Opportunity Information: Apply for NNH21ZEA001N ULI
NASA Headquarters is offering the University Leadership Initiative (ULI) under funding opportunity number NNH21ZEA001N as a discretionary research and development program funded through cooperative agreements (CFDA 43.002). The core purpose of ULI is to put university-led teams in a true leadership role, not just as performers of predefined tasks. Teams are expected to define compelling aeronautics challenges, build multidisciplinary technical approaches that can realistically tackle those challenges, and demonstrate strong organizational leadership through how they structure collaboration, manage decision-making, and maintain research quality. A notable emphasis is placed on setting up peer-review mechanisms within the team or consortium and using creative teaming strategies that improve research impact across multiple disciplines and institutions.
The solicitation requests proposals aligned with several aeronautics topic areas listed in Appendix D.4. These areas track NASA aeronautics strategic thrusts and include: safe and efficient growth in global operations; innovation in commercial supersonic aircraft; ultra-efficient subsonic transports; safe, quiet, and affordable vertical lift air vehicles; in-time system-wide safety assurance; assured autonomy for aviation transformation; zero emission aviation; and materials and structures for next-generation aerospace systems. In practical terms, this means applicants should anchor their proposed challenge and research plan in one of these areas and show how their work advances capabilities relevant to future air transportation, including safety, efficiency, environmental performance, autonomy, and advanced vehicle concepts and enabling technologies.
The application process is structured as a two-step submission and evaluation pathway. First, applicants must submit a short, mandatory Step-A proposal, which is due August 30, 2022 (the original closing date shown for the opportunity). NASA will evaluate these Step-A submissions and only the highest-rated teams will be invited to submit a more detailed Step-B proposal. All submissions must be made electronically through NSPIRES, NASA's proposal submission system, at https://nspires.nasaprs.com. The opportunity is listed as unrestricted in eligibility, meaning it is broadly open to many entity types as applicants, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications that may appear in the full solicitation text.
NASA also scheduled an applicants workshop to help potential proposers understand expectations and logistics. That session was set for July 14, 2022 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. ET, with details provided at https://uli.arc.nasa.gov/applicants-workshops/workshop6. For teaming and consortium-building, NASA maintains an interested partners list at https://uli.arc.nasa.gov/partners. Organizations that want to be listed as potential leads or partners are instructed to email hq-univpartnerships@mail.nasa.gov with the subject line "ULI Partnerships" and include the specific information requested for inclusion in the partners table on the website. The opportunity indicates an expectation of approximately four awards, while the award ceiling is listed as 0, which typically signals that the maximum funding level is not stated in the summary and must be confirmed in the full announcement or associated documents.Apply for NNH21ZEA001N ULI
- The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA Headquarters in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "D.4 University Leadership Initiative (ULI)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 43.002.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 29, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 30, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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NASA University Leadership Initiative (ULI) - FAQ
What is this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is NASA Headquarters' University Leadership Initiative (ULI) under funding opportunity number NNH21ZEA001N. It is described as a discretionary research and development program funded through cooperative agreements and identified under CFDA 43.002.
What is the main purpose of the University Leadership Initiative (ULI)?
The core purpose of ULI is to place university-led teams in a true leadership role. Teams are expected to lead by defining the aeronautics challenge, building a multidisciplinary approach to address it, and demonstrating strong organizational leadership in how the collaboration is structured and managed.
What does NASA mean by "university-led teams in a true leadership role"?
Based on the description, teams are not expected to simply carry out predefined tasks. Instead, they are expected to propose the challenge itself, design a realistic technical approach to tackle it, and show leadership in decision-making, collaboration structure, and maintaining research quality across the team or consortium.
What types of research challenges is NASA looking for under ULI?
NASA expects teams to define compelling aeronautics challenges and propose multidisciplinary technical approaches that can realistically address those challenges. Proposals should be anchored in one of the aeronautics topic areas listed in Appendix D.4 and should advance capabilities relevant to future air transportation (for example, safety, efficiency, environmental performance, autonomy, and advanced vehicle concepts and enabling technologies).
Which topic areas are eligible or emphasized in this solicitation?
The solicitation requests proposals aligned with aeronautics topic areas in Appendix D.4 that track NASA aeronautics strategic thrusts. The listed areas include:
- Safe and efficient growth in global operations
- Innovation in commercial supersonic aircraft
- Ultra-efficient subsonic transports
- Safe, quiet, and affordable vertical lift air vehicles
- In-time system-wide safety assurance
- Assured autonomy for aviation transformation
- Zero emission aviation
- Materials and structures for next-generation aerospace systems
Do applicants have to choose one of the topic areas?
Yes, the solicitation states that proposals are requested to align with the topic areas listed in Appendix D.4. Practically, applicants should anchor the proposed challenge and research plan in one of those areas and explain how the work advances relevant future air transportation capabilities.
How is the application process structured?
The application process is a two-step submission and evaluation pathway. Applicants must first submit a short, mandatory Step-A proposal. NASA evaluates Step-A proposals and only the highest-rated teams will be invited to submit a more detailed Step-B proposal.
Is the Step-A proposal required?
Yes. Step-A is described as a short, mandatory submission and is the first stage of the two-step process.
What is the due date for the Step-A proposal?
The Step-A proposal was due August 30, 2022 (noted as the original closing date shown for the opportunity).
Who is invited to submit a Step-B proposal?
NASA will evaluate Step-A submissions and invite only the highest-rated teams to submit Step-B proposals.
Where must proposals be submitted?
All submissions must be made electronically through NSPIRES, NASA's proposal submission system, at https://nspires.nasaprs.com.
What is NSPIRES?
NSPIRES is identified here as NASA's proposal submission system and is the electronic portal through which all ULI submissions must be submitted.
What is the eligibility for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed as unrestricted in eligibility, meaning it is broadly open to many entity types as applicants. However, the summary also notes that additional eligibility clarifications may appear in the full solicitation text.
What is a cooperative agreement in the context of this opportunity?
The opportunity states that it is funded through cooperative agreements. No additional detail is provided in the summary beyond the funding instrument type and program classification (CFDA 43.002).
How many awards does NASA expect to make?
The opportunity indicates an expectation of approximately four awards.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is listed as 0, which typically indicates the maximum funding level is not stated in the summary. The summary suggests the ceiling must be confirmed in the full announcement or associated documents.
Is there an applicants workshop for this solicitation?
Yes. NASA scheduled an applicants workshop to help potential proposers understand expectations and logistics.
When was the applicants workshop scheduled?
The workshop was scheduled for July 14, 2022 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. ET.
Where can applicants find details about the workshop?
Workshop details are provided at https://uli.arc.nasa.gov/applicants-workshops/workshop6.
Is there a way to find teaming or consortium partners?
Yes. NASA maintains an interested partners list for teaming and consortium-building at https://uli.arc.nasa.gov/partners.
How can an organization get listed as an interested partner (lead or partner)?
Organizations that want to be listed are instructed to email hq-univpartnerships@mail.nasa.gov with the subject line "ULI Partnerships" and include the specific information requested for inclusion in the partners table on the website.
What teaming strategies does NASA emphasize for ULI proposals?
The solicitation highlights creative teaming strategies that improve research impact across multiple disciplines and institutions. It also emphasizes demonstrating organizational leadership through collaboration structure and decision-making processes.
Does NASA expect internal peer review within the proposing team?
Yes. A notable emphasis is placed on establishing peer-review mechanisms within the team or consortium and using them to maintain research quality.
What are reviewers likely to look for based on the description?
Based on the summary, NASA is emphasizing: (1) a well-defined and compelling aeronautics challenge, (2) a multidisciplinary technical approach that is realistic, (3) evidence of strong organizational leadership and effective decision-making, (4) quality assurance via peer-review mechanisms, and (5) teaming strategies that increase research impact across disciplines and institutions, all aligned to one of the Appendix D.4 topic areas.
Where do the listed topic areas come from?
The solicitation states the topic areas are listed in Appendix D.4 and that they track NASA aeronautics strategic thrusts.
What kinds of outcomes should proposals connect to for future air transportation?
The summary notes that applicants should show how their work advances capabilities relevant to future air transportation, including safety, efficiency, environmental performance, autonomy, and advanced vehicle concepts and enabling technologies.
What is the funding opportunity number for this solicitation?
The funding opportunity number is NNH21ZEA001N.
Who is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by NASA Headquarters.
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