Dear Colleagues,
The NASA EPSCoR Program at NASA Headquarters indicated this past week that that an announcement of a new FY 2015 National NASA EPSCoR Research Group Competition is anticipated by the end of 2014. Under this time frame, the expected proposal due date would be in period of January - March 2015; past history has indicated a more likely due date more towards March. A minimum of 60 days is guaranteed between the time of the announcement and the proposal due date. It is once again unclear whether Vermont's NASA EPSCoR Project will be allowed to submit one or two proposals to the FY15 competition (only one submission was permitted for FY14). Investigators with NASA-relevant projects not previously involved with external NASA EPSCoR funding are particularly encouraged to apply.
As in past years, it will be necessary to select the top project(s) ahead of time so as to be prepared once the formal announcement of the 2015 Competition is posted. This local selection of projects will be made on the basis of peer-reviewed pre-proposals. A call for pre-proposals document is attached. Vermont faculty researchers wishing to be considered as Science PI’s for inclusion in this competition must submit a pre-proposal for their proposed team research project to the VT-NASA EPSCoR Office no later than COB on Monday, November 24.
Although a formal RFP has not yet appeared from NASA, I am also attaching a copy of the FY 2014 announcement to provide some initial guidance and information; the new announcement is unlikely to differ dramatically from this.
Any questions can be directed to my intention via email, or in person at the VSGC/NASA EPSCoR Office in 101 Votey Hall (802.656.1429).
Sincerely,
Darren Hitt