MUREP Partnership Learning Annual Notification (MPLAN) Awards

MUREP Partnership Learning Annual Notification (MPLAN) Awards is sponsored by NASA's Office of STEM Engagement. This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

MUREP Partnership Learning Annual Notification 2026 | HeroX MUREP Partnership Learning Annual Notification 2026 MPLAN prizes provide resources to MSIs to further develop ideas, facilitate research and development, and engage stakeholders.

Multiple planned prizes of up to $50,000 Mission Directorate Topics NASA is soliciting research proposals that fall within the 2026 topic areas that represent a subset of pertinent mission areas for NASA. In Phase 1 , Principal Investigator (PI) submits a proposal to one of the topic areas by June 18, 2026.

In Phase 2 , NASA facilitates communication and meetings between Phase 1 prize recipients, Mission Directorate representatives, and subject matter experts. Selected PIs and their partners (if applicable) will have the opportunity to participate in a kickoff meeting, a two-day in-person workshop, engage monthly with NASA researchers, identify opportunities with NASA, and network with other PIs.

These sessions are expected to occur between August and December 2026. It is highly encouraged that prize recipients participate in Phase 2 meetings to exchange information and receive the full benefits of this program. NASA connects the public to the agency’s missions and explores creative possibilities for addressing the agency’s needs through prizes, challenges, and crowdsourcing opportunities.

NASA MPLAN prize provide resources to Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) to further develop ideas, facilitate research and development, and engage stakeholders. Successful proposals result in prizes with a maximum amount of $50,000.

NASA intends for prize recipients to utilize their MPLAN prize funds for various purposes such as staff support, student experiences, professional development, travel, meetings, focus groups, research, evaluation, consultants, specialized resources, technical expertise, and support needed to develop and implement proposed strategies and approaches. NASA MPLAN will provide support in Phase 2 through December 31, 2026.

These prizes are not grants or cooperative agreements, and time extensions are not applicable. Prizes are anticipated to be dispersed to MSIs within 45 days of the winner announcement, pending the on-time submission of the documents by the MSI. MSIs may propose to any of the topics found here .

Roles and Responsibilities Principal Investigators are primarily responsible for implementing, operating, and managing the project as described in their original proposal. While not required, appointing a co-Principal Investigator (co-PI) is optional (In the event the primary PI leaves the institution, providing a co-PI allows the funding to remain with the project within the institution).

If a co-PI is designated, provide their name, role, and email address in the submission form. The PI should consider taking on some or all of the following tasks: Leading, administering, and evaluating the project and its activities. Collaborating with university leadership to promote advancement in engineering.

Supervising project staff and ensuring compliance with policies and laws. Using research-based best practices for the project. Managing project budgets and complying with funding guidelines.

Participating in meetings and delivering progress reports in a timely manner. Participating in performance assessment and evaluation activities aligned with the federal government's priorities. Note: While a co-PI is optional, designating one can ensure project continuity if the primary PI departs the institution.

Each proposal must include a completed submission form and budget . Do not include proprietary information within proposals. Proposals should include information that can be made publicly available without compromising any intellectual property or proprietary rights.

Proposals should be written at a conceptual big picture level, focusing on the overall goals and objectives of the prize as detailed in the submission form: Address of primary campus of institution. Name and email of Principal Investigator and their role at the institution. Optional: name, role, and email of co-PI.

Optional: name and role of any other key participants from the MSI, including their level of support in the planning effort. Zip folder containing the curriculum vitaes (CVs) of the PI and, if applicable, CVs of any other key participants from the MSI. 2.

Team Members and Partners There is no limit to your number of team members/partners, however, beyond the Principal Investigator, you may provide information for only up to 5 additional team members/partners. NASA Civil Servants shall not collaborate with applicants nor assist in writing their proposals. This is a conflict of interest, and strictly prohibited.

Team members and partners are optional, Role: select one of Co-Principal Investigator, Small Business Concern/Partner, Other University Team Member, or Other Partner (not small business). Partner capabilities (CV, capabilities statement, etc. PDF upload) Topic selection: select one topic from the list here . Intended or desired start date of the proposed project or activity (after August 9, 2026).

Completion date of the proposed project or activity (there is no set period of performance for the funds; however, we recommend a proposal end date on or around December 2026 to correspond with the end date of NASA support). Total amount of funds needed for the proposed project or activity, including all anticipated expenses and costs.

Executive summary: High level overview of the proposed technology or activity, including the problem being addressed. (Max 1200 characters). Project objectives: What are the desired outcomes of your project or activity?

(Max 1200 characters). Approach to Research/Technical Innovation: A description of the proposed technology or activity, the degree of innovativeness, potential approaches to developing the technology, and key risks and mitigation strategies. (Max 2700 characters.)

Potential Applications to NASA: Potential NASA applications or missions which might benefit from developed technology, potential commercialization opportunities. (Max 1300 characters.) Attach a completed budget for your proposed project or activity, using the budget template.

Optional: Background and literature review: A review of the work done in the field, emphasizing the problem and attempts to tackle it. (Max 2000 characters.) Submit a budget using the budget template (view a sample budget here ).

Budget details are provided to allow for assessment of the type of skills/expertise engaged in this effort and the number of hours committed. Use of Government facilities or contracted technical support should not be included in the budget submission. At least 50% of the budget must go to the MSI.

Proposed projects should not begin until August 9, 2026. The budget requested for this prize cannot exceed $50,000. Budget proposals must cover activities through December 31, 2026.

Consider allocating funds for travel for up to two in-person meetings, within the United States, as there may be opportunities to engage with your Mission Directorate cohort. As this is a prize and not a grant, no indirect costs should be included in the budget. Materials and supplies budget should not exceed 10% of the total budget.

Phase 1: Open for submissions: March 16, 2026 Pre-proposal information session: April 14, at 1:00 p. m. CT Submission deadline: June 18, 2026, 10:59 p.

m. CT Selection Announcement: July 2025 Phase 2: July 2026 - December 2026 (6 months) Kickoff Meeting: August 13, 2026, 1 p. m.

CT Cohort meeting/ SME session 1: August 20, 2026, 1 p. m. CT Cohort meeting/SME session 2: September 17, 2026, 1 p.

m. CT Cohort meeting/SME session 3: October 15, 2026, 1 p. m.

CT Cohort meeting /SME session 4: November 19, 2026, 1 p. m. CT Cohort meeting/Close out session: December 17, 2026, 1 p.

m. CT NASA selects proposals that offer the most advantageous research and development (R&D), deliver technological innovation that contributes to NASA’s missions, provides societal benefit, and grows the U.S. economy. In evaluating proposals, NASA prioritizes the scientific and technical merit of the proposal, as well as its feasibility and potential benefit to NASA's interests (as described in the judging criteria below).

Each proposal is evaluated and scored on its own merit using the evaluation factors described below: Section Description Overall Weight Scientific/Technical Merit Evaluation of proposed R&D effort on innovative and feasible technical approach to NASA problem area. Demonstration of relevance to one or more NASA missions and/or programmatic needs.

Clear presentation of specific objectives, approaches, and plans for developing and verifying innovation. Demonstration of clear understanding of the problem and current state of the art. Assessment of understanding and significance of risks involved in the proposed innovation.

50% Experience, Qualifications, and Facilities Evaluation of technical capabilities and experience of Principal Investigator (PI), project manager, key personnel, staff, consultants, and subcontractors. Assessment of consistency between research effort and level of support from involved parties. Demonstration of adequate instrumentation or facilities required for the project.

Detailed consideration of any reliance on external sources, such as Government-furnished equipment or facilities. 25% Feasibility & Reasonableness Evaluation of whether the proposed plan, schedule, and budget is appropriate for the project/activity 25% Mission Directorate Topics MPLAN 2026 - Submission Deadline Extension May 18, 2026, 9 a. m.

PDT by Andrew @ HeroX Please note that the MPLAN 2026 Submission Deadline has been extended to Thursday, June 18th. We look forward to your submissions! May 14, 2026, 5 a.

m. PDT by Lulu This is your one week warning! The final submission deadline is May 22, 12:59pm Eastern Time (New York/USA).

No late submissions will be accepted, so make sure to give yourself plenty of buffer time. If there’s anything you’re unsure about, there is still time to ask for help. Post on the discussion forum or leave a comment on this post.

We’ll keep an eye out for your questions. We can’t wait to see what you’ve been working on. Best of luck finishing up your submissions!

BLOG: Dual-Use by Design: How University Labs Bridge the Gap Between NASA Missions and the Commercial Market May 13, 2026, 6 a. m. PDT by Lulu The Expectation That Drives Innovation When a university research team wins a NASA grant, the celebration is always about the groundbreaking science.

What often becomes a powerful engine for success is the essential secondary mission embedded in nearly every federally-seeded technology program: that this work will ultimately achieve a meaningful impact far beyond the agency that funded it.

This is a well-established and empowering idea, tracing its roots to the Bayh-Dole Act, which wisely granted universities ownership of federally funded inventions specifically to fuel commercialization. While understanding the policy is key, the real opportunity lies in proactively building a research program around dual-use potential.

Many labs excel at the scientific discovery, and with a focused approach, they can equally master the market application. The shift is already happening as academic research adapts its workflows, incentive structures, and vocabulary to successfully integrate market pull with scientific inquiry. Click here to View Full Article May 7, 2026, 3 a.

m. PDT by Lulu This is your official reminder that you have two weeks left to submit your MPLAN 2026 solution! Please remember that we don’t accept any late submissions.

It’s a good idea to get 75% of your project done a full week before it’s due to allow time for troubleshooting. Now is also the time to ask questions and seek help. To ask a question, post on the discussion forum or comment directly on this post.

We’re looking forward to hearing from you! Best of luck in the final stages of your project. BLOG: The $50K Question: What Seed-Stage Funding Actually Buys in University Research May 6, 2026, 6 a.

m. PDT by Lulu The Critical Pitfall: Premature Assumptions That Hinder Innovation There is a quiet gatekeeping problem in university research that occurs much earlier than peer review or grant panels. It happens in the moment a faculty member or student team considers a promising idea but chooses not to pursue it because they assume the funding required is out of reach.

The belief often stated is that genuine research demands substantial capital. Seven figures, ideally. An NSF grant, a DoD contract, or a major industry partner are seen as prerequisites.

Anything less is considered mere tinkering. This perspective is common and frequently incorrect. Fortunately, it creates a significant opportunity, especially for teaching-focused universities and smaller institutions.

These schools educate the majority of American undergraduates and are home to many of the nation's most practical innovators, who are perfectly positioned to thrive with strategic seed funding. Click here to View Full Article