NASA’s Office of Education, in cooperation with NASA’s four Mission Directorates -- Science, Aeronautics, Space Operations, and Exploration Systems -- and NASA’s ten (10) Centers solicit proposals for the NASA EPSCoR program. Proposals are due on July 10, 2007. Each funded NASA EPSCoR proposal is expected to establish research programs that will make significant contributions to the strategic research and technology priorities of one or more of the four Mission Directorates and/or one or more of the ten NASA Centers, and contribute to the overall research infrastructure, science and technology capabilities, higher education, and economic development of the jurisdiction.

Jurisdictions eligible to apply for funding under the NASA EPSCoR program are current National Science Foundation (NSF) EPSCoR jurisdictions. The eligible jurisdictions are: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

Jurisdictions are permitted to submit up to two research proposals. Funding is provided as a fixed amount up to $750,000 for three years.

• Two proposals may be submitted per jurisdiction. A jurisdiction may receive no more than one award in this competition.
• Maximum three-year funding per jurisdiction proposal for a total of up to $750,000
• NASA EPSCoR monies may be matched 1:1. In-kind matches are allowable.
• This Research Announcement is available in electronic form at http://nspires.nasaprs.com, the NASA proposal data system.

Public Law 102-58, passed in 1992, authorized the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to initiate the NASA EPSCoR program to strengthen the research capability of jurisdictions that have not in the past 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. Since its inception, NASA EPSCoR has been closely linked to the NASA Space Grant Program.

Based on the availability of funding, NASA will continue to help jurisdictions achieve these goals through the NASA EPSCoR program. Funded jurisdictions will be selected through a merit-based, peer-reviewed competition.

• Contribute to and promote the development of research infrastructure in NASA EPSCoR jurisdictions in areas of strategic importance to the NASA mission;
• Improve the capabilities of the NASA EPSCoR jurisdictions to gain support from sources outside the NASA EPSCoR program;
• Develop partnerships between NASA research assets, academic institutions, and industry;
• Contribute to the overall research infrastructure, science and technology capabilities, higher education, and/or economic development of the jurisdiction; and
• Work in close coordination with the NASA Space Grant program to improve the environment for science, mathematics, engineering, and technology education in the jurisdiction.