University Innovation (UI) Project | NNH23ZEA001N UI

Opportunity Information: Apply for NNH23ZEA001N UI

NASA, through its Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD), released Amendment 2 to the Research Opportunities in Aeronautics (ROA) 2023 NASA Research Announcement (NRA) under the University Innovation (UI) Project (Funding Opportunity Number NNH23ZEA001N UI). The opportunity is posted in NSPIRES and is focused on a practical, industry-facing problem tied to the future of aviation: aviation maintenance. NASA frames this as a system-level challenge, meaning the agency is not only interested in novel aircraft concepts, but also in the operational ecosystem that will support them once they are fielded at scale. In that ecosystem, maintenance reliability, maintainability, and the availability of a properly trained workforce are viewed as critical constraints that can either enable or slow adoption of next-generation air transportation.

The core purpose of this program element is to fund research that identifies and addresses new and unique maintenance issues expected to arise as new vehicle types and operating models enter service, while also advancing training approaches and workforce development. NASA is specifically seeking research proposals that respond to the maintenance and training challenges described in Appendix D.6 of the ROA. While the posting does not enumerate those topics in the excerpt provided, the intent is clear: proposals should target gaps in maintenance practices, diagnostic methods, sustainment strategies, and training pipelines that are likely to become more complex or fundamentally different with emerging aircraft and operational concepts.

This is a discretionary grant opportunity in the science, technology, and other research and development category (CFDA 43.002). Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning it is broadly open to applicants of any type of entity, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications contained in the full solicitation text. NASA indicates it expects to make about three awards. The listing shows an award ceiling of 0, which generally signals that applicants should rely on the solicitation for budget guidance and that funding limits may vary by topic, scope, or availability of appropriations rather than being capped at a single published maximum in this summary record.

Key dates are centered around late spring 2023. Notices of Intent (NOIs) are encouraged but not required and were due by April 21, 2023. NASA also scheduled an Applicant Workshop for April 26, 2023, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, with access information to be provided through NSPIRES. Full proposals were due May 31, 2023, by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. For applicants, the practical takeaway is that the program expects well-scoped research efforts that connect maintenance technology and processes with training and workforce readiness, aligned to the Appendix D.6 problem statements, and submitted through the NSPIRES system under the ARMD ROA 2023 umbrella.

• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA Headquarters in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "University Innovation (UI) Project" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 43.002.
• This funding opportunity was created on Mar 29, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 31, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

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