NASA MPLAN Awards – NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement, through the Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP), invites proposals from Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs). The MPLAN Awards aim to strengthen collaboration with NASA mission directorates, supporting innovative research and commercialization strategies.
Funding Opportunity for NASA MPLAN Awards Up to $50,000 per award for MSIs — including universities, colleges, and community colleges — to develop actionable research and technology plans.
Visit official website MUREP
Overview
NASA seeks proposals aligned with 2026 mission topic areas.
- Phase 1: Submit proposals by May 22, 2026.
- Phase 2: Selected recipients engage in workshops, monthly sessions, and networking with NASA experts (Aug–Dec 2026).
Participation in Phase 2 is highly encouraged to maximize program benefits.
Guidelines & Prize
- Awards provide resources for staff, student experiences, professional development, travel, research, evaluation, and technical expertise.
- Each prize is capped at $50,000.
- Funds are dispersed within 45 days of announcement (pending documentation).
- Prizes are not grants or cooperative agreements; no extensions apply.
Roles & Responsibilities
- Principal Investigator (PI): Leads and manages the project.
- Optional Co-PI: Ensures continuity if PI departs.
- Responsibilities include project administration, compliance, staff supervision, reporting, and budget management.
📑 Proposal Requirements
- MSI Information – Institution details, PI contact, optional co-PI/team members, CVs.
- Team Members/Partners – Up to 5 additional members; roles and capabilities required.
- Proposal Content – Topic selection, start/end dates, budget, executive summary, objectives, innovation approach, NASA applications, and optional literature review.
Budget
- Must not exceed $50,000.
- At least 50% allocated to MSI.
- No indirect costs; supplies ≤10% of total.
- Cover activities through Dec 31, 2026.
- Include travel for up to two U.S. in-person meetings.
Timeline
- Phase 1:
- Open: March 16, 2026
- Info Session: April 14, 2026 (1 PM CT)
- Deadline: May 22, 2026 (10:59 PM CT)
- Announcement: July 2026
- Phase 2 (Aug–Dec 2026):
- Kickoff: Aug 13, 2026
- Monthly cohort sessions: Aug–Dec 2026
- Close-out: Dec 17, 2026
- Eligibility
- Proposers must be new institutions that have not previously participated as an NCAS Partner Institution and have not collaborated with any lead NCAS Partner Institution in prior NCAS activities or programs.
- Proposers shall identify one or more local campuses that meet the following requirements:
- Accredited community college or 2-year institution
- Minority serving institution (MSI) as recognized by the US Department of Education
- Sufficient enrollment of community college students who meet the eligibility requirements for NCAS stated below; multiple institutions within a state can collaborate to meet this requirement.
- Eligibility requirements for NCAS students are:
- a. U.S. Citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR), Permanent Resident Aliens (PRA), or Green Card Holders
- b. High school graduate or equivalent and at least 18 years of age;
- c. Registered at a US community college during NCAS; and
- d. Completion of or enrollment in 9 or more semester hours or credits of STEM coursework.
For detailed information visit NASA’s official website