Appendix B: Solicitation of Proposals for Flight and Ground Space Biology Research | NNH18ZTT001N FG

Opportunity Information: Apply for NNH18ZTT001N FG

NASA's "Appendix B: Solicitation of Proposals for Flight and Ground Space Biology Research" is a competitive funding opportunity issued under the Research Opportunities in Space Biology (ROSBio) 2018 NASA Omnibus Research Announcement. Released on December 7, 2018 (Solicitation Number NNH18ZTT001N-FG), it seeks research that improves NASA's understanding of how living systems respond and acclimate to the spaceflight environment, with the practical aim of reducing risk and enabling longer-duration human exploration missions. The solicitation is structured as a two-step process: Step 1 proposals were due January 7, 2019 at 5:00 PM Eastern, and only those invited to continue could submit Step 2 full proposals due March 15, 2019 at 5:00 PM Eastern.

The science focus is organized into four main research emphases. First, NASA is looking for microbiology studies that deepen knowledge of the Microbiology of the Built Environment (MoBE) in space. This includes understanding how microbial communities behave in closed spacecraft habitats and generating insights that could help monitor, manage, manipulate, or control those communities to protect crew health and maintain vehicle integrity. Second, the solicitation prioritizes plant biology research that supports human space exploration, with an emphasis on leveraging International Space Station plant-growth hardware such as VEGGIE and the Advanced Plant Habitat. These studies are expected to address fundamental questions about how plants adapt to spaceflight conditions and to produce new knowledge that improves the ability to grow plants reliably in space, including attention to plant interactions with microbes and fungi. Third, NASA invites animal biology research (both vertebrate and invertebrate) relevant to exploration, broadly aimed at understanding how animal systems respond to spaceflight stressors. Fourth, NASA seeks studies that directly evaluate the results and validity of microgravity "simulators" by comparing simulator outcomes with data from true flight microgravity and complementary ground studies, helping the community understand where analogs match reality and where they diverge.

The solicitation supports a range of experimental approaches, including both flight and ground research, and it allows proposals led by individual investigators as well as larger team-based efforts. On the flight side, projects may use the ISS, suborbital platforms, or parabolic flights to test hypotheses, develop or refine experimental methods, and generate spaceflight-relevant datasets. On the ground side, projects can be conducted in NASA or non-NASA laboratories and may use specialized facilities such as drop towers and centrifuges to study partial gravity and gravity as a continuum. Across all project types, proposals are expected to align with NASA's published Space Biology priorities, specifically the research emphases, visions, and goals described in the ROSBio-2018 Omnibus NRA and/or the Space Biology Science Plan 2016-2025, as well as relevant community guidance such as Decadal Survey recommendations.

Funding is provided through grants or cooperative agreements, consistent with its designation as a broad agency announcement under FAR 6.102(d)(2). The award sizes described in the notice range from about $300,000 total over three years for studies using parabolic and suborbital flights up to $1,200,000 total over three years for larger team-based projects, with an award ceiling of $1.2 million. NASA anticipated making around 15 awards. The activity category is science and technology research and development (CFDA 43.003).

Eligibility is broad: all categories of U.S. institutions may apply, and principal investigators and collaborators may come from universities, federal labs, industry, and state or local government laboratories. International participation is allowed with an explicit exception for China. Submission is electronic and must be made by an authorized organizational representative. For Step 1, proposers could submit via NSPIRES or Grants.gov, while Step 2 instructions were provided in the full solicitation. Registration in NSPIRES is required for organizations, authorized representatives, and named investigators, and NASA strongly encouraged applicants to register and familiarize themselves with the system well ahead of deadlines to avoid administrative problems.

Program and administrative contacts were provided for questions and award-related issues. The programmatic point of contact listed is Dr. David L. Tomko, Program Scientist for Space Biology at NASA Headquarters (dtomko@nasa.gov, 202-358-2211). The grants management contact is Theresa Stanley, Lead Grant Officer at the NASA Shared Services Center (theresa.m.stanley@nasa.gov, 228-813-6196). The full Appendix B text was referenced as available online at https://tinyurl.com/ROSBio18-FG.

• 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 "Appendix B: Solicitation of Proposals for Flight and Ground Space Biology Research" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 43.003.
• This funding opportunity was created on Dec 07, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 07, 2019. (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 $1,200,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 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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