR001N-26ESI_B2), retrieved via a public procurement portal. View the official posting — always confirm requirements and deadlines with the issuing agency.