Cooperative Agreement to establish a Heliophysics Science Center (HSC) | 80GSFC20R0046

Opportunity Information: Apply for 80GSFC20R0046

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) announced its intent to re-compete a Cooperative Agreement to establish and operate a Heliophysics Science Center (HSC). The goal is to stand up a single, NASA-affiliated center of excellence that advances NASA's heliophysics priorities through a close partnership between GSFC scientists and an external organization (or a team led by one primary organization). The work is expected to blend basic and applied research and to support NASA's broader strategic objective in heliophysics: understanding the Sun and how it interacts with Earth, the rest of the solar system, and the interstellar medium, with particular relevance to space weather.

The HSC is framed as a collaborative research effort spanning observational, experimental, and theoretical studies. In practice, that means the Center is expected to contribute across the full scientific pipeline: using data from observations (including space-based and ground-based sources as appropriate), developing or applying models and theory to interpret the Sun-heliosystem system, and connecting results to practical needs such as improved understanding of space weather drivers and impacts. Because the award instrument is a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant, NASA anticipates substantial involvement from the agency during performance, with GSFC and the recipient working together to plan, execute, and refine the research and Center activities.

This opportunity was described as a full and open competition that would result in one award. NASA indicated the period of performance would be approximately five years from the date of award, signaling an expectation of sustained operations rather than a short, single-project study. The estimated maximum funding level listed for the opportunity is an award ceiling of $62,469,086, and the anticipated number of awards is one, reinforcing that the intent is to concentrate resources into a single Center rather than distribute them across multiple smaller awards.

Eligibility is limited: NASA stated it will only consider proposals from educational institutions and non-profit organizations. If multiple organizations want to participate, they may team, but the proposal must clearly name one lead organization to serve as the formal cooperative agreement recipient and primary partner to NASA. The application is expected to explain how responsibilities, research tasks, management, and decision-making will be distributed across partners, which effectively means the teaming arrangement must still look like one integrated Center with a coherent governance and execution plan.

Administratively, the solicitation was to be released via Grants.gov and beta.SAM.gov, and applicants were responsible for monitoring those sites for the Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN) and any amendments. NASA also noted that proposers must be affiliated with an institution in the NSPIRES system (nspires.nasaprs.com), and it reiterated the general rule that NASA typically funds U.S. institutions. Contractual and technical questions were directed to a specific NASA contact by email (Sislyn P. Barrett), and the NASA ombudsman clause (NASA Clause 1852.215-84) applies, with the relevant ombudsman information available through NASA's published listing.

Key opportunity identifiers include the Funding Opportunity Number 80GSFC20R0046, CFDA 43.001, instrument type Cooperative Agreement, activity category Science and Technology and other Research and Development, creation date August 13, 2020, and an original closing date of October 30, 2020. Overall, the opportunity is structured to select one qualified non-profit or educational lead to co-run a long-term heliophysics research center with GSFC, aligned tightly with NASA's strategic heliophysics science objectives and space weather-related priorities.

• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Agreement to establish a Heliophysics Science Center (HSC)" 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 Aug 13, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 30, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $62,469,086.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for 80GSFC20R0046

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