D.4 University Leadership Initiative 2 (ULI2) | NNH18ZEA001N ULI2

Opportunity Information: Apply for NNH18ZEA001N ULI2

D.4 University Leadership Initiative 2 (ULI2) is a NASA Headquarters aeronautics research funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number NNH18ZEA001N ULI2) designed to put universities in a true leadership role. The program is aimed at university-led teams that can set the agenda for high-impact aeronautics research by identifying a compelling technical challenge, building a multidisciplinary plan to address it, and showing strong organizational leadership in how the work will be managed, reviewed, and executed. A central idea of ULI2 is that the proposing team is not just responding to a narrowly defined problem statement; instead, the university team is expected to propose a unique challenge and then define an integrated solution approach that can strengthen research outcomes through thoughtful collaboration, peer review, and innovative teaming strategies.

NASA is seeking proposals across eight topic areas aligned with major strategic thrusts in aeronautics. These include: (1) Safe, Efficient Growth in Global Operations (Strategic Thrust 1), focusing on scaling air transportation safely and efficiently as demand increases worldwide; (2) Innovation in Commercial Supersonic Aircraft (Strategic Thrust 2), centered on advancing technologies and concepts that enable practical supersonic flight for commercial use; (3) Subsonic Transport (Strategic Thrust 3a), which targets improvements to conventional aircraft performance, efficiency, emissions, noise, and operations; (4) Civil Aircraft that Incorporate Vertical Lift Capability (Strategic Thrust 3b), addressing civil applications for aircraft that can take off and land vertically and the associated integration and operational challenges; (5) Transition to Alternative Propulsion and Energy (Strategic Thrust 4), emphasizing new propulsion architectures and energy sources that can reduce dependence on traditional fuels and improve sustainability; (6) Real-Time System-Wide Safety Assurance (Strategic Thrust 5), aimed at methods and technologies that can monitor and assure safety across the airspace system in real time; (7) Assured Autonomy for Aviation Transformation (Strategic Thrust 6), focusing on autonomy that is trustworthy, robust, and certifiable for aviation use; and (8) Materials and Structures for Next-Generation Aerospace Systems, which concentrates on advanced structural concepts, materials, and manufacturing approaches needed for future aircraft and aerospace vehicles. The detailed topic descriptions are referenced as being in Appendix D.4 of the solicitation.

The funding mechanism for ULI2 is a cooperative agreement, which generally indicates NASA expects substantial involvement during performance (for example, coordination, collaboration, or technical engagement as the work progresses), rather than a hands-off grant structure. The opportunity is listed under CFDA 43.002 and the activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development. Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning there is not a narrow applicant category specified in the provided summary, and it is structured for university teams capable of leading major aeronautics research efforts.

ULI2 uses a two-step submission and evaluation process. First, applicants must submit a short, mandatory Step-A proposal. Step-A is used as an initial screen, and only the highest-rated Step-A submissions will receive an invitation to submit a Step-B proposal. The Step-A due date listed is August 27, 2019 (the original closing date). All submissions must be made electronically through NSPIRES, NASA's proposal submission system, so applicants need to be prepared to work within NSPIRES requirements and timelines. NASA also scheduled an Applicant's Workshop for June 27, 2019 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time, hosted online via the provided link, with instructions to sign in as a "Guest" using a full name, giving prospective applicants a chance to hear clarifications and align their approach with NASA expectations.

In practical terms, the opportunity is intended for university-led consortia that can demonstrate both technical excellence and program leadership: defining a meaningful aeronautics challenge within one of the eight topic areas, proposing a credible multidisciplinary solution path, and showing how the team will maintain rigor through peer review and strong collaboration practices. The solicitation emphasizes research impact, so the most competitive concepts are likely to be those that couple ambitious technical goals with clear coordination, evaluation, and teaming plans that make the work more than a collection of individual research tasks.

• The NASA Headquarters in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "D.4 University Leadership Initiative 2 (ULI2)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 43.002.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2019-05-24.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-08-27. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.

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