EONS 2019: Appendix H MUREP Aerospace High-Volume Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management Cooperative Agreement | NNH18ZHA008C MUREPARMD

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The EONS 2019 Appendix H MUREP Aerospace High-Volume Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management Cooperative Agreement is a NASA education-focused funding opportunity designed to strengthen the United States aerospace manufacturing base by building MSI-led networks that can support high-volume production and the supply chains that make it possible. NASA is offering cooperative agreements (meaning NASA expects to have substantial involvement during the project, compared to a standard grant) to help Minority Serving Institutions lead partnerships that examine and improve the domestic aerospace manufacturing and supply chain ecosystem, while also training the next generation of talent needed to keep pace with growing demand in areas like unmanned aircraft systems and urban air mobility. The overall emphasis is on scaling manufacturing capability, ensuring reliable parts availability for both production and maintenance, and improving national competitiveness through a more resilient and diverse supplier base.

Eligibility is centered on accredited U.S. Minority Serving Institutions serving as lead institutions. Lead applicants must offer relevant academic or training pathways such as supply-chain management degrees or certificates, training degrees or certificates, ABET-accredited programs in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or manufacturing engineering, or other manufacturing and high-volume manufacturing programs. NASA anticipates making three awards total, each with a maximum (ceiling) of $500,000, and each award can run for up to two years. The funding instrument type is a cooperative agreement under NASA, categorized under education, and associated with CFDA 43.008.

The work NASA wants funded is strongly network-based and partnership-driven. Each selected MSI is expected to lead a post-secondary education team that collaborates with other domestic entities, including small businesses and potentially other education institutions and government partners. The proposed networks are meant to do several things at once: analyze the current U.S. aerospace manufacturing supply chain to identify gaps and opportunities; develop or strengthen high-volume manufacturing and supply chain networks aligned with NASA and/or broader industry needs; and provide hands-on workforce development through technical apprenticeships and internships. In other words, proposals should not just study the supply chain in the abstract, but also translate findings into practical training pathways and active relationships that connect students, institutions, and employers.

NASA lays out three main goals for these cooperative awards. First, projects should build a meaningful manufacturing and supply chain network led by MSIs that directly aligns with aerospace high-volume manufacturing needs. This includes demonstrating strong collaboration among MSIs, offering technical degree or certificate programs, and leveraging relationships with small businesses and government to assess weaknesses and opportunities in the high-volume aerospace manufacturing supply chain. Second, projects must help align the emerging workforce with new aerospace manufacturing trends and supplier-base needs, expanding the U.S. talent pipeline for aerospace manufacturing and development as defined by NASA Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate priorities. Third, proposals should support entrepreneurship and commercialization tied to aerospace manufacturing and its supply chain, with a clear intention to develop students into leaders who can create and grow businesses within this ecosystem, not only fill existing roles.

From a practical application standpoint, the opportunity includes several compliance and registration requirements that must be completed by the proposal due date. Applicants must have a DUNS number (as required at the time of this 2019 announcement), an active System for Award Management (SAM) registration, a valid CAGE code, and registration in NASA NSPIRES (NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System). Importantly, NSPIRES registration is required not just for the lead institution, but also for any entities involved as sub-awardees or subcontractors, and all investigators and participants (including co-investigators) must be registered as well. Proposals must be submitted electronically through NSPIRES by an authorized organizational representative identified in the system. NASA also points proposers to Appendix H Section H.3 for more detailed eligibility rules and to Appendix H Section 1.1.1 for network guidelines, signaling that proposal structure and partnership design are a major evaluation concern.

The timeline provided in the opportunity reflects a standard federal proposal process. A Notice of Intent was due July 8, 2019, and full proposals were due August 23, 2019 at 11:59 PM Eastern. NASA encourages applicants to submit questions in writing to MUREPARMD@nasaprs.com at least 10 business days before the proposal deadline to ensure time for a response. Since updates may be issued before the closing date, proposers are responsible for checking NSPIRES regularly for FAQs or formal amendments that could change requirements or clarify expectations.

Program ownership and context are also clearly defined. The effort is run through NASA MUREP (Minority University Research and Education Project) in collaboration with the NASA Aeronautics Research Institute within the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate. The point of contact listed is Clarence Bostic, Activity Manager for NASA MUSIC, reachable via MUREPARMD@nasaprs.com or by phone at 757-864-7836. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as an MSI-led capacity-building initiative that blends supply chain analysis, high-volume manufacturing readiness, workforce training, and entrepreneurship, with the intent of creating durable networks that improve domestic aerospace manufacturing throughput and resilience over the long term.

• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "EONS 2019: Appendix H MUREP Aerospace High-Volume Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management Cooperative Agreement" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 43.008.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 15, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 23, 2019 Notice of Intent Due July 8, 2019 Proposals Due August 23, 2019 1159 PM EST. (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 $500,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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