Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute Cooperative Agreement Notice (SSERVI CAN-3) | NNH18ZDA018C

Opportunity Information: Apply for NNH18ZDA018C

NASA Headquarters, through its Science Mission Directorate (SMD) and Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate (HEOMD), released the third Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute Cooperative Agreement Notice, known as SSERVI CAN-3 (NNH18ZDA018C). The opportunity funds research teams to participate as institute members within SSERVI, with an emphasis on work that strengthens NASA's ability to plan and conduct eventual human exploration. The solicitation is framed as a cooperative agreement, meaning NASA anticipates an ongoing partnership-style relationship with selected teams rather than a purely hands-off grant.

The core purpose is to build and sustain multi-institutional, team-based research programs that advance both basic science and applied exploration needs for key human exploration destinations: the Moon, Near-Earth Asteroids (NEAs), and the Martian moons Phobos and Deimos, along with the near-space environments around those bodies. NASA is looking for proposals that clearly define an innovative, well-integrated research program. Integration is not optional: if a proposal includes multiple tasks, it needs to show strong scientific and technical connections among them. Even proposals centered on a single primary question are expected to blend interdisciplinary expertise and methods. The expectation is that teams will include investigators from more than one institution, reflecting SSERVI's institute model and the cross-cutting nature of the problems NASA wants addressed.

The research scope is intentionally broad and covers surface and interior processes, exospheres, formation and evolution histories, and environmental conditions near the target bodies. NASA explicitly encourages projects that connect science to exploration, especially work that has clear implications for obtaining, interpreting, or prioritizing data needed for human missions. A key example mentioned is research that addresses "Target Body Strategic Knowledge Gaps," meaning studies that close important unknowns that could affect mission safety, operations, resource utilization, or scientific return. Proposals can be relevant to current or future missions, but they should not rely on a mission existing or flying on a particular schedule to be valuable. The call also welcomes astrophysics and heliophysics investigations when those topics are enabled by human or robotic exploration of the target bodies, recognizing that exploration infrastructure and access can open up new observational or measurement opportunities.

Beyond traditional planetary science, SSERVI CAN-3 also invites development of new technical and technological approaches that support scientific exploration of these destinations. Examples called out include telerobotics, augmented or virtual reality (AR/VR), and autonomous systems, signaling interest in operational concepts and enabling technologies that could make science more effective in human-tended or robot-assisted exploration scenarios. Acceptable investigation types include theoretical work, numerical modeling of physical and chemical processes, laboratory and experimental studies, field studies, and technology or technique development, as long as the work is clearly tied to the SSERVI objectives and target bodies.

In terms of priorities, while SSERVI continues to cover the Moon, NEAs, and the Martian moons, NASA states that proposals addressing near-term lunar needs and opportunities will receive preference. This preference is linked to the Administration's direction at the time to return humans to the Moon and to anticipated opportunities created by the commercial lunar industry. NASA also indicates that proposals complementing existing SSERVI CAN-2 institute teams, or filling important gaps not covered by those current teams, will be viewed favorably, and it provides a link to the list of active teams for proposers to assess coverage.

The application process is two-step and includes a mandatory Step-1 submission, which differs from a simple notice of intent. Step-1 proposals were due October 19, 2018 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time, and Step-2 full proposals were due December 18, 2018 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time (the listed closing date). Questions were to be submitted by email to HQ-SSERVI@mail.nasa.gov no later than 14 calendar days before the Step-2 deadline, with NASA preserving the anonymity of question submitters. Full solicitation text and Q&A responses were made available through NSPIRES and NASA's solicitation portal by searching the opportunity number NNH18ZDA018C.

Eligibility and participation rules follow NASA's standard research solicitation framework. Proposers must be affiliated with an institution registered in NSPIRES, and NASA generally provides funding only to U.S. institutions. Non-U.S. organizations may participate under a no-exchange-of-funds arrangement, but they are directed to consult NASA's Guidebook for Proposers for detailed requirements and special cases, including situations where non-U.S. participation involves U.S. personnel requesting NASA support. The opportunity is categorized under science and technology and other research and development, associated with CFDA 43.001, and awards are made under the review and selection processes described in the solicitation's Sections 5 and 6.

• The NASA Headquarters in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute Cooperative Agreement Notice (SSERVI CAN-3)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 43.001.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-09-18.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-12-18. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

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