Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research
Program Funding
Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.
Funded Projects
Examples of what this program has supported.
Program Objective
EPSCoR establishes partnerships with government, higher education and industry that are designed to effect lasting improvements in a state or region’s research infrastructure, research and development capacity, and its national research and development competitiveness.
Public Law 102-588, passed in 1992, authorized NASA to initiate NASA EPSCoR to strengthen the research capability of jurisdictions that have not in the past participated extensively in competitive aerospace research activities.
NASA EPSCoR is a close parallel to the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) EPSCoR program and has the same national reach of 28 jurisdictions as determined by the NSF Eligibility Table. Twenty-eight jurisdictions were eligible to participate in the FY 2023 solicitations, including Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, US Virgin Islands, and Wyoming.
The EPSCoR provides cooperative agreement opportunities designed to establish partnerships between government, higher education, and industry in an effort to build stronger research and development capabilities in the 28 jurisdictions (states or regions). The program strives to improve a jurisdiction’s research infrastructure to a level such that its research and development programs contribute to its economic development. EPSCoR supports competitively funded awards and provides research and technology development opportunities for faculty and research teams. NASA actively seeks to integrate the research conducted by EPSCoR jurisdictions with the scientific and technical priorities pursued by the Agency.
Eligibility
Eligible Applicants
- Other
4 - Year College or University
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-policyandcompliance-
team/#Regulations
Program details & compliance
Description
The Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) promotes the development of a highly skilled workforce by funding hands-on research opportunities that not only prepare students for STEM jobs but also lead to technological and innovative breakthroughs
Mission Categories
Primary: Research and Development
Other categories:
Astronomy and SpaceEngineeringPhysics
Use of Funds
Allowed Uses
Although NASA’s statutory authority extends beyond research awards, the Agency primarily issues grants and
cooperative agreements to support research and research-related activities. Such activities include, but are not
limited to, education, travel, conferences, and training. Information on both active and closed NASA grants and
cooperative agreements is publicly available at USAspending.gov. Applicants and recipients must refer to the applicable Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and award terms and conditions for program-specific
requirements and additional details
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/ 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program
Matching Requirements
Matching requirements, if applicable, are established in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Applicants must refer to the NOFO for specific requirements.
NASA EPSCoR Research Solicitation Parameters
• 50 percent cost-share (cash or in-kind) is required.
NASA EPSCoR RID Solicitation Parameters
• A 20 percent cost-share is required.
NASA EPSCoR R3 Solicitation Parameters (no expected R3 release in FY26)
• Cost sharing is not required; however, any funds used for voluntary matching or cost-sharing is allowed