Opportunity Information: Apply for NNH23ZEA001N ULI
The University Leadership Initiative (ULI) is a NASA Headquarters funding opportunity designed to let university-led teams take the lead on high-impact aeronautics research programs. The core idea is not just to fund individual research tasks, but to push universities to show real technical and organizational leadership: defining a compelling aeronautics challenge, building a multidisciplinary solution strategy, setting up credible peer review processes, and using creative teaming approaches that increase the reach and usefulness of the work. The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement, which typically implies a more collaborative relationship with the agency than a standard grant, especially around coordination, milestones, and shared technical direction.
NASA is seeking proposals in six specific topic areas aligned to major aeronautics strategic thrusts. These topics cover (1) Safe, Efficient Growth in Global Operations, focused on scaling aviation safely and efficiently as global demand increases; (2) Innovation in Commercial Supersonic Aircraft, aimed at enabling practical and acceptable supersonic flight for civil use; (3) Ultra-Efficient Subsonic Transports, targeting major efficiency gains in the kinds of aircraft that make up most of today’s commercial fleets; (4) Safe, Quiet, and Affordable Vertical Lift Air Vehicles, supporting advances for helicopters, eVTOL concepts, and other vertical lift systems with an emphasis on safety, noise reduction, and cost; (5) In-Time System-Wide Safety Assurance, centered on tools and methods to evaluate and assure safety across the entire aviation system fast enough to matter operationally; and (6) Assured Autonomy for Aviation Transformation, which focuses on trustworthy autonomy for future aviation operations, including verification, validation, resilience, and operational acceptance of autonomous or highly automated systems.
The solicitation uses a two-step submission and down-select process. First, applicants must submit a short and mandatory Step-A proposal by July 6, 2023. NASA will evaluate these Step-A submissions and only the most highly rated teams will be invited to submit a more detailed Step-B proposal. All proposals are submitted electronically through NSPIRES (https://nspires.nasaprs.com), which is NASA’s standard platform for research solicitations and award management.
To help applicants understand expectations and connect with potential collaborators, NASA scheduled an Applicant’s Workshop on May 11, 2023 (1:00 to 3:00 p.m. ET) with details provided at https://uli.arc.nasa.gov/applicants-workshops/workshop7. NASA also maintains an “interested partners” list for teams looking to form or expand collaborations (https://uli.arc.nasa.gov/partners). Organizations that want to appear on that list as a potential lead or partner are instructed to email hq-univpartnerships@mail.nasa.gov with “ULI Partnerships” in the subject line and include the required table information referenced on the partners webpage.
From an eligibility and administrative standpoint, the opportunity is labeled “unrestricted,” meaning it is broadly open to applicant types, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full announcement. The Funding Opportunity Number is NNH23ZEA001N, the CFDA number is 43.002, the activity category is science and technology and other R&D, and NASA anticipated making about five awards. The listing shows an award ceiling of $0, which usually indicates the ceiling is not specified in the summary record and applicants need to rely on the full solicitation text for budgeting constraints, period of performance details, and any topic-specific funding guidance.Apply for NNH23ZEA001N 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 "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 Apr 25, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 06, 2023. (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 5 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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University Leadership Initiative (ULI) - FAQs
What is the University Leadership Initiative (ULI)?
The University Leadership Initiative (ULI) is a NASA Headquarters funding opportunity intended to support university-led teams that take the lead on high-impact aeronautics research programs. The emphasis is on universities demonstrating technical and organizational leadership, not just completing isolated research tasks.
What is the main goal of ULI beyond funding research tasks?
ULI is designed to push universities to show real leadership by defining a compelling aeronautics challenge, building a multidisciplinary solution strategy, establishing credible peer review processes, and using creative teaming approaches that expand the reach and usefulness of the work.
What type of award mechanism is used for ULI?
ULI uses a cooperative agreement as the award mechanism. This typically indicates a more collaborative relationship with NASA than a standard grant, particularly around coordination, milestones, and shared technical direction.
What aeronautics research topics does NASA want proposals in?
NASA is seeking proposals in six topic areas aligned to major aeronautics strategic thrusts:
- Safe, 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
What does "Safe, Efficient Growth in Global Operations" focus on?
This topic focuses on scaling aviation safely and efficiently as global demand increases.
What does "Innovation in Commercial Supersonic Aircraft" focus on?
This topic aims to enable practical and acceptable supersonic flight for civil use.
What does "Ultra-Efficient Subsonic Transports" focus on?
This topic targets major efficiency gains in the types of aircraft that make up most of today’s commercial fleets.
What does "Safe, Quiet, and Affordable Vertical Lift Air Vehicles" focus on?
This topic supports advances for helicopters, eVTOL concepts, and other vertical lift systems, with emphasis on safety, noise reduction, and cost.
What does "In-Time System-Wide Safety Assurance" focus on?
This topic is centered on tools and methods to evaluate and assure safety across the entire aviation system fast enough to matter operationally.
What does "Assured Autonomy for Aviation Transformation" focus on?
This topic focuses on trustworthy autonomy for future aviation operations, including verification, validation, resilience, and operational acceptance of autonomous or highly automated systems.
How does the submission process work?
The solicitation uses a two-step submission and down-select process. Applicants must first submit a short, mandatory Step-A proposal. NASA evaluates Step-A proposals and invites only the most highly rated teams to submit a more detailed Step-B proposal.
Is Step-A required?
Yes. The Step-A proposal is described as short and mandatory.
What was the Step-A proposal due date?
The Step-A proposal deadline was July 6, 2023.
How are proposals submitted?
All proposals are submitted electronically through NSPIRES, NASA’s standard platform for research solicitations and award management: https://nspires.nasaprs.com.
What is NSPIRES?
NSPIRES is NASA’s standard electronic system used for research solicitations and award management. ULI proposals are submitted through NSPIRES.
How many awards does NASA expect to make?
NASA anticipated making about five awards.
Who is eligible to apply?
The opportunity is labeled "unrestricted," which means it is broadly open to applicant types, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full announcement.
What does it mean that the opportunity is "unrestricted"?
"Unrestricted" indicates broad openness to applicant types, while still potentially being subject to specific eligibility clarifications in the full solicitation.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this solicitation?
The Funding Opportunity Number is NNH23ZEA001N.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 43.002.
What is the activity category listed for the opportunity?
The activity category is science and technology and other R&D.
What is the listed award ceiling, and what does it mean?
The listing shows an award ceiling of $0. This typically indicates the ceiling is not specified in the summary record, and applicants should rely on the full solicitation text for budgeting constraints, period of performance details, and any topic-specific funding guidance.
Was there an applicant workshop, and where are the details?
NASA scheduled an Applicant’s Workshop on May 11, 2023 (1:00 to 3:00 p.m. ET). Details were provided at: https://uli.arc.nasa.gov/applicants-workshops/workshop7.
Is there a way to find or connect with potential collaborators?
Yes. NASA maintains an "interested partners" list for teams looking to form or expand collaborations: https://uli.arc.nasa.gov/partners.
How can an organization get listed as an interested partner?
Organizations that want to appear on the interested partners list (as a potential lead or partner) are instructed to email hq-univpartnerships@mail.nasa.gov with "ULI Partnerships" in the subject line and include the required table information referenced on the partners webpage.
Where should applicants look for budgeting limits, performance period, and topic-specific funding guidance?
Because the summary record shows an award ceiling of $0 (suggesting no ceiling is specified in the listing), applicants should rely on the full solicitation text for budgeting constraints, period of performance details, and any topic-specific funding guidance.
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