Dual Use Technology Development Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN) 2018 | 80SSC017Z0001

Opportunity Information: Apply for 80SSC017Z0001

The Dual Use Technology Development Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN) 2018 is a NASA Stennis Space Center (SSC) funding opportunity designed to form cost-sharing partnerships that jointly develop technologies tied to specific operational and mission needs at SSC. SSC is NASA's primary rocket propulsion testing center, supporting everything from full multi-engine stages down to individual rocket engine components. Its test capabilities serve a broad customer base that includes NASA programs, the Department of Defense, and commercial space launch providers. Beyond propulsion testing, SSC operates as a large multi-tenant federal campus hosting dozens of federal, state, academic, and industry organizations, and it controls restricted airspace that can be used for unmanned aerial vehicle development, testing, and operations. SSC also has engineering laboratories that design and test electronics, sensors, algorithms, and mechanical components, which sets the context for the kinds of technology maturation activities this notice is meant to enable.

The core purpose of the notice is to identify potential partners and implement cooperative, cost-shared technology development projects that directly address NASA needs at Stennis. Rather than functioning like a traditional grant where the agency primarily funds an external performer, this opportunity is structured as a Cooperative Agreement, meaning NASA expects substantial involvement during the project. The intent is joint development: NASA and the selected partner work together to mature capabilities that SSC can use, while the partner may also benefit from dual-use outcomes (for example, technology that can be applied in both civil space and defense or commercial markets).

In terms of scope, the CAN seeks responses from organizations interested in entering into a Cooperative Agreement with NASA for technology development aligned with SSC requirements. The projects are managed within SSC by the Advanced Technology and Technology Transfer branch, indicating an emphasis not only on innovation and prototyping but also on practical transition into use, deployment, or broader dissemination when appropriate. The technical focus is not limited to propulsion alone; it can reasonably include related test infrastructure, instrumentation, sensing and data systems, algorithms, electronics, and other mechanical or operational technologies that support SSC missions, facilities, or customers, especially given SSC's lab capabilities and UAV airspace resources.

Administratively, the opportunity is listed as discretionary and falls under Science and Technology and other Research and Development, with CFDA number 43.003. The funding instrument type is a Cooperative Agreement. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, which generally indicates that a wide range of entities may apply (such as private industry, universities, nonprofits, and other organizations), subject to the specific requirements NASA lays out in the full notice and any applicable federal assistance rules. The opportunity is issued by NASA Stennis Space Center under funding opportunity number 80SSC017Z0001. The original closing date was September 30, 2018, and the posting (creation) date was December 6, 2017. The summary data provided does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, implying that those details may have been defined elsewhere in the full solicitation or determined based on the quality, relevance, and negotiated scope of submitted partnership proposals.

Overall, this CAN is best understood as a mechanism for NASA SSC to team with external partners to co-develop practical, mission-relevant technologies in a way that shares costs and leverages complementary expertise, facilities, and test environments at Stennis, with an emphasis on solutions that can serve both NASA and broader national or commercial applications.

• The NASA Stennis Space Center in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Dual Use Technology Development Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN) 2018" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 43.003.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-12-06.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-09-30. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.

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