National Aeronautics and Space Administration FY18 SSC Agile-Seedling Fund Opportunities Ramona Travis, PhD NASA SSC Chief Technologist [email protected] 228-688-3832 Bldg. 1100, Room 2002G National Aeronautics and Space Administration -The attached charts provide some background on an SSC initiative to support employees who may have ideas for technology development efforts but haven’t been engaged in writing proposals to sources such as the Center Innovation Fund and other STMD or HEOMD solicitation calls. -This initiative is meant to provide some very modest support in the form of FTE funding and procurement dollars to better enable an employee to explore an idea and gather enough information to move to the next step of writing a more in-depth CIF proposal or something similar. -In addition to being able to conduct some exploratory activities, the Center Chief Technologist (CCT) will advise the employee during the course of the proposed effort about various other opportunities, Technology Roadmaps and implementation plans for the agency, assorted protocols for proposals, etc. so that the employee may become more familiar and comfortable in proposing to solicitations in the future. The attached charts provide the following: -The outline of the Agile/Seedling Fund Opportunities as presented to the STMD under the Center Innovation Fund (CIF). -A template for the Agile/Seedling Fund proposals with embedded instructions for use. This template is very similar to the SSC template used for standard CIF proposals over the last couple of years. -Please complete the template and submit to the CCT, Dr. Ramona Travis, at [email protected]. Proposers are encouraged to call (x83832) or to come and visit with Ramona (Bldg. 1100, room 2002G) to discuss your proposal idea and ask for advice. Agile – Seedling Fund Opportunities Project Manager: Ramona Travis, [email protected], 228-688-3832 Type of Project: continuing/Seedling work FY18 Goal/Gap Approach/Innovation Planned Resources There are still many civil servants, • CIF FTE = $6K largely in the operations-oriented Employees need an opportunity to engage in shorter • CIF Procurement = $7K branches at SSC, though they may be duration “seed” types of innovation activities than aware of needs for improvement in what is typically thought of as a CIF project which -------------------- technologies, processes, etc. in their often take place over the course of a year. • Other leveraged: work environment and though they may With the planned FY18 SSC Innovation Day in Nov. -CIF FTE = TBD have ideas about what may need to be 2017 and with the development of an agency-wide -Procurement = TBD done to make those improvements, portal regarding resources for innovation on the they have not applied to the CIF horizon, SSC would like to further embrace this spirit program. of innovation and encourage even short duration/small scale efforts by offering Seedling level Many times, they just need the funding opportunities. The hope is that more of the Partnerships opportunity to explore their issue more employees will be willing to take those early, small to either attempt to resolve it quickly steps toward innovative efforts and technology through a short study and test or to development that will enable them to develop larger Office of the Chief Technologist, SSC Directorates, HEOMD/SSC/RPT conduct searches into the SOA so as to space technology and center related proposals and develop a larger CIF or other R&D projects. proposal. Additionally, funds may be needed to help support doing work with It is intended that the opportunity for Seedling funds the NASA@WorkPlatform and related will be announced during the FY18 Innovation Day at CoECIcontracts. These seedling fund the center and training will be held in how to use the opportunities intend to address those agency's assorted resources for finding answers to sorts of needs. innovation challenges. Technology These seedling fund projects will be small in number Maturation/Infusion Opportunities or Intentions and funding but a start (perhaps ~30-40 hrs. of covered FTE and about $2-3K in procurement Technology Area (TA) / Use center Innovation events and follow- funding for each of 2-3 awards) to enable individuals Technology Readiness Level (TRL) on efforts and activities to engage the to take that initial step. Other offices will be workforce in a continuous innovation contacted to help match FTE coverage and/or Primary TAs:TA01, 02, 03, 04, 08, 11, 13 culture to expand the pool of civil servants procurement support or to augment the number of are the most common areas for SSC who may propose to CIF and other Space awards that can be made to encourage this effort. technology development. Technology development solicitations and opportunities. Additionally, at SSC, we hope to use this TRL start (anticipated at the mechanism to also stimulate proposals to beginning of the project) = 0-3 RPT and other HEOMD program opportunities. We want to help catalyze technology innovation from all corners. “Seed” the innovation process with small/short-termed exploratory opportunities leading to future proposals! Project Title Project Investigator (PI): PI name, PI email address, PI phone number Type of Project: Seedling Goal/Gap Approach/Innovation Planned Resources • CIF FTEs = provide in needed Hrs. Identify what the “problem” is that needs -Lay out what you intend to do (the approach) and over what to be addressed. That problem may be kind of a timeline. Other than identifying the problem • CIF Procurement = provide in needed dollars considered a “Gap”, hence that term from statement in the “Goal/Gap” block, this section is the “meat” HQ. In the process you should identify of the project proposal. Think through what and how you -------------------------------------------------- what the intention is of the project (what want to conduct the proposed project idea. • Other FTE Hrs. and/or Procurement $ the “Goal” is) that you want to achieve. (possible leveraged resources from a -Also state what the actual Innovation is. Since Center source other than CIF Seedling Also explain your understanding of the Innovation Fund (CIF) projects are meant to be innovative, funds….if appropriate and available) State of the Art (SOA) of what is known this is an important aspect of the project. about the issue. In the case of a Seedling project idea, perhaps you need some -If appropriate, incorporate a visual of some sort in this seedling support (FTE and procurement $) section…considering the adage that “…a picture is worth a Partnerships to enable you to find that out and progress thousand words”. Since your space is limited, visuals can to the next level of a more full blown CIF help get points across more succinctly than words in some Identify any partnerships/ proposal or some other technology cases. An example is below. assistance that may come from development proposal. another funding source or group that may make the project stronger and/or enable greater chance at success. Technology Area (TA)/ (Example diagram) Technology Readiness Level (TRL) -This block is on the standard CIF proposal Technology forms but you may not know this Maturation/Infusion information yet. If you do know about Opportunities or Intentions the Technology Roadmap nomenclature, please use it. If you are not yet familiar Discuss how/where the results from with the NASA Technology Roadmap this project could be/will be used. nomenclature, that will be something we Mention if another group might be can discuss during your seedling fund willing to fund the next level of work Fig. 1: caption statement with any beneficial image or diagram or where you intend to try to find such experience. Plan to meet with me to that may enhance the narrative of what you have written. funding (your FTE time or procurement discuss. However, it is not a requirement. dollars) through another proposal. A “tagline” sentence that sums up what this project will do and/or why it’s important.