[NASA Headquarters](https://www.nasa.gov/)

June 26, 2025 (Step-A proposal)

$1–2M per year per award; 3- or 4-year awards; total $3–6M (3-year) or $4–8M (4-year)

Funds university-led, multi-disciplinary teams to address major aeronautics challenges in six strategic areas, using a two-step proposal process.

Step-A proposal is mandatory; only invited teams may submit Step-B. Lead must be a U.S. accredited degree-granting university.

--- ## Description NASA's University Leadership Initiative (ULI2) provides a unique opportunity for university teams to lead large-scale, multi-disciplinary research addressing critical challenges in aeronautics. Teams are expected to define their own technical challenges aligned with one of six NASA Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) strategic thrusts, propose innovative solutions, and demonstrate technical and organizational leadership. The program emphasizes impactful research, technology transition, and workforce development, including engagement of community college, undergraduate, and graduate students. Proposals must be submitted through a two-step process: a short Step-A proposal (mandatory) followed by a full Step-B proposal (by invitation only). ULI2 encourages broad teaming, innovative approaches, and strong plans for transitioning research outcomes to industry, government, or other stakeholders. --- ## Due Dates - **Step-A Proposal Deadline:** June 26, 2025, 5:00 p.m. ET - **Step-B Proposal Deadline:** 60 days after invitation (only for selected Step-A teams) - **Applicant’s Workshop:** April 30, 2025, 1:00–3:00 p.m. ET ([workshop details](https://uli.arc.nasa.gov/applicants-workshops/workshop9)) --- ## Funding Amount - **Award Size:** $1–2 million per year per award - **Duration:** 3 or 4 years (nominally two 4-year and two 3-year awards) - **Total Award:** $3–6 million (3-year) or $4–8 million (4-year) - **Funding Instrument:** Cooperative Agreement - **Number of Awards:** Up to four, subject to proposal quality and available funds --- ## Eligibility - **Lead Institution:** Must be an accredited, degree-granting U.S. college or university. - **Partners:** May include other U.S. universities, companies, non-profits, FFRDCs, and other U.S. entities. NASA centers and other government agencies may not be funded partners but can collaborate informally. - **Collaborators:** May include industry, government, or other organizations (unfunded). - **Foreign Participation:** Not permitted as partners, collaborators, or reviewers. Foreign-owned U.S. subsidiaries may participate with restrictions. - **China Restriction:** No bilateral participation, collaboration, or coordination with China or Chinese-owned entities at any level. - **Workforce Development:** Proposals must include plans for engaging students at all levels, with at least $50K/year allocated for community college student research experiences. --- ## Application Process ### Step 1: Step-A Proposal - **Length:** 5 pages (Scientific/Technical/Management section) - **Content:** Project title, topic area, PI and partners, research objectives, technical challenge(s), period of performance, technical approach, innovation, expected products, transition opportunities, teaming and workforce strategy. - **Submission:** Electronic via [NSPIRES](https://nspires.nasaprs.com/) - **Budget:** Estimated yearly and total budget required in cover page (not part of 5-page limit). ### Step 2: Step-B Proposal (by invitation only) - **Length:** 25 pages (Scientific/Technical/Management section) - **Content:** Expanded technical plan, detailed milestones, progress indicators, transition roadmap, teaming, workforce development, risk management, budget justification, data management plan, and letters of attestation (if applicable). - **Additional Requirements:** Data Management Plan, detailed budget, and letters for foreign-owned U.S. subsidiaries (if relevant). ### Review Criteria - **Step-A:** Relevance to ULI objectives (35%), technical merit (35%), innovative teaming and workforce development (30%). - **Step-B:** Relevance (25%), technical merit (25%), innovative teaming/workforce (25%), work plan effectiveness (15%), cost (10%). --- ## Additional Information - **Research Topics:** Proposals must address one of six ARMD strategic thrusts: 1. Safe, Efficient Growth in Global Operations 2. Innovation in Commercial High-Speed Aircraft 3. Ultra-Efficient Subsonic Transports 4. Safe, Quiet, and Affordable Vertical Lift Air Vehicles 5. In-Time System-Wide Safety Assurance 6. Assured Autonomy for Aviation Transformation - **Transition:** Teams are expected to actively pursue transition of research outcomes to stakeholders and seek follow-on funding. - **Peer Review:** Teams must establish their own external, non-advocate peer review process and report results to NASA. - **Use of NASA Facilities:** Permitted, but proposers should discuss feasibility and costs with facility managers before proposal submission. - **Applicant’s Workshop:** Strongly recommended for prospective PIs and teams ([register here](https://uli.arc.nasa.gov/applicants-workshops/workshop9)). - **Interested Partners List:** [View or join the list](https://uli.arc.nasa.gov/partners) to facilitate teaming. --- ## External Links - [Full Solicitation and Application Portal (NSPIRES)](https://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?solId={E00DB261-BB62-5850-1B67-1AF5600E7636}&path=&method=init) - [Grants.gov Opportunity Listing](https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/358608) - [NASA Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate](https://www.nasa.gov/aeroresearch) - [NASA Grant and Cooperative Agreement Manual (GCAM, March 2025)](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/gcam-mar-2025.pdf?emrc=982b64) - [NASA Aeronautics 2023 Strategic Implementation Plan](https://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/viewrepositorydocument?cmdocumentid=1072335&solicitationId={E00DB261-BB62-5850-1B67-1AF5600E7636}&viewSolicitationDocument=1) - [ULI Applicant’s Workshop Info](https://uli.arc.nasa.gov/applicants-workshops/workshop9) - [Interested Partners List](https://uli.arc.nasa.gov/partners) - [Tips and Pointers from Previous ULI Reviewers](https://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/viewrepositorydocument?cmdocumentid=1072337&solicitationId={E00DB261-BB62-5850-1B67-1AF5600E7636}&viewSolicitationDocument=1) - [Suggestions for Proposers Partnering with Foreign-Owned U.S. Subsidiaries](https://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/viewrepositorydocument?cmdocumentid=1072338&solicitationId={E00DB261-BB62-5850-1B67-1AF5600E7636}&viewSolicitationDocument=1) --- ## Contact Information | Contact Type | Name/Email | Phone | |-----------------------------|--------------------------------------------|----------------------| | Program Technical Contact | Andrew Provenza (provenza@nasa.gov) | (216) 433-6025 | | Procurement Contact | Raynette Franklin (raynette.p.franklin@nasa.gov) | (228) 813-6471 | | General ULI Inquiries | [hq-univpartnerships@mail.nasa.gov](mailto:hq-univpartnerships@mail.nasa.gov) | | | NSPIRES Help Desk | [nspires-help@nasaprs.com](mailto:nspires-help@nasaprs.com) | (202) 479-9376 | For the fastest response to solicitation questions, email [hq-univpartnerships@mail.nasa.gov](mailto:hq-univpartnerships@mail.nasa.gov). General Q&A will be posted on the ULI section of the NSPIRES website for all proposers to access. ---

D.4 University Leadership Initiative 2 (ULI2)

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