Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute Cooperative Agreement Notice-5 (SSERVI CAN-5)
NASA will fund multi-institutional team research on the Moon and near-space environment, including lunar studies that support future Artemis exploration and Mars-forward applications, for eligible institutions affiliated through NSPIRES.
⚑ Two-step submission; only Step-1 invitees may submit Step-2. · Proposals must be anonymous and use dual anonymous peer review (DAPR). · Applications are submitted in NSPIRES, not Grants.gov. · Multi-institutional team-based proposals are required/expected under the institute format.
This is a NASA lunar/Moon exploration basic-research cooperative agreement, centered on planetary science and human spaceflight rather than social-behavioral survey, policy, risk, or evaluation work. None of the IPPRA lines map onto lunar/Artemis research, so this would not plausibly be pursued by this team as a PI-led proposal.
JUDGED AGAINST THE ROSTER'S PUBLICATION DOSSIER · GPT-5.4-MINI · 2026-09-02
Unit fits — one characterization, each unit's own rules
| Physical Sciences & Engineering (demo) | 90 strong | technical depth: central; funds basic research |
| IPPRA | 48 partial | outside portfolio topics; social/behavioral work is minor; funds basic research |
| Tom Love Innovation Hub | 15 none | deep-tech content; no commercialization signal |
Description
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Science Mission Directorate (SMD) and Human Spaceflight Mission Directorate (HSMD) have released the fifth Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI) Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN-5) as NNH26ZDA016C.
SSERVI CAN-5 (NNH26ZDA016C) invites the submission of multi-institutional team-based proposals for research as participating members of the Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI). Proposals must clearly articulate an innovative research program addressing basic and/or applied research fundamental to understanding the nature of the Moon and its near space environment to enable future human exploration of the Moon with Artemis. “Mars forward” proposals that use lunar-focused research to develop approaches to Mars exploration also are welcome.
Though the SSERVI CAN is synopsized on Grants.gov, applications can only be submitted via NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES) at URL https://solicitation.nasaprs.com/NNH26ZDA016C .
A two-step process will be used for proposal submission, in which only proposers that submit a Step-1 proposal will be eligible to submit a Step-2 proposal. Step-1 proposals are due September 29, 2026, and Step-2 proposals are due December 4, 2026.
Proposals to this CAN must be anonymous and will be reviewed using dual anonymous peer review (DAPR). Step-2 (full) proposals will be divided into two Volumes. Volume A consists of the anonymous proposal material, while Volume B contains the non-anonymous material. Proposal review, selection, and award will be implemented according to the guidelines set forth in Sections F and G of the funding announcement. Proposed research that complements current CAN-4 Institute Teams, and/or addresses important research areas not currently covered in the Institute will be given strong consideration (see: http://sservi.nasa.gov/sserviteams/ ).
Section D.1.4 “Step-2 Proposal Content” provides important information regarding restrictions and deadlines for Principal Investigator and other key personnel changes and other key date placeholders.
Clarification questions regarding this solicitation should be submitted via email no later than 14 calendar days prior to the Step-2 proposal due date to HQ-SSERVI@mail.nasa.gov. Depending on the nature of the question(s), NASA may respond on an individual basis by email or may post questions and answers (Q&A) no later than 10 days before the Step-2 deadline on the final SSERVI CAN-5 NSPIRES landing page. Posted Q&As are intended to address inquiries of broader interest and general clarification and will be edited to preserve the anonymity of persons and institutions who submit questions.
Eligibility
Proposers must be affiliated with an institution at nspires.nasaprs.com/ and, in general, NASA provides funding only to U.S. institutions. Organizations outside the U.S. that propose on the basis of a policy of no-exchange-of-funds; consult the NASA Grant and Cooperative Agreement Manual (GCAM) (https://www.nasa.gov/grants-policy-and-compliance-team/#Regulations) for specific details. Some NRAs may be issued jointly with a non-U.S. organization, e.g., those concerning guest observing programs for jointly sponsored space science programs, that will contain additional special guidelines for non-U.S. participants. Also reference the GCAM for special instructions for proposals from non-U.S. organizations that involve U.S. personnel for whom NASA support is requested.
Apply
View on Grants.gov → CONTACT: Caleb Schuler Grantor <HQ-SSERVI@mail.nasa.gov>
Proposal brief SEE AN EXAMPLE →
A one-page internal memo: fit assessment, submission requirements, document scaffold, and next steps dated back from the deadline — tailored to your project idea if you add one.
Proposal shell · Federal (generic) conventions SEE A FEDERAL EXAMPLE →
Funder-faithful document skeletons — Federal (generic)'s document set with section headings, page limits, reviewer guidance, and writing prompts; add a project idea to get [DRAFT] starter bullets. Download as .md for Word or Overleaf.