NSF 25-513: NSF/CASIS Collaboration on Tissue Engineering and Mechanobiology on the International Space Station to Benefit Life on Earth

NSF 25-513: NSF/CASIS Collaboration on Tissue Engineering and Mechanobiology on the International Space Station to Benefit Life on Earth is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

NSF 25-513: NSF/CASIS Collaboration on Tissue Engineering and Mechanobiology on the International Space Station to Benefit Life on Earth | NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation Archived funding opportunity This solicitation is archived.

Important information for proposers and award recipients All proposals must be submitted in accordance with the requirements specified in the funding opportunity and in the Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) and its supplements . All NSF grants and cooperative agreements are subject to the applicable set of NSF award terms and conditions . NSF has updated its research security policies for NSF funded projects.

NSF 25-513: NSF/CASIS Collaboration on Tissue Engineering and Mechanobiology on the International Space Station to Benefit Life on Earth Posted: November 29, 2024 To save a PDF of this solicitation, select Print to PDF in your browser's print options.

Program Solicitation NSF 25-513 U.S. National Science Foundation Directorate for Engineering Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental and Transport Systems Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation Center for the Advancement of Science in Space Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p. m.

submitting organization's local time): Important Information And Revision Notes Supplementary and Single-Copy Documents: Page limits have been removed for the Statement of Work. The Statement of Work is now submitted as a Single Copy Document. Implementation Partner Letters of Collaboration are no longer required.

The NSF-CASIS Program is not intended to be used for proposals that are appropriate for existing funding mechanisms or that continue well-established practices. Prospective proposers must submit a Feasibility Review Form to the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, Inc. (CASIS) by January 15, 2025. The form will be evaluated for operational feasibility and terrestrial benefit.

Proposers who have submitted Feasibility Review Forms that pass the initial operational and terrestrial benefit review by CASIS will be eligible to submit a full proposal for evaluation by NSF. Documentation from the CASIS team confirming eligibility to submit a proposal after the operation and terrestrial benefit reviews must be provided as a Single Copy Document when the full proposal is submitted.

CASIS strongly encourages submission of the Feasibility Review Form as early as possible. Potential PIs or teams should consult with the CASIS Operations team ( NSFCASIS@issnationallab. org ) for feedback regarding feasibility and compliance with flight requirements and capabilities.

Final Deadline for Submitting the Feasibility Review Form to CASIS: January 15, 2025 To Submit the Feasibility Review Form, please visit: https://issnationallab. org/opportunities/rfp2025-3/ . CASIS officers will respond to a Feasibility Review Form within four weeks after submission.

Submitted proposals that pass the initial operational and terrestrial benefit review will be eligible for evaluation by NSF. CASIS personnel will be permitted to view full NSF proposals, reviews, and attend review panels as observers.

Any proposal submitted in response to this solicitation should be submitted in accordance with the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) that is in effect for the relevant due date to which the proposal is being submitted.

The NSF PAPPG is regularly revised and it is the responsibility of the proposer to ensure that the proposal meets the requirements specified in this solicitation and the applicable version of the PAPPG. Submitting a proposal prior to a specified deadline does not negate this requirement.

Summary Of Program Requirements NSF/CASIS Collaboration on Tissue Engineering and Mechanobiology on the International Space Station (ISS) to Benefit Life on Earth The Divisions of Chemical, Bioengineering and Environmental Transport (CBET) and Civil, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Infrastructure (CMMI) in the Engineering Directorate of the National Science Foundation (NSF) are partnering with the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, Inc. (CASIS) to solicit research projects in the fields of tissue engineering and mechanobiology that can utilize the International Space Station (ISS) National Lab to conduct research that will benefit life on Earth.

Topics must fit the scope of either the Biomechanics and Mechanobiology Program or the Engineering of Biomedical Systems Program and must address fundamental engineering gaps.

For utilization of the ISS National Lab through this solicitation, individuals and entities must qualify as a United States citizen or alien admitted for permanent residence in the United States, or as a corporation, partnership, or other organization organized under the laws of the United States, respectively.

Broadening Participation In STEM NSF has a mandate to broaden participation in science and engineering, as articulated and reaffirmed in law since 1950. Congress has charged NSF to "develop intellectual capital, both people and ideas, with particular emphasis on groups and regions that traditionally have not participated fully in science, mathematics, and engineering."

Cognizant Program Officer(s): Please note that the following information is current at the time of publishing. See program website for any updates to the points of contact. Rizia Bardhan, telephone: (703) 292-2390, email: rbardhan@nsf.

gov Gretchen J. Mahler, telephone: (703) 292-7354, email: gmahler@nsf. gov Shivani Sharma, telephone: (703) 292-4204, email: shisharm@nsf.

gov Steven M. Zehnder, telephone: (703) 292-7014, email: szehnder@nsf. gov Kristin Kopperud, telephone: (859) 806-9838, email: kkopperud@issnationallab.

org Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s): 43. 007 --- Center for the Advancement of Science in Space Anticipated Type of Award: Standard Grant Estimated Number of Awards: 2 to 4 Anticipated Funding Amount: $800,000 to $1,600,000 NSF Funding (total) available under this solicitation is up to $1. 6 million to be distributed in FY 2025.

Budget requests may be for up to $400,000 total, direct and indirect costs, and up to three years in duration. The award size and duration should be consistent with the project scope. Collaborative projects from multiple organizations are accepted, according to standard NSF procedures.

The total budget for a collaborative project from multiple organizations must not exceed $400,000. Estimated program budget, number of awards and average award size/duration are subject to the availability of funds.

Funding for ISS Experiments: NSF awards under this solicitation will provide PIs with support to conduct fundamental and translational research to prepare experiments for execution on-board the ISS, to collaborate with service providers as necessary, to provide preliminary analysis to conduct the experiment, to analyze and interpret data, and to disseminate results broadly.

CASIS will assist recipients in translating ground-based experiments and technologies into space-appropriate hardware where possible.

Costs associated with the translation of the proposed experiments to flight experiments on-board the ISS, including the training of ISS crews, transporting the experiment payload and equipment to the ISS, and conducting experiments on the ISS, will be supported by CASIS through their cooperative agreement with NASA.

CASIS may provide funding to Commercial Implementation Partners for PIs to utilize existing flight hardware and facilities to support proposed research but note that proposals requiring significant modifications to hardware or the development of new capabilities will be out of scope for this solicitation.

For information on available flight hardware for this solicitation, please contact representatives from the different Implementation Partners offering services and hardware through this proposal https://issnationallab. org/opportunities/rfp2025-3/ . Please contact the CASIS operations team ( NSFCASIS@issnationallab.

org ) if you have any questions or concerns. Both organizations will jointly manage the project reviews. All NSF awards will be made via a Standard Grant mechanism.

In addition, NSF recipients shall be required to negotiate separate conditions with CASIS for ISS utilization support. CASIS’ Agreements contain non-negotiable provisions which are mandatory and cannot be altered. If an award recipient does not desire to or cannot comply with such mandatory flow down provisions, it should not accept the award opportunity.

Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs): Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members.

Special Instructions for International Branch Campuses of US IHEs: If the proposal includes funding to be provided to an international branch campus of a U.S. institution of higher education (including through use of sub-awards and consultant arrangements), the proposer must explain the benefit(s) to the project of performance at the international branch campus, and justify why the project activities cannot be performed at the US campus.

Non-profit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies and similar organizations located in the U.S. that are directly associated with educational or research activities. For-profit organizations: U.S.-based commercial organizations, including small businesses, with strong capabilities in scientific or engineering research or education and a passion for innovation.

The PI and any co-PIs must qualify as a United States citizen or alien admitted for permanent residence in the United States, and any corporation, partnership, or other organization organized under the laws of the United States. Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization: There are no restrictions or limits.

Limit on Number of Proposals per PI or co-PI: 1 An investigator may only be a PI, co-PI, or other Senior/Key Personnel on one proposal submitted under this solicitation in a given fiscal year . The submitting organization is responsible for ensuring that the PI and all co-PI(s) and other Senior/Key Personnel are participating in only one proposal.

If an individual exceeds this limit, the first proposal submitted to include this individual will be accepted and the remainder will be returned without review. No exceptions will be made. Recipients on active NSF-CASIS Tissue Engineering/Mechanobiology grants may not serve as a PI, co-PI, or other Senior/Key Personnel on a subsequent NSF-CASIS Tissue Engineering/Mechanobiology proposal until the active award is closed.

Implementation Partners - commercial companies that work with the ISS National Lab to provide services related to payload development, including the translation of ground-based science to a space-based platform - are exempt from the above limits on the number of proposals per PI or co-PI. Implementation partners may not act as the lead organizations on NSF/CASIS proposals. Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions A.

Proposal Preparation Instructions Letters of Intent: Not required Preliminary Proposal Submission: Not required Full Proposals submitted via Research. gov: NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide PAPPG) guidelines apply. The complete text of the PAPPG is available electronically on the NSF website at: https://www.

nsf. gov/publications/pub_summ. jsp?

ods_key=pappg . Full Proposals submitted via Grants. gov: NSF Grants.

gov Application Guide: A Guide for the Preparation and Submission of NSF Applications via Grants. gov guidelines apply (Note: The NSF Grants. gov Application Guide is available on the Grants.

gov website and on the NSF website at: https://www. nsf. gov/publications/pub_summ.

jsp? ods_key=grantsgovguide ). Cost Sharing Requirements: Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited.

Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations: Other Budgetary Limitations: Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p. m. submitting organization's local time): Proposal Review Information Criteria National Science Board approved criteria.

Additional merit review criteria apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information. Award Administration Information Additional award conditions apply.

Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information. Standard NSF reporting requirements apply. The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, Inc. (CASIS) is an Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) entity responsible for management of the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory under a Cooperative Agreement with NASA (80JSC018M0005).

Per Section 504 of the NASA Authorization Act of 2010, the purpose of CASIS is to maximize the value of the investment the U.S. government made in the ISS National Lab and demonstrate the scientific and technological productivity of the ISS National Lab over the next decade.

CASIS seeks to advance scientific research, technology development, and education in conjunction with utilization of the ISS, managing a diverse research, technology, and education portfolio across a broad range of scientific fields.

Because NSF and CASIS have a common interest in research and development in transformative biomedical engineering projects that utilize microgravity conditions, NSF and CASIS have developed a collaboration to jointly support research that can take advantage of the opportunities afforded by conducting experiments in the ISS.

The purpose of this solicitation is to attract proposals that make use of the ISS National Lab for flight research projects in the field of biomedical engineering. Responsive proposals will describe how they will utilize the ISS National Lab to develop novel ideas into discovery-level and transformative projects that integrate engineering and life sciences.

CASIS manages the ISS National Lab in collaboration with NASA as a public service to advance science research and technology development, expand human knowledge, inspire and educate the next generation, foster the commercial development of space, and demonstrate scientific capabilities in space for the benefit of life on Earth.

Research at the interface of engineering and biomedical sciences in microgravity that advances both disciplines for terrestrial benefit is solicited. The projects should focus on high impact transformative methods and technologies.

Projects should include methods, models and enabling tools of understanding and controlling living systems; fundamental improvements in deriving information from cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems; or new approaches to the design of systems that include both living and non-living components.

The long-term impact of the projects can be related to fundamental understanding of cell and tissue function in normal and pathological conditions, effective disease diagnosis and/or treatment, or improved health care delivery.

Of particular interest to the NSF Engineering of Biomedical Systems (EBMS) program is fundamental and transformative research in the following areas of biomedical engineering: Development of validated models (living or computational) of healthy and pathological tissues and organ systems that could support improved fundamental understanding and control of these systems; New approaches to the design and validation of systems that integrate living and non-living components for improved understanding of physiology that could be applied in the future for diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of disease or injury; and Advanced biomanufacturing of three-dimensional tissues and organs.

Of particular interest to the NSF Biomechanics and Mechanobiology (BMMB) program is fundamental research in biomechanics and mechanobiology, including: Multi-scale mechanics approaches that integrate across molecular, cell, tissue, and organ domains; and The influence of in vivo mechanical forces on cell and matrix biology in histomorphogenesis, maintenance, regeneration, repair, and aging of tissues and organs.

Innovative proposals outside of these specific interest areas may be considered. However, prior to submission, it is strongly recommended that the PI contact the Program Directors to avoid the possibility of the proposal being returned without review.

The collaboration seeks to exploit the complementary missions of (i) research and development for NSF, and (ii) stimulation, development and management of U.S. national uses of the ISS National Lab by U.S. government agencies, academic institutions, and private firms for CASIS. Proposals must seek to exploit the ISS National Lab for biomedical engineering applications that will ultimately benefit life on Earth.

The proposal must include a description of project benefits for life on Earth. Proposals focused on research and technology development supporting only space exploration-related goals do not fall within the scope of the NSF and CASIS mission and will be considered non-responsive to this solicitation.

The unique high quality and long duration microgravity environment on the ISS National Lab provides an extraordinary research platform for experiments in the biological and medical sciences.

Microgravity induces a vast array of changes in individual cells and model organisms ranging from viruses and microorganisms to humans, including global alterations in gene expression and 3-dimensional aggregation of cells into biofilms or tissue-like architectures that recapitulate the structure and function of organs.

Moreover, studies reveal a variety of space flight-induced health conditions, many of which may serve as accelerated models of ground-based ailments such as aging and trauma. Research into these and other effects of the space environment may advance our fundamental understanding of cell and tissue function, effective disease diagnosis and /or treatment, or improved health care delivery.

The following constitutes a partial list of the distinct and unique advantages for conducting research in space at the interface of engineering and biomedical sciences: A.

Effects of microgravity: Altered gene expression results in phenotypic consequence, including changes in cellular immune function and microbial growth and virulence; Cell cultures show altered processes of cell growth, cell differentiation and cell communication, including increased pluripotency of stem cells; Scaffold-free tissue cultures grown in three dimensions have advanced the field of tissue engineering by facilitating diffusion of nutrients and oxygen into spheroids and enhancing the aggregation of cells by induction of differential cellular signaling pathways, achieving constructs larger than those engineered in conventional bioreactors or 2D cultures; Changes in body systems result in bone loss, immune dysfunction, vision changes, viral reactivation and loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength, among other systemic effects; and Advances in additive manufacturing and tissue engineering capabilities on orbit using biological and biocompatible materials to facilitate cellular self-organization and 3D tissue formation.

B. Radiation environment: Includes high energy protons and atomic nuclei of heavier elements. To receive funding as an NSF-ISS-appropriate project, a flight experiment that utilizes the ISS National Lab should be proposed.

If flight schedules change, investigators may modify proposed timelines, subject to review and approval by the CASIS Operations team. This solicitation is not intended to be used for projects that can be accommodated within other NSF funding mechanisms. In addition, this solicitation is not intended to be used for projects that can be conducted in their entirety with ground-based research.

Collaborative proposals can also be submitted and collaborations with industry and relevant costs for their participation are allowed. In these cases, if the co-PIs are at different organizations and have complementary skills and facilities, then the use of the separately submitted collaborative proposal mechanism is allowed. See PAPPG Chapter II.

E. 3 for information about submission of a collaborative proposal from multiple organizations. Prospective proposals will be subject to a review for operational feasibility and terrestrial benefit, both conducted by CASIS.

See the CASIS guidelines for further details on these reviews at https://issnationallab. org/opportunities/rfp2025-3/ . The solicitation seeks to increase use of the ISS National Lab for flight research projects in the field of biomedical engineering.

Costs such as preparatory work, including but not limited to design of experimental prototypes and numerical simulations, data acquisition, and post-flight data analysis, can be included in the NSF budget.

Ideal proposals will describe a commercial, civil, or academic project to achieve research or technology development objectives that will directly impact fundamental studies on cellular engineering, tissue engineering, and models of physiological systems, including (but not limited to): Cell-cell, cell-matrix interactions Hybrid systems for modeling of physiological or pathophysiological processes Computational models of physiological or pathophysiological systems that are validated based on experiments conducted on the ISS Mechanobiology related to phenotype expression Prospective proposers should read the payload synopses and technical data on the CASIS website at https://issnationallab.

org/opportunities/rfp2025-3/ to understand the basic capabilities of the offered payload facilities and instrumentation. NSF will support research proposals that develop fundamental and translational research and CASIS will assist recipients in translating ground-based experiments and technologies into the space-appropriate hardware offered in this solicitation where possible.

An ideal proposal will demonstrate investigator's knowledge of the significant challenges and importance of the proposed research and how ISS utilization will allow their research goals to be achieved. All proposers should read this online material to clearly understand the hardware platform and capabilities on the ISS.

CASIS also encourages prospective proposers to learn about the availability and capability of flight hardware and integration services by directly communicating with the Implementation Partner and the CASIS Operations team ( NSFCASIS@issnationallab. org ). Proposals that do not follow the CASIS guidelines will be deemed non-responsive to this solicitation and subject to return without review (RWR).

Projects whose central focus is on leveraging established microphysiological systems or animal models to test efficacy of therapeutics are not responsive and will be RWR. NSF Funding (total) available under this solicitation is up to $1. 6 million to be distributed in FY 2025.

Budget requests may be for up to $400,000 total, direct and indirect costs, and up to three years in duration. The award size and duration should be consistent with the project scope. Collaborative projects from multiple organizations are accepted, according to standard NSF procedures.

The total budget for a collaborative project from multiple organizations must not exceed $400,000. Estimated program budget, number of awards and average award size/duration are subject to the availability of funds.

Funding for ISS Experiments: NSF awards under this solicitation will provide PIs with support to conduct fundamental and translational research to prepare experiments for execution on-board the ISS, to collaborate with service providers as necessary, to provide preliminary analysis to conduct the experiment, to analyze and interpret data, and to disseminate results broadly.

CASIS will assist recipients in translating ground-based experiments and technologies into space-appropriate hardware where possible.

Implementation Partner costs associated with the translation of the proposed experiments to flight experiments on-board the ISS, including the training of ISS crews, transporting the experiment payload and equipment to the ISS, and conducting experiments on the ISS, will be supported by CASIS through their cooperative agreement with NASA.

The Implementation Partner’s budget will be provided in their statement of work (SOW) and does not need to be included in the Principal Investigator’s budget section.

CASIS may provide funding to Commercial Implementation Partners for PIs to utilize existing flight hardware and facilities to support proposed research but note that proposals requiring significant modifications to hardware or the development of new capabilities will be out of scope for this solicitation.

For information on available flight hardware for this solicitation, please contact representatives from the different Implementation Partners offering services and hardware through this proposal https://issnationallab. org/opportunities/rfp2025-3/ . Please contact the CASIS operations team ( NSFCASIS@issnationallab.

org ) if you have any questions or concerns. Both organizations will jointly manage the project reviews. All NSF awards will be made via a Standard Grant mechanism.

In addition, NSF recipients shall be required to negotiate separate conditions with CASIS for ISS utilization support. CASIS’ Agreements contain non-negotiable provisions which are mandatory and cannot be altered. If an award recipient does not desire to or cannot comply with such mandatory flow down provisions, it should not accept the award opportunity.

IV. Eligibility Information Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs): Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the U.S., acting on behalf of their faculty members.

Special Instructions for International Branch Campuses of US IHEs: If the proposal includes funding to be provided to an international branch campus of a US institution of higher education (including through use of sub-awards and consultant arrangements), the proposer must explain the benefit(s) to the project of performance at the international branch campus, and justify why the project activities cannot be performed at the US campus.

Non-profit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies and similar organizations located in the U.S. that are directly associated with educational or research activities. For-profit organizations: U.S.-based commercial organizations, including small businesses, with strong capabilities in scientific or engineering research or education and a passion for innovation.

The PI and any co-PIs must qualify as a United States citizen or alien admitted for permanent residence in the United States, and any corporation, partnership, or other organization organized under the laws of the United States. Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization: There are no restrictions or limits.

Limit on Number of Proposals per PI or co-PI: 1 An investigator may only be a PI, co-PI, or other Senior/Key Personnel on one proposal submitted under this solicitation in a given fiscal year . The submitting organization is responsible for ensuring that the PI and all co-PI(s) and other Senior/Key Personnel are participating in only one proposal.

If an individual exceeds this limit, the first proposal submitted to include this individual will be accepted and the remainder will be returned without review. No exceptions will be made. Recipients on active NSF-CASIS Tissue Engineering/Mechanobiology grants may not serve as a PI, co-PI, or other Senior/Key Personnel on a subsequent NSF-CASIS Tissue Engineering/Mechanobiology proposal until the active award is closed.

Implementation Partners - commercial companies that work with the ISS National Lab to provide services related to payload development, including the translation of ground-based science to a space-based platform - are exempt from the above limits on the number of proposals per PI or co-PI. Implementation partners may not act as the lead organizations on NSF/CASIS proposals.

Additional Eligibility Info: Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI) proposals, where academe and industry partner on a research project, are encouraged (see PAPPG Chapter II. F. 5 for additional information).

V. Proposal Preparation And Submission Instructions A. Proposal Preparation Instructions Full Proposal Preparation Instructions : Proposers may opt to submit proposals in response to this Program Solicitation via Research.

gov or Grants. gov. Full Proposals submitted via Research. gov: Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the general guidelines contained in the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG).

The complete text of the PAPPG is available electronically on the NSF website at: https://www. nsf. gov/publications/pub_summ.

jsp? ods_key=pappg . Paper copies of the PAPPG may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-8134 or by e-mail from nsfpubs@nsf.

gov . The Prepare New Proposal setup will prompt you for the program solicitation number. Full proposals submitted via Grants.

gov: Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation via Grants. gov should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the NSF Grants. gov Application Guide: A Guide for the Preparation and Submission of NSF Applications via Grants.

gov . The complete text of the NSF Grants. gov Application Guide is available on the Grants.

gov website and on the NSF website at: ( https://www. nsf. gov/publications/pub_summ.

jsp? ods_key=grantsgovguide ). To obtain copies of the Application Guide and Application Forms Package, click on the Apply tab on the Grants.

gov site, then click on the Apply Step 1: Download a Grant Application Package and Application Instructions link and enter the funding opportunity number, (the program solicitation number without the NSF prefix) and press the Download Package button. Paper copies of the Grants. gov Application Guide also may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-8134 or by e-mail from nsfpubs@nsf.

gov . In determining which method to utilize in the electronic preparation and submission of the proposal, please note the following: Collaborative Proposals. All collaborative proposals submitted as separate submissions from multiple organizations must be submitted via Research.

gov. PAPPG Chapter II. E. 3 provides additional information on collaborative proposals.

See PAPPG Chapter II. D. 2 for guidance on the required sections of a full research proposal submitted to NSF.

Please note that the proposal preparation instructions provided in this program solicitation may deviate from the PAPPG instructions. The following instructions supplement the guidance in the PAPPG and NSF Grants. gov Application Guide: Feasibility Review: All investigators who wish to submit a proposal in response to this solicitation must submit a completed CASIS Feasibility Review Form.

The CASIS Feasibility Review Form will be available on the CASIS website: https://issnationallab. org/opportunities/rfp2025-3/ . This CASIS Feasibility Review Form must be completed and submitted via the CASIS website no later than January 15, 2025, to allow time for a response and time to prepare the full proposal.

CASIS officers will respond to a Feasibility Review Form within four weeks after submission. Documentation from the CASIS team confirming eligibility to submit a proposal after the operational feasibility review must be provided as a Single Copy Document. A proposal submitted without the required authorizations will be returned without review.

A proposal that passes the operational review represents CASIS's preliminary judgment that the project might be appropriate for consideration under this initiative; it is not a commitment to recommend support of a proposal with program funds. Documentation from the CASIS team confirming eligibility to submit a proposal after the operational reviews must be provided as a Single Copy Document.

A proposal submitted without the required authorizations will be returned without review. For a description about the CASIS operational review criteria, please see https://issnationallab. org/opportunities/rfp2025-3/ .

The proposal must explicitly address how the project will utilize the ISS capabilities and how the research will benefit life on Earth. NSF recipients under this solicitation will need to execute an agreement with CASIS in order to utilize the ISS National Laboratory. Template agreements ( https://issnationallab.

org/opportunities/rfp2025-3/ ) have been developed for this program to streamline the processes of forging partnerships between CASIS and recipients. As stated above, CASIS' agreements contain mandatory flow-down provisions which are non-negotiable and cannot be altered. If an award recipient does not desire to or cannot comply with such provisions, it should not accept the award opportunity.

Proposal Title: The project title on the proposal Cover Sheet will be preceded by the prefix " ISS: " to distinguish the submission from a regular proposal that would go through a regular review process. If you submit a proposal as part of a set of collaborative proposals, the title of the proposals should begin with " Collaborative Research: ISS: " followed by your title. Please note that if submitting via Research.

gov, the system will automatically insert the prepended title "Collaborative Research" when the collaborative set of proposals is created. Project Description : In addition to the requirements specified in the PAPPG, the Project Description must include a separate section with the heading Benefit to Life on Earth .

This section should clearly describe the motivations for the project and explain the benefit of the potential outcomes of the project for life on Earth. Project Descriptions should also: Clearly explain the necessity of the ISS to carry out the proposed project. Detail how experiments will be conducted on the ISS and what, if any, ground experimental controls will be utilized.

Include a timeline where milestones are clearly identified for the duration of the project. Specify existing or proposed flight hardware (including any necessary modification) to be used in the project. If a modification to existing hardware is proposed, proposals should describe design requirements, critical components, ground testing, timelines, and projected costs.

Supplementary Documents: Supplementary documents are limited to the specific types of documentation listed in the PAPPG, with the following exceptions. The documents listed below must be included in all proposals submitted to this call. For collaborative projects from multiple organizations, these documents must be included in the lead proposal submission only.

List of Project Personnel and Partner Organizations . Provide current, accurate information for all personnel and institutions involved in