NASA INNOVATIVE ADVANCED CONCEPTS (NIAC) PHASE II

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Headquarters, anticipates a release of a solicitation, titled “NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC), Phase II,” as an Appendix to the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) NASA Research Announcement (NRA), titled “Space Technology Research, Development, Demonstration, and Infusion - 2023 (SpaceTech-REDDI-2023),” on or about October 14, 2022.  Once the Appendix is posted, complete details (to include due dates) can be accessed via the following steps:

1. Open the NSPIRES homepage at https://nspires.nasaprs.com/
2. Select "Solicitations"
3. Select "Open”
4. Select "Space Technology Research, Development, Demonstration, and Infusion - 2023 (SpaceTech-REDDI-2023) 80HQTR23NOA01”
5. Select “List of Open Program Elements”
6. Select “NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC), Phase II-80HQTR23NOA01-23NIAC_A2"
7. Select “NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Phase II Solicitation Document" under Announcement Documents.

The NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Program currently supports innovative research through multiple phases of study.  Phase I awards are nine-month efforts to explore the overall feasibility and viability of visionary concepts.  Phase II awards are for up to two years, to further develop the most promising Phase I concepts, and to explore potential infusion options within and beyond NASA.  Phase III awards are designed to strategically advance and transition the most promising NIAC Phase II concepts to other NASA programs, other government agencies, or commercial partners.

This Appendix is open to all categories of U.S organizations, providing they have successfully completed, or are actively completing, a NIAC Phase I study that has not previously received a Phase II award.  NIAC Fellows or their designees of the predecessor NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts are no longer eligible to submit Phase II proposals based on those prior Phase I studies. Typically, Phase I final reports must be submitted before the Phase II proposal.  For this solicitation, the Phase I final report must be submitted to the NIAC Program Office by January 11, 2023 (5 PM ET).  If the Phase I final report is not received by this date and time, the submitted proposal will not be reviewed and proposers will need to submit to a future NIAC Phase II solicitation.

NIAC Principal Investigators (PIs), also known as NIAC Fellows, and team members may be affiliated with any type of U.S organization. Teaming by non-U.S. organizations in proposed efforts is permitted but subject to NASA’s policy on foreign participation (see Section 3.3 of the NRA).

Appendix 80HQTR23NOA01-23NIAC_A2 seeks NIAC Phase II awards that will continue the exploration and development of revolutionary advanced concepts initiated through a NIAC Phase I award.  While the Phase I study establishes basic feasibility and clear potential benefit, the Phase II study extends, refines, and builds upon this foundation.  Phase II studies address key remaining unknowns, assumptions, risks, and paths forward.  This should explicitly include a roadmap to implementation, development steps and associated schedule, and key enabling technologies.    These results should provide a sound basis for NASA to consider the concept for further development and a future mission, substantiated with a description of applicable scientific and technical disciplines necessary for development.

All proposals must be submitted electronically through NSPIRES by an authorized organizational representative (AOR).  Detailed submission instructions are provided in the SpaceTech-REDDI-2023 NRA, as well as the Guidebook for Proposers, Revised February 4, 2022/Effective February 18, 2022, https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/nasa_guidebook_for_proposers-feb_2022_tagged.pdf. Potential proposers and their proposing organizations are urged to familiarize themselves with the submission system, ensure they are registered in NSPIRES, and submit the required proposal materials well in advance of the deadline.

Interested proposers should monitor the NSPIRES website or subscribe to the electronic notification system there for release of the SpaceTech-REDDI-2023 Appendices.

Technical, programmatic, and procurement comments and questions may be addressed by e-mail to hq-niac@mail.nasa.gov.  Responses to inquiries will be answered by e-mail and may also be included in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document located on the NSPIRES page associated with the Appendix; anonymity of persons/institutions who submit questions will be preserved.