Use of the NASA Physical Sciences Informatics System - Appendix E | NNH17ZTT001N 17PSI E

Opportunity Information: Apply for NNH17ZTT001N 17PSI E

NASA's "Use of the NASA Physical Sciences Informatics System - Appendix E" opportunity is a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Research Announcement (NRA) that funds ground-based research projects built around mining and analyzing existing microgravity and reduced-gravity experimental data that NASA has already collected. Instead of proposing new flight experiments, applicants are expected to use data housed in NASA's Physical Sciences Informatics (PSI) system (http://psi.nasa.gov), a public online repository containing results from completed physical sciences investigations flown on the International Space Station (ISS), Space Shuttle missions, free-flying platforms, commercial cargo flights to and from the ISS, and related ground studies. The core idea is to help researchers extract new scientific value from prior experiments, align with open science practices, and support the US Open Data Policy by maximizing reuse of federally funded datasets.

Appendix E is one installment in a multi-year solicitation series under the broader umbrella opportunity number NNH17ZTT001N (with this appendix labeled NNH17ZTT001N-17PSI-E). NASA planned the overall PSI NRA to remain open through 2022, with roughly annual appendix releases offering recurring chances to propose. For Appendix E specifically, NASA sought proposals in five target research areas: Combustion Science, Complex Fluids, Fluid Physics, Fundamental Physics, and Materials Science. A key requirement is that the proposed work must explicitly use data from "eligible" PSI investigations identified by NASA in the Appendix E document; applicants are expected to base their project on those specific datasets rather than vaguely referencing the PSI archive.

The solicitation emphasizes that proposals need to make a convincing, step-by-step case for how PSI data will be turned into new scientific insight. In practical terms, reviewers are looking for a clear path from the archived dataset(s) to the planned analyses, models, validations, or technology-relevant conclusions. Projects should address an important problem within the chosen discipline and should credibly advance knowledge or capability, not just repackage existing results. This means applicants should be prepared to explain what is novel about the planned research, why the PSI dataset is appropriate, what methods will be applied, and what concrete outcomes (publications, validated models, improved understanding of microgravity phenomena, etc.) are expected.

Eligibility is broadly open. NASA allowed submissions from essentially all categories of organizations, including US and non-US entities, such as universities, companies, nonprofit organizations, NASA Centers, and other government agencies, as long as any special NASA policies for working with non-US organizations are followed. The solicitation targets two investigator groups: (1) established researchers (explicitly including postdoctoral scholars) and (2) graduate students working with academic advisors in accredited US postsecondary programs. A notable administrative detail is that graduate student proposals must be submitted by the advisor rather than by the student directly. Collaboration is encouraged and can include partners across academia, federal labs, industry, state and local labs, and international collaborators, provided NASA's participation rules are met.

Administratively, proposals had to be submitted electronically by an authorized organizational official, and NASA permitted submission through either NSPIRES (http://nspires.nasaprs.com/) or Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov). Even if an applicant planned to submit via Grants.gov, organizations were still required to be registered in NSPIRES, with authorized representative(s) identified in the system. NASA also flagged that individual systems impose their own registration requirements for principal investigators and other team members, and applicants were urged to start registrations early to avoid last-minute problems. NASA also planned a proposer information session via WebEx shortly after the appendix release to walk through requirements and answer questions about both the NRA and the PSI system.

In terms of timing and award expectations, Appendix E was expected to be released around September 14, 2018, with proposals due around December 14, 2018 (the original closing date listed as Dec 14, 2018). NASA anticipated making about five awards. The opportunity lists multiple possible award instruments, including grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement contracts, and NASA reserved the right to choose the most appropriate instrument for each selected proposal. The listing characterizes the solicitation as a broad agency announcement under FAR 6.102(d)(2), reinforcing that this is a competitive research solicitation rather than a standard procurement for a defined deliverable. The CFDA number associated with the opportunity is 43.003, and the funding activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

• 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 "Use of the NASA Physical Sciences Informatics System - Appendix E" 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 Sep 05, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 14, 2018. (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.

Apply for NNH17ZTT001N 17PSI E

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: