University Leadership Initiative (ULI) | NNH24ZEA001N ULI

Opportunity Information: Apply for NNH24ZEA001N ULI

NASA Headquarters is soliciting proposals under the University Leadership Initiative (ULI), released as Amendment 2 to the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) Research Opportunities in Aeronautics (ROA) 2024 NASA Research Announcement (NRA). The core idea of ULI is to let university-led teams take real technical and organizational leadership roles: not just performing research tasks, but shaping the problem itself by proposing distinctive aeronautics challenges, laying out multidisciplinary solution approaches, building in peer review methods, and using modern teaming strategies that increase overall research impact. Awards are expected to be made as cooperative agreements, reflecting NASA's intent to stay meaningfully engaged with funded teams during execution rather than operating strictly at arm's length.

The solicitation is organized around six topic areas (listed in Appendix D.4) that align to NASA's strategic thrusts in aeronautics. These topics span the major near- and long-term needs of the aviation ecosystem: (1) Safe, Efficient Growth in Global Operations, focused on scaling air transportation safely and efficiently as demand grows worldwide; (2) Innovation in Commercial High-Speed Aircraft, aimed at enabling practical, next-generation high-speed flight; (3) Ultra-Efficient Subsonic Transports, which targets step changes in efficiency for conventional passenger and cargo aircraft; (4) Safe, Quiet, and Affordable Vertical Lift Air Vehicles, supporting rotorcraft and emerging vertical lift concepts with an emphasis on safety, community noise, and cost; (5) In-Time System-Wide Safety Assurance, centered on methods and technologies that can assess and assure safety across the full airspace system with timely, actionable insight; and (6) Assured Autonomy for Aviation Transformation, which concentrates on autonomy that can be trusted, validated, and integrated into aviation operations.

A key procedural feature is the required two-step submission and evaluation process. First, teams must submit a short, mandatory Step-A proposal by May 29, 2024. NASA will evaluate those Step-A submissions and then invite only the most highly rated teams to submit a more detailed Step-B proposal. All submissions must be filed electronically through NSPIRES (https://nspires.nasaprs.com), which is NASA's standard system for proposal intake and review workflow under these NRAs.

For applicants who want more clarity on expectations and how NASA views the ULI structure, an Applicant Workshop is scheduled for Thursday, April 3, 2024, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time, with details posted at https://uli.arc.nasa.gov/applicants-workshops/workshop8. NASA is also maintaining an "interested partners" list to help universities and potential collaborators find one another and form teams. That list is hosted at https://uli.arc.nasa.gov/partners, and organizations or individuals who want to be listed as an interested lead or partner can request inclusion by emailing hq-univpartnerships@mail.nasa.gov with "ULI Partnerships" in the subject line and providing the table information requested on the partners page.

Administrative details from the opportunity listing include the funding opportunity number NNH24ZEA001N (ULI), classification as a discretionary opportunity in the science and technology / research and development category, and CFDA number 43.002. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, and the opportunity was created February 29, 2024. The posted synopsis does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards in the provided excerpt, so teams typically need to consult the full NRA text and Appendix D.4 in NSPIRES for complete funding levels, allowable costs, period of performance, and the exact evaluation criteria used for Step-A and Step-B.

• The 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 2024-02-29.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-05-29. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.

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