Opportunity Information: Apply for 80HQTR21NOA01 21NIAC A2
NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Phase II is a NASA Headquarters funding opportunity released as an appendix under the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) NASA Research Announcement called "Space Technology Research, Development, Demonstration, and Infusion - 2021 (SpaceTech-REDDI-2021)." The program is aimed at advancing bold, high-risk, high-reward aerospace concepts that are still early in their maturity but have the potential to be genuinely mission-enabling or mission-transforming for NASA in the future. Phase II specifically picks up where NIAC Phase I leaves off, taking the most promising concepts that already completed an initial feasibility study and funding a deeper, more rigorous two-year effort to reduce the biggest uncertainties and better define a credible path toward real use.
In terms of what NASA is trying to buy with Phase II, the emphasis is on continued development of revolutionary advanced concepts that were started under a NIAC Phase I award. Phase I (a nine-month study) is meant to show basic feasibility and a clear potential benefit; Phase II is where the proposer is expected to extend, refine, and substantiate that foundation. That means directly tackling the remaining unknowns, assumptions, and major risks that could stop the concept from ever becoming real. NASA also expects Phase II work to be explicit and practical about how the concept could be infused into NASA or other partners later on, including a clearer understanding of cost, expected performance compared to existing or alternative approaches, the major development steps and a realistic schedule, and identification of the key enabling technologies that still need to be matured. The end goal is to produce results strong enough to give NASA a sound basis to consider further development, potential mission adoption, or transition to other programs.
Eligibility is tightly tied to NIAC Phase I. Only NIAC Phase I Fellows (or their designees) can submit a Phase II proposal for the concept that was studied in Phase I, and only if a Phase I final report is submitted by the stated deadline and the concept has not already received a Phase II award. Proposals also have to include the key findings from the Phase I study, effectively showing what was learned and why the concept is ready for the next step. Importantly, people associated with the predecessor program, the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts (NIAC before it was restructured), cannot submit Phase II proposals based on those older Phase I studies.
The opportunity is broadly open in terms of the types of organizations and teams that can be involved. Principal Investigators and team members may come from universities, companies (commercial or nonprofit), research labs, government agencies, or NASA Centers, including JPL. International teaming is allowed, but it is subject to NASA rules on foreign participation, so any non-U.S. involvement must comply with the policy described in the parent NRA. The funding mechanisms listed for this opportunity include cooperative agreements, grants, and procurement contracts, reflecting that NASA may choose the most appropriate instrument based on the nature of the work and the relationship needed for oversight and collaboration.
From a funding and scale standpoint, NIAC Phase II awards are capped at up to $500,000 per award, with NASA expecting to make around eight awards under this call. The posted closing date for proposals is February 17, 2021 (with the opportunity originally created in mid-December 2020). Administrative handling and submission are done entirely through NASA's NSPIRES system, and proposals must be submitted electronically by an Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR). NASA points applicants to the SpaceTech-REDDI-2021 NRA for the core rules and to the NASA Proposers Guidebook (May 2020 edition) for step-by-step instructions and compliance details. NASA also strongly signals that registration and system familiarity matter, encouraging teams to prepare NSPIRES access early and submit well before the deadline to avoid last-minute technical issues.
For applicants trying to find the official documents, NASA directs users to NSPIRES and provides a path through the SpaceTech-REDDI-2021 solicitation to the specific NIAC Phase II program element (identified as 80HQTR21NOA01-21NIACA2), where the NIAC Phase II Solicitation Document is posted under the announcement documents. Questions on technical, programmatic, or procurement matters are handled by email to hq-niac@mail.nasa.gov, and NASA may publish responses in an FAQ on the NSPIRES page while keeping the identity of questioners confidential. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a bridge between imaginative early-stage ideas and the more demanding evidence, planning, and risk reduction needed before NASA or external partners can take a concept seriously for downstream investment and mission use, with Phase III positioned as the subsequent transition pathway for the strongest Phase II outcomes.Apply for 80HQTR21NOA01 21NIAC A2
- The National Aeronautics and Space Administration in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Phase II" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 43.012.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 13, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 17, 2021. (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 $500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 8 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 NIAC Phase II (SpaceTech-REDDI-2021) FAQs
1) What is the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Phase II opportunity?
NIAC Phase II is a NASA Headquarters funding opportunity released as an appendix under the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) NASA Research Announcement (NRA) titled "Space Technology Research, Development, Demonstration, and Infusion - 2021 (SpaceTech-REDDI-2021)." It supports bold, high-risk, high-reward aerospace concepts that are still early in maturity but could become mission-enabling or mission-transforming for NASA in the future.
2) How does NIAC Phase II differ from NIAC Phase I?
NIAC Phase I is a nine-month study focused on basic feasibility and demonstrating a clear potential benefit. NIAC Phase II builds directly on a completed Phase I concept and funds a deeper, more rigorous two-year effort to reduce major uncertainties, address key risks and assumptions, and define a more credible path toward real use.
3) What is NASA trying to accomplish with Phase II funding?
Phase II is intended to advance the most promising NIAC Phase I concepts by strengthening the technical case and reducing the biggest unknowns that could prevent the concept from becoming real. NASA expects Phase II work to be explicit about how the concept could later be infused into NASA or other partners and to produce results strong enough to inform decisions about further development or transition to other programs.
4) What kinds of work are expected in a Phase II effort?
Based on the description provided, Phase II work is expected to extend and substantiate Phase I results by directly tackling remaining unknowns, assumptions, and major risks. NASA also expects clearer planning around potential infusion, including cost understanding, expected performance compared with existing or alternative approaches, major development steps, a realistic schedule, and identification of enabling technologies that still need maturation.
5) How long is the NIAC Phase II period of performance?
NIAC Phase II supports a two-year effort.
6) What is the maximum award amount for NIAC Phase II?
NIAC Phase II awards are capped at up to $500,000 per award.
7) How many awards does NASA expect to make under this call?
NASA expects to make around eight Phase II awards under this call.
8) Who is eligible to submit a NIAC Phase II proposal?
Eligibility is tied to NIAC Phase I. Only NIAC Phase I Fellows (or their designees) may submit a Phase II proposal for the concept that was studied in Phase I, and only if the Phase I final report is submitted by the stated deadline and the concept has not already received a Phase II award.
9) Can someone submit a Phase II proposal if their concept never had a NIAC Phase I award?
No. Phase II is specifically for continuing development of concepts that were started under a NIAC Phase I award, and only NIAC Phase I Fellows (or designees) can submit Phase II proposals for those Phase I concepts.
10) Are Phase II proposals required to include results from Phase I?
Yes. Proposals have to include the key findings from the Phase I study, showing what was learned and why the concept is ready for the next step.
11) Can older NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts (the predecessor NIAC program) Phase I studies be used as the basis for this Phase II call?
No. People associated with the predecessor program, the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts (NIAC before it was restructured), cannot submit Phase II proposals based on those older Phase I studies.
12) What types of organizations can participate on a NIAC Phase II team?
The opportunity is broadly open regarding team composition. Principal Investigators and team members may come from universities, companies (commercial or nonprofit), research labs, government agencies, or NASA Centers, including JPL.
13) Is international teaming allowed?
Yes. International teaming is allowed, but any non-U.S. involvement must comply with NASA rules on foreign participation as described in the parent NRA.
14) What funding instruments can NASA use to make NIAC Phase II awards?
The listed funding mechanisms include cooperative agreements, grants, and procurement contracts. NASA may choose the most appropriate instrument depending on the nature of the work and the level of oversight and collaboration needed.
15) What is the proposal deadline for this NIAC Phase II opportunity?
The posted closing date for proposals is February 17, 2021.
16) Where are proposals submitted?
Administrative handling and submission are done entirely through NASA's NSPIRES system.
17) Who must submit the proposal in NSPIRES?
Proposals must be submitted electronically by an Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR).
18) What does NASA recommend regarding NSPIRES registration and timing?
NASA encourages teams to prepare NSPIRES access early, become familiar with the system, and submit well before the deadline to avoid last-minute technical issues.
19) Which solicitation contains the rules that govern NIAC Phase II?
NASA points applicants to the SpaceTech-REDDI-2021 NRA for the core rules. For step-by-step instructions and compliance details, NASA points applicants to the NASA Proposers Guidebook (May 2020 edition).
20) How can applicants find the official NIAC Phase II solicitation documents?
NASA directs users to NSPIRES and indicates that the NIAC Phase II program element can be found through the SpaceTech-REDDI-2021 solicitation. The NIAC Phase II element is identified as 80HQTR21NOA01-21NIACA2, and the NIAC Phase II Solicitation Document is posted under the announcement documents.
21) How do applicants ask technical, programmatic, or procurement questions?
Questions are handled by email to hq-niac@mail.nasa.gov.
22) Will NASA publish answers to questions, and will the questioner be identified?
NASA may publish responses in an FAQ on the NSPIRES page while keeping the identity of questioners confidential.
23) What is the intended outcome at the end of Phase II?
The stated goal is to produce results strong enough to give NASA a sound basis to consider further development, potential mission adoption, or transition to other programs.
24) How does Phase II relate to Phase III?
The opportunity description frames Phase II as a bridge between early-stage ideas and the stronger evidence, planning, and risk reduction needed for downstream investment and mission use, with Phase III positioned as the subsequent transition pathway for the strongest Phase II outcomes.
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