80JSC025NA001 - Human Exploration Research Opportunities (HERO) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Research Announcement (NRA) Pre-Solicitation Notice – Synopsis NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) plans to issue an NRA entitled “Human Exploration Research Opportunities (HERO) - 2025”, soliciting applied research in support of NASA’s Human Research Program (HRP). The research will fall into one or more categories corresponding to HRP’s five Elements: Space Radiation; Human Health Countermeasures; Exploration Medical Capability; Human Factors and Behavioral Performance; and Research Operations and Integration. The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 12. The NAICS Code is 54171 – Research and Development in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences. The anticipated release date of the NRA is on or about November 1, 2024, through October 31, 2025. Within this period of performance, appendices will be issued depending on funding availability and research needs. It is the offeror's responsibility to monitor the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES) at https://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/, for the release of the solicitation and amendments (if any). Potential offerors will also be responsible for downloading their own copy of the solicitation and amendments (if any). The anticipated number of awards will be dependent upon HRP needs and priorities. HRP anticipates releasing and awarding up to approximately 12 proposals. Funding will be made available through topic-specific solicitations that are released as separate appendices. The expected funding range and duration of awards will be dependent upon proposal requirements outlined in each appendix, peer review panel recommendations, and continuing progress of the activity. Ranges of the anticipated projects are typically 1-year of funding, for up to $250,000 per award; and typically, 3-5 years of funding, ranging between $1,000,000 - $1,500,000, per award. Grants are funded in 1-year increments. NASA does not provide separate funding for direct and indirect costs; thus, the amount of the award is the total of all costs submitted in the proposed budget. Awards will be announced approximately 1 year from the respective appendix release date. All key dates regarding solicitations, including submission deadlines and anticipated award dates, will be posted in the respective appendix. Appendices will be posted as separate documents through NSPIRES. This web-based system supports the entire lifecycle of NASA research solicitation and selection, from the release of solicitation announcement through the entire proposal submission process, including searching and applying for funding opportunities available at NASA. All responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the Agency. Unless otherwise specified, solicitations will use a two-step application process. In this process, the submission of a notice of interest (Step-1) proposal is required and HRP will invite offerors with compliant proposals that are considered of acute relevance to the solicitation to submit a full (Step-2) proposal. Proposals that do not conform to the standards outlined in this NRA may be declared noncompliant and will be handled in accordance with NASA Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (NFS) 1815.305-70. Interested offerors should monitor NSPIRES for new research opportunities (appendices) or amendments to this NRA beginning November 1, 2024, through October 31, 2025. After October 31, 2025, the release of a subsequent HERO NRA is anticipated. Offerors should monitor Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), posted alongside the HERO NRA in NSPIRES, that will be updated periodically with questions posed by potential offerors and corresponding answers. All categories of United States institutions are eligible to receive awards in response to proposals selected under this NRA. Offerors may collaborate with universities, the private sector, non-profits, and federal, state, or local government laboratories. In all such arrangements, the offeror is expected to be responsible for administering the project according to the management approach presented in the proposal. The offeror must have in place a documented base of ongoing high-quality research in science and technology, or in those areas of science and engineering clearly relevant to the specific programmatic objectives and research emphases indicated in this NRA. Present or previous NASA support of research or training in any institution or for any offeror is not a prerequisite to submission of a proposal. Individual appendices may identify specific eligibility limitations that apply to that relevant opportunity. Ineligible proposals may be declined without review. NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at : https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/regs/Procurement-Ombuds-Comp-Advocate-Listing.pdf All contractual and technical questions must be submitted electronically via email to: Tracy L. Quintanilla Contract Specialist
[email protected] Telephone questions will not be accepted.