**Funder template:** Federal (generic) · **Opportunity:** NNH26ZTR001N-26NIAC-A2 · closes no deadline stated

**How reviewers read this:** Most federal merit review weighs technical merit, alignment with the program's stated priorities, team qualifications, and budget reasonableness. Find the NOFO's evaluation criteria and write to them.

**Verify:** Generic SF-424 R&R conventions. The specific NOFO's Section IV is the authority for documents and limits — build the real checklist from it.

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# Project Narrative
*Page limit: per the NOFO — verify against the NOFO.*

## Purpose and Need
Frame the concept as a Phase II NIAC-worthy follow-on to a successful Phase I idea, showing why it is visionary, technically credible, and relevant to NASA’s long-term technology infusion goals. Emphasize the space/aeronautics challenge, the gap the concept addresses, and why advancing it now could enable future NASA or non-NASA adoption.

- What Phase I concept was demonstrated, and what evidence shows it is one of the “most promising” NIAC concepts?
- What NASA-relevant mission need, capability gap, or future-use scenario does this concept address?
- Why is this idea high-risk/high-payoff and appropriate for NIAC Phase II rather than a more conventional research program?
- How does the project connect to potential infusion options within and beyond NASA?

## Approach
Describe the Phase II plan to further develop the concept, including objectives, technical tasks, methods, milestones, and a realistic two-year sequence. Keep the work focused on concept maturation, validation, and infusion-relevant analysis rather than operational deployment.

- What are the specific Phase II objectives for technical maturation, validation, and feasibility reduction?
- What tasks will be completed, in what order, and what are the go/no-go milestones over up to two years?
- What analyses, modeling, prototyping, simulation, or experimental work will be used to advance the concept?
- What infusion pathways, risks, assumptions, and dependencies will be examined as part of the work?

## Organizational Capacity and Personnel
Show that the team has the right mix of visionary concept development skills and technical depth to execute a NIAC Phase II study. Identify the PI and any key collaborators, and explain why the institution can support this work.

- Why is this team uniquely qualified to mature this concept from Phase I into Phase II?
- What specific expertise do the PI and key personnel bring to the technical, systems, and infusion aspects of the project?
- What institutional resources, facilities, partnerships, or prior work support successful completion?
- If relevant, what roles will external advisors or collaborators play in concept validation or infusion assessment?

## Outcomes and Evaluation
State the measurable outputs of Phase II and how progress will be assessed against technical and infusion-focused criteria. Make clear what “success” means for this NIAC effort and how the work will position the concept for Phase III or other transition opportunities.

- What concrete Phase II deliverables will be produced by the end of the award?
- What technical metrics or evidence will be used to judge progress and credibility?
- How will the project assess whether the concept is ready for further NASA investment or external transition?
- What findings will support future infusion options within NASA, other agencies, or commercial partners?

# Budget Justification
*Page limit: no page limit.*

## Budget Justification
Provide a clear, category-by-category explanation of requested costs, aligned with the SF-424A/R&R budget forms and the actual work plan. For NIAC Phase II, justify costs as necessary to mature the concept, perform analyses or experiments, and document infusion pathways.

- What personnel time is needed for concept development, analysis, management, and reporting?
- What travel, subcontract, consultant, or facility costs are necessary, if any, to support Phase II work?
- How do each of the requested budget categories directly support the NIAC Phase II objectives?
- Are there any cost items that need special explanation because they are tied to validation, prototyping, or infusion studies?

# CVs / Biographical Sketches
*Page limit: per the NOFO — verify against the NOFO.*

## Biographical Sketches
Use the sponsor’s required format if NASA specifies one in the posted solicitation/appendix. Emphasize the expertise most relevant to visionary concept maturation, advanced technical analysis, and transition planning.

- Which prior experiences best demonstrate the PI’s ability to lead high-risk, high-payoff concept development?
- What credentials support the team’s ability to execute the technical work and assess feasibility?
- Which publications, patents, awards, or prior NASA-relevant projects strengthen the case for this team?
- Are there any collaborators whose backgrounds are especially important for infusion, systems analysis, or advanced concept validation?