Opportunity Information: Apply for NNJ17BR10995R
The JSC Strategic Education Alliance (SEA) is a NASA Johnson Space Center cooperative agreement opportunity designed to build sustained partnerships that strengthen the STEM pipeline and broaden participation in NASA-connected education and workforce activities. It sits in NASA's education portfolio (CFDA 43.008) and focuses on four major lines of effort: STEM engagement activities for students and the public, internships/fellowships/scholarships that develop future talent, professional development for educators, and deeper institutional engagement that helps organizations align their programs with NASA priorities and workforce needs. Rather than being a simple one-time grant for a single event, the structure and scale indicate a strategic, multi-partner effort where NASA expects meaningful collaboration, measurable outcomes, and programs that can be scaled or sustained beyond an initial pilot.
For STEM Engagement, the opportunity is aimed at activities that spark interest and build competency in STEM fields connected to NASA Johnson Space Center mission areas. Typical work in this category includes hands-on learning experiences, challenges and competitions, curriculum-based student projects, community outreach, informal education programs, and other efforts that expose K-12 and higher education learners to real NASA-relevant problems and career pathways. Proposals in this area generally need to show clear educational value, strong participant reach (especially among underserved or underrepresented groups), and a plan for evaluating results. NASA is usually looking for engagement that goes beyond awareness and demonstrates learning gains, persistence in STEM, improved skills, or stronger transitions into the next stage of education or training.
For Internships, Fellowships, and Scholarships, the emphasis is on building a talent pipeline that feeds into aerospace and related STEM careers, including those that support NASA and the broader space ecosystem. This can include placing students in internship experiences tied to NASA centers or NASA-related work, supporting graduate fellowships that align with JSC technical needs, and offering scholarships that reduce financial barriers for high-potential students in relevant disciplines. Competitive proposals typically define who will be served (academic level, fields of study, eligibility criteria), how participants will be recruited and selected, what the experiential learning will look like (mentoring, projects, deliverables, professional development), and how participants will be tracked over time. Strong designs also include wraparound supports such as cohort building, career readiness training, and pathways into subsequent opportunities (advanced research experiences, employment networks, or continued NASA engagement).
For Educator Professional Development, the opportunity supports training and capacity building for teachers, faculty, and other educators so they can deliver stronger STEM instruction tied to authentic NASA content. This can include workshops, institutes, classroom implementation support, curriculum training, and resource development that improves educator content knowledge and pedagogical practice. NASA typically expects these efforts to translate into classroom impact, meaning proposals should address how educators will apply what they learn, how student learning will be affected, and how implementation will be measured. Programs that create educator communities of practice, provide ongoing coaching, and align with state or national standards while integrating NASA mission content are often a good fit for this category.
For Institutional Engagement, the SEA framework highlights deeper, long-term collaboration with organizations such as universities, community colleges, nonprofits, and potentially industry partners to strengthen program alignment, infrastructure, and participation in NASA-related STEM efforts. This may include building consortia, forming strategic partnerships with minority-serving institutions or other under-resourced campuses, improving research and education capacity, and coordinating pipelines from K-12 through higher education and into the workforce. In practice, institutional engagement proposals usually emphasize shared governance structures, partner roles and responsibilities, sustainability plans, and mechanisms for scaling successful practices across departments, campuses, or regions. NASA is effectively looking for institutions that can serve as multipliers: organizations that not only run good programs but also strengthen networks, improve systems, and expand access to NASA-relevant opportunities.
Administratively, proposals were required to be submitted through NASA's NSPIRES system, with a Notice of Intent requested by February 10, 2017, and full proposals due by 3:00 p.m. Central Daylight Saving Time on March 17, 2017. The solicitation anticipated cooperative agreements, which generally means NASA expects more substantial involvement than in a typical grant, such as coordination, technical input, or collaboration during the period of performance. The announcement cites different regulatory authorities depending on the applicant type: 14 CFR Part 1800 for educational and nonprofit institutions and 14 CFR Part 1274 for commercial organizations, while also noting NASA reserves the right to choose the most appropriate award instrument for selected proposals even if the opportunity appears on FedBizOpps or Grants.gov.
In terms of scale, the posted award ceiling was $20,000,000, with an expectation of around 10 awards, signaling that NASA anticipated funding multiple sizable partnerships rather than a large number of small one-off projects. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others" with additional eligibility details referenced in the full text, which typically indicates that a range of organization types may apply, but applicants need to confirm the specific eligibility language and any constraints in the complete solicitation. Overall, the SEA opportunity is best understood as a mechanism for NASA Johnson Space Center to invest in coordinated education and workforce development efforts that connect learners and educators to NASA-relevant STEM content, create meaningful experiential pathways, and strengthen institutions and partnerships that can deliver lasting impact.Apply for NNJ17BR10995R
- The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA Johnson Space Center in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "JSC Strategic Education Alliance (SEA) for: STEM Engagement; Internships, Fellowships and Scholarships; Educator Professional Development, and Institutional Engagement" 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 Jan 20, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 17, 2017. (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 $20,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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JSC Strategic Education Alliance (SEA) - FAQ
1) What is the JSC Strategic Education Alliance (SEA)?
The JSC Strategic Education Alliance (SEA) is a NASA Johnson Space Center cooperative agreement opportunity intended to build sustained partnerships that strengthen the STEM pipeline and broaden participation in NASA-connected education and workforce activities. It is positioned as a strategic, multi-partner effort rather than a one-time grant for a single event.
2) Is this a standard grant, or something different?
This opportunity anticipated cooperative agreements, which typically involve more substantial NASA participation than a traditional grant. That can include coordination, technical input, and collaboration with NASA during the period of performance.
3) What is the main purpose of the SEA program?
The overall purpose is to strengthen education-to-workforce pathways connected to NASA Johnson Space Center mission areas by funding coordinated programs that show meaningful collaboration, measurable outcomes, and the ability to scale or be sustained beyond an initial pilot.
4) What are the major lines of effort under SEA?
The opportunity focuses on four primary lines of effort:
- STEM engagement activities for students and the public
- Internships, fellowships, and scholarships to develop future talent
- Educator professional development to strengthen STEM instruction tied to NASA content
- Institutional engagement to align organizations and partnerships with NASA priorities and workforce needs
5) What kinds of activities fit under the STEM Engagement line of effort?
STEM Engagement can include hands-on learning experiences, challenges and competitions, curriculum-based student projects, community outreach, informal education programs, and other activities that connect learners to NASA-relevant problems and career pathways tied to NASA Johnson Space Center mission areas.
6) What does NASA typically expect from STEM engagement proposals?
Based on the description provided, proposals generally need to demonstrate clear educational value, strong reach (especially among underserved or underrepresented groups), and a plan to evaluate results. NASA is usually looking for more than awareness-only activities, with evidence or measurement tied to outcomes such as learning gains, persistence in STEM, improved skills, or stronger transitions into the next stage of education or training.
7) What is the focus of the Internships, Fellowships, and Scholarships line of effort?
This area emphasizes building a talent pipeline into aerospace and related STEM careers, including careers that support NASA and the broader space ecosystem. Examples include student internship placements tied to NASA centers or NASA-related work, graduate fellowships aligned with JSC technical needs, and scholarships that reduce financial barriers for high-potential students in relevant disciplines.
8) What details are typically important for internship, fellowship, or scholarship designs?
Competitive proposals typically define the participant population (academic level and fields of study), eligibility criteria, recruitment and selection approaches, the structure of experiential learning (mentoring, projects, deliverables, professional development), and plans to track participants over time.
9) Are wraparound supports or career pathways part of what NASA is looking for?
Yes. The description notes that strong designs often include wraparound supports such as cohort-building, career readiness training, and clear pathways into subsequent opportunities (for example, advanced research experiences, employment networks, or continued NASA engagement).
10) What is the Educator Professional Development line of effort meant to support?
This line of effort supports training and capacity-building for educators (teachers, faculty, and others) so they can deliver stronger STEM instruction tied to authentic NASA content. Examples include workshops, institutes, classroom implementation support, curriculum training, and resource development to improve educator content knowledge and teaching practice.
11) Does educator professional development need to show classroom impact?
Yes. The opportunity description emphasizes that NASA typically expects translation into classroom impact. Proposals should address how educators will apply what they learn, how student learning will be affected, and how implementation and results will be measured.
12) What kinds of educator program features are described as a good fit?
Examples of features described as often fitting well include educator communities of practice, ongoing coaching, and alignment with state or national standards while integrating NASA mission content.
13) What does Institutional Engagement mean in the SEA framework?
Institutional Engagement refers to deeper, long-term collaboration with organizations such as universities, community colleges, nonprofits, and potentially industry partners. The intent is to strengthen program alignment, infrastructure, and participation in NASA-related STEM efforts and to coordinate pipelines from K-12 through higher education and into the workforce.
14) What activities might fall under Institutional Engagement?
The description highlights examples such as building consortia, forming strategic partnerships (including with minority-serving institutions or other under-resourced campuses), improving research and education capacity, and coordinating multi-stage pipelines that connect learners to NASA-relevant opportunities and careers.
15) What does NASA typically expect in an institutional engagement proposal?
Institutional engagement proposals usually emphasize shared governance structures, clear partner roles and responsibilities, sustainability plans, and mechanisms to scale successful practices across departments, campuses, or regions. The description also notes NASA is looking for institutions that act as multipliers by strengthening networks, improving systems, and expanding access.
16) What is CFDA 43.008 and how does it relate to this opportunity?
The SEA opportunity sits within NASA's education portfolio and is identified under CFDA 43.008 in the information provided.
17) Where were proposals required to be submitted?
Proposals were required to be submitted through NASA's NSPIRES system.
18) What were the key dates listed for this solicitation?
The solicitation requested a Notice of Intent by February 10, 2017, and required full proposals by 3:00 p.m. Central Daylight Saving Time on March 17, 2017.
19) What is the expected scale of funding and number of awards?
The posted award ceiling was $20,000,000, and the solicitation indicated an expectation of around 10 awards, suggesting multiple sizable partnership awards rather than many small single-purpose projects.
20) Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was listed broadly as "Others", with additional eligibility details referenced in the full text. This typically implies multiple organization types may be eligible, but applicants would need to confirm the specific eligibility language and constraints in the complete solicitation.
21) What regulations applied to different applicant types?
The announcement cited different regulatory authorities depending on applicant type:
- 14 CFR Part 1800 for educational and nonprofit institutions
- 14 CFR Part 1274 for commercial organizations
22) Can NASA choose a different award instrument than what is expected?
Yes. The description notes that NASA reserved the right to choose the most appropriate award instrument for selected proposals, even if the opportunity appeared on FedBizOpps or Grants.gov.
23) What makes this opportunity different from funding a single event or short-term activity?
The SEA is described as a strategic program designed for sustained partnerships, meaningful collaboration, measurable outcomes, and efforts that can scale or remain sustainable beyond an initial pilot. It is positioned as a mechanism to invest in coordinated education and workforce development efforts, not just isolated events.
24) What kinds of outcomes does NASA appear to value across the program?
Across the different lines of effort, the description repeatedly points to outcomes such as measurable learning gains, persistence in STEM, improved skills, successful transitions through education and training pathways, workforce alignment, expanded access for underserved or underrepresented groups, and scalable or sustainable program models.
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