FY 2022 NASA ESTABLISHED PROGRAM TO STIMULATE COMPETITIVE RESEARCH (EPSCoR) RAPID RESPONSE RESEARCH (R3) NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY (NOFO) | NNH22ZHA004C

Opportunity Information: Apply for NNH22ZHA004C

The FY 2022 NASA Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Rapid Response Research (R3) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is a competitive NASA funding opportunity designed to strengthen research capacity and expand NASA-relevant work in states and territories that traditionally receive a smaller share of federal R&D funding. NASA plans to make awards using a cooperative agreement mechanism, meaning the projects are expected to involve active collaboration with NASA rather than operating as fully independent grants. Proposals are reviewed through a merit-based, peer-review process, and selections depend on available appropriations.

Funding is intended to support research and capacity-building over a three-year period. The opportunity description indicates awards can be as large as $750,000 total for up to 36 months, supporting projects that align with NASA mission priorities and that help jurisdictions build sustainable research competitiveness. The source data also lists an award ceiling field of $100,000 and an estimate of 30 expected awards, which suggests there may be multiple funding tracks, phases, or data-entry inconsistencies across systems; applicants typically need to rely on the full NOFO text for the controlling budget limits and structure. The NOFO was created on December 15, 2021, with an original closing date of March 15, 2022. The program is associated with CFDA 43.008, and the activity category is listed under Education, reflecting EPSCoR's emphasis on workforce, institutional capability, and research infrastructure outcomes alongside technical research results.

The program goals are clearly oriented toward building lasting research strength in EPSCoR jurisdictions while advancing NASA interests. First, it seeks to develop and expand research capability in eligible jurisdictions in areas that are strategically important to NASA, which typically implies topics relevant to aeronautics, space technology, science, human exploration, Earth science, and related enabling disciplines. Second, it aims to improve the ability of these jurisdictions to attract research support beyond NASA EPSCoR, essentially using the award as a catalyst so institutions can compete more successfully for future funding from other NASA programs, other federal agencies, and industry. Third, it prioritizes partnerships, encouraging teams to connect academic institutions with NASA centers and other NASA research assets, and also with private-sector partners where appropriate. Finally, the program is meant to strengthen the broader research infrastructure and STEM ecosystem within the jurisdiction, contributing not only to higher education research and training capacity but also to longer-term economic development benefits.

Eligibility is unusually restricted compared with many federal opportunities. While the general eligible applicant type is described as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, proposals are not open to any university in an EPSCoR jurisdiction. Under Public Law 102-588, NASA will accept proposals only from the NASA EPSCoR Directors at the designated lead institutions for their jurisdictions, and each eligible jurisdiction may submit only one proposal. In practical terms, this means prospective faculty teams or collaborators generally cannot submit directly; they must work through their jurisdiction's NASA EPSCoR Director, who coordinates the single submission on behalf of the jurisdiction. The jurisdictions listed as eligible to submit a proposal include Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

Overall, the R3 NOFO functions as a targeted, jurisdiction-level competition intended to quickly stimulate NASA-aligned research and deepen the institutional and partnership foundations that make future NASA engagement more competitive. The cooperative agreement format, the emphasis on partnerships with NASA assets and industry, and the focus on building durable research capability all signal that NASA is looking for projects that produce both credible technical outcomes and measurable improvements in a jurisdiction's ability to sustain and grow NASA-relevant research over time.

• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2022 NASA ESTABLISHED PROGRAM TO STIMULATE COMPETITIVE RESEARCH (EPSCoR) RAPID RESPONSE RESEARCH (R3) NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY (NOFO)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 43.008.
• This funding opportunity was created on Dec 15, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 15, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.

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