Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research

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...

4 - Year College or University

All proposals will undergo an administrative, merit, and financial review. The NASA funding organization responsible for managing the technical aspects of an awarded effort is responsible for the merit review process, which may be based on peer review. All applications for NASA discretionary awards are subject to a merit review with the objective of selecting the recipient most likely to be successful in delivering results based on the objectives outlined in this Assistance Listing. Applicants may consult the NASA Grant and Cooperative Agreement manual for additional information on NASA Proposal review and selection process. https://www.nasa.gov/grants-policy-and-compliance-team/#Regulations

This program has no statutory formula. 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 MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Fiscal Year2024: See Examples of Investment Per State: https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/office-of-stem-engagement-investments-by-state-2.pdf?emrc=5e0385Fiscal Year2025: The NASA Authorization Act for fiscal year 1993, Public Law 102-588, authorized NASA to initiate NASA Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) to strengthen the research capability of jurisdictions that have not historically participated equably in competitive aerospace research activities. The goal of NASA EPSCoR is to provide seed funding that will enable jurisdictions to develop an academic research enterprise directed toward long-term, self-sustaining, nationally competitive capabilities in aerospace and aerospace-related research. This capability will, in turn, contribute to the jurisdiction’s economic viability and expand the nation’s base for aerospace research and development. The R3 is a collaborative effort between NASA EPSCoR, NASA Centers and mission directorates. The goals of R3 are to provide a streamlined method to address research issues important to NASA, and to enable NASA EPSCoR researchers to work with NASA to solve research issues impacting the agency’s...