VTSGC Pilot and Small Scale Research Awards

The Vermont Space Grant Consortium (VTSGC) and Vermont NASA EPSCoR seek to strengthen Vermont’s research capacity by helping faculty build NASA partnerships and compete successfully for external funding in NASA-related fields. To advance these goals, VTSGC and Vermont NASA EPSCoR invite applications for Research Pilot Grants (up to $13,000 in direct costs) and Small-Scale Research Grants (up to $30,000 in direct costs). Projects must align closely with current NASA research priorities or technology needs and should demonstrate potential to connect Vermont faculty with NASA Centers.

Eligible principal investigators are those persons who are full-time faculty members at any of Vermont’s higher educational institutions. Support from VTSGC-based funding is restricted to US Citizens for any involved students; NASA EPSCoR funding does not carry this restriction. Standard restrictions on any ITAR-related research still apply.

Applicants must clearly demonstrate the relevance of the proposed research to NASA’s mission, research priorities, or technology needs. The NASA Alignment section should explain how the proposed work advances one or more NASA objectives and identify the specific NASA programs, mission directorates, research areas, or technology priorities to which the project is aligned. Applicants should cite relevant NASA planning and strategy documents, such as the NASA Strategic Plan, NASA Science Strategy, NASA Technology Taxonomy, or recent solicitations posted in NSPIRES. Strong applications will articulate both the significance of the proposed work to NASA and its potential to foster future collaborations with NASA researchers or Centers.

NASA Strategic Plan [https://www.nasa.gov/ocfo/strategic-plan]

NASA Science Strategy [https://science.nasa.gov/about-us/science-strategy]

NASA Technology Taxonomy [https://techport.nasa.gov/taxonomy]

NSPIRES [https://nspires.nasaprs.com]

All awardees will be required to complete a demographic survey and final research progress report within 30 days of the end of the award period. Additional research progress update(s) may be requested after completion of the project to address NASA reporting requirements.

Applications determined to be responsive to this RFA will be reviewed by a panel of faculty experts. Reviewers will assess the strengths and weaknesses of each application in the following domains:

• Scientific/Technical Merit – Clarity, significance, and scientific or technical rigor of the proposed research aims, objectives, goals, hypotheses, and expected outcomes
• Approach – Clarity, feasibility, and appropriateness of the proposed methods and research plan in relation to the project goals and objectives
• NASA Alignment – Significance and relevance of the proposed research to NASA scientific, technology, or exploration priorities
• Investigators – Qualifications, expertise, and complementary capabilities of the study team to conduct the proposed research successfully
• Overall Impact – Overall assessment of the proposed project, reflecting the strengths and weaknesses identified across the review domains and the potential for the project to achieve its stated objectives

Applicants will receive written reviewer critiques. Final selections will be made by the VTSGC Director in consultation with the VTSGC/Vermont NASA EPSCoR Boards of Advisors.

Applications must include both a budget table and a budget narrative. The budget table must itemize all requested costs. A budget table template is provided at the top of this page. The budget narrative must describe and justify each budget item.

All requested costs must be allowable under federal grant regulations. Allowable costs include personnel salaries and fringe benefits, materials and supplies, domestic travel, publication costs, consultant services, computing expenses, and other project-related costs that are allowable under federal guidelines. Equipment with a unit cost greater than $5,000 and international travel are not allowable.

For projects that include graduate student support, stipend, tuition, and fringe benefit costs must be consistent with current institutional policies. Undergraduate student compensation must likewise comply with institutional wage policies and include fringe benefits where applicable.

Facilities and Administrative (F&A) costs must be requested in addition to direct costs and must be calculated using the federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement applicable to the principal investigator's institution.

Funding requested from VTSGC and Vermont NASA EPSCoR must be matched on a 1:1 basis for the first $25,000 in direct costs. Cost sharing must be provided from non-federal sources. Common forms of cost share include in-kind contributions, such as faculty research effort during the academic year. Waived or differential tuition may not be used as cost share. F&A may not be used as cost share. The budget table must identify both requested NASA funds and cost-share contributions. The budget narrative must identify and justify all sources of cost share.

Applications must be approved by an authorizing official at the institution of origin. University of Vermont applicants must coordinate with their departmental representative from Sponsored Project Administration (SPA) and route a funding proposal through UVMClick. All other applicants must coordinate with the SPA equivalent at their institution and submit a completed and signed subrecipient commitment form.

The completed application packet must include the following items:

Items 2–5 must be typed and single-spaced with a page size of 8.5 inches by 11 inches with 1-inch margins on all sides. The typeface must be at least 12 points in size. Applications that do not adhere to these requirements will be returned without review.

Applications must be submitted electronically to the VTSGC/Vermont NASA EPSCoR Office no later than 11:59 p.m. on February 12, 2027. The application must be saved as a single PDF file and emailed to SG.Director@uvm.edu using the subject line “2027 Faculty Research Grant Application”.

Please direct any questions about this program to:

• Bernard F. Cole, Director of VTSGC/VT NASA EPSCoR, (802-656-0054 or bfcole@uvm.edu)
• Sarah Niknaum, Program Administrator of VTSGC/VT NASA EPSCoR (Sarah.Niknaum@uvm.edu)