Opportunity Information: Apply for NNH26ZTR001N 27NIAC A1
NASA Headquarters plans to release the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Phase I solicitation as an appendix under the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) NASA Research Announcement called "Space Technology Research, Development, Demonstration, and Infusion - 2026 (SpaceTech-REDDI-2026)." The appendix is expected to post around September 28, 2026, and applicants will access the full solicitation package (including final due dates, required forms, and formatting rules) through NSPIRES by navigating to the SpaceTech-REDDI-2026 opportunity and then selecting the NIAC Phase I program element (Appendix NNH26ZTR001N-27NIACA1). This opportunity is administered as a discretionary grant program under CFDA 43.012 and is aimed at early-stage, high-risk/high-payoff space technology and mission concepts.
NIAC Phase I is designed to fund short, focused studies that test the basic feasibility and overall viability of bold, forward-looking ideas. Phase I awards are typically structured as a nine-month effort, with an award ceiling of $225,000. NASA anticipates making about 16 awards under this solicitation. In practice, NIAC Phase I is meant to help teams move a concept from an imaginative idea to something that has credible technical grounding, a clearer development path, and enough evidence to justify further investment through later NIAC phases or other funding channels.
The proposal process is explicitly two-step. Step A is a brief proposal that is open to all eligible applicants and is used as the initial screen. Applicants who are selected from Step A will be invited to submit Step B, which is a more detailed and expanded proposal. This structure is intended to reduce upfront burden while still allowing NASA to request deeper technical and programmatic detail from the most promising concepts.
Eligibility is broad on the U.S. side: all categories of U.S. organizations may apply, and NIAC Principal Investigators (also referred to as NIAC Fellows) and team members can come from any type of U.S. organization. Non-U.S. organizations may participate as partners, or even lead NIAC studies, only on a no-exchange-of-funds basis and subject to NASA rules on foreign participation as described in SpaceTech-REDDI-2026 (specifically referenced as Section B.3). This generally means international participation is possible, but NASA funding is not provided to the non-U.S. entity, and the collaboration must comply with policy constraints.
All submissions must be made electronically through NSPIRES, and they must be transmitted by an authorized organizational representative (AOR), not just the PI. Applicants are encouraged to prepare early because NSPIRES registration depends on several prerequisite registrations and identifiers. Organizations need a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), a CAGE code, and an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) before NSPIRES registration can be completed. NASA also points applicants to the SpaceTech-REDDI-2026 NRA for detailed proposal instructions, along with the NASA Grant and Cooperative Agreement Manual for broader administrative and compliance expectations.
NASA is also planning applicant engagement and Q-and-A support around the solicitation. NIAC will host a virtual forum on October 7, 2026 (1-3 PM ET) covering key aspects of the Phase I appendix, with the agenda and connection details to be posted on the NSPIRES page for the appendix. Questions are encouraged by close of business on October 6, 2026, and can be submitted through the provided online session link or by emailing hq-niac@mail.nasa.gov. NASA notes that responses may be sent by email and also rolled into a public FAQ posted to NSPIRES, with the identities of question submitters kept anonymous. Applicants are advised to monitor NSPIRES regularly or subscribe to NSPIRES notifications for updates, clarifications, and any amendments.
Key listed facts from the posting include: Funding Opportunity Title: NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Phase I; Funding Opportunity Number: NNH26ZTR001N (program element/appendix: 27NIAC A1 / NNH26ZTR001N-27NIACA1); Agency: NASA Headquarters; Instrument: Grant; Activity Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development; Expected Awards: 16; Award Ceiling: $225,000; anticipated posting/creation date: September 28, 2026; and an original closing date shown as October 28, 2026 (applicants should still verify the final deadline and any Step A/Step B dates in NSPIRES once the appendix is posted).Apply for NNH26ZTR001N 27NIAC A1
- The NASA Headquarters in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Phase I" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 43.012.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-09-28.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-10-28. (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 $225,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 16 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others, Unrestricted.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Phase I (SpaceTech-REDDI-2026)
1) What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The funding opportunity is titled "NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Phase I."
2) Which NASA organization is administering this opportunity?
The opportunity is administered by NASA Headquarters.
3) What type of funding instrument will NASA use?
The listed instrument type is a Grant.
4) Under what larger solicitation will NIAC Phase I be released?
NASA plans to release the NIAC Phase I solicitation as an appendix under the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) NASA Research Announcement (NRA) titled "Space Technology Research, Development, Demonstration, and Infusion - 2026 (SpaceTech-REDDI-2026)."
5) What is the funding opportunity number and appendix/program element identifier?
The Funding Opportunity Number is NNH26ZTR001N. The NIAC Phase I program element/appendix is identified as 27NIAC A1 / NNH26ZTR001N-27NIACA1.
6) What is the CFDA number associated with this grant program?
This opportunity is administered as a discretionary grant program under CFDA 43.012.
7) What kinds of projects is NIAC Phase I meant to support?
NIAC Phase I targets early-stage, high-risk/high-payoff space technology and mission concepts. It funds short, focused studies intended to test basic feasibility and overall viability of bold, forward-looking ideas and help move concepts from imaginative proposals to technically credible directions with clearer development paths.
8) What is the typical period of performance for a NIAC Phase I award?
Phase I awards are typically structured as a nine-month effort.
9) What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount for Phase I?
The award ceiling is $225,000.
10) How many awards does NASA expect to make?
NASA anticipates making about 16 awards under this solicitation.
11) Is the proposal process one-step or multi-step?
The proposal process is explicitly two-step.
12) What is Step A in the NIAC Phase I proposal process?
Step A is a brief proposal that is open to all eligible applicants and is used as the initial screening step.
13) What is Step B in the NIAC Phase I proposal process?
Step B is a more detailed and expanded proposal. Only applicants selected from Step A will be invited to submit Step B.
14) Why does NASA use a two-step proposal process for NIAC Phase I?
The two-step structure is intended to reduce upfront burden for applicants, while still allowing NASA to request deeper technical and programmatic detail from the most promising concepts after the initial screen.
15) Who is eligible to apply from the United States?
Eligibility is broad: all categories of U.S. organizations may apply. NIAC Principal Investigators (also referred to as NIAC Fellows) and team members may come from any type of U.S. organization.
16) Can non-U.S. organizations participate?
Non-U.S. organizations may participate as partners, or even lead NIAC studies, only on a no-exchange-of-funds basis and subject to NASA rules on foreign participation described in SpaceTech-REDDI-2026 (referenced as Section B.3). This means international participation may be possible, but NASA funding is not provided to the non-U.S. entity and the collaboration must comply with NASA policy constraints.
17) Where will the solicitation package be posted and accessed?
Applicants will access the full solicitation package through NSPIRES by navigating to the SpaceTech-REDDI-2026 opportunity and selecting the NIAC Phase I program element (Appendix NNH26ZTR001N-27NIACA1).
18) When is the NIAC Phase I appendix expected to post?
The appendix is expected to post around September 28, 2026.
19) What is the closing date shown in the posting?
An original closing date is shown as October 28, 2026. Applicants are advised to verify final deadlines and any Step A/Step B due dates in NSPIRES once the appendix is posted.
20) What should applicants verify in NSPIRES once the appendix is posted?
Applicants should verify final due dates (including any separate Step A and Step B dates), required forms, and formatting rules in the NSPIRES-hosted solicitation package.
21) How must proposals be submitted?
All submissions must be made electronically through NSPIRES.
22) Who is required to transmit the application in NSPIRES?
Submissions must be transmitted by an authorized organizational representative (AOR), not only by the Principal Investigator (PI).
23) What registrations and identifiers are needed before an organization can complete NSPIRES registration?
NASA notes that NSPIRES registration depends on prerequisite registrations and identifiers. Organizations need a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), a CAGE code, and an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) before NSPIRES registration can be completed.
24) Where should applicants look for detailed proposal instructions?
Applicants are directed to the SpaceTech-REDDI-2026 NRA for detailed proposal instructions. NASA also points applicants to the NASA Grant and Cooperative Agreement Manual for broader administrative and compliance expectations.
25) Will NASA provide applicant engagement or a Q&A forum?
NASA indicates NIAC will host applicant engagement and Q&A support, including a virtual forum focused on key aspects of the Phase I appendix.
26) When is the NIAC Phase I virtual forum scheduled?
The virtual forum is scheduled for October 7, 2026, from 1-3 PM ET.
27) Where will the agenda and connection details for the virtual forum be posted?
The agenda and connection details are expected to be posted on the NSPIRES page for the appendix.
28) How and when can questions be submitted to NIAC about this opportunity?
Questions are encouraged by close of business on October 6, 2026. They can be submitted through the provided online session link or by emailing hq-niac@mail.nasa.gov.
29) How will NASA respond to submitted questions?
NASA notes that responses may be sent by email and may also be incorporated into a public FAQ posted to NSPIRES. NASA also notes that the identities of question submitters will be kept anonymous.
30) How can applicants stay informed about updates, clarifications, or amendments?
Applicants are advised to monitor NSPIRES regularly or subscribe to NSPIRES notifications for updates, clarifications, and any amendments.
31) What activity category is listed for this opportunity?
The activity category is listed as "Science and Technology and other Research and Development."
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