Aeronautics
Program Funding
Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.
Funded Projects
Examples of what this program has supported.
USRC Project - There were 23 proposals received and 6 selected.
AAVP Fellowships - There were 8 proposals received and 2 awarded
Program Objective
The NASA Mission draws support from NASA’s world- class capability for aeronautical research founded on a tradition of expertise in aeronautical engineering and core research areas from within the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD). ARMD maintains and advances U.S. global leadership in aviation through applications of new concepts and technologies pioneered by NASA and developed in partnership with U.S. Industry that lead to transformative improvements in mobility, efficiency, and safety.
Eligibility
Eligible Applicants
- Unrestricted by Entity Type
Categories of organizations that may be eligible for NASA grants and cooperative agreements include: • Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) – A two- or four-year university or college (including U.S. community colleges), public or private, accredited to confer degrees beyond that of the K-12 grade levels. 29 • Educational Institutions – Non-higher-education entities, such as K-12 education groups or institutions of informal education, are classified as Educational Institutions.2 • Non-profit Organization – An organization that: o Is operated primarily for scientific, engineering, educational, research, or similar purposes in the public interest; o Is not organized primarily for profit; o Uses net proceeds to maintain, improve, or expand the organization’s operations; and o Is not an IHE. Non-profit organizations generally exclude (i) colleges and universities; (ii) hospitals; and (iii) state, local, and Federally recognized Indian tribal governments. • For-profit Entity – An organization of any size that is organized primarily for profit. • Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) – FFRDCs are under a broad charter by a Government agency for performing, analyzing, or conducting research for the United States Government. NASA sponsors JPL as the Agency’s sole FFRDC, and JPL is not an eligible applicant to receive a NASA-funded grant or cooperative agreement as a recipient or subrecipient3 . However, FFRDCs sponsored by agencies other than NASA may be eligible to receive a NASA-funded award as a recipient or subrecipient. • Non-U.S. Organizations – Organizations outside the U.S. that meet the definitions of foreign organization or foreign public entity in 2 CFR § 200.1. Non-U.S. organizations generally propose for opportunities on a no-exchange-of-funds basis in accordance with NASA policy. NOFOs may be issued jointly with a non-U.S. organization (e.g., those concerning guest observing programs for jointly sponsored space science programs) that will contain additional special guidelines for non-U.S. participants. • State, Local, or Federally-Recognized Tribal Government Agency – o State Government means any state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, any territory or possession of the United States, and any agency or instrumentality of a State exclusive of its local governments
How to Apply
Award Procedure
After proposals are submitted, NASA evaluates all applications to determine funding selections, and applicants are notified of the outcome by email. Award selection announcements generally occur 150 to 220 days after the proposal due date, following approval of NASA funding through the federal budget process. Selection timelines may be extended due to budget delays, required final approvals and concurrence, or if additional information is needed from the applicant, such as revised budgets or supporting details required to finalize the award.
Decision Timeline
- Approval: From 120 to 180 days
- Renewal interval: From 30 to 60 days
- Appeal: From 30 to 60 days
For information on application review procedures, applicants should refer to the applicable section of Proposal Review and Selection Criteria of the GCAM: https://www.nasa.gov/grants-policy-and-compliance-team/#Regulations
Program details & compliance
Description
The Aeronautics Mission Directorates support the following major programs:
• The Advanced Air Vehicles Program (AAVP) – conducts cutting-edge research that will generate innovative concepts, technologies, capabilities, and knowledge to enable revolutionary advances for a wide range of air vehicles. AAVP’s goal is to enable new aircraft to fly safer, faster, cleaner, quieter, and use fuel far more efficiently.
• The Airspace Operations and Safety Program (AOSP) – develops and explores fundamental concepts, algorithms, and technologies to increase throughput and efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS) safely. AOSP-developed NextGen methods and means will provide advanced automated support to air navigation service providers and aircraft operators to reduce air-travel times and delays, and ensure greater safety in all weather conditions.
• The Integrated Aviation Systems Program (IASP) – conducts flight-oriented, system-level research and technology development to effectively mature and transition advanced aeronautic technologies into future air vehicles and operational systems.
• The Transformative Aeronautics Concepts Program (TACP) – cultivates multi- disciplinary revolutionary concepts, creates the environment for researchers to experiment with new ideas, and drives rapid turnover into potential future concepts to enable aviation transformation. Research is organized to engage both the traditional aeronautics community and non-traditional partners.
Mission Categories
Primary: Research and Development
Other categories:
Air TransportationEconomic Development
Use of Funds
Allowed Uses
Grant funding may be used to support basic research, educational outreach, and training opportunities related to space operations Applicants should carefully review the applicable Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for detailed information on allowable activities, program priorities, eligibility requirements, funding restrictions, and any limitations or conditions that may apply to the use of funds.
Restrictions
Restrictions on the use of assistance for this listing are governed by the limitations and conditions set forth in NASA’s Grant and Cooperative Agreement Manual (GCAM). The GCAM includes a dedicated section on limitations and restrictions, which outlines the circumstances under which funds may not be used. Applicants and recipients should refer to the applicable GCAM limitations provisions, in conjunction with the specific Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), to understand any restrictions that apply. Only restrictions that are unique to this Assistance Listing or organization are identified here; all other standard limitations apply as described in the GCAM.
Required Documentation
The GCAM provides detailed guidance on the prerequisite registrations and credentialing steps that applicants must complete before proposal submission, including active registrations in SAM.gov and NSPIRES where applicable. These systems help establish an organization’s eligibility, ensure accurate entity identification, and support access to NASA’s proposal submission platforms. In addition, GCAM clearly articulates the certifications and assurances that the signing official must understand and affirm on behalf of the organization, including representations related to organizational eligibility, financial integrity, and compliance with federal regulations. Applicants are encouraged to review the most recent GCAM certification language and assurance requirements to confirm they meet all criteria. The current edition of the NASA GCAM, which serves as the authoritative source for these instructions, is available here: https://www.nasa.gov/grants-policy-and-compliance-team/
Matching Requirements
A cost-sharing percentage is displayed to satisfy a system requirement that necessitates selection of a value. Cost-sharing requirements, including any applicable percentages, may apply under this listing and, if applicable, will be specified in the NOFO. Applicants should refer to the NOFO for detailed cost-sharing requirements.
Reporting & Compliance
Applicable 2 CFR 200 Subparts
- Subpart B — General Provisions
- Subpart C — Pre-Federal Award Requirements
- Subpart D — Post-Federal Award Requirements
- Subpart E — Cost Principles
- Subpart F — Audit Requirements