NASA’s Equity Action Plan, released in 2022, states that the Agency is “...working to recognize and overcome the visible and invisible systemic barriers that hinder equitable, inclusive access – by individuals or communities – to the government programs, resources, and opportunities that make all of NASA’s work possible” and commits to launching the Science Mission Directorate (SMD) Bridge Program. The primary highlevel goal of the overarching SMD Bridge Program is to develop sustainable partnerships between NASA Centers or Facilities and Minority-serving Institutions (MSIs)—such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), Primarily Black Institutions (PBIs), and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs)—as well as Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs) and Community Colleges. Very highly research-intensive universities may also be included, if their participation benefits the partnership, and is sufficiently justified. These partnerships are expected to be led by faculty and focus on paid research and engineering positions for undergraduate and graduate students at participating institutions, with the goal of transitioning these science and engineering students from undergraduate studies into graduate schools and/or employment by NASA or related institutions, transitioning graduate students into positions at NASA or other STEM employment, and enhancing faculty research trajectories.
Notices of Intent are not requested, and proposals may be submitted at any time but those submitted by June 30, 2023, will be reviewed in Summer 2023, with anticipated award date in October 2023.
This program element does not have a proposal due date. Proposals may be submitted at any time. The date shown of 3/29/2024 is the last day that proposals may be submitted here, subject to the ROSES-23 rules and the current Guidebook for Proposers.