Space Launch System Advanced Development

t concepts in key technology areas. These concepts should improve SLS affordability, reliability or performance within a constrained fiscal schedule. In addition to soliciting innovative proposals from industry, this NRA is also seeking focused proposals from academia. Including academia provides an added benefit of improving science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education.
NASA is seeking innovative proposals in both broad and focused areas of interest or topics. The topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
Advanced Development for Block Upgrades, Concept Development, and the Integrated Vehicle Advanced Development in Propulsion Advanced Development in Manufacturing, Structures, and Materials Advanced Development in Avionics and Software
Multiple awards are anticipated considering the merits of the submitted proposals in relationship to the evaluation criteria and available funds.
The total funding anticipated being available and split among industry awards and academic awards made against this NRA is $40,000,000. Of this total amount, the total funding anticipated is $20,000,000 for the base year and $10,000,000 per year for up to two 1 year options. Of this total yearly amount, the total funding anticipated being available and split among academic awards made against this NRA is $1,500,000 per year. Individual academic awards are expected to be $250,000 or less per year.
NASA anticipates multiple awards to both industry and academia, but reserves the right to make no award if no acceptable proposals are received. The period of performance for contracts or grants awarded from this NRA is anticipated from October 2012 through March 2013, with 2 one- year options.
Participation in this program is open to all categories of U.S. organizations, including educational institutions, industry, and nonprofit institutions. Other Government agencies, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), and NASA Centers or their employees may not propose to this NRA unless functioning as permissible as a supplier, consultant, or subcontractor through separate agreement mechanisms such as Space Act Agreements. NASA employees are not permitted to be key personnel on these proposals.
For purposes of this NRA, participation by non-U.S. organizations and Foreign Governments is limited to the direct purchase of supplies and/or services, which do not constitute research except as allowed by NASA FAR Supplement 1852.235-72. A foreign national may receive payment through a NASA award for the conduct of research while employed either full or part time by a U.S. organization.
Offerors are hereby informed that technical investigation in the fields covered by this NRA may require access to technical data, the export of which is controlled under the Export Control Act, Title 50, United States Code App. 2401-20, the Arms Export Control Act, Title 22,