Opportunity Information: Apply for NNH26ZDA016C
NASA Headquarters, through its Science Mission Directorate (SMD) and Human Spaceflight Mission Directorate (HSMD), has issued the fifth Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute Cooperative Agreement Notice, known as SSERVI CAN-5, under opportunity number NNH26ZDA016C. This opportunity seeks new or continuing multi-institution, team-based research groups that would participate as SSERVI Institute Teams. The core emphasis is on building an innovative, coordinated research program that advances both basic and applied understanding of the Moon and the lunar near-space environment in ways that directly support future human lunar exploration under Artemis. In addition to strictly lunar-focused work, NASA also welcomes "Mars forward" concepts where lunar research is deliberately used as a proving ground to develop methods, technologies, or exploration approaches that can later be adapted for Mars.
The funding mechanism is a cooperative agreement, which typically implies substantial NASA involvement during the period of performance compared with a standard grant. Proposals are expected to be team-based and multi-institutional, reflecting SSERVI's institute model rather than single-investigator efforts. NASA notes that proposals that complement existing SSERVI CAN-4 teams, or that fill important gaps not currently addressed by the institute, will receive strong consideration, and proposers are pointed to the current team portfolio for context (https://sservi.nasa.gov/sserviteams/). While the opportunity is listed on Grants.gov, applications cannot be submitted there; the only submission portal is NSPIRES, at https://solicitation.nasaprs.com/NNH26ZDA016C, and organizations and investigators need to be properly affiliated/registered in NSPIRES to apply.
The application process is explicitly two-step. A Step-1 proposal is required first, and only teams that submit Step-1 are eligible to submit a Step-2 full proposal. The Step-1 deadline is September 29, 2026, and the Step-2 deadline is December 4, 2026 (the listing also reflects an original closing date of 2026-12-04). Full proposals at Step-2 must be organized into two volumes: Volume A contains the anonymous scientific and technical content used for review, and Volume B contains the non-anonymous information. This structure supports NASA's use of dual anonymous peer review (DAPR), meaning proposers must follow anonymity requirements so reviewers evaluate the work without knowing the proposing individuals or institutions in the reviewed volume. Selection and award processes are governed by the solicitation's Sections F and G, and proposers are specifically directed to pay attention to Section D.1.4 on Step-2 content, which includes restrictions, deadlines, and placeholders related to changes in the Principal Investigator and other key personnel.
For questions and clarifications, NASA requires that inquiries be emailed to HQ-SSERVI@mail.nasa.gov no later than 14 calendar days before the Step-2 due date. Depending on whether the question is unique to a proposer or broadly relevant, NASA may respond privately by email or may post an edited, anonymized question-and-answer item on the final NSPIRES landing page. Any posted Q&A is expected to appear no later than 10 days before the Step-2 deadline, and it will be edited to protect the anonymity of the individuals and institutions asking questions, consistent with the DAPR process.
Eligibility and participation are centered on NSPIRES-affiliated institutions, and NASA indicates that, in general, it provides funding only to U.S. institutions. Non-U.S. organizations may participate under certain conditions, particularly through a no-exchange-of-funds approach, and they are directed to consult the NASA Grant and Cooperative Agreement Manual (GCAM) for detailed policy and compliance rules (https://www.nasa.gov/grants-policy-and-compliance-team/#Regulations). The notice also flags that some NASA research announcements can be jointly issued with non-U.S. partners, which may add special guidelines for international participation. Additionally, the GCAM should be consulted for scenarios where a non-U.S. organization proposes work that involves U.S. personnel for whom NASA support is requested, since those cases can trigger specific compliance instructions.
In short, SSERVI CAN-5 is a competitive NASA cooperative agreement opportunity to form or continue coordinated, multi-institution research teams focused on lunar science and the lunar environment with clear Artemis relevance, with optional but welcomed Moon-to-Mars applications. Submission is handled only through NSPIRES, requires a mandatory Step-1 followed by an invited Step-2, and uses a dual anonymous peer review system with strict separation of anonymous and non-anonymous proposal materials.Apply for NNH26ZDA016C
- The NASA Headquarters in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute Cooperative Agreement Notice-5 (SSERVI CAN-5)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 43.001.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-09-01.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-12-04. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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SSERVI CAN-5 (NNH26ZDA016C) FAQ
1) What is SSERVI CAN-5 (NNH26ZDA016C)?
SSERVI CAN-5 is NASA Headquarters' fifth Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN). It is a competitive opportunity to establish new or continuing SSERVI Institute Teams: multi-institution, team-based research groups coordinated under NASA's SSERVI institute model.
2) Which NASA organizations are sponsoring this opportunity?
NASA Headquarters is issuing the opportunity through the Science Mission Directorate (SMD) and the Human Spaceflight Mission Directorate (HSMD).
3) What type of funding instrument is being used?
The funding mechanism is a cooperative agreement. In general, this implies more substantial NASA involvement during the period of performance than would typically occur under a standard grant.
4) What kinds of projects is NASA looking to fund under SSERVI CAN-5?
NASA is seeking innovative, coordinated research programs that advance both basic and applied understanding of the Moon and the lunar near-space environment, with direct relevance to future human lunar exploration under Artemis.
5) Are Moon-to-Mars or "Mars forward" concepts allowed?
Yes. In addition to strictly lunar-focused work, NASA welcomes "Mars forward" concepts where lunar research is intentionally used as a proving ground to develop methods, technologies, or exploration approaches that can later be adapted for Mars.
6) Is this opportunity intended for single-investigator proposals?
No. Proposals are expected to be team-based and multi-institutional, reflecting SSERVI's institute model rather than single-investigator efforts.
7) Does NASA prefer proposals that connect to existing SSERVI teams?
NASA states that proposals complementing existing SSERVI CAN-4 teams, or filling important gaps not currently addressed by the institute, will receive strong consideration. Proposers are pointed to the current team portfolio for context: https://sservi.nasa.gov/sserviteams/
8) Where do we submit the application?
Applications must be submitted through NSPIRES only. The NSPIRES portal for this opportunity is: https://solicitation.nasaprs.com/NNH26ZDA016C
9) Can we submit through Grants.gov since the opportunity is listed there?
No. Although the opportunity is listed on Grants.gov, applications cannot be submitted there. NSPIRES is the only submission portal.
10) Do applicants need to be registered or affiliated in NSPIRES?
Yes. Organizations and investigators must be properly affiliated/registered in NSPIRES to apply.
11) Is the application process multi-step?
Yes. The process is explicitly two-step. A Step-1 proposal is required first, and only teams that submit Step-1 are eligible to submit a Step-2 full proposal.
12) What is the Step-1 deadline?
The Step-1 proposal deadline is September 29, 2026.
13) What is the Step-2 deadline?
The Step-2 full proposal deadline is December 4, 2026 (the listing also reflects an original closing date of 2026-12-04).
14) If we miss Step-1, can we still submit Step-2?
No. Only teams that submit Step-1 are eligible to submit a Step-2 full proposal.
15) How must the Step-2 proposal be organized?
Step-2 full proposals must be organized into two volumes: Volume A contains the anonymous scientific and technical content used for review, and Volume B contains the non-anonymous information.
16) What is Dual Anonymous Peer Review (DAPR) and how does it affect the proposal?
NASA is using a dual anonymous peer review (DAPR) process. This means proposers must follow anonymity requirements so that reviewers evaluate the scientific and technical content without knowing the identities of the proposing individuals or institutions within the reviewed volume (Volume A).
17) Where in the solicitation does NASA describe the selection and award process?
Selection and award processes are governed by the solicitation's Sections F and G.
18) Which solicitation section should we focus on for Step-2 content requirements and restrictions?
Proposers are directed to pay particular attention to Section D.1.4 on Step-2 content. NASA notes this section includes restrictions, deadlines, and placeholders related to changes in the Principal Investigator and other key personnel.
19) How and when can we ask NASA questions about the opportunity?
Questions and clarification requests must be emailed to HQ-SSERVI@mail.nasa.gov no later than 14 calendar days before the Step-2 due date.
20) Will NASA answer questions privately or publicly?
It depends. NASA may respond privately by email if a question is unique to a proposer, or NASA may post an edited, anonymized question-and-answer item on the final NSPIRES landing page if the question is broadly relevant.
21) When will any publicly posted Q&A appear?
Any posted Q&A is expected to appear no later than 10 days before the Step-2 deadline.
22) How does NASA protect proposer anonymity in Q&A?
NASA states that any posted Q&A will be edited to protect the anonymity of the individuals and institutions asking questions, consistent with the DAPR process.
23) Who is generally eligible to receive NASA funding under this notice?
Eligibility and participation are centered on NSPIRES-affiliated institutions, and NASA indicates that, in general, it provides funding only to U.S. institutions.
24) Can non-U.S. organizations participate?
Non-U.S. organizations may participate under certain conditions, particularly through a no-exchange-of-funds approach. The notice directs non-U.S. participants to consult the NASA Grant and Cooperative Agreement Manual (GCAM) for detailed policy and compliance rules: https://www.nasa.gov/grants-policy-and-compliance-team/#Regulations
25) Are there special rules if a non-U.S. organization proposes work involving U.S. personnel supported by NASA?
Yes. The notice flags that the GCAM should be consulted for scenarios where a non-U.S. organization proposes work that involves U.S. personnel for whom NASA support is requested, as these cases can trigger specific compliance instructions.
26) Could there be additional international participation guidelines?
Yes. The notice indicates that some NASA research announcements can be jointly issued with non-U.S. partners, which may add special guidelines for international participation.
27) Where can we view the current SSERVI team portfolio referenced by NASA?
NASA provides the current SSERVI team portfolio here: https://sservi.nasa.gov/sserviteams/
28) Where is the official NSPIRES landing page for the solicitation?
The NSPIRES solicitation page is: https://solicitation.nasaprs.com/NNH26ZDA016C
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