$25K Short-term Grant Opportunity
FY 22 Short-term Grant Opportunity
Off-cycle funding to support a broad range of STEM education, research, and outreach opportunities
Award Amount: Up to $25,000 per project. Minimum Award of $5,000.
Number of Awards Anticipated: 6-8
White Paper Deadline: February 1, 2022
Notification of Selection Status: February 15, 2022
Period of Performance: Only projects that can be completed by March 31, 2023, and fully invoiced by May 31, 2023, can be considered. Projects that can be fully invoiced by June 22, 2022, will receive first priority.
Due to the short timeline for project completion, creative approaches to student engagement, outreach, distanced research, and curriculum development and delivery are encouraged.
Project Scope: We intend to support projects that align with Consortium program goals in each of the following areas:
Proposal Requirements
Each proposal should:
- provide for student support at the 1-3 student level (faculty programs only; all funded students must be U.S. citizens)
- support faculty/industry research/outreach in an area supported by one or more NASA Mission Directorates
At this point, we are asking only for a white paper with the elements below. Selected projects will be invited to submit complete budgets and to provide additional information as requested. Note that cost-share requirements are described in each program overview (see links above). Note also that Affiliate membership in the Consortium remains a requirement for funding under Higher Education Initiatives and Research Infrastructure programs. Finally, note that awards can only be made to Affiliates in good standing with an affiliate award agreement and institutional match (intended and verified) filed with the WSGC program office for the 2021-2022 grant year.
White Paper: Submit a white paper of no more than five pages in length, describing the project purpose and scope, outcomes/deliverables, alignment with NASA mission directorates, timeline for completion, history of related funding, student engagement, and COVID-19 contingency plan.
Budget: An initial budget with a project cost breakdown and cost-share elements is required.
Period of Performance: The project scope should allow for completion of all project activities by March 31, 2023.
Process:
- Submit White Paper as a PDF file to wsgc@carthage.eduby February 1, 2022. Use Subject Line: BTG22_WHITE_PAPER
- Depending on the volume of applications, we will convene an advisory panel to review and recommend funding with anticipated decisions by February 15, 2022.
- Selected applicants will be asked to 1) register on the WSGC website, 2) submit a complete approved budget and other grant data through the WSGC grant portal on the appropriate program application page, and 3) respond to any additional information requests within one week of notification of acceptance.
- Award letters will be submitted to PIs and campus grants offices by March 1, 2022.
- Signed award agreements will need to be submitted to the WSGC PI grant management page no later than March 14, 2022.
Questions You May Have:
- Q. Can current awardees (either on- or off-cycle projects) use this opportunity to expand the reach of currently funded projects?
- Yes, as long the proposed project expansion meets the requirements above.
- Q. Can the funding be used to purchase equipment?
- The proposed project expenditures must still be “allowable” by the definitions of our Cooperative Agreement with NASA. Capital Equipment is not allowable under these terms. Your campus usually defines Capital Equipment as those purchases above a threshold dollar amount and/or with an intended lifetime of five or more years. Check with your relevant campus office to ensure that proposed purchases do not meet the capital equipment threshold of your campus.
- Q. Does the funding require an institutional match commitment?
- Yes, all non-student dollars must be matched according to the program requirements with which your project is most closely aligned. Example: A proposal that involves student-faculty research or curriculum development would require a 1:1 match on all non-student dollars awarded.
