Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) Aeronautics Community & Environmental Impact Research (ACEIR) | NNH24ZHA003C ACEIR

ACEIR Grant Opportunity FAQs (NASA OSTEM MUREP)

What is the NASA MUREP Aeronautics Community and Environmental Impact Research (ACEIR) opportunity?

ACEIR is a funding opportunity from NASA's Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) under the Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP). It supports Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) that want to research how next-generation air transportation could affect communities and environments, with a strong emphasis on real community-level outcomes and equity.

What kinds of outcomes is ACEIR focused on?

ACEIR focuses on outcomes beyond aircraft performance, including community-level environmental impacts, societal impacts, and practical pathways for ensuring future aviation develops in ways that are equitable, safe, affordable, and accessible. The opportunity emphasizes understanding how benefits and burdens are distributed across communities, especially those already overburdened.

What is meant by "overburdened communities" in this opportunity?

In NASA's framing, overburdened communities are places and populations that already experience a heavier share of environmental and infrastructure burdens. ACEIR is designed to directly connect future aviation concepts to the lived reality in these communities and to develop approaches that reduce inequities rather than worsen them.

What research topics or factors does NASA expect projects to examine?

Projects are expected to investigate how emerging air transportation technologies and related infrastructure could change local and regional conditions. Examples of factors to examine include environmental factors (such as air quality, noise, emissions, land use, or other environmental stressors) and societal factors (such as health, accessibility, affordability, safety, and how benefits and harms are distributed).

Is ACEIR strictly an aeronautics performance or technology program?

No. While ACEIR is tied to aeronautics and future air transportation concepts, the emphasis is explicitly on interdisciplinary work that looks beyond aircraft performance alone and directly examines community-level impacts and equitable implementation pathways.

What does NASA mean by seeking "radical innovation" and "new practices"?

NASA is explicitly looking for new practices and "radical innovation" that can reshape how aviation technology and related infrastructure are designed, evaluated, and implemented with real community impacts in mind. The intent is to encourage approaches that could change how decisions are made and how outcomes are assessed, particularly for communities that are often left out of major technology decision-making.

How does ACEIR connect research with equity and environmental justice?

ACEIR is designed to study how next-generation aviation could affect people and places, with special attention to communities that already face disproportionate burdens. Projects are expected to develop approaches that reduce inequities and avoid making existing disparities worse, by examining both environmental stressors and societal outcomes.

Who is eligible to apply for ACEIR?

Eligibility is limited to two-year or four-year institutions that are formally designated and listed by the U.S. Department of Education as Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) at the time the proposal is submitted.

How does NASA verify whether an institution is an eligible MSI?

NASA points applicants to the NASA MSI List as the reference for confirming eligibility: https://msiexchange.nasa.gov/msilist. The institution must be listed as an MSI at the time of submission.

What happens if an institution submits an application but is not listed as an MSI at the time of submission?

NASA states that if an applicant institution is not listed as an MSI at the time of submission, the application will be returned without review. That means it will not move forward for evaluation.

Can non-MSI institutions participate in ACEIR?

Institutions that do not meet the MSI requirement are encouraged to participate by partnering with an eligible MSI rather than applying on their own.

Do both public and private institutions qualify if they are MSIs?

Yes. Both public/state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education may apply, as long as they meet the MSI designation requirement at the time of submission.

What is the funding mechanism for ACEIR?

The funding mechanism is a cooperative agreement. This generally indicates substantial involvement by NASA during the period of performance compared to a standard grant.

What does it mean that ACEIR is a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant?

Based on the opportunity description, a cooperative agreement signals that NASA expects to be substantially involved during the project period, more so than under a typical grant. Applicants should be prepared for active agency engagement consistent with a cooperative agreement structure.

How many awards does NASA expect to make under ACEIR?

NASA expects to make about 7 awards.

What is the maximum (ceiling) amount per award?

The award ceiling is $750,000 per award.

What is the opportunity number for ACEIR?

The opportunity number is NNH24ZHA003C (ACEIR).

What is the application deadline listed for this opportunity?

The original application closing date is March 3, 2025.

What is the CFDA number associated with ACEIR?

The CFDA number provided is 43.008.

How is the opportunity categorized by funding activity?

The opportunity is listed as discretionary and categorized under "Other" for the funding activity.

Is ACEIR intended only for research, or does it also support education and workforce development?

NASA frames ACEIR as both a research program and a capacity-building effort. It is intended to strengthen MSI research capabilities and help diversify the future STEM workforce by engaging faculty and students in meaningful aeronautics research tied to community needs.

Why does NASA emphasize the role of Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) in ACEIR?

NASA emphasizes that MSIs bring valuable perspectives, community relationships, and experience working with populations that have historically been left out of major technology decision-making. ACEIR is designed to leverage those strengths while building institutional research capacity.

What types of impacts are considered "environmental impacts" in ACEIR?

Examples mentioned include air quality, noise, emissions, land use, and other environmental stressors that could be affected by emerging air transportation technologies and infrastructure.

What types of impacts are considered "societal impacts" in ACEIR?

Examples mentioned include health, accessibility, affordability, safety, and the distribution of benefits and harms among different communities.

Does ACEIR require interdisciplinary approaches?

Yes. The opportunity emphasizes interdisciplinary work that connects emerging aviation concepts and infrastructure with community-level environmental and societal outcomes.

Can an eligible MSI use a third party to handle fiscal management or administrative support?

NASA notes that if the recipient uses a third party for fiscal management or administrative support (such as a university system, foundation, or board of regents), that arrangement is handled between the recipient and the third party.

If a third party manages finances or administration, who is responsible to NASA?

The applicant institution remains responsible to NASA. Any external administrative structure is described as an internal organizational choice between the recipient and the third party.

What is the central goal of ACEIR in practical terms for an eligible MSI?

ACEIR is designed for MSIs that want to lead aeronautics research centered on environmental justice and community outcomes, while also building institutional research capacity and giving students hands-on exposure to forward-looking aviation challenges.