Nasa Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Phase III

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Headquarters, anticipates a release of a solicitation, titled NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC), Phase III, as an Appendix to the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) NASA Research Announcement (NRA), titled Space Technology Research, Development, Demonstration, and Infusion - 2024 (SpaceTech-REDDI-2024), on or about February 7, 2024. 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 - 2024 (SpaceTech-REDDI-2024) NNH24ZTR001N
5. Select List of Open Program Elements
6. Select NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC), Phase III- NNH24ZTR001N-24NIAC_A3"
7. Select NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Phase III 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 for up to two years, to strategically transition Phase II concepts with the highest impact for NASA, 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 the second year of, a NIAC Phase II study that has not already been selected for a Phase III award. Please note that NASA acceptance of the associated NIAC Phase II Final Report is required prior to award (i.e., project start) of a selected Phase III study. Fellows or their designees of the predecessor NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts are no longer eligible to submit Phase III proposals based on those prior Phase II studies.

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 3.5 of the NRA).

Appendix NNH24ZTR001N-24NIAC_A3 seeks a NIAC Phase III award that will implement a strategy for technology transition and utilization of a revolutionary advanced concept initiated through NIAC Phase I and Phase II studies. The Phase I study establishes basic feasibility and clear potential benefit, and the Phase II study extends, refines, and builds upon this foundation. Concepts should be sufficiently well developed at the end of Phase II to seek follow-on development funds from government or commercial programs external to NIAC. However, in rare instances there may be a compelling need for the strategic investment of additional NIAC funds to further advance Phase II technologies with clearly defined transition paths into other NASA, government, or commercial programs. Phase III awards are designed to meet this need, with the anticipated selection of up to one new award per year.

All proposals must be submitted electronically through NSPIRES by an authorized organizational representative (AOR). Detailed submission instructions are provided in the SpaceTech-REDDI-2024 NRA, as well as the NASA Proposer's Guide, Revised February 2023. https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2023-nasa-proposers-guide-final.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-2024 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 a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document, as needed, located on the NSPIRES page associated with the Appendix; anonymity of persons/institutions who submit questions will be preserved.