Iowa NASA EPSCoR Research Building Seed Grant Request for Proposals: FY21
 
Proposals Due: October 9, 2020
Awards Announced: October 23, 2020
Period of Performance: October 26, 2020 – August 20, 2021
Report Due: September 24, 2021
 
The Iowa NASA EPSCoR Research Building Seed Grant (RBS) program encourages, supports, and facilitates the development and enhancement of NASA relevant science and engineering research within the State of Iowa. Funding is intended to build research infrastructure and help Iowa’s academic faculty establish NASA collaboration in order to become nationally competitive for NASA EPSCoR research funding.  
 
Research projects must be in an area that is aligned with a new or continuing NASA research priority or technology need, and the proposal narrative must make an explicit connection with NASA and NASA Mission Directorates goals and objectives as identified in NASA 2018 Strategic Plan and the STEM Education Strategic Plan -2018. The research agenda of the Iowa NASA EPSCoR Economic Development program supports the goals and objectives of the state as determined by the Iowa Economic Development Authority. The relevant economy sectors for the RBS include Advanced Manufacturing and Biosciences.
 
RBS awards are intended to initiate new or ongoing research collaborations with NASA, and will allow the PI to begin conducting research important to the Agency, and support graduate or undergraduate students to develop preliminary data for research. Recipients of this grant will be expected to submit concept papers in the next round of Iowa NASA EPSCoR competitions, and propose to national NASA EPSCoR funding opportunities. The RBS proposal should include detailed plans for establishing or strengthening links with NASA researchers. A communication from the NASA researcher that the proposed work is of interest to NASA is required.
 
This grant will promote junior faculty from academia, as well as researchers from industry and government agencies in Iowa. The program encourages participation of PIs who are women, underrepresented minorities, or persons with disabilities.  
 
*Due to the current pandemic situation, travel has been indefinitely restricted to NASA centers. It is expected, therefore, that virtual meetings with NASA collaborators take place.
 
 
RBS Description
 
• Funds may be used to support a Research Building Seed Grant of up to $13,000. 
• Funds may be used to travel to NASA Centers to allow in-person collaborative engagement, resident research experience at a NASA Center, or other forms of collaboration that promote the establishment of a new or ongoing research collaboration building long-term relationships with NASA and other in-state colleagues. 
• Funds may be used for graduate or undergraduate student salary support.
• RBS Grants require a 1:1 match. 
• Faculty must conduct virtual or in-person meetings with NASA collaborators.
• The NASA collaborator must provide a statement of commitment agreeing to host the faculty member if selected and travel restrictions are lifted, and a general description of the type of work the faculty member will assist NASA in advancing.
• Faculty members at any of Iowa’s higher-education institutions are eligible.
• Description of intra-state or industry collaboration opportunity and connection to Iowa’s Economic Development goals is required.
 
Restrictions
 
• All travel must be domestic only • Permanent equipment may NOT be included in the budget for traditional RBS • Proposals shall not include bilateral participation, collaboration, or coordination with China or any Chinese-owned company or entity, whether funded or performed under a no exchange of funds arrangement.  • Limit of one award per year to an individual
 
Proposal Submission PDF documents consisting of the following items should be submitted no later than close of business October 9, 2020 to: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/ff4e242b56b0482db684f0bc9780ae6d

• A research proposal limited to five pages of text that describes the technical and scientific merit, NASA connections to NASA and STEM strategic plans, and links to the NASA Mission Directorates.
• A budget (appropriate for your institution) with a justification for each line item (not included in page count). The budget request should contain up to $13,000 in Direct Costs. For projects that contain support for graduate students, salary and fringe rates must mirror current guidelines set by the institution.
• A two-page vitae of the Principal Investigator (not included in page count)
• A letter or email of support to collaborate from a NASA Center counterpart (not included in page count)