Appendix D: Topics in Human Health Countermeasures, Human Factors, and Behavioral Performance | 80JSC018N0001 HHCHFBP

Opportunity Information: Apply for 80JSC018N0001 HHCHFBP

Appendix D: Topics in Human Health Countermeasures, Human Factors, and Behavioral Performance is a solicited research appendix under NASA's broader Human Exploration Research Opportunities (HERO) NASA Research Announcement (NRA) 80JSC018N0001. Released by NASA's Human Research Program (HRP) through the Johnson Space Center, this opportunity focuses on applied research that can directly support HRP goals and help reduce risks to astronaut health and mission performance during human spaceflight. The solicitation is organized as a specific response area (HHCHFBP) within HERO, meaning NASA is looking for targeted proposals aligned with defined topic needs rather than open-ended basic research.

NASA is requesting proposals in two main topic areas. The first addresses the effects of spaceflight durations of up to one year in Low Earth Orbit on astronauts' cardiovascular structure and function. In practical terms, NASA is seeking studies that improve understanding of how long-duration missions change the heart and blood vessels and how those changes might affect astronaut health, readiness, and long-term outcomes. This kind of work generally informs countermeasures, monitoring strategies, clinical decision support, and operational medical standards for extended missions. The second topic area focuses on individual and team problem-solving skills training for exploration missions, reflecting NASA's interest in strengthening human factors and behavioral performance capabilities needed for complex, high-autonomy mission environments. Proposals in this area are expected to produce actionable training approaches, methods, or tools that improve problem solving under stress, time pressure, isolation, constrained communications, and other conditions typical of exploration-class missions.

The funding opportunity is listed as discretionary and allows multiple award mechanisms depending on what NASA deems appropriate for a given project, including cooperative agreements, grants, and procurement contracts. The catalog listing is CFDA 43.003. NASA indicates an anticipated award ceiling of $1,200,000 and expects to make around two awards, signaling a relatively selective competition with an emphasis on strong alignment to the stated topics and deliverables that can be translated into HRP use.

Eligibility is broadly open. All categories of U.S. institutions may apply, with no restriction to a particular sector, as long as any additional eligibility clarifications in the full solicitation are followed. Principal Investigators may build collaborations spanning universities, federal laboratories, private companies, and state or local government labs. The applying organization, however, is expected to take primary responsibility for project management and administration consistent with the approach described in the proposal. NASA also notes that it may collaborate with non-U.S. organizations only on a cooperative basis with no exchange of funds, which typically means international partners can participate when they support the work but are not paid with NASA grant dollars.

The application process follows a two-step structure. Step 1 is a pre-proposal, which serves as an initial screening to assess relevance and fit to the appendix topics; for this appendix, the Step-1 pre-proposal due date is April 29, 2019. Step 2 is the full proposal, due July 9, 2019, and would include the complete technical plan, management approach, and detailed budget. NASA also scheduled a virtual Pre-Proposers Conference for April 12, 2019 to provide guidance and answer questions, with logistics and updates posted through NSPIRES alongside the solicitation.

The official appendix text and associated documents are provided online through the HERO Appendix D link, and the complete HERO NRA with all open appendices is accessible via NASA's Research Opportunities homepage. Applicants are expected to use the solicitation documentation for the definitive requirements, submission instructions, and points of contact, since those details govern how proposals are evaluated and how awards are administered.

• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA Johnson Space Center in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Appendix D: Topics in Human Health Countermeasures, Human Factors, and Behavioral Performance" 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 Mar 29, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 29, 2019. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,200,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for 80JSC018N0001 HHCHFBP

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: