The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Headquarters has released a solicitation, titled Space Technology Research Institutes (STRI), as an appendix to the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) umbrella NASA Research Announcement (NRA) title Space Technology Research, Development,

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Demonstration, and Infusion 2018 (SpaceTech-REDDI-2018), on My 31, 201 8. The solicitation is available by opening the NSPIRES homepage at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ b selecting "Solicitations," then selecting "Open Solicitations," and, finally, selecting "Space Technology Research Institutes (STRI)." The Space Technology Mission Directorate is seeking to invest, via research institutes, in university-led, multi-disciplinary basic research and technology development within particular area of strong interest to NASA and the wider aerospace community.

The institutes construct allows for the participation of experts from a wide range of fields and organizations in a single distributed research structure, enabling greater progress and benefit for all involved.

The institute approach facilitates a more focused and coordinated set of research and development efforts than typically arise from separate solicitations and individual research grants.

In addition, because the institute maintains this focus for several years, more effective and substantial research progress is envisioned for the featured high priority research areas.

An awarded institute will typically be 5 years in duration and up to $15M total over the 5-year period.

Only accredited U. S. universities are eligible to submit proposals; teaming with other universities is required, and teaming with non-profit entities and industry is permitted.

See Appendix section 3. 0 for full list of eligibility requirements.

The award instrument will be a grant.

The Appendix exclusively seeks proposals that are responsive to the following topics:
Revolutionary Propulsion for Rapid Deep Space Transit Smart Deep Space Habitats (SmartHabs) The financial and programmatic support for STRI comes from the Space Technology Research Grants Program within the Space Technology Mission Directorate.

Awards are planned to start in Spring 201 9. Proposals are being solicited via a two-step process where preliminary proposal are mandatory and only those invited may submit a full proposal.

NASA plans to make approximately 2 awards as a result of this STRI solicitation, subject to the availability of funds and receipt of meritorious proposals.

The actual number of awards will depend on the quality of proposal received; NASA reserves the right to make no awards under this solicitation.

All preliminary proposals must be submitted electronically through NSPIRES or through Grants.gov (www.grants.gov) by an authorized organizational representative.

Notices of Intent (strongly encouraged) are due by July 2, 2018, with preliminary proposals due on or before July 20, 2018, 5 pm Eastern with invited full proposals targeted for November 5, 2018 Eastern.

Detailed submission instructions and due dates are provided in the solicitation.

Potential proposers and their proposing organizations are urged to familiarize themselves with the submission systems(s), ensure they are registered in NSPIRES, and submit the required proposal material well in advance of the deadline.

Technical and programmatic comments and questions may be addressed by email to the Space Technology Research Grants Program Executive, Claudia Meyer, at hq-STMD-STRI@mail.nasa.gov.

Responses to inquiries will be answered by email and may also be included in the Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) documents located on the NSPIRES page associated with the solicitation; anonymity of persons/institutions who submit questions will preserved.

It is the offeror's responsibility to monitor the Internet site for the release of amendments (if any).